Vineyard Open House Blog

Yacht Racer Paul Buttrose Joins Sparkman & Stephens as a Broker

Veteran sailor Paul Buttrose at the helm.

Sparkman & Stephens has announced that veteran racing enthusiast and sailing supporter Paul Buttrose has joined the company as a yacht broker.  He will be working out of S&S's Newport and Fort Lauderdale offices depending on the season.

During his 40-year career Buttrose has had a long association with Sparkman & Stephens, including racing on many famous S&S yachts, working alongside Rod Stephens as an independent consultant to Nautor Swan and consulting with Olin Stephens while managing the refurbishment of Dorade upon her return to U.S. waters.

Buttrose is also a co-founder of Sail Newport, Rhode Island's Public Sailing Center and past President of the International Twelve Metre Class.

Buttrose's varied and extensive experience provides him with a colorful palette from which to draw knowledge, comparisons and conclusions about yachts, their design, construction and intended purpose. 

Contact Information for Paul Buttrose: Mobile: 954-294-6962  Office Newport: 401-847-5449 Office Fort Lauderdale: 954-524-4616 Email

Affordable, Active Adult Community Glenmoor, FL Joins WaterViewHome

Glenmoor, St. Augustine: Active adult living at World Golf Village.

 NEW TO WATERVIEWHOME!

FLORIDA
=> Glenmoor, St. Augustine
Glenmoor is a haven of comfort and security at the heart of the famed World Golf Village. Natural forests and lush scenery surround the community, which provides a wealth of social activities and recreation within easy reach of the old-world charm of St. Augustine.

Great courses by Arnold Palmer-Jack Nicklaus or the PGA Tour legends Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead await you at World Golf Village. That's also the ideal place to sharpen your game, on the premier practice facilities at WGV, home of the PGA Tour Golf Academy.

Indulgence Meets Wellness: Your quality of life will be enhanced each day through the community's varied activities, resources and amenities. Certified trainers provide a wide variety of invigorating fitness and aquatic programs along with rejuvenating massage therapy.

On-staff is a Wellness coordinator, devoted to ensuring your health through innovations such as the Rise and Shine program, which monitors your day-to-day wellness. You can also make regular visits to the on-site clinic--even request a home visit from the Wellness staff.

Real Estate: Glenmoor, FL:

• Apartment homes from 1 to 3 bedrooms
• Single-family homes, from 1-3 bedrooms
  • Prices range from $141,500 to $599,000
• Click here for more information about Glenmoor!

J Class Association Announces Regatta Series in England 2012--the Olympic Year

Falmouth, Cornwall, England: Site of first 2012 J Class Regatta.

The J Class Association recently announced its plans for a series of spectacular regattas in England during 2012--the Olympic Year. It will be the first time in history that more than four of these imposing yachts will race together in a fleet.

The first regatta will be based in Falmouth, Cornwall, hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. Races will be held in the bay and along the coastline.

David Pitman said, “The J Class Association chose Falmouth as a UK base for its first 2012 regatta because of the great deep water bay, onshore support services and support from an experienced local Club--the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. The waters around the bay offer the opportunity of great courses for both the competitors and spectators, who can view from the many headlands.

“Spectators in Falmouth will be the first in the UK to view this wonderful fleet. Around eight J Class yachts, each 140 feet in length, weighing around 200 tons and with a crew of up to thirty are expecting to be ready and prepared for racing in June 2012.

"Enthusiasts from around the world will be coming to Falmouth to view the yachts and watch the racing, which will be reported live around the world. This will be a yachting event not to be missed!”

U.S. fans of the J Class can get a preview of the exciting action next month at the J Class Regatta in Newport, RI, June 15-19.

'Hope,' Rozinante-Style Light Cruiser Now for Sale at a 15% Reduction for $59,000

"Hope" under sail.

"Hope"
Tern Class ‘Rozinante’ Style 28’ Yawl
Sale Price: $69,900  Now $59,000
Designer/Builder: Gannon & Benjamin, Vineyard Haven, MA
Location: Classic Boat Shop, BERNARD, MAINE

The selling price for “HOPE,” one of four Gannon & Benjamin Yawls adapted by Nat Benjamin from the famous Rozinante by L.F. Herreshoff, has come down 15% from $69,900 to $59,000. (View a Herreshoff-built Roziante sail boat here.) For more photos and details, see previous post here.

Sunset profile.

Three J Class Yachts Commit to Compete in Newport J Class Regatta June 15 -19

Shamrock V: Original J Class yacht coming to Newport.

Three J Class yachts--RANGER, VELSHEDA  and SHAMROCK V--have announced that they will compete in the J Class Regatta in Newport next month. The event for these massive, classic yachts, will be the first competitive J Class regatta for three yachts in the USA since the America's Cup event of 1937 between the Defender Ranger and the Challenger Endeavour II.

The J Class Association will manage the US-based event, where the yachts will be based from Newport Shipyard. Courses will be set from the point at Fort Adams and held around the inner bay, allowing for shoreline spectators to benefit from this first event to be sailed under JCA rules.

The J Class Newport Regatta is the first of a series of global J Class events which will cultimate in the Hundred Guinea Cup race in Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 2012.

The J Class yachts under sail are a sight not to be missed. No other class requires a crew of 30-plus experienced sailors to manage more than 10,000 square feet of sail driving a 200-ton hull at 16 knots around the course.

Newport was the venue for the start of the remarkable J Class era which began in 1930. Over the next seven years just 10 of these stunning yachts constructed for the purpose of winning the America’s Cup. Shamrock V and Velsheda--two of the original 10 yachts--will participate in Newport, together with Ranger, a true replica of the original. Negotiations to bring the other new J yachts to Newport are continuing.

Sail Newport and the J Class Association are responsible for the on water race management of the regatta. The yachts and their teams will be based at the Newport Shipyard with crews staying at the Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina.

The regatta series of five races will run from June 15th to 19th, 2011 with starts and finishes off of Fort Adams. Viewing stands will be set up on the Northwestern corner of Fort Adams and other excellent viewing options will be at Castle Hill Inn and various spots in Jamestown. Working with the US Coast Guard, Sail Newport will establish safe water viewing areas along the entire course. For more information about the event, go to the J Class Regatta website.

Race Programme
Wednesday 15th June : Race 1 Start 11.00
Thursday 16th June : Race 2 Start 11.00
Friday 17th June : Race 3 Start 11.00
Saturday 18th June : Race 4 Start 11.00
Sunday 19th June : Race 5 Start 11.00

1st Morris-built Leadership 44 Set to be Launched for US Coast Guard Academy

Leadership 44 Shearwater ready for its commissioning.

The cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy are soon going to be training in style. That's because Morris Yachts will launch the first of its Leadership 44s on Wednesday, May 18th at 11 am at the Morris boatyard in Bass Harbor, Maine. Named Shearwater, the Leadership 44 training vessel is the first of four, and possibly eight, Coast Guard craft to be built.

Designed by David Pedrick.

Morris won the contract to build the vessels after a nine-month proposal process and was selected over several other prestigious yards including Goetz, Hinckley, Pearson and Tartan. Since the money for the vessels is being raised privately, the initial contract was to build four boat of the possible eight total.

The Leadership 44 is designed by David Pedrick and based on his design for the U.S. Navy sail program. The new vessels will replace the elegant, but decades-old, Luders sailing craft.

Morris Service Open House
You are invited to witness the launch at the Morris service yard where a light lunch will be served, followed by a Morris Service Open House. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the Bass Harbor facility and review some of this winter’s projects, including an update on Bandera, the custom 56 that received a complete core removal and replacement.

For more information on the Leadership 44 project click here. Please email or call Morris Yarchts to let them know you are attending. Call 1-207-244-5509 or email.

Leadership 44 sailplan.

Price Drop--Again! Phoenix, a 64' S&S Commuter Yacht, Is Yours for 30% Off

Phoenix in her glory days in the 1930s.

    * Boat Name: Phoenix
    * Year: 1937
    * Current Price: US $250,000  $199,000 $175,000 $155,000
    * Located in Boothbay Harbor, ME
    * Hull Material: Wood
    * Engine/Fuel Type: Twin diesel
    * YW# 1877-2212250

The price of Phoenix, a 64' Sparkman & Stephens commuter yacht built in 1937, has undergone another price drop. The classic is now being offered for $175,000--30 percent less than its original asking price of $250,000. The price was first lowered 20 percent just a week after it went on the market in March and has now been reduced by another 10 percent.

UPDATE: Price has been further reduced to $155,000.

Still looking good.

Phoenix has been trucked across country to a well respected boatyard that specializes in classic yachts on the coast of Maine where she awaits her next owner and the restoration that will give this unique piece of yachting history a new life. The most recent price reduction indicates the current owners desire to sell the boat immediately.  All reasonable offers are encouraged.

Gold-Plated History
The Consolidated Shipbuilding of New York City built some of the most famous commuter yachts of the 1920s and '30s. These sleek, swift yet elegant vessels were the preferred method of transportation to and from the financial district of Manhattan for the Wall Street magnates and industrialists that resided in the Connecticut and Long Island suburbs. Sparkman & Stephens collaborated with Consolidated on a number of famous Commuters. Phoenix was designed and built for E.E. Dickenson Jr. in 1937.

On a run.

However, this is the very last available Sparkman & Stephens commuter in existence. This additional price reduction underscores the owners's desire to move the boat. 

Some TLC is in order.

Phoenix represents an opportunity for a new owner to put her through restoration and own a historically significant commuter. A partial trade would be considered, such as a 28'-35' Down East style lobster yacht or similar. This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of yachting history.

For more information, contact Central Agent - Jeff Grey,  Office: 401-847-5449, Cell: 774-454-7638