DORADE
“People are deeply moved by the boat and its history; people actually saved things”
Right: Detail of Dorade’s rigging, including one of her bronze
Meissner winches
DORADE DESIGNED
Olin Stephens
LENGTH OVERALL 52ft
(15.9m)
LENGTH WATERLINE 37ft
(11.3m) BEAM
10ft 3in (3.1m)
DRAUGHT 8ft
(2.4m)
SAIL AREA 1,100sqft (102m2
)
So what makes Dorade so special? From the pen of 21-year-old Olin Stephens, Dorade’s design broke new ground. Her ‘pencil-slim’ frames and narrow beam kept her extremely light, while power came from the combination of long lines, deep keel and a pioneering bermudan yawl rig. She was particularly good upwind and on a run, according to legendary British designer Uffa Fox, who experienced her in her racing heyday. From her launch in 1930, Dorade established winning ways; here are some of the highlights. 1930 1931
1931
1932 1933
1936
Second in class, Bermuda Race First, Transatlantic Race
2012
Doyle, owner of the remarkable Herreshoff NY30 Amorita, better known now for having been sunk in 2007 by the Fife ketch Sumurun. “I found it and just knew I had to hold onto it,” says Bill. Along with the log, he purchased a scrap book of the Stephens brothers’ travels around Europe that summer. It was lovingly compiled for their grandmother, who reportedly helped fund Dorade’s build. Matt and Pam met Bill to view the two books and they are all now working together to have them preserved and professionally documented. Matt is also collecting all Dorade’s winning trophies, either through purchase or loan, and plans to keep them all together in one place. “At the end of all this, we want to have the exhibit ‘Dorade’,” says Pam.
Second, Round the Island Race First, Fastnet Race
First in class, Bermuda Race
First, Fastnet Race Set a new record for 3,000-mile westbound Atlantic crossing: 26 days and 15 hours First, Transpac Race
1947 – 1964 Five times winner, Swiftsure Race 1997
First in class, Veteran Boat Rally, Porto Cervo Twice first, and second, Régates Royales, Cannes First in class, St Maarten Heineken Regatta
The Stephens burgee is an excellent example of their treatment of the boat and her history. Pam discovered that it was retired shortly after Dorade’s inaugural season, as it too closely resembled the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s flag. Once the original is stabilised, it will be framed and hung in the main saloon alongside Matt’s personal two-star racing flag. The replica will be “flown from the main masthead briefly at the beginning and end of each race in tribute to Olin and Rod.” Below, the interior LED lights are covered by period fixtures. The Inmarsat dome on the aft deck is made to look like the binnacle once used by Rod Stephens to take daily sextant sights during ocean racing. The interior in front of the mast remains unchanged, and the main cabin
CLASSIC BOAT MAY 2012 15
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