By Ellinor Walters

Just like melting snow, crocuses and baby animals are staples of spring, the denizens of coastal towns also expect to see new boats on the water.  Each new launch has her own story featuring an owner with a vision, a team of hardworking engineers, designers, and builders and a collaborative effort to make her float.

The Classic Yacht Owner’s Association is proud to introduce you to three new spring launches:
SONNY III - Brooklin Boat Yard

The 91-foot SONNY III was launched at Brooklin Boat Yard earlier this month. She is a custom, cold-molded wooden sloop constructed by Rockport Marine and is a collaboration between Bruce Johnson and the BBY Design Office. SONNY III is designed for high-performance cruising along coastal US waters. She features a completely flush deck and twin cockpits, one as the center for social interaction and the other for all sail handling.

“We are very pleased to be building a third boat for this customer.  He’s a very experienced yachtsman who is a pleasure to collaborate with,” said Steve White, president of Brooklin Boat Yard. “His interest in sailing performance is equaled only by that of designers and builders.”

"The interior layout includes a crew cabin forward with private head and stall shower, two guest staterooms forward of the mast, one with ensuite head and stall shower and the other with a day head, also with separate shower. The main salon includes an elliptical dining area, a pair of reclining chairs and a navigation station,” read Brooklin’s plans on SONNY III. “Access to the full-beam master stateroom is either through the port side passageway or through the generous galley to starboard. The master stateroom includes an ensuite head with stall shower. A utility/laundry room is accessed from the port side passageway. The interior will be finished in Herreshoff style with white and cream paintwork offset by American cherry joinery, leather upholstery and a teak and maple cabin sole.”

After 18 months of construction, the Brooklin design team is extremely proud to have SONNY III in the water for the summer.
ANNA - Lyman Morse

Work on ANNA began in 2016, but the vision for her has been in existence for 18 years. With Magnolia flowers tied to her bow, in honor of her home port, the 65-foot classic launched April 9th at Lyman Morse in Thomaston, Maine. Commissioned by a couple from Charleston, SC, ANNA is meant for day cruising along the East Coast and Caribbean. ANNA is classic 19th century style, so designer Bob Stephens looked to famous designers of traditional boats for inspiration.

“A project as special as this one doesn’t come along every year,” said Stephens of Stephens Waring Yacht Design. “I’ve done half-dozen projects of this level in 30 years.”

Her hull is cold-molded over Douglas Fir frames with a teak planked deck. The boat’s interior is the work of designer Martha Coolidge and includes a galley, two heads, a master stateroom, and crew quarters for the captain and first mate.
FELICITY ANN - Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

FELICITY ANN, an historic 23-foot wooden sloop, was given new life on May 3rd in Port Townsend, Washington. The student-led restoration project is just the latest page in Felicity Ann’s lengthy history book. Launched initially in 1949, FELICITY ANN became famous when she was sailed by Ann Davison, the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic in 1952-53.

With a budget of just $60,000, FELICITY ANN was pieced together and restored by hundreds of volunteers under the direction of Community Boat Project Director Captain Wayne Chimenti.

“What I love about this story was that she wasn’t rebuilt by professionals,” Chimenti said. “It was a restoration project. It was student labor led by patient instructors — all volunteers and non-professionals; hundreds of people who have touched and worked on this boat.”

The vessel is a double-ended hull with a traditional carvel plank-on-frame construction, the cast-iron keel is original but now boasts a purple heart center line, a sapele sheer strake and a mix of larch and red cedar planking.

FELICITY ANN begins her new chapter as an educational vessel, and will boast an all-female crew.