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Understanding the Evolution of Headsails

Posted on October 17, 2024 and filed under Boat Nerd Tech, Design, Marine Engineering, Racing, SWD News & Stories

Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of evolution of sailboat rigs. Early yachts, like the schooner AMERICA (for whom the Cup was named), were among the first vessels to adopt the then-radical notion of abandoning square sails in favor of sails that could point somewhere close to upwind. However limitations in manual strength and the materials used in sails and rigging made it impossible for sails to be large, strong, and shapely all at the same time, so sail plans were divided into small sections with many sails. AMERICA had two mainsails (actually a mainsail and […]

39-ft S/Y WISP Launches and Heads South

Posted on September 17, 2024 and filed under Construction, Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

On August 5, our latest design, WISP, was gently lowered into the harbor in Camden, Maine. The 39-footer is the most recent in a string of luxurious daysailer/weekenders we’ve designed over the last couple of decades. She was designed to be beautiful, comfortable, easy-to-sail, and fast—and by the end of that week in August we were able to see how we did on all counts. WISP hit the water after a compressed build time of less than a year, and that last week was key in pulling all the details together. Lots of last-minute details in systems and rigging took […]

Stephens Waring Unveils 39-ft Sailing Yacht WISP

Posted on August 29, 2024 and filed under SWD News & Stories

Belfast, ME – Stephens Waring Design is thrilled to announce the launch of the 39-ft sailing yacht S/V WISP, a seamless blend of Spirit of Tradition aesthetics and modern sailing technology. S/V WISP continues the legacy of the Stephens Waring Spirit of Tradition (SoT) yachts, where classic design meets contemporary innovation. This vessel features a gracefully balanced hull reminiscent of mid-20th-century cruiser-racers, with elegant overhangs that echo historical yacht designs from 75 years ago. On deck, WISP offers a sophisticated, dual-purpose cockpit: a plush, upholstered area for lounging forward and a dedicated sailing zone aft. Thanks to a design that […]

IROQUOIS | A Mid-Century Modern 21st Century Renovation

Posted on July 24, 2024 and filed under Construction, Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

Backstory Grebe began his boat-building career in 1909 and founded Henry C. Grebe Co. in Chicago in 1921. The company flourished through the 20s and 30s, building motor yachts and commercial vessels to Henry Grebe’s designs. WWII caused a boom in war work, including 136’ wooden minesweepers used in the Pacific war effort—28 in total were commissioned. Following WWII the yard developed a distinctive and attractive model line of roomy flush-decked motor yachts with a masculine aesthetic, ranging in length from about 47 feet to 70 feet. The yard had an impressive turnout of production between 1955 and 1965, […]

A SPECIAL OFFERING: 2023 – ROCKPORT MARINE 37 LOBSTER YACHT– UPDATE: SOLD!

Posted on July 15, 2024 and filed under SWD News & Stories

A SPECIAL OFFERING — AS-NEW — UPDATE: SOLD! Sea trialed in 2023 and delivered in 2024, new circumstances have prevented the owners from enjoying the boat. She has not been used beyond her initial sea trials & delivery (~38 hours). This is a rare and special opportunity to find on the brokerage market an essentially brand new custom yacht, offered for a fraction of her cost to build new. Originally conceived by a discerning and experienced yachting family, the R37 was designed and built at the renowned Rockport Marine (Rockport, ME), and influenced by classic lobster yachts of the […]

Perspectives from the Helm: The Journey of Two Skippers

Posted on June 6, 2024 and filed under SWD News & Stories

Last year, 76-ft Zemphira racked up an impressive array of hardware, culminating in an impressive first-place overall SoT ranking for the CYCS 2023 season. We connected with the yacht’s two skippers, Kirsty Morrison and Andrew Parente, to understand the magic behind the winning boat. How did you first discover your love for sailing? Kirsty: My father was an avid sailor. I grew up in London and when I was 8 years old he built me an Optimist dinghy in the spare bedroom. They were originally designed so they could be built out of 2 pieces of plywood. He forgot […]

2024 Camden Classics Cup Scratch Sheet

Posted on June 4, 2024 and filed under SWD News & Stories

Stephens Waring Design is looking forward to this season’s 2024 Camden Classics Cup, which promises an impressive line-up of incredible yachts and some serious racing competition. We’ve been a proud partner with Lyman-Morse over the years, building the event since its inception in 2016. Together, this enthusiastic team has produced the only premier Big-Tent regatta event of its kind. By combining CRF and PHRF fleets, we have participants enjoying a unique sailing competition with over 100 boats spanning 12 decades of design – classic, vintage, custom, and production boats all in one venue. As of June 6, the event has […]

The Art of the Restomod

Posted on May 7, 2024 and filed under Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

If a traditional yacht restoration is like restoring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, restomods are the equivalent of pop-art renditions of classic masterpieces. They take the best from the past with something fun, modern, and exciting. Restomods and renovation share a romance of classic and timeless design. However, the approach to breathing new life into a classic boat can be divisive, and each approach has its unique merits. The primary objective of a restoration project is to bring a boat back to its original design and construction as closely as possible. Good restoration experts put significant time into […]