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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 […]

The Perfect Fit: 39-ft Wisp Comes Together

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

We’re thrilled to share an update on the construction progress of 39-ft custom yacht Wisp as she comes together at Artisan Boatworks. The owners recently came up to review the construction and address personal details with the design and build team. It was a collaborative effort to ensure every detail was considered. Designer Robert Stephens was joined by Alec Brainerd builder; James and Kevin from Midcoast Marine Electronics; Toby Teele, independent systems subcontractor; and Ransom Morse, hydraulics provider from Buzzards Bay Boatworks. The owners led the team to determine exactly where to place the details like foot-switches to power […]

The Journey of 50-ft Hoi An

Posted on March 11, 2024 and filed under Construction, Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

On the passage of her 20th anniversary we look back at one of our best-loved boats: the 50-foot Spirit of Tradition Sloop Hoi An. Hoi An’s history began when we were the in-house design team at Brooklin Boat Yard. In the fall of 2000 we had just celebrated the launch of the first two boats to our W-46 design, and Marc Heilner saw the press releases. A member of a long-time summer family of neighboring Blue Hill (although living in London at the time) and thinking about a sizeable sailboat to enhance his family’s enjoyment of their waterfront home under […]

Impracticality In Its Most Beautiful Form: 53-ft Beaujolais

Posted on March 10, 2024 and filed under Construction, Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

Beaujolais was a fun doodle we did for a long-time client. She’s the outgrowth of a pet effort of ours, that of expanding the idea of what makes a proper Spirit of Tradition boat. Many folks’ interpretation of a classic yacht relies on a slender hull with long overhangs and low freeboard, the way classic racing sailboats looked in the 1920’s and ‘30’s, under the influence of rating rules like the International and Universal Rules, those responsible for bringing us beautiful racing classes like the 6-Meters and 12-Meters, and the R, Q, P, and J-boats. But there exists a much […]

Vote for Zemphira: 2024 Classic Boat Awards

Posted on February 7, 2024 and filed under Important News, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

Help us get Zemphira to the finish line by casting your vote! The 76-ft racing/cruising sloop has been nominated for a Classic Boat award. VOTE HERE! 2023 saw the final phase of Zemphira’s multi-year refit in the capable hands of Lyman Morse Boatbuilding. With the mandate of an all-star staff of owner’s representatives and sailing crew, we worked hard over three years to make her faster, more fun to sail, more tweakable, and more amenable to luxury cruising. This year, we brought the crowning touch—a re-imagined sail plan brought a newly built rig to employ all the innovations in […]

Past Meets Modern Excellence on 39-ft Wisp

Posted on January 22, 2024 and filed under Design, Spirit of Tradition, SWD News & Stories

Crafted with a singular focus to design an excellent all-around sailing experience, 39-ft Wisp prioritizes comfort and ease of operation with a timeless aesthetic. Her size is a calculated choice, ensuring standing headroom in both the galley and head. She also sets the stage for a remarkable daysailing adventure or overnight escape. While packing plenty of performance under sail, Wisp effortlessly transforms into a luxury weekender, featuring saloon seating for four and a queen-size forward berth. Sailing Excellence: Wisp promises outstanding sailing performance, characterized by moderate draft and generous sail area; ease of sailing is thoughtfully designed, handling lines lead […]

Stephens Waring Guide to Winter Sailing

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

While the idea of winter sailing, especially in places like our home port of Belfast, ME may feel more akin to a polar bear swim than a fun leisure activity, there are in fact a few great reasons to get on the water year-round. The novelty of exploring and enjoying your favorite passages and coves without the congestion of the summer season traffic is almost reason enough. Winter waters also provide different sightseeing experiences including unique migratory wildlife, incredible celestial star shows, and a fresh take on known landscapes. Ultimately, however, we feel that getting to spend more time on […]

Celebrating our Beacons of Light in 2023

Posted on December 26, 2023 and filed under Holiday Post, SWD News & Stories

As we navigate into the darkest time of the year, we want to take a moment to share appreciation and gratitude for all the bright moments and accomplishments that have made 2023 such an amazing journey. The highlights and achievements are only made possible through the special relationships shared with our clients, suppliers, and builders from whom we draw inspiration and who make our work of dreaming big possible. This year we set out an ambitious agenda to try new things and push our boundaries as designers. This list includes several notable firsts including the design of a fully-electric boat […]