We received very exciting news from Will Hubbard about his beautifully restored Tina sister-ship (and 2006 Bermuda Race Winner), LIVELY LADY II.
She raced all summer out of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, ending up as the Classic Yacht Owner’s Association 2023 Modern Classic District Champion!
Huge congratulations to Will, his family, crew and, of course, the one and only LIVELY LADY II!
We’ve been hors de combat the last several months. Thank you for your patience! Lots to catch up on!
The Dick Carter Cup in La Trinité-sur-mer late last summer was great fun! Our good friend Philippe Jacques-Roux had spent a year tracking down just about every Carter yacht in France, with a few in the Netherlands, Germany and England as well! It was an enormous undertaking, and we are very grateful for Philippe’s hard work. Oh and did we mention he also organized the event itself, with help for many, including local politician and Carter 37 owner, Jimmy Pahun. The event featured Tina sister ships, several Carter 37s, a rare Carter Dingbat ( a 25′) which was transported from the Netherlands, and even a NA 40 sailed from England! The NA40 (North American 40) is a one design cruiser-racer that Dick designed based on a request by two yacht clubs for a new racing class for the American Great Lakes. Jean-Michel Hoarau won the inaugural Carter Cup with his newly renovated navy blue Carter 37, HYLAS.
Philippe Jacques-Roux, Jimmy Pahun, Jean-Michel Hoarau and Dick Carter.
Dick gave a standing room only presentation to the assembled sailors, yachting press and public about the many ways that France had made important contributions to his racing and yacht design career. Jean-Yves Terlain shared a few words as well. He had approached Dick back in 1971 to design a special yacht for the 1972 Single-Handed Transatlantic race: VENDREDI 13.
Merci beaucoup for a truly memorable event! Chapeaux à tout!
Next month! August 10th and 11th in the beautiful port of La Trinité-sur-Mer in southern Brittany! A year ago, our good friend and Carter 37 owner Philippe Jacques-Roux came up with the idea for a Dick Carter Cup regatta to celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary of YDRA and the Carter 37. The regatta was then expanded to include all Carter yachts, custom and production!
Dick is very much looking forward to attending! On Friday, August 10, all the Carter yachts will assemble at 15h00 in the port for photos, videos and celebrations!
At 18h00 in the Mairie de la Trinité-sur-Mer, Dick will give his first talk in France: “the French Connection”. A renowned French explorer played a crucial role in Dick’s decision to design a yacht of his own. If he hadn’t met this explorer, there would have been no RABBIT, no TINA, no RED ROOSTER. No OPTIMIST, no VENDREDI 13, no YDRA, no BENBOW. No Carter 25, 33, 37, 39, 40, NA40, 42, Ragtime, Southerly, Luna. Rien de tout! The talk will be open to all attendees and the French press. There will be opportunities to ask Dick questions, have photos taken and do more celebrating!
On Friday, August 11, there will be a race for the inaugural Dick Carter Cup trophy.
Dick is extremely grateful to Philippe, who has worked hard for many months to organize every single aspect of the event. The event will be hosted by Philippe, l’Association Passe-Coque, le Yacht Club de France, la Société nautique de la Trinité-sur-Mer, les “Amis de Dick Carter” et Jimmy Pahun, député du Morbihan. Dick is very appreciative of all their contributions in making this such a special occasion. He can’t wait! We hope to see you there! Vive la France!!
A French Carter 33 greets the SS France, a French ocean liner, la Côte d’Azur.
YDRA is alive and well in Germany. She won the 1973 One Ton Cup skippered by the great Italian Rear Admiral, Agostino Straulino, and crewed by her owner, Marina Bulgari Spaccarelli. YDRA also won the 1973 Giraglia. Bravo!
Huge congratulations to owners James Bates and Luísa Alpalhão for their beautiful restoration of OPTIMISTA! Their boat is the original steel OPTIMIST, winner of both the 1967 and the 1968 One Ton Cups!!
The 50th Anniversary of the Carter 37 is next year and Carter 37s in Europe are getting ready to celebrate! TOMIRA, owned by Francesco & Mietta Gandolfi, is looking gorgeous in Italy. MUSTANG, owned by Philippe-Jacques Roux and his son François-Xavier, has just undergone a refit and is looking “sensationelle”, as is LINUEN, owned by Thierry Ollat. Jean-Michel Hoarau, the owner of another French Carter 37, HYLAS, is having her beautifully restored in anticipation of launching her next Spring. Skippered by her original owner David Edwards, Commodore of the RORC, HYLAS won Class III in the 1973 Fastnet Race, a prestigious victory for the Commodore and HYLAS alike!
Grazie to Francesco and Mietta Gandolfi for the stunning new photos of their yacht RABBIT racing off Italy’s Ligurian coast. She was Dick’s first yacht design and the boat he skippered to victory in the 1965 Fastnet Race. The Gandolfis have invested much time and effort in her meticulous restoration, and it shows!
