In the Golden Age of Offshore Racing
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!
“The birth of Dick Carter Yacht Designer has a fairy tale quality to it. Winning the world’s most renowned ocean race, the Fastnet, with your first design, RABBIT. Then, being commissioned, even before that win, to create a One Tonner, TINA, and winning the One Ton Cup. With your second commission, OPTIMIST, winning the One Ton Cup again. Twice.”
Thank you Julien Everitt and Seahorse!
On January 19th, Dick gave a condensed version of his book talk on Zoom for the Off Soundings Club. A very big thank you to Commodore Paul Jennings and production wizard Edgar Smith for hosting such a fun event!
Click on Videos to hear Dick talk about RABBIT, RED ROOSTER and VENDREDI 13!
That’s what Dick calls model boat maker Yves Gaignet. You can see more of his models (maquettes, in French) on his Facebook page.
Here is his superb model of RABBIT:
Dick had a great time giving his book presentation at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco on November 20, 2019. They were kind to video the talk, which is posted below. Wonderful hospitality from the officers and members. Peter Pillsbury, son of former RED ROOSTER owner Davis Pillsbury, made a big effort to bring his model of the boat to the event. Jeff Carlile was also there, and is pictured below with Dick. Jeff recently tracked down the whereabouts of RED ROOSTER herself (yes, a rooster is male but RED ROOSTER sounds better than RED CHICKEN, n’est-ce pas?!). Several years ago, Jeff introduced Dick to Francesco and Mietta Gandolfi. They have subsequently bought and restored RABBIT to impeccable standards. Below are Jeff and Dick with
Need some gift inspiration this Christmas? In their recent December issue, SAIL magazine has recommended Dick Carter: Yacht Designer as a gift for sailors.
“Back in 1965, Dick Carter, who’d grown up sailing off Cape Cod, entered the first boat he’d ever designed, the 34ft Rabbit, in the Fastnet Race and against all odds won the thing, thereby kicking off one of the most celebrated design careers ever. Now we have his autobiographical Dick Carter: Yacht Designer, an eminently readable account of what it was like at the sharp end of the spear in terms of innovation at the start of yachting’s modern era. Because he was a sailor who competed aboard those same boats he designed, we also get a firsthand glimpse at what grand prix sailing was like back when fibreglass was still cutting-edge and GPS not yet even a glimmer in the design world’s eye. A crucial addition to any nautical library.”
Thank you SAIL Magazine!
Dick Carter’s first design, RABBIT, was recently and impeccably restored 50 years after her famous Fastnet win in 1965. Here she is at the Yacht Club Italiano, thoroughly enjoying la dolce vita in Italy. Check out ‘Restoration of RABBIT’ to find out more!
