Sparkman & Stephens’ President Bruce Johnson announces the appointment of the 1929 yawl Dorade, designed by Olin Stephens, as the official S&S flagship.
S&S has completed over 2,750 designs, winning countless races and acclaim worldwide. Dorade is considered to be the most famous of them, and is widely acclaimed as “the mother of modern ocean racing yachts.” Designed by the late Olin Stephens, Dorade was originally launched in 1930 and influenced nearly all developments in yacht design for the next three decades. She was a hugely successful racer, winning the 1930 and 1932 Bermuda races, 1931 Transatlantic race – both line honors and overall – and the 1931 and 1933 Fastnet races overall. Dorade is the only yacht to win the triple crown of ocean racing: the Transatlantic Race, Fastnet Race and the TransPac Race, a record that stands unbroken to this day.
Dorade is now racing in the Caribbean regattas in preparation for the Newport-Bermuda Race, starting with the St Maarten Heineken Regatta – in which she won her class in fresh conditions.
Owner Matt Brooks says: “Our team feels honored to be sailing aboard the S&S flagship and, after the fun Caribbean season tuning-up Dorade, we want to show what an 80-year-old lady in top form can really do. Our goal is to attempt all of the races Dorade won in her prime, beginning with this year’s Newport-Bermuda Race.”
S&S President & Chief Designer Bruce Johnson says: “We have been delighted to see Dorade, an icon of S&S, restored to such a high standard in preparation for an intensive regatta and ocean race program. As our newly appointed flagship we wish her a successful campaign.”