Greek Charm
Classic Boat|March 2017

We join a Fred Shepherd ketch for glorious racing off the island of Spetses in a growing classic regatta.

Kathy Mansfield
Greek Charm

Two titans battled it out near the regatta finish: the 1930 John Alden schooner Puritan, 135ft with a new and partly novice crew being expertly bossed about by Malcolm Banks, former mate on Herreshoff schooner Elena; and 1947 Glaramara, a 50ft (15.25m) Frederick Shepherd design, owned and raced by Stratis Andreadis, once ranked 29th in world match racing. Stratis had noticed that the finish line was skewed to the direction of the light winds and was pushing down Puritan. Glaramara was ahead, then almost abeam, then ahead again, and as the line was crossed a cheer went up from Glaramara while the Puritan crew clapped in admiration, appreciating the drama even if losing the placing.

Refreshingly, this was not the usual haunt of classic regattas, we were not in Atlantic waters, or Baltic, or the French, Spanish or Italian Med – this was the Aegean, famous for sailing since the time of Odysseus. We were enjoying the Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta just south of the Peloponnese in Greece: the sky was blue, the sea sparkling clear aquamarine, the sea breeze cooling the summer heat, Hydra and other islands adding interesting wind shifts, what was not to like? It was late June 2016, a blessed escape from dull, wet Britain writhing in the aftermath of the referendum, and Greece, despite its own recent travails, was endowed to over brimming excess with sea and islands, sunshine and wonderful boats.

Denne historien er fra March 2017-utgaven av Classic Boat.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March 2017-utgaven av Classic Boat.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA CLASSIC BOATSe alt
Classic Boat

The Need For Speed

Saving lives at sea has always been bound to the speed of rescue, from the first rowing boats to the 60-knot, all-weather motorboats of today

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2021
ROW YOUR BOAT
Classic Boat

ROW YOUR BOAT

There has been a steady rise in recreational rowing over the past few years, and the choice can be bewildering. What’s the right boat for you?

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2021
Traditional Tool
Classic Boat

Traditional Tool

JOINER’S NAME STAMP

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2021
Classic misuse of a word
Classic Boat

Classic misuse of a word

Real classic ownership involves rot, rust and reward

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2021
Classic Boat

SCUD MISSILE

Herreshoff’s newly-restored Bar Harbor 31 Scud lit up the classic racing scene in the Med in 2020 with a double win at Cannes and Saint-Tropez

time-read
10 mins  |
March 2021
BOSUN'S BAG
Classic Boat

BOSUN'S BAG

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THE TRADITIONAL BOATER

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2021
DOUG LEEN - Tugboat man
Classic Boat

DOUG LEEN - Tugboat man

Vietnam vet, park ranger, dentist, small-craft conservator and tugboat skipper.... meet Ranger Doug!

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2021
CHANCE TO SAVE AN Albert Strange yawl
Classic Boat

CHANCE TO SAVE AN Albert Strange yawl

Chances at Albert Strange ownership don’t come up often, and Sheila II is the quintessential Strange – and one with a great history, too

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2021
AFFORDABLE CLASSIC Salcombe Yawls
Classic Boat

AFFORDABLE CLASSIC Salcombe Yawls

A friend and I once decided that walking might make a change from sailing. So we set forth to walk from Branscombe to Bigbury, a 100-mile stretch of the south-west coastal path marked by knackering climbs and knee-wrenching descents.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2021
Cardiff, Wales - Save The Elena Maria Barbara!
Classic Boat

Cardiff, Wales - Save The Elena Maria Barbara!

A rare, 18th-century schooner replica, restored to the tune of around £1 million, could be abandoned if a buyer is not found soon.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2021