WHY BUY A 12 METRE David Pedrick 2007 In a recent AC eNewsletter, I described the history of the 12 Meter Class, which began its 100th anniversary celebration with a regatta in Valencia, Spain. This international gathering begs the question, "Why do owners continue to put so much effort and expense into these dinosaurs?" The 12 Meters and other, smaller survivors of the International Rule avoid extinction because they have their own attractiveness: they bear out the value of vintage. While other classic yachts disappeared from the racing scene, 12 Meters remain thanks to their durability, "upgrade-ability," and suitability for racing and day sailing alike. Because of its age, the 12 Meter Class has a few distinct generations, each offering its own motivations for ownership and use. The divisions were set according to two notable performance breakthroughs in the Class; the separated rudder plus trim tab of Intrepid in 1967 and the winged keel of Australia II in 1983 and allow like yachts to compete against one another when there are enough 12 Meters present. The design durability can be attributed to the Class Rule, which required scantlings to comply with Lloyd's Rules for the International Rating Classes. Through 1987, 12 Meter construction took place under the scrutiny of the survey by Lloyd's. Thanks to these high standards of strength and construction, more than 100 of the 180 hulls built between 1907 and 1987 remain. The Class' masts are built to strict standards as well, with limits on section dimensions, weight and height. 12 Meter masts are reasonably interchangeable, so a surplus of existing masts provides replacements, especially for the middle-aged boats. The second reason that the 12-Meters continue to thrive is that like boats can be tuned to sail at close to the same speed. The 12-Meters are heavy-displacement boats, and the rating rule constrains length and sail area such that the boats' speed potential fits within a fairly narrow band. As length goes up, sail area comes down, resulting in decent parity within the three divisions of the Class. A system of age credits accounts for jumps in performance at the generational breaks and, among the Modern (Intrepid 1967-1983, excluding Australia II) and Classic (pre-Intrepid) divisions, for design obsolescence over time. Additionally, credit is given for self-propulsion with an exposed propeller. Yachts in the Grand Prix Division (Australia II and later) compete to the full Class Rule with no concessions. The generational divisions and 12 Meter specific ratings system helps guide owners into the boat that best fits their objectives and budget. The current Grand Prix division is made up of yachts from the 1987 America's Cup. These boats were designed for the heavy air off Fremantle, Australia. To make them competitive in lighter air venues like Newport, Rhode Island and the Mediterranean, owners may reconfigure the yachts rating trade-offs of length, displacement, and sail area. Additionally, advancements in hydrodynamic design require owners of Fremantle 12 Meters to fit new appendages in order to be fully competitive. Improvements in spars, hardware and sails demand new purchases, as well. The cost of an unimproved Grand Prix yacht is only the tip of the financial iceberg, but a fully improved Grand Prix 12 Meter still offers good value for a 14 person, 65-foot racing yacht. WHY BUY A 12 METRE The advantage of buying a modern division 12 Meter is that the boats were designed for the moderate conditions of Newport in the first place. Reconfiguring does not necessarily involve major keel work and upgrades to rudders, rigs, winches are not essential right away. Classic division 12 Meters are an altogether different story. At times, it seems their beauty inspires irrational exuberance. They are sturdy, so they are good candidates for preservation or restoration. The revival of classic division 12 Meters in Newport began 30 years ago with the late Bob Tiedemann's Gleam and the local Newport fleet has grown to include eight 12 Meters built between 1928 and 1964. All but the fully-restored, 1928 Onawa have been maintained continuously with occasional, significant refits. These yachts live a mixed life as day sailing charter boats and, for their owners, racers and cruisers. There are even more Classic 12 Meters active in Europe, most of which are privately owned and have undergone substantial restorations. In Valencia, Vanity V, Trivia and Wings, all built between 1936 and 1937 are in brand new condition. Despite being exquisite antiques, they pressed each other hard in 20 knot winds during the centennial regatta, with the winner not decided until the seventh and final race. Which brings me to the third reason for the 12 Meter revival, owners are enjoying themselves. Many owners steer or serve in other active roles and have developed their crews to include friends, very capable amateurs and a limited number of professionals. While the professional tilt is stronger in the Grand Prix Division and almost absent in the Classics, the priority on owners having fun isn't lost in any of them. With the average age of 12 Meter owners and crews not much younger than the yachts that they are racing, there is good camaraderie ashore and owners usually have a special gathering at each major regatta. Getting their yachts into pristine form gives these owners plenty of satisfaction, but the greatest enjoyment comes from competing in refined yachts that combine technical preparation and sailing skill. A ROYAL REVIVAL - THE 12 METRE CLASS Jonathon Russo 2018 If a class of boats could be like a dynastic royal family, the 12 Metre Class would qualify. These legendary sailboats have a pedigreed set of designers: Olin Stephens individually and with Drew Sparkman (under the banner S&S), Ray Hunt, and Philip Rhodes. The 12s were helmed by an all-star line-up of skippers: Ted Hood, Emil “Bus” Mosbacher Jr. and Dennis Conner. The builders Nevins, Camper & Nicholson’s, Derecktor were the royalty of yacht yards. And the honorary chairman of the International 12 Metre Association (ITMA) for most of its history was His Highness the Aga Khan. The 12 metres were the America’s Cup yacht of choice from 1958 to 1987, with 10 Cup challenges in all. Today, the boats are as vibrant and vital as ever. “The 12s are enjoying a worldwide level of enthusiasm from both sailors and owners that is impressive,” says Peter Gerard, vice president of the Americas fleet. “Million-dollar restorations are the norm.” On the third floor of the Clarke Cooke House restaurant on Bannister’s Wharf in Newport, the 12s have a clubhouse with one of the coolest yacht saturated interiors in the United States. In the ‘70s, the restaurant was the hangout for Ted Turner and the Courageous crew. David Ray, the Cooke House’s owner, encouraged the group to use the third floor as its permanent meeting place. The room is redolent of smoke filled victory nights, dark wood and history. Light reflects off the hand-hewn beams. Think 17th century pub on the London docks. Moved from the Museum of Yachting shortly after the club was commissioned in 2012, the trophies and half-hulls lining the walls speak to the effort and brilliance that went into these yachts’ racing campaigns. “The interest in the fleet is at an all-time high,” says James Gubelmann, club commodore since 2010. “The class is competitive again, with boats from abroad participating in our regattas.” The 12s were born in 1907. Approximately 70 feet long, they have always been built to the International Rule, which allows for variations in length, hull design, rigging and sail plan, as long the overall design complies with the 12 Metre Class Rule. Because of the 100 plus year history, they race in divisions based primarily on age: Grand Prix, Modern, Traditional, Vintage and Antique. These divisions accommodate more than a century of developments in design, fabrication techniques and materials. About 200 of the 12s have been built. The 12 Metre Class Association maintains an online database created by historian Luigi Lang, who is also ITMA’s vice president for the South Europe fleet. For example, the listing for Westra, built by Camper & Nicholson’s in 1934, reads, “Damaged by air raid and broken up.” Many of the 12s are iconic for their successes in America’s Cup campaigns. Yachts such as Columbia, Weatherly, Vim, Intrepid, Courageous, Freedom and Stars and Stripes are known worldwide. The 12s inherited the Cup mantle from the dinosaur-sized, crew of 30, J-Class boats. The Js became financially impractical in the post- war era, and the much smaller 12s took their place. A ROYAL REVIVAL - THE 12 METRE CLASS Construction of the 12s followed boatbuilding evolution in general. The first were made of wood, then metal cores (knees and frames) with wood planking, then all aluminium like Courageous, and finally, fiberglass. It is still possible to sail on boats constructed of all these materials. The latest one built is the retro, wooden Siesta, launched in 2015 and based on a 1938 Third Rule design by Johan Anker. Gerard says people keep building the 12s because of their style and more. “The 12s are some of the most beautiful boats afloat,” he says. “Their lines are graceful, and they sail like a proper yacht. They were built to a rule that has proved its worth for more than 100 years.” The class is one year into a three-year World Championship campaign. There are three fleets: Americas, Northern Europe and Southern Europe. Each has held 16 regional regattas known as Waypoints, with 12 more to go.