Sparkman & Stephens
The firm Sparkman & Stephens, Inc. (S & S) has been in New York City founded in 1929 by two brothers, Olin Stephens and Rod Stephens, together with Drake Sparkman. Purpose of the company was and still is the construction of yachts, trading with yachts and their insurance.
Founder
Olin Stephens was responsible for the designs and the design, Rod Stephens worked as an engineer and a sailing tester and Drake Sparkman brought his expertise as a yacht and insurance brokers in the company. The company's S & S is based in New York since its founding 79 Madison Avenue.
Rod Stephens died in 1995. Olin Stephens died in September 2008. He was in the last few years no longer active in the company, in its place Bill Langan has come, in the company as chief engineer and designer worked for years.
Business development
The company was founded was under an unlucky star, for they coincided in the beginning of the world economic crisis. Enraged at this poor start to the father of Olin and Rod Stephens defiantly ordered a new yacht named Dorade. This risk paid off because the new yacht immediately won the much acclaimed transatlantic race in 1931. Regatta This victory was for the young company Sparkman & Stephens of business breakthrough.
Olin and Rod Stephens knew how to create a congenial connection between racing yacht and cruising yacht, making them accessible to the sport of sailing more popular and wider layers.
Since its establishment, the company S & S designed more than 2,600 boats, not only for the leisure market, but also for commercial and during the war for military purposes. The worldwide fame of the company brought her but the internationally highly successful racing yachts.
A particular focus was the development of the 12- class ( 12-Metre ) for years dominated the America 's Cup, as well as various designs for the Admiral 's Cup and large maxi yachts that have been used for long- distance races around the world.
From the foundation to put the Finnish shipyard Nautor's Swan Yacht on the design office Sparkman & Stephens, as their uncompromising lines and the perfect interior promised sustainable success. This concept represented the Swan yachts from the beginning, even though since 1980 the yacht designer German Frers (a former S & S employees ) is responsible for the design.
Today the firm Sparkman & Stephens in two departments ( divisions) is divided: yacht construction and design and on the other hand yacht brokerage, yacht charter and yacht insurance.
Selection of known yachts
- Dorade, design 1930, (LOA 15.85 meters)
- Anitra
- Circe
- Santana
- Stormy Weather, 1934 (LOA 16.40 meters)
- New York 32, 1935, (LOA 14.72 meters)
- Lightning Class, 1938 (LOA 5.80 meters)
- Onaire III, 1940 ( LOA 18.60 meters, 61.10 feet), Built by: Herreshoff
- Bolero, 1946 (LOA 22.48 meters)
- Blue Jay Class, 1947 (LOA 4.12 meters)
- Encore
- Sariyah
- Yankee Girl
- Finisterre, 1954, (LOA 11.73 meters)
- Impala, 1954, (LOA 17.31 meters ) Built by: Abeking & Rasmussen (A & R)
- Palawan, 1958, (LOA 16.61 meters ) Built by: Abeking & Rasmussen
- Clarion of Wight, (LOA 43 feet ), overall winner Fastnet Race 1963
- Capricia, (LOA 73 feet), first ship home Fastnet Race 1963
- Germania VI, 1963, (LOA 22.19 meters)
- Tiziana, 1963, (LOA 35,29 ), Boatyard: Abeking & Rasmussen
- Tenacious, 1971 (LOA 18.73 meters), Owner: Ted Turner, overall winner Fastnet Race 1979
- Flyers, (LOA 65 feet ), winner second Whitbread Round the World Race 1977/78
- Brilliant, (LOA 61 feet)
- Queen Nefertiti (motor yacht)
- Christine, (LOA 109 feet)
- Rubin IV (LOA 14,94 m), Built by Burmester Bremen, belonged to the victorious Admiral's Cup team in 1973, the then owner of HO Schumann