The Past of Yachting

Starling Burgess' Ranger

Alden, Burgess, Herreshoff, Paine are some of the legends of yacht design. After my recent travels aboard a Lewis Francis Herreshoff schooner, I have been thinking about what exactly went on back then. There is no doubt we have come a long way in terms of performance and durability. Some may say we have lost in the ways of beauty though that always is a function of perspective. What I think we may have traded off is romance; it is impossible to replicate the smell and feel of a wooden classic on a modern yacht.

Then you take a look at the current line of production. In 20 years, these yachts will be vintage German Frers or Dubois designs. How will we look back and feel about them?

Ed Dubois' Tenaz