|
62' Sparkman & Stephens Custom
|
Other photos: Restored Aft Cabin, Aft Cabin, Mail Salon FWD, Main Salon Aft, Salon Pilot Berth, V -berth, New 4 Burner Stove, Plate Storage & Microwave, Galley Sink, New & Hidden Elec. Service Panel, Original Herreshoff Pedestal, All New Butternut Interior Joinery, Original Fireplace, Fwd Head 1, Fwd Head 2, Portlight Detail, Hidden Halogen Lighting, JFK & Others, JFK Sailing Manitou. | ||
Mr. James Lowe of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a member of the Chicago Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club, commissioned the young Naval Architect, Olin Stephens, to design him a boat that could win the Chicago-Mackinac Race. Launched in 1937, MANITOU fulfilled the owner’s desires breaking the elapsed time record and winning the 1938 Chicago- Mackinac Race and also winning handily on corrected time. She was second across the line in 1939 and first again in 1940 and 41. She also won the Port Huron-Mackinac Race in 1940 and set a new record for that race, taking almost two hours off the course record and beating her nearest rival by more than five hours. When Mr. Lowe was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1942, the MANITOU moved on. In 1956 she was donated to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where she was used to teach the cadets seamanship, sailing and how to work together as a crew. When John F. Kennedy was elected President, the Presidential yacht was a 92’ powerboat. Although he changed her name to “HONEY FITZ” in honor of his grandfather, the President was a sailor at heart and sent naval aide, John Tazwell, in search of a suitable sailboat for Presidential use. With her good looks and pedigree, MANITOU was quickly selected. She was brought to Chesapeake Bay and fitted with all the proper radios and communication equipment so the President would never be out of touch with his office or even the Kremlin while on board. Jack Kennedy used her often there and in New England. He never raced her, but once off Newport during the summer of 1962 he attempted to engage his friend Emil “Bus” Mosbacher and his 12 Meter Weatherly in a friendly sparring match. However, the Secret Service following along in a patrol boat intercepted the future successful America’s Cup Defender before she got close enough, much to the chagrin of the President. In 1968, MANITOU was sold at auction to the Harry Lundeburg School of Seamanship which is run by the Seafarer’s International Union and its then strong leader, Paul Hall. Aristotle Onassis, who was about to marry Jackie Kennedy in October 1968, sought to buy MANITOU at any price. Long a proponent of the common man, Mr. Hall refused all offers, saying he wanted to keep her to teach less privileged young people about boats. In 1999, MANITOU was purchased by Laura Kilbourne, the granddaughter of James Lowe, and the MANITOU came back into the family. MANITOU was taken to Chesapeake Marine Railway in Deltaville, Virginia not far from where she was built and has undergone a major refit that will prolong her sailing career for many years to come. Great pain was taken to keep her as original with butternut paneling and use of all the old hardware that was still with the boat. Her deck and much of her planking have been replaced and her interior has been rebuilt and refinished. Now is your chance to own what Aristotle Onassis was denied. A fast and well found boat, MANITOU is a real part of American Yachting History and a Kennedy Yacht. | ||
office 212-661-6170 email cell 516-551-6224
Click here for a complete list of boats offered by SPARKMAN & STEPHENS | ||
Contact Sparkman & Stephens, Inc..
|