Rudder Replacement for Historic Sailboat, Flirt

FLIRT

I am FLIRT, one of the famous original wooden Naval Academy yawls, designed by Bill Luders in 1939 and built soon after at Hinkley. I feature mahogany, teak, and spruce; my LOA is 44’ 2 ½”, LWL of 30’ 1”, my beam is 10’ 10 ½”, and my mast stands 52’ 3” from the deck. I have clean, traditional lines and I hope you look as eye-catching and graceful when you are 80 years old as I do! As a valuable part of U.S. and Naval Academy history, I gave generations of midshipmen a professional appreciation for the physics of wind, weather, and water. Sailing me develops remarkable character. I require competence, devotion, a knowledge of seamanship, resourcefulness, the ability to make quick decisions, work as a team member, and give and take orders. I have sailed in many coastal races in the Chesapeake, and both on and off the Atlantic seaboard, as well as signature Pacific coast regattas and Ancient Mariner Sailing Society regattas. When possible, I welcome visitors at Classic Wooden Boat Shows. Images of me can be found in manuals of seamanship and nautical publications, such as Wooden Boat and Latitude 38.

By great fortune, I was acquired several decades ago (along with my sister FROLIC), by a proficient boatwright, Jack Swendsen, whose professional career has been in custom woodwork and classic boat restoration. He restored both my sister and me to near perfection and we both still sail and race in San Diego waters. I have been Jack’s home for many years, and we are tied together heart and soul.

I need your help! While sailing New Years’ Day, I had a frightening misadventure. The pin attaching the bottom of my rudder sheared and most of my rudder went down to Davey Jones! My owner was able to drive me safely back to our home at Southwestern Yacht Club, but as we all know, I cannot sail without my rudder. The bids we have received for the haul out, custom fabrication and repair are staggering - around $19,700. I had an expensive haul-out 2 months ago to refresh my entire hull. Jack, like many semi-retired craftsmen later in life, also has unexpected medical expenses and does not have the financial means to fund such a large repair. Please help me sail into the future! A contribution of any amount would be greatly appreciated.