PIPE DREAM 1961
The design of Pipe Dream originated in 1958 on George Cuthbertson's draughting board but was not completed until 1960 when the preliminary drawings attracted the attention of Harry C. (Sonny) Slemin, President of Office Specialties Ltd. in Newmarket, a former 8-metre sailor with Bob Grant aboard Invader.
Pipe Dream was built in Bronte by Metro Marine Ltd. under Erik Brückmann's supervision, and launched in 1961. Her method of construction was unique as she was built "inside out", a system devised by Dick Telford, who reasoned that by leaving the planking to the last, efficiency of construction could be much improved as the workmen had easy access to her interior which was completed including cabinetry, plumbing, electricals and all but final painting before she was planked. Framed with bulkheads, she was strip-planked of Alaska cedar, edge-nailed and glued. Others built in this manner included La Mouette and Thermopylae, both for Gordon Fisher, RCYC.
Sonny Slemin kept Pipe Dream for some years then, his eyesight failing, she was sold and, in time, was acquired by Brigadier General James F. Westhead who cruised her extensively and, in 1978, was awarded the Æmilius Jarvis Shield for Great Lakes cruising. On his death she was sold again and in due course Robin Wilson and Mary Baetz bought her and she received a thorough refit and restoration in the exact spot in the Bronte shop where she had been built 40 years before.
Now, in 2003, she is owned by the Brennan family. Margaret Brennan has served for years as the RCYC archivist. They have had Pipe Dream painted a rich deep blue and she is their summer home afloat, berthed in the RCYC lagoon.
L.O.A. 32' 7"
L.W.L. 25' 11"
Beam 10' 8"
Draught 3' 10"
MANITOU 1969
In over 30 years, Canada's Cup had been contested only once (1954) and interest in new construction in the 8-Metre class was minimal. Therefore the RCYC invited challenges in yachts rating 37 ft. according to the Cruising Club of America Rule (CCA) and promptly found themselves facing a challenge from Cleveland Yacht Club, the series to take place in September 1969. From four contenders, the Americans selected Niagara, designed by Sparkman & Stephens, to be their challenger. Three Canadian contenders were all designed by Cuthbertson and Cassian and built by Bruckman, a combination which later that year joined with others to form C&C Yachts Ltd. The three new racers were Manitou which was a larger development of Red Jacket, Bagatelle, a modified Redline 41 with a very large sail plan, and True North, narrow, wet and purposeful, with an outboard rudder. A hard-fought trial series brought each to perfection. Little Bagatelle had her moments on the light air days, True North won the reaching legs with ease, but Manitou, like Red Jacket before her, showed all round ability and excelled to windward regardless of the weather. The trial races were all close and hard fought but selection of Manitou to defend became clear. The variety of the three designs had given the designers unequalled opportunity, a lesson which was forgotten in future years. The strength of their rivals meant that Perry Connolly, Gordon Fisher, and David Osler met the U.S. challenger with an exceptionally prepared yacht and crew.
So Niagara found out. In moderate air, Manitou won the start and stretched throughout the first race to win by over 8 minutes. In a fresh breeze, Manitou's second race margin was almost three minutes. With no tomorrow if she didn't win the long distance race, Niagara made a good fight of it, and clung to the lead for over half of the 208-mile course, but relentlessly, Manitou closed the gap, rounded the fourth mark 14 seconds to the good and was gone, winning the race by 14 minutes and the series 4 to 0.
Detroit sailors had taken notice and bought Manitou that fall but the death of her new owner resulted in resale to Ralph Ryder of Florida who raced her with success in the SORC in 1970. By 1974, she was back in RCYC – renamed Magistri and owned by C.J. (Chuck) Bently. Modified to rate 32.0 under IOR Rule, she contested the Canada's Cup trials in 1975. Sold again, her original name of Manitou was restored. Two years later, her owner was transferred to England so he sailed her to her new home. With this Atlantic crossing, Manitou passed from RCYC view.
L.O.A. 39 ft. 2 in.
L.W.L. 32 ft.
Beam 12 ft.
Draught 6 ft. 9 in.
IVANHOE II 1928
For years, Ray Engholm had been one of the most active and ardent RCYC sailors with his famous black 8-Metre Norseman. Early in 1953, with interest growing in long-distance racing and cruising events, he bought the well known yawl Hilaria in Chicago, renamed her Ivanhoe, sailed her home and immediately entered the record books as she won the Lorne and Dufferin Cups in her first RCYC season and added the YRU Challenge Cup and Lake Ontario Trophy at the L.Y.R.A. regatta. Five times more she would win the Lorne Cup over the next ten years, emblematic of the championship of the RCYC First Division.
Through most of those years, Ivanhoe was flagship of the RCYC as Commodore Engholm took office in 1954 and served to 1963. Year after year, early July would find Ivanhoe heading up Lake Erie as Commodore Engholm loved nothing better than to sail the Port Huron/Mackinac Race and follow with a leisurely cruise in the North Channel. Few could match their Mackinac record. 1955 brought first to finish, first Class A and second overall. In 1957 – another first to finish. Second in Class A in 1958, she won Class A for the second time in 1961.
In 1964, Ray Engholm and Ivanhoe had completed their terms of office, so one last time the Commodore sailed his flagship to Mackinac and the North Channel. That fall a new owner took Ivanhoe back to salt water and her subsequent history is unknown. Ivanhoe was designed by John G. Alden of Boston, and was one of three near sisters built together by Reed Cook Construction Company in Maine in 1928. Christened Blazing Star, she had also borne the names Vamare, Southern Cross, and Hilaria.
L.O.A. 54 ft. 10 in.
L.W.L. 38 ft.
Beam 12 ft. 5 in.
Draught 7 ft. 3 in.