Classic Yacht TV · video

What this video covers

The 62-foot Sparkman and Stephens yawl Manitou, design number 99, holds a significant racing pedigree and historical status as a former presidential yacht. Commissioned in 1937 by James Lowe for the Chicago Mackinac Race, the vessel secured multiple victories and course records between 1938 and 1941. Following her donation to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1956, the yacht served as a presidential vessel for John F. Kennedy on Chesapeake Bay. In 1968, the Harry Lundenburg School of Seamanship acquired the boat, famously rejecting purchase offers from Aristotle Onassis to maintain her use for youth sail training. Built with the same design lineage as the Yale Durad and Stormy Weather, Manitou features a balanced hull form capable of competitive performance in both light and heavy air. The vessel currently competes on the Mediterranean Classic Race Circuit and remains maintained to high standards.

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