December 2, 2024

Olin Stephens, a man of legend

Known as one of the greatest yacht designers of the 20th century, Olin Stephens’ name will carry on

for generations as people remember a man who changed history with his designs and passion for

building great yachts.

Born in 1908 in New York, Olin Stephens loved sailboats. His designs were often exceptional and

the world had already begun to take notice when he was just nineteen years old. Stephens grew up

sailing with his brother Roderick and the young Stephens dreamed of one day designing a monohull

that would take home the prestigious America’s Cup Trophy. The brothers Stephens joined in

partnership with Drake Sparkman at the end of the 1920’s to create Sparkman and Stephens, one of

today’s great yacht-design firms.

When the Great Depression hit the United States, the future of the firm was assured with the order of a

racing yacht named

 

 

Dorade

. This 16-metre yawl proved to be a great success, winning race after race

including the 1931 Trans-Atlantic Race and the famed Fastnet Race. Her success changed the face of

yacht design forever, launching the yacht industry into the search for the fastest, lightest yacht possible.

Following the Second World War, Stephen’s designs were behind many regatta victories, from the

Admiral’s Cup to the One Ton Cup and beyond. Between 1937 and 1980 Stephens helped design

six twelve-metre America’s Cup defenders, winning eight out of nine editions of the famed “Cup”,

including

 

 

Ranger in 1937, Columbia in 1958, Constellation in 1964, Intrepid in 1967, Courageous

in

1974 and

 

 

Freedom

in 1980.

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