Following her successful sea trials in September 2014, Hull #981 sailing yacht COLUMBIA was delivered to her new Owner by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. in October 2014. The all-new 43m superyacht COLUMBIA is a steel hull exact replica of the historic Gloucester Fishing Schooner. The shipyard is already working on the construction of her sister ship – Hull #134 sailing yacht COLUMBIA II.
Hull #981 sailing yacht COLUMBIA under sail
Ninety-one years earlier, the original “COLUMBIA” was officially measured on October 27th, 1923 just before her race with the “BLUENOSE” by Raymond J. Milgate, a marine surveyor of Halifax, N.S.
The original COLUMBIA was a 141’ classic wooden hull Gloucester Fishing Schooner built at the historic A.D. Story shipyard of Essex, Massachusetts. The town of Essex was the center for North American Fishing Schooner construction. Designed by the innovative William Starling Burgess, the original COLUMBIA was bred for speed. In the fall of 1923, the COLUMBIA challenged the BLUENOSE, Canada’s legendary schooner in the International Fishermen’s Cup Races held offshore of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nearly winning the title, the COLUMBIA was narrowly defeated by the BLUENOSE and was one of the few American schooners to provide a real challenge to BLUENOSE.
Luxury yacht COLUMBIA
Tragedy struck the promising young COLUMBIA on August 24, 1927 near Sable Island, the notorious “Graveyard of the Atlantic”, where the COLUMBIA was lost with all hands in a gale.
Luxury yacht COLUMBIA was also exhibited at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show October 30th – November 3rd, 2014, where she generated a lot of interest.
Working with John W. Gilbert & Associates of Boston, Massachusetts, the design was reengineered with a steel hull instead of wood. An engine room and staterooms were added to the design. Covey Island Boatworks of Lunenburg Nova Scotia built the rigging and spars. Blocks were fabricated by A. Dauphinee & Sons and all the sails were constructed by Michelle Stevens Sailloft, LTD, both from the Second Peninsula, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Teak decking was completed by Teakdecking Systems of Florida.
DESIGN DETAILS OF COLUMBIA YACHT:
DIMENSIONS:
Length on Deck………………………………………………………. 141’-2”
Length @ Waterline………………………………………………..110’-0”
Beam (Molded) ……………………………………………………… 25’-6”
Hull & Superstructure Construction…………………………. Steel, ABS Grade A-36
Main Mast …………………….One (1) 17” x 124’-10”, Covey Island Boatworks, Douglas Fir
Laminated Lower. Sitka Spruce Laminated Top Mast
Foremast ……………………….One (1) 17” x 115’-7”, Covey Island Boatworks, Douglas Fir
Laminated Lower. Sitka Spruce Laminated Top Mast
CERTIFICATES/REGULATORY:
Registry/Flag/Certificate of Documentation: United States of America
CONSTRUCTION GUIDANCE:
The vessels hull, superstructure and underwater gear are designed constructed and Classed in accordance with the Lloyds Registry Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels.
