The Legend of Imp

A new video has been released by William Barton featuring a collection of great photos of Imp, the Holland 40 footer that scored a number of memorable firsts in offshore racing in 1977 - the SORC, Admiral's Cup and Big Boat Series. 



Barton has written a book called "The Legend of Imp", and the link to buy the book can be found at the end of an earlier article about Imp on this site here.

Legende (Peterson One Tonner)

Legende was a Doug Peterson-designed One Tonner, based on and moulded from the production Jeanneau Sun Legende 41, with the mould 'blocked off' to improve its rating under IOR. The yacht was built as a promotion for the Sun Legende, and wanted a boat that could compete with the Beneteau One Tonners such as Coyote and the first (1984) version of Fair Lady. Legende was built to compete in the 1985 SORC, and was similar in proportions and aesthetics to many of the fractional One Tonners of the era, including the Farr yachts such as Total Eclipse (ex-Geronimo).

Legende was the first high tech custom racing boat that Jeanneau had ever built, and unfortunately she was delivered two months late and she ended up being launched on just the day before the 1985 SORC. The first time the sails were hoisted was on the way to the startline and she simply hadn't been properly optimised and rated about 0.25ft higher for the series than she should have (30.75ft IOR), and just higher than the One Ton limit of 30.55ft.

Legende being launched a day before the start of the 1985 SORC series (photo credit P Bishop)

The main problems were that Legende's keel was too heavy, and she had too much internal ballast. Jeanneau had installed the same engine used for the production Sun Legende 41's and it was too heavy and was fitted with the wrong propeller. The boat was skippered Buddy Melges, and performed strongly on the triangle courses, exhibiting strong upwind speed, but was less successful in the long distance races. Legende finished the regatta in eighth in class (with placings of 4/12/7/2/16/8) and ninth overall, in a year dominated by One Tonners, but could have been in the top five if the rating had been tuned to 30.55ft.

Legende heading out to the start of a race during the 1985 SORC (photo P Mello)

The original owner of Legende, Jack Bush, advises that the boat was fitted with a new keel, designed by Bill Tripp, installed in May 1985. Her engine installation issues were resolved at the same time. In July 1985 her hydraulic controlled rigging was removed and replaced, making for a much lighter setup. By the end of July 1985 she was fully optimised to her originally planned One Ton rating. Legende's upwind performance remained strong and she became much quicker downwind. The boat went to the One Ton North Americans later that year and was skippered by Bill Tripp, but lack of preparation resulted in an unsuccessful campaign.

Legende in the marina during the 1985 SORC, alongside the Joubert/Nivelt Innisfree (photo credit P Bishop)

From 1986 to 1991, Bush recalls, Legende was campaigned heavily throughout New England, including in Newport, Marblehead, Maine and the New York end of Long Island Sound. She was a consistent winner, winning her class in the New England PHRF Championships several times and in the Monhegan Race in 1987 and 1989. She finished second in class in the 1985 (IOR) and 1990 (PHRF) Monhegan Races. Legende won many other regattas and season championships too. 

Legende, Newport 1985 (photo Phil Uhl)

Legende at the dock (photo Facebook)

Legende sailing upwind during the 1985 SORC

Legende (photo John A Glynn | Facebook)

Legende competed in the 1985 Brenton Reef Series (with a rating of 30.6ft), seen here in the left of the photo on starboard, behind Rampage (32006) and Wildcat (63311) (photo Phil Uhl)

In the fall of 1991 Bush sold Legende to two partners from Charleston, SC. However, shortly afterwards they had a falling out and their bank foreclosed on their loan and assumed ownership, storing the boat at Knight Marine, Rockland. In spite of many offers over the years the bank never sold Legende and just let it sit there. Finally, they sold it for a partial payment on the accumulated yard fees to a longtime Legende crew member who restored her.

Above and below - Legende lies in Knight Marine in Rockland, circa 1992

Legende was located in Thomaston, Maine in April 2015, still on dry land but by all accounts in good condition at that time, although the deck was noted as needing some cosmetic work and the engine requiring replacement.

Article updated in September 2023

Spica (Japanese One Tonner)

These photos are from a recent post on the One Ton Class Facebook page of the Japanese One Ton yachts Spica. The history of Spica yachts is not clear, but it appears that the first Spica (also known as Spica V), JPN 3357 was a Farr design (Design #209, 1988), as an update of the 1986 design Propaganda (#182, 1986) and Steadfast (#188, 1987).

Spica (1989)

The second Spica (JPN 8242) was a Niels Jeppesen/X-Yachts design, which raced for Japan in the 1991 Admiral's Cup (skippered by M Muroi), alongside team-mates Will (50-footer) and Carino (Two Tonner). The Japanese team had finished in a reasonable seventh (of 14 teams) in 1989, but performed relatively poorly in 1991, finishing seventh of just eight teams, while Spica was the last placed yacht in the One Tonner division (placings of 7/8/7/8/DNF/8). 

Spica during the 1991 Admiral's Cup (photos from One Ton Class Facebook page)

Spica returning to Cowes Marina (above and below) after a race during the 1991 Admiral's Cup (photos from shockwave40 blog)

Spica during the 1991 Admiral's Cup (photo One Ton Facebook page)

Spica came to Vancouver in the early 1990's and was re-named Dauntless. She had a great racing career in Vancouver. She was later seen anchored in False Creek, but it is understood that Spica is presently located in Point Roberts, Washington.

One Ton Revisited 2015 - Race 5

Rainbow II (Chris Bouzaid) finished the inaugural One Ton Revisited series in style with a second in the points-and-a-half final race on IRC corrected time, to complete a 2/1/1/1/2 series. The S&S36 Rainbow II had already wrapped up the contest with victory in the double points long race yesterday. Today’s result only emphasised her all-round pedigree and class. 

Rainbow II reveled in the predominantly light conditions that marked her return to racing in the Hauraki Gulf (photo Ivor Wilkins)

The course today was a 25-miler from the start off Northern Leading Beacon, counter-clockwise around Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, then back into the harbour to the finish off Princes Wharf. The breeze at the start was a 10-knot east-north easterly.

Impact (right) and Result rounding Billy Goat Point

At Billy Goat Point, on the north-eastern tip of Motutapu, the Farr 40 Pacific Sundance (Bernard Hyde) led by 400 metres from the Farr 36 Revolution (Tony Wallis/Max Cossey), Next came Rainbow II and the Carter 39 Wai Aniwa. Astern of them, the Lidgard designs Result and Impact were locked in their own titanic battle.

Pacific Sundance slides down the Rangitoto Channel under masthead spinnaker in a building nor-westerly (photo RNZYS)

At the Rangitoto Light mark (McKenzie Buoy), the two Farr boats, Pacific Sundance and Revolution were reveling in the downwind sailing with the breeze now puffing more than 12 knots which increased further as the fleet neared the last turning point at North Head. Pacific Sundance led from start to finish for a perfect score of five bullets, with Revolution finishing just five minutes behind to take corrected time honours and finish in second place overall. 

Wai Aniwa, Rainbow II, Result and Impact made a magnificent sight as they came charging down the Rangitoto Channel under spinnaker in a building breeze - Result's challenge came to an end in a spectacular broach, and shortly afterwards Rainbow II lost their spinnaker pole under compression loading, allowing Wai Aniwa to sneak ahead around North Head. However, Wai Aniwa made an error passing a channel marker the wrong way, which let both Rainbow II and Impact through on the final fetch up the harbour to the finish off Princes Wharf. This saw Wai Aniwa fall back to third place overall, just one point behind Revolution and one point ahead of Impact.

Final results: 1st Rainbow II (39pts), 2nd Revolution (27pts), 3rd Wai Aniwa (26pts), 4th Impact (25pts), 5th Pacific Sundance (17pts), 6th Result (13pts).

There was some consolation for Result which won the Altex Coatings Prix d'Elegance award for the "best presented boat and crew".

Result - winner of the Altex Coatings Prix d'Elegance award, seen here at the start of the fourth race (photo RNZYS)

At the series prizegiving held at Viaduct Harbour, there was little doubt about the success of the event, despite the small final fleet, with everyone talking in terms of “next year”. Many of the crews expressed their delight at the closeness of the racing and the spirit in which it was carried out. It was, the older hands agreed, a timely reminder of the competitive quality of Ton racing in days gone by.

Almost in response, Chris Bouzaid told the gathering that discussions were already under way with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to stage the event again in 12 months’ time, on a bigger scale. This would be achieved with a more inclusive set of IRC rating bands and by including Quarter, Half and even Two Tonners. If the response to the proposal is enthusiastic enough, the RNZYS could consider including Ton racing in its annual programme.


A nice video of Rainbow II and her legacy for New Zealand yachting has been added to the Volvo Ocean Race website and can be seen here:



And the TVNZ Sports feature on the One Ton Revisited regatta is here.

One Ton Revisited 2015 - Race 4

Rainbow II turned the clock back 46 years today and clinched the One Ton Revisited sailing series with a race to spare. In 1969, the S&S 36, skippered then, as now, by Chris Bouzaid, won four straight races to win the coveted One Ton Cup off the North Sea island of Heligoland. Fast forward, and today she nailed a 2/1/1/1 series to guarantee victory on overall points even though there is still the 1.5-points race finale scheduled for Saturday (7 March).

Rainbow II slips along upwind in light airs on her way to winning the fourth race, and clinching overall honours, in the One Ton Revisited 2015 regatta (photo RNZYS)

The course today was from the start in the vicinity of Rangitoto Light, to Orarapa Island (The Haystack) in Rakino Passage, around the Navy Buoy in Tiri Passage, to a mark off Narrow Neck, and then to the finish off Orakei, at the entrance to Auckland Harbour. 

Pacific Sundance - took line honours in race 4 but again could not save her time on IRC against the rest of the fleet (photo RNZYS)

The 8-knot north easterly at the start became a 10-knot northerly off the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. The Farr 40 Pacific Sundance (Bernard Hyde) led from the start and around the Haystack. But she was only 4m 19s ahead of the second-placed Rainbow II at that turn and it was already clear that she was going to struggle to match the former One Ton Cup winner on IRC corrected time. 

Revolution before the start of race 4 where she finished fourth on line and corrected time (photo RNZYS)

The gap was 8m 42s rounding the Navy Buoy in Tiri Passage to start the 12-mile light airs run back into the harbour. The Farr 36 Revolution (Tony Wallis/Max Cossey) was third around, another 8m 37s behind Rainbow II. By this stage, the 34ft Lidgard design Impact (Kevin Kelly), the smallest boat in the fleet, was more than 30 minutes behind Pacific Sundance. 

Wai Aniwa had a good day, finishing in second place on IRC to move up to 2nd overall (photo RNZYS)

Pacific Sundance continued to creep away on that long return to Rangitoto Channel and Orakei and crossed the line at 16.57.45hrs – some 14m 38s ahead of Rainbow II. The Lidgard 36 Result (Bevan Hill) was third across the line, picking off Revolution on the way home and finishing 6m 14s behind Rainbow II, while the Carter 39 Wai Aniwa (Roger Foley) and Impact did well to contain the deficit on the leader. 

Pacific Sundance hoists her spinnaker after rounding the Haystack (photo RNZYS)

But, there was only going to be one winner on corrected time.

The superbly-sailed Rainbow II clung tenaciously to the stern of fleet leader Pacific Sundance to ensure that the Farr boat would never make up the required time on handicap. In the process, Rainbow II burned off her closest boat-for-boat opposition and won on corrected time by a daunting 14m 47s. Bouzaid’s other One Ton Cup winner, Wai Aniwa (1972) bounced back from mast problems to take second place today and move up into second place on overall points. The margins between second and fifth are, however, very small and there will be a lot at stake when the fleet goes to the start line for the final time at 10am on Saturday.

Revolution approaches the Haystack, ahead of Result and Impact (photo RNZYS)

Overall placings after four races: 1st Rainbow II (31.5pts), 2nd Wai Aniwa (21.5pts), 3rd Impact (19pts), 4th Revolution (18pts), 5th Pacific Sundance (14pts), 6th Result (11.5pts).

Article provided by Alan Sefton

One Ton Revisited 2015 - Race 3

The second 20-mile Olympic course race of the One Ton Revisited series produced another classic day on the inner-Hauraki Gulf. The ENE breeze blew 10 to 12 knots at the start and built to 12 to 15 knots by the finish.

The recently restored, former One Ton Cup winner Rainbow II (Chris Bouzaid) was in her element and won by an impressive 6m 40s on IRC corrected time to increase her lead on overall points. Rainbow II always was a light airs flyer and appears to have lost none of that S&S pedigree during her complete restoration in the Silverdale yard of Wayne Olsen’s Horizon Boats.

The Farr 36 Revolution chasing after Pacific Sundance and Result on her way to third on line and second on corrected time (photo Ivor Wilkins)

The Farr 40 Pacific Sundance (Bernard Hyde) took line honours for the third race in a row, crossing the line more than 10 minutes clear of the second-placed Lidgard design Result (Bevan Hill), but again she was unable to put enough time on the rest of the fleet around the six-leg course to make an impression on handicap.

Behind Rainbow II, it was a real tussle for high placings, the Farr 36 Revolution (Tony Wallis/Max Cossey) finishing second on corrected time (and moving up to second equal overall), just two seconds ahead of the 34ft Lidgard design Impact (Kevin Kelly).

Impact, with Andy Ball on the helm, hammers her way through the chop on the Hauraki Gulf on her way to third on corrected time in race 3 (photo Ivor Wilkins)

It is a lay-day tomorrow (4 March) with Rainbow II and Wai Aniwa both planning to tackle some small remedials – the Rainbow II crew looking to deal to a mysterious small problem with her propeller shaft, while the Wai Aniwa crew will be dealing to a mast that appears to be slightly out of plumb. The series is scheduled to resume with the all-important, double-points, 35-mile Gulf Race on 5 March, before the 1.5 points, 25-mile finale on 7 March.

The One Ton Revisited fleet berthed at Viaduct Harbour, while maintenance is underway on the Volvo 65 yachts alongside the Viaduct Events Centre to the left

Overall placings after three races: 1st Rainbow II (19.5pts), 2nd= Pacific Sundance (12pts), 2nd= Revolution (12pts), 4th Wai Aniwa (11.5pts), 5th Impact (11pts), 6th Result (7.5pts).

Article provided by Alan Sefton


You can catch a TVNZ Sports feature on the One Ton Revisited regatta here.

One Ton Revisited 2015 - Race 2

The Farr 40 Pacific Sundance (Bernard Hyde) again took line honours in Race 2 of the One Ton Revisited regatta – a 20-mile Olympic course off Auckland’s East Coast Bays. But the winner on corrected time was the S&S 36 Rainbow II (Chris Bouzaid) which now leads on overall points after a second in the opening race on Saturday and now a victory today.

Rainbow II making the most of her S&S windward pedigree in the Hauraki Gulf today (photo Ivor Wilkins)

It was champagne sailing in the Hauraki Gulf with a 10 to 12-knot north-easter and enough of a chop to put a real premium on helming upwind. Pacific Sundance led from start to finish but could not stretch away enough to make up the time she needed on handicap. Rainbow II slugged it out all day with the Lidgard design Result (Bevan Hill) and the Farr design Revolution (Tony Wallis and Max Cossey).

Bevan Hill’s Lidgard design Result leads Revolution and Wai Aniwa (photo Ivor Wilkins)

“It was a real boat race – demanding but a lot of fun – and everything we remember about the halcyon days of the One Ton Cup,” said Bouzaid. “It kind of reminds you what keel boat racing is missing out on these days”.

The Pacific Sundance team on the weather rail (photo Ivor Wilkins)

The photos below are from the RNZYS Facebook page.

Pacific Sundance

Rainbow II

Revolution

Wai Aniwa

Overall placings after two races: 1st Rainbow II (13.5pts), 2nd Pacific Sundance (11pts), 3rd Wai Aniwa (9.5pts), 4th Revolution (7pts), 5th Impact (7pts), 6th Result (4.5pts)

More photos here.

Article provided by Alan Sefton