The fast and clean stern sections of Ceramco |
The Ceramco half-model published on www.demi-coques.fr |
Ceramco during initial sailing trials (photo Auckland Star/Sea Spray) |
Ceramco makes a foray into the Southern Ocean on her way back to New Zealand after the Sydney-Hobart Race (photo Lidgard Sails) |
Ceramco enters the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island as part of her New Zealand tour following her victory in the Sydney-Hobart race |
Ceramco during the 1981 Auckland Anniversary Regatta (photo Auckland Maritime Museum) |
Ceramco during the 1981 Seahorse Maxi series in the English Channel (photo Seahorse magazine) |
Ceramco nears Cape Town towards the end of her epic 4,000 mile journey under jury rig |
Ceramco sails triumphantly into Auckland Harbour in the next leg, second on line and first on corrected time |
Ceramco was sold to a Californian surgeon after the Whitbread race, and was based for a decade at Marina del Rey in Los Angeles. Her sparse racing interior was refitted by the owner for cruising, who renamed her Winterhawk and raced her with a professional crew for 20 years, first out of California and later from Newport, Rhode Island. She raced in the 1984, 1986 and 1988 editions of the Clipper/Kenwood Cup - her rating increasing to 63.8ft for 1986 but dropping to 61.51ft for 1988 (possibly benefiting from an age allowance). That helped Winterhawk to achieve her most notable result that year, with a third place in Class A (and 19th overall).
Winterhawk during the 1984 Clipper Cup (photo John Malitte/Sea Spray) |
Winterhawk seen here in a Maxi race to leeward of Boomerang and Nirvana, with Sorcery and Ondine close behind (photo Facebook) |
Dianne Masters bought Ceramco in 2005, by which time she had reverted to her original name (giving life to a company name that disappeared from the New Zealand business scene in about 1989). Ceramco later competed in the 2013 Rolex Big Boat series (held in the US Virgin Islands), where she featured as one of the fleet's most historic entries. The crew paid homage to Blake when sporting red socks during a day of competition, as a nod to his famous lucky charm from the 1995 and 2000 America's Cup regattas.
Masters commented during the regatta about her famous yacht - “This was the first boat built with a favourable design to surf the big waves in the Southern Ocean. We need at least 20 to 25 knots of wind and then we’re untouchable. In light winds like this, we don’t have a chance of winning, but we’re all having a great time". Indeed, in the relatively moderate breezes, she had to settle for eighth place.
Unfortunately Ceramco did not make it downunder for the 2013 season. It would be a great sight to see her lined up with Blake's later Whitbread yachts Lion New Zealand and Steinlager 2 that are both now based in Auckland.
However, by 2015 Ceramco was looking much worse for wear, and was put up for sale with comments that: "In 2005, Dianne Masters purchased her and she was last campaigned in the
US Virgin Islands-2013 Rolex Big Boat series. At that time a fund
raising [effort] was in place to sail her back to New Zealand. Reportedly the
vessel was last hauled in Trinidad and then sailed back to Florida,
where the undersigned performed the first survey whilst fully rigged at
Miami Marine Bay Sideon 5.9.15 and then afloat with her mast down at
Mirage Yachts, Miami on 5.14.15".
After a rescue mission from Miami by Gary Golding, Ceramco was sailed to Bundaberg, Australia, and is now available for charter - see her Facebook page here.
Ceramco sailing in the 2013 Rolex Big Boat Series (photo Ingrid Abery) |
Another photo of Ceramco during the 2013 Rolex series |
Ceramco in Florida awaiting sale to a new owner, 2015 (GSA Auctions website) |
After a rescue mission from Miami by Gary Golding, Ceramco was sailed to Bundaberg, Australia, and is now available for charter - see her Facebook page here.
Tanks ,it really helped with last minute homework.!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks I mean
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear!
ReplyDeletethis boat is for sale in usa florida
ReplyDeletehttp://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucitsrh/?sl=41QSCI16024001
Who owns her now ?
ReplyDelete