Skål - 1930's history

S/Y SKÅL was designed in early 1930 for George V. Smith and Hobart Ford, Rye, New York, vice-commodore of the Cruising Club of America for the 1930 Bermuda Race by the prolific naval architect Philip L Rhodes. The gaff-rigged cutter was built by the Casey Boatbuilding company of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

Skål's original measurements: 48 feet by 37 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 6 inches by 7 feet.

Skål's original line drawing from the book 'Philip L. Rhodes and his yacht designs' by Richard Henderson

SKÅL was completed in time to sail the 1930 Bermuda race and finished in a respectable 11th place out of 42 boats.

Although SKÅL had a very respectable racing record, she was primarily designed as a seagoing cruiser. It was stated by Hobart Ford in Yachting magazine that 'able cruising boats are his vice.." and skal very much proved able. On her return passage from the 1930 Bermuda race she successfully weathered an 80-mile-an-hour blow.

Skål's body plan drawing from the book 'Philip L. Rhodes and his yacht designs' by Richard Henderson

SKÅL's body plan show's why she is such a splendid sea boat. Her fairly long keel helps keep her on course, while her ample draft allows a deep and well protected rudder for good steering control and permits deep external ballast for reserve stability. Moderately short ends, together with her almost champagne-glass sections and considerable displacement, make for an exceptional sea-kindliness. In addition she has sufficient beam for sail-carrying ability, comfort, and the alleviation of the rhythmic rolling that often occurs on narrow boats. It seems safe to say that SKÅL has a much more comfortable motion than the narrower Dorade when running in seaway.

 -Richard Henderson, Philip L. Rhodes and his yacht designs.

Skål on the 4th of July 1931 under sail carrying a huge, vertically cut reaching jib and a small, yardless topsail. (Yachting magazine September 1931 - Philip L Rhodes and his yacht designs by R Henderson.

In 1931 SKÅL was aquired by Richard F. Lawrence for the 1931 Transatlantic Race where Skål finished in an incredible second place to the Olin Stephens designed Dorade who rightfully recieved considerable publicity. However Skål recieved little attention and was soon forgotten depsite doing especially well considering she was the smallest boat in the fleet of 10, she didn't have a good handicap rating and that her rig was relatively old-fashioned.

Throughout the 1931 Transatlantic Race SKÅL performed well and her crew members had nothing but praise for her. Nearing the English coast, she ran into a storm and was forced to shorten down to trysail and jumbo. Then running up the English channel towards Plymouth, she encountered rain squalls with wind strength approaching gale force. While local fishing boats reefed down, SKÅL pressed on under her three lower sails and top sail, overhauling a steamer and steam trawler in the process.

Skål's track in the 1931 Transatlantic Race - Richard Henderson's book, 'Philip L Rhodes and his yacht designs'

Alan Grey, a crew member onboard the 1931 transat race wrote an account of his time for 'The Rudder' magasine. "Skål is an admirable sea boat, and it is not too much to say that all aboard her were fully as comfortable as those on some of the larger craft. Her motion even in our worst weather, was remarkably easy and she was very dry. No water was taken into the cockpit, except on that day we went into the storm trysail. Probably her best point of sailing is running, for she made remarkable runs during the days when the wind was well aft, and she handles very well in the following seas."

"What is particularly appealing about SKÅL is her good looks. In contrast with many modern cruisers, she has a moderate freeboard, an exquisite sheerline, handsome balanced ends, and an unobtrusive cabin trunk. This is the kind of hull which can always be considered up to date, for it has character and integrity."- Richard Henderson.

After a two year restoration SKÅL is ready to showcase what she does best and take you on an unforgettable journey exploring the coastline of the French Riviera. Book your place onboard now.

Richard Henderson's book - Philip L. Rhodes and his yacht designs

Le Chasse-Marée - Pour l'amour de Skal - 2006