By Mara Shore, as originally published in the Mainsheet in June 2005.
In the late 1930’s, the renowned boat designer John Alden, who summered in Little Compton, created a daysailer specifically for our waters. Called the Sakonnet Sloop, the 18 ½ foot keelboat has graceful lines, excellent stability due to a 700 pound lead keel, a deep cockpit surrounded by high combings, and a relatively high, dry freeboard: a perfect balance of attributes for daysailing in and around Sakonnet. The sloop evolved from a 1917 design called the Biddeford Pool One-Design. The Herreshoff Yards in Bristol produced several of the boats, which were destroyed by the devastating hurricane of 1938. Alden then modified his design slightly, and in 1939, ten more were built by the Casey Boatbuilding Company in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. This design so pleased John Alden that he kept one for himself, sailing and racing it regularly. Others were purchased by Little Compton families who eagerly sailed and raced them at the then newly-formed Sakonnet Yacht Club. These are the boats that we know as “Aldens.” They are safe, dry, and comfortable, making them perfect for multigenerational daysailing and racing.
In 1954, Hurricane Carol, which leveled whatever was left or had been rebuilt on our coastline after the 1938 hurricane, destroyed all but two of the boats, Tautog and Cormorant. Legend has it that Elizabeth Dawson, an avid competitor who was devoted to her boat, Tautog, scuttled it in the harbor before the hurricane to keep it safe. When the hurricane had passed, the boat was raised; but it was never the same after its trip to the bottom. The rest of the fleet had to be replaced, and were ready to sail in the summer of 1955. All but one of the “Aldens” now in and around our harbor date from that year.
The 1955 fleet was built by Harry Towne, who bought the Herreshoff yard after his Tiverton boatyard had been destroyed in the 1954 hurricane. (Robert W. Carrick and Richard Henderson, John G. Alden and his Yacht Designs, International Marine Publishing Company, 1984, pp. 300-302. Anyone who wishes to read further about the history of the Sakonnet Aldens will find this book most useful.) Ten boats were built to Alden’s design number 694, bringing the total to twelve. Alden bought one of these boats and named her Java , for the acronym of his name and that of his wife, Virginia. He sailed and raced Java actively for several years. She was his last boat. Other members of the 1955 Sakonnet fleet included Howard Huntoon (Honey Bee), Howard Merriman (Blossom), the Hawes family (Blue Angel, now Cutty Wow), the Bullocks (Whistler), Noel Field, Jr. (Lady Slipper and Bachelor Button), Al Fordyce (Cormorant, now—arguably—September Song), Leonard Colt (Old Bull), the Kelley family (Augusta/Sou’wester), Walter Cluett (Tempest II, now Chiquita), Brad Wiley (Calypso, now Elisha), Elizabeth Brayton Dawson (Tautog), and Dennis Taylor(?).
In 2005, many of these boats remain in active use. Alden’s Java is being overhauled by the Woodhouse clan for action in 2006. Old Bull, magnificently rebuilt by Erik Thomas in 1998, took the season honors in 2004. Chiquita continues to be formidably raced by Roswell Perkins and David Goodrich. Whistler is still owned by the Marvel family, and, despite the untimely loss of her champion, P.T., has continued to be sailed and raced. Bachelor Button is once again owned by Noel Field, Jr., who is embarking on her restoration. Blue Angel is now Cutty Wow, which has been expertly sailed by generations of the Taylor family. Calypso was restored by Peter Lozier and Robert von der Lippe as Elisha in the late 1970’s and has been the fleet champion often in recent years. In addition, September Song, owned and sailed by the Whitmash family, continues to spark debate as to whether or not she is actually the ancient Cormorant, modified in the 1970’s with a cuddy and a few other minor changes. A few other Sakonnet Aldens exist, in museums and meadows, waiting to have their souls rekindled and their hulls retimbered. If history is any guide, these Aldens, too, will once again have their days in the sun on the sparkling waters of the Sakonnet.
Alden sailors have taken great care not only in maintaining these beautiful pieces of living history, but also in bringing along new generations of Alden sailors, who will take the tillers into the future. One-design rules keep the boats well matched, ensuring both stirring racing competition and the long term survival of the fleet. The basic one-design rule is that the boat is to be presented and raced as in the drawings prepared for the construction of the boats by the firm of John Alden. Materials are to be as indicated, sizes for spars and layouts as drawn. We are indeed fortunate that the Sakonnet sloops in our fleet are well matched, as we enjoy close racing all season. Seconds usually separate the finishers, and this is truly as it was intended when the boats were designed. To recognize what a privilege it is to sail and race these boats, visit the Hereshoff Museum in Bristol. It is a fascinating museum full of artifacts of interest to anyone who likes boats. As you walk amongst the graceful hull shapes, you can’t help imagining what is was like to sail on them. It is truly awe-inspiring to leave that museum, return to Sakonnet, and step aboard an Alden, bringing your museum musings to vivid, splashing, pounding life.
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Alden Sakonnet Sloop, and in honor of the generations of local sailors who have remained loyal to this beautiful, classic little boat, the Board of Governors invites you to join them for an afternoon of sailing and an evening of tall tales and tributes. On Saturday, July 16th (which will be a perfectly sunny day with a steady southwesterly breeze), there will be an open regatta at 2:00 p.m.. Anyone wishing to sail in an Alden may sign up to do so. There will also be a spectator fleet for those who want to experience the grace of these stately ladies from a more refined distance. Afterward, at 6:00 p.m., there will be a cocktail party full of Alden stories and memorabilia, as well as some spectacular items to be raffled. We welcome you to join our celebration of these boats which are so much a part of the sailing heritage of our club.
In addition, we would like to reunite former Alden sailors with the fleet, and to give them a chance to meet and talk with current and future Alden sailors. If you know of anyone who should be contacted, please let us know. We are also actively soliciting Alden memorabilia, drawings and photographs for an exhibit to be mounted at the celebration. For more information, to help out, or to share Alden memorabilia or stories, please contact Mara Lozier Shore at 635-8002 (mjlshore@aol.com) or Erik Thomas at 635-4381 (NC77229@aol.com).
