The Concordian
a newsletter for lovers of Concordia yachts
Number 18 Fall 1994
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A former Concordia owner, Dr. Raymond Curtis, now retired, recently moved to the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Curtis owned VERITY #7, ex-RAYANNA from 1955 to 1982 and kept her at Gibson Island, MD. His son, Randy, who grew up sailing aboard RAYANNA on the Chesapeake and now lives in Bellingham, kindly shared with me the files his father had kept on the boat, including a fair amount of correspondence with Waldo Howland in the fifties. I believe these offer some unique insights into the early days of the Concordia class and also into that special relationship that Waldo cultivated between each new Concordia owner and himself. Here are some examples:
September 21, 1955, from Waldo to Dr. Curtis, who had made an inquiry about the purchase of a new Concordia: “I have your letter of September 12 and enclose herewith a print which will give you preliminary information about our Concordia yawls. The current price as per the brief specifications shown is $21,500, boat to be delivered here (Padanaram) and rigged and ready to sail. The next available delivery is approximately
May 15th, although this date varies as other orders are received.
The first Concordia yawl was built in 1938. Three others including MALAY, winner of the 1954 Bermuda Race and 1955 Halifax Race, were built in this country prior to 1945. Since that time 31 Concordias have been built in Germany for owners in the New England, New York area. Others are now on order for next year. We chose the German yard of Abeking & Rasmussen to build for us the later boats because we believe they have the finest yard there is. We have for five years been entirely satisfied with the fine workmanship and materials that they have put into our boats. It is of interest that in sixteen years only one Concordia yawl owner as sold out of the class. The boats have worked out well as easy handling day sailers, as family cruisers, handicap racers and even ocean racers. They are exceptionally fine sea boats.
If you wish further information at this time, I will be only too pleased to send it. However, if you should become seriously interested in a
Concordia, I hope you will have the time and inclination to pay us a visit and inspect several of the Concordias here in storage. No one has ever bought a Concordia or even taken a serious interest in one except those who have seen and sailed them.
There is a possibility that one of the Concordias built in 1951 could be bought as the owner is working on plans of a Concordia 41, which is a modified version of the standard Concordia yawl, which will include a separate cabin for a paid hand. The price (for the 1951 boat) would be approximately $16,000 with original sails, motor and equipment.
The enclosed pictures may be of some help to you in visualizing the interior arrangement as well as the general character of the boats. Although there are minor differences in some of the Concordias, we feel very strongly that the standard arrangement as shown, best suits the space available. However, I would be glad to discuss with you any special requirements that you might have and hope to hear from you further. Sincerely, Waldo Howland.”
Then follows another letter from Waldo on October 13, 1955: “We have made some progress since your visit in that Abeking & Rasmussen have agreed to build four Concordia 41’s for us this winter if they are wanted. This means that Mr. Hendrick could sell his DUSKY III. I am going to try and settle this situation with him soon. In any case, I will let you know immediately if DUSKY III or if any other Concordia is for sale. The situation on new Concordias remains unchanged. A&R are building eight, the last of which will be finished by next August. Only two of these are currently sold, the price being $21,500. Sincerely, Waldo Howland.”
Dr. Curtis did purchase DUSKY III #7 in November (and took delivery the next spring) and sent the following to Waldo on February 10, 1956: “I think you should know with what high esteem you as an individual, and your boat, are held by all the sailors here on the bay. In the last two months I have attended two dinners, one by the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake, the other the Gibson Island Yacht Club, and of course at each the various people I have met asked me what kind of boat I have. As soon as I mentioned the fact that it is a Concordia they had nothing but fine praise for the boat. One of the old boat builders down in Oxford not only was complimentary of the boat but also had great praise for you, with which I certainly agree.”
Waldo replied on February 15, 1956: “I am particularly pleased to learn that our yawls are well thought of in the Chesapeake. It is a fine area for cruising and racing and I am hopeful that in due course there will be a number of Concordias down there. With your boat, Mr. Herrington’s and Mr. Snydor’s, there will be a very fine start. Bob Forrester’s LIAT is already at Annapolis, as you know, and Miss Dolan’s CRISETTE is going down there in April for a spring cruise. Our Martin Jackson has been on vacation in California and made a check for me with a boatyard and broker at Newport Beach. It looks possible that they may buy a few Concordias also, but it all takes time.” Regarding the preparation of Dr. Curtis’ new boat, Waldo also mentioned that“The two running lights and one bow light are kerosene. I am removing them because I would like to replace them with electric lights as on the new yawls.” Dr. Curtis replied: “If you don’t mind, I should like to keep the old kerosene lamps for the boys to use in their room, for they would be thrilled to think they came from the boat.”
After a season of sailing on the Chesapeake, Dr. Curtis sent this to Waldo in August, 1956: “RAYANNA has been doing beautifully and I could not be more thrilled with anything than I have been with her performance. I have had a number of the members of the yacht club out for a sail and all of them have been terribly impressed, not only with her beauty but with her performance as well. Several are anxious to know if you have any others for sale and I think it is only a question of time before they buy one.” Waldo responded with: “TABAKEA, the 1951 sister ship of RAYANNA, is definitely for sale at $17,500. She has the same cockpit and Palmer engine that you have. However, her toerails are teak and her house sides are painted white. The boat is in first class condition with Dacron sails and lifelines. The paneling below is painted white. I enclose a picture herewith in case your doctor friend should be interested.”
Next comes a letter dated June 19, 1957 to Dr. Curtis from Alexander Bright, skipper of SAFARI: “Returning by train from a late May sailing meander in Long Island Sound airs, I ran into Ray Hunt of HARRIER, who told of just seeing nine Concordias in an Oyster Bay Race - perhaps some of the ten new ones Waldo Howland has incubated this year.
This morning came a pleasant note from Jack Ryan of the hard-to-beat Concordia NIAM wondering hopefully if there might be a repeat of last year’s gathering of Concordias at the Beverly Yacht Club Regatta at Marion - fifteen were on hand.
Nudged by his warm letter, I am again writing the Concordia fleet - all that I can locate, please pass the word along - suggesting that we rendezvous in Marion for the BYC Regatta July 12-14. I hereby happily extend the invitation of a generous Concordia owner to all Concordia crews for a get-together “for little necks and drinks and a little jubilation” under the Concordia banner on the Club lawn at 1815 Saturday, at which gathering a special trophy for the Concordia winner of the Saturday race will be awarded.
I heartily hope you will join in with us for part or all of the occasion whether you race or not. Cordially, Alexander H. Bright.”
Dr. Curtis was not able to attend the BYC event, but Waldo did send out the race results to all Concordia owners, dated July 20, 1957: “Once again, thanks to Alex Bright and the Beverly Yacht Club, the “Concordias” had a most pleasant and interesting regatta and get together in Marion. Present and racing were: GAMECOCK, SAFARI, WINNIE OF BOURNE, PARTHENIA, CRISETTE, NIAM, WINDSONG, SKYE, and SCONE. The boats finished Saturday in about the order listed, but corrected times were slightly different. Others on hand but not racing were: SCOTCH MIST, BANDA, ELECTA, SLY MONGOOSE (under charter).
Jack Ryan very kindly and very quietly arranged to be the host for the get together Saturday afternoon, which was held after the races and before the BYC dinner. The Little Necks and the drinks and all were certainly perfect. Sailing clothes were the costume for the occasion and sailing talk was the main topic of conversation. Some of the answers to what makes them go faster or slower were figured out, others are still open for another year.
Although ten to fifteen boats in one class make for plenty of fun it is hoped that some of the Concordias who could not make the get together this year will be able to do so another year. Waldo Howland.”
The following August (1957) Dr. Curtis wrote to Waldo: “We have had a wonderful time with RAYANA this summer. Ann and I were off with the Gibson Island fleet for their cruise week for nine days, and of course among the fleet were the usual number of Owens Cutters as well as a Loki Yawl and several other boats. We really made their eyes open wide when the two of us with working sails finished third in the fleet on the second day when we had plenty of wind. The other two days were light breeze days and we did not do as well since nearly all the others were sailing with either big genoas or spinnakers. By the way, I know it would mean simply extra work, although sometime I would love to see you issue an annual or semiannual letter to the owners with reference to how the Concordias have done for the year in the various races as well as the new owners and so forth. As you know, you cannot help when you are with a group of sailors to want to talk about your own class, both as to how and what they are doing.” Waldo replied: “With all hands using working sails only, there are very few 40’ boats that will keep up with a Concordia. We feel that this makes them good cruising boats as it is not always handy to set light sails.”
In response to a letter from Dr. Curtis about sail trim, on December 30, 1960, Waldo wrote: “I have been wondering if a masthead rig would be of any help to you, but rather expect that for your general use the change would not be worth it. For racing, a masthead rig has definite advantages in efficiency with genoas and spinnakers and for rating. Also with a higher jib and smaller mainsail the centers of the sail areas move forward. This tends to give the boat less windward helm. In other words it makes it easier to balance, and in that respect, easier and more fun to sail. With the right shape to the sail, the right rake of the mast, and the right trimming of the sheets, a very perfect balance can be achieved with the rig that you have, but without some care it is not uncommon to find a weather helm. To correct a weather helm, if any, the mast should be relatively straight. A rake of 6” would be about right. The main and mizzen should be fairly flat. A baggy sail with a tight leach is the worst source of possible trouble. In a fresh breeze the mizzen should not be too strapped in. Actually it may be best to lower it altogether at times. The jib should be sheeted in well. I’m sure you know all these things, but continuous experimenting and practicing certainly will improve handling and performance. Sincerely, Waldo Howland.”
FLEET NEWS:
PARAMOUR #72, Skip & Anne Bergmann, Waupun WI: (The Bergmanns purchased #72 this spring in North Carolina. Ed.) PARAMOUR arrived in Wisconsin late the night of May 11 and was unloaded at the Palmer Johnson yard in Sturgeon Bay the next morning. She survived the trucking pretty well, but a month out of the water in North Carolina, the long ride in the warm air at 55 mph, and not being relaunched until the first week of June, resulted in considerable drying out. As the summer progressed, she became tight again with the exception of some minor caulking to be done forward on some of the six new bottom planks. We moved her 50 miles south from Sturgeon Bay to Manitowoc at the end of June and have had great daysailing out of the marina there. Having grown up at Quissett harbor and believing that all real boats live on moorings, the prospect of a marina was something new for Anne and me. Much to our surprise, we have found marina life to be terrific. We are fortunate to be at a small, quiet facility with friendly management and neighbors and the ready accessibility of water, electricity, a ship’s store but a short walk away, and the convenience of not dinghying our gear and the dog out to the boat have made things most enjoyable.
Prior to launching the yard did topsides and bottom work, some varnishing and installed a holding tank system. The enclosed photos show how we solved the problem for a no-discharge zone. Basically, we sacrificed the forward, center tool locker for a custom-fabricated 30 gallon aluminum tank. We retained the old manual head and plumbed it for a holding tank, direct overboard discharge, holding tank overboard discharge (with Whale pump mounted in port locker), and the ability to cap off seacock and tank lines with plugs. This arrangement makes us legal for the Great Lakes (and particularly the stringent Canadian rules) and gives us offshore direct discharge capability if we get the boat back East someday. The hoses and pump in the port locker still allow for storage of a number of items, but I did have to remove the shelf in the lower locker directly in back of the head. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of space there to store odds and ends and we have a forward starboard locker since the 41 has no water tank there. I opted not to drill the newly caulked and refastened teak deck for a discharge plate fitting, but rather had a bracket welded up to mount it just forward of the port bulkhead by the port forward locker. If one is careful with the dock hose and keeps it wrapped, we think we can live with this setup, although it would be easy enough to put a regular deckplate on. However, this would involve drilling the deck, loops of hose that might not be that easy or self-draining, etc. Although we didn’t like the thought of installing a tank vent anywhere on the boat, we resigned ourselves to mounting it on the topsides rather than the cabin trunk in order to further minimize the chance of odors aft. Once painted, the small fitting is barely visible and the line is fitted with a Sealand odor filter. The yard did all the work with the exception of taking the lockers apart and reassembly. Cost was approximately $2,800 including labor, plumbing, custom tank and pump. Rather than a bladder system, we hope this will provide a permanent, long-term solution to the requirements.
No major problems, although I would like to hear from someone with a single spreader, masthead rig 41. We have tuned the main a number of times and followed the advice of former owner Garry Brown in setting up tensions. However, we’ve been in some pretty stiff winds, and although the mast remains in column quite well up to the intermediate shrouds, I can’t seem to eliminate more leeward bend than I like from there to the top of the mast. Perhaps I am being too conservative in setting up the uppers, but I hate to push on the standard mast step too hard. Anyone with ideas?
Routine varnish updates and odds and ends keep us busy like everyone else and the boat is a real magnet for attracting admirers. Numerous people know it is a Concordia and we had a man stop by who used to sail on a 39 in Buzzards Bay and another who grew up on Smith Neck Road right down from the Concordia yard. The boating world is truly a small one. Our seasons are short here and we’ll head back to Sturgeon Bay the end of September for winter storage. October 15 will probably be our last sailing weekend (we’ve had snow on October 10) and we’ll haul as late as possible, probably around November 1. In our area the choices for storage indoors and unheated are limited and there are few yards left with wooden boat experience. Fortunately, we have established a relationship with a good surveyor who knows the boats (he helped with rebuild projects on MISTY #66) and he should keep us in good shape and guide us to those who can do required upgrading. We’re looking forward to sailing next May!