Getting afloat

OUTLAW Heroine of the Admiral’s Cup

he 48ft 9in (14.9m) bermudan cutter became a symbol of offshore ocean racing when, in 1963, with teammates and , she beat off a dozen other yachts for the was radical for her day, with the (disguised) reverse sheer design by John Illingworth, light alloy mast and cold-mould build in seven skins of mahogany, by Souter’s in 1963. The commissioning owner was Sir Max Aitkin, an MP and newspaper proprietor who did as much as anyone to promote British powerboat racing and sailing after the war. Twenty years later, was found languishing in Cowes and rescued by a 30-year-old sailing enthusiast, and her new life began. After an 18-month rebuild, she headed south to Portugal, then on to the Mediterranean, where in 1989 she found her new home on the Côte d’Azur. For the last 32 years she has been raced and cruised by that same owner, between southern Italy and the Balearics, taking part in all the major Mediterranean regattas in Argentario, Imperia, Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Barcelona and Mahon, to name just a few, winning the overall Classic Prada Cup in 2000 and the Panerai Trophy in 2005, as well as many other more recent victories. Now after a 37-year stint of ownership, has being put up for sale, “in better condition than at any time since that 1963 launching” according to the broker. “At home cruising or racing, she is a real allrounder, beautifully built, fully equipped and with a good sail inventory.”