The birth of a naval legend: Sparkman & Stephens

Sparkman & Stephens, known as S&S, has left an indelible mark on the history of naval design. Founded in 1929 by Olin Stephens and Drake Sparkman, this firm of architects designed many of the most innovative yachts of their time.

The story of Sparkman & Stephens begins with Olin Stephens, born in New York in 1908. Olin showed a promising talent for drawing and designing boats from an early age. His brother Rod also shared this passion. He spent hours building and sailing model boats on country lakes. Their summers were filled with sailing and exploring design possibilities.

At just 19, Olin drew up his first design for a 6-meter sailing boat, which was published in the January 1928 issue of Yachting magazine. Positive comments poured in, praising the ingenuity of his concepts. In particular, the quest for speed combined with a long waterline, generous sail area, moderate displacement, low wetted surface, and captivating aesthetics.

At this point, his father, recognizing his eldest son’s talent, introduced him to Drake Sparkman. As a boat salesman, he was looking for a young naval architect to develop his business.

The visionary union of Stephens and Sparkman: the birth of the first legendary boats

Sparkman commissioned the construction of a 9-metre sloop based on Olin’s plans. The result was Kalmia, the yacht on which Olin won his first race.

This was followed by a new boat: Dorade. This boat was the fruit of the innovative ideas of Olin, his brother Rod and their father. Dorade proved to be a revolutionary racing boat for its time. It won the Transatlantic Race and the Fastnet. Following this success, Olin devoted himself to designing yachts of all sizes for owners with different ambitions. In particular, he designed three 6-metre yachts. He then went on to design an 18-metre schooner called Brillant, which quickly gained international renown. Brillant set a record in 1933 by crossing the Atlantic.

The Stormy Weather Triumph: A new stage for Olin Stephens and Rod Stephens

In 1933, Olin gave life to a 20-metre ketch called Tamerlane. And Stormy Weather, a 16.40 metre yawl, specially designed for the prestigious Bermuda Race. The latter is considered by Olin to be an improved version of Dorade. With Rod Stephens on board, Stormy Weather went on to win the Transatlantic Race and the Fastnet the following year. The partnership between Olin and Rod was now in perfect harmony, with Olin behind the drawing board and Rod at the helm. During this period, Rod became known as “the human fly”, reflecting his continuing success on the yachts.

Stephens and Burgess’ revolutionary collaboration: Ranger redefines competitive sailing

Following a request from Harold Vanderbilt to design a yacht for the America’s Cup, Stephens and Burgess marked a decisive turning point in the history of boatbuilding. The result of their collaboration was the legendary Ranger, the largest and fastest J Class yacht ever built. Ranger wrote a glorious page in the history of sailing by winning all 12 America’s Cup competitions.

In 1939, Harold Vanderbilt once again called on the Stephens brothers. They were to build a 12-metre sailing boat. The aim was to outdo the English on their own waters. And so Vim was born.

Towards New Horizons: Olin and Rod Stephens during the war

During the Second World War, when sailing races were suspended, Sparkman & Stephens answered the call of national duty. The US Department of the Navy placed its trust in their expertise. Their know-how in ship design was put to good use in military projects. Notably with the creation of PT-boats and a floating bridge that is still in use today. For his part, Rod Stephens distinguished himself by inventing an amphibious truck capable of moving in a variety of conditions. This creation, known as the “DUKW” or “DUCK”, was mass-produced, with over 30,000 built.

The Post-War Legacy: Stephens and Sparkman’s prestigious yachts

After the war, the brothers returned to their passion, designing sailing yachts for high-profile clients such as Mr Vanderbilt. Their creations included a 20-metre motor-sailor and a 30-metre motor yacht, as well as designs for Rockefeller. Bolero, a 22.50-metre yawl, made history by setting a record in the Bermuda Race.

In 1954, Olin Stephens created one of the world’s most famous ocean racing yachts: Finisterre. This unique yacht is the only one to have won the prestigious Bermuda Race three times.

In 1958, Columbia was commissioned to design a sloop to defend the America’s Cup. Columbia went on to win four consecutive races in this world-famous competition. In 1964, Olin designed Constellation, one of the best yachts in the 12-metre class.

The 1959 and 1961 editions of the Fastnet Race saw Stephens-designed yachts triumph. In 1964, the birth of Kialoa II marked the beginning of the era of large aluminium boats.

The Sparkman & Stephens Heritage : Creators of exceptional sailing yachts

Sparkman & Stephens were pioneers in the field of aluminium sailing yachts, notably with the first three light-alloy yachts designed by Olin Stephens in 1944. Their influence and expertise are omnipresent, and it is impossible to list all the winners who proudly display the S&S signature.

The big names include such renowned series as Tartan, Apache, Yankee, Swan and many others. At the same time, Sparkman & Stephens continues to receive orders for unique yachts such as Northern Light, Lightning, Mandrake, Equation, Baccara, Dora, Morning Cloud, Yankee Girl and Pinta. These yachts were commissioned by some of the 20th century’s greatest personalities. Prestigious names such as Aga Khan, Baker, Disney, DuPont, Ford, Heath, Johnson, McGraw, Mosbacher, North, Reynolds, Rockefeller, Rothschild, Schaefer, Scripps, Sears, Turner, Vanderbilt, Watson and many others have called on their expertise.

Innovation and attention to detail are reflected in every Sparkman & Stephens creation, making them key players in the world of boat design. Their yachts skilfully combine performance, aesthetics and build quality, earning them a solid and lasting reputation.

Sparkman & Stephens: The Undisputed Masters of the America’s Cup

For a period of forty years, on all but one occasion, Sparkman & Stephens was the designer of every America’s Cup winner. In recognition of these successes, Olin Stephens was honoured in 1993. He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. He also received the prestigious Gibbs Brothers Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. Stephens’ lasting impact on the sailing world is captured in his autobiography. His book “All That and Too Much Sailing” was published in 2000. In addition, Olin Stephens held the prestigious rank of number one member of the New York Yacht Club’s seniority list until his death at the age of 100 in 2008.

The Timeless Elegance of Sparkman & Stephens Pre-Owned Yachts

Sparkman & Stephens offers an exquisite selection of pre-owned boats that epitomise excellence and timeless elegance. These pre-owned boats, with their prestigious heritage, arouse great interest among sailing enthusiasts in search of true marine jewels. The best-known and most sought-after models include :

Sparkman & Stephens Wild Horses
Sparkman & Stephens Courageous
Sparkman & Stephens Cavalino
Sparkman & Stephens Zebra
Sparkman & Stephens Filly
Sparkman & Stephens Colt
Sparkman & Stephens Charisma II
Sparkman & Stephens Sumatra
Sparkman & Stephens Wils Swan
Sparkman & Stephens Kialoa III
Sparkman & Stephens Toot
Sparkman & Stephens Mustang
Sparkman & Stephens Selamat
Sparkman & Stephens Tioga of Hamburg
Sparkman & Stephens 97 Pilothouse
Sparkman & Stephens Classic Schooner
Sparkman & Stephens Custom
Sparkman & Stephens 57
Sparkman & Stephens Swan 55 Protot
Sparkman & Stephens Sunward 48
Sparkman & Stephens Sloop
Sparkman & Stephens 1097
Sparkman & Stephens Classic Bermud
Sparkman & Stephens 52
Sparkman & Stephens Yawl 46′
Sparkman & Stephens Morning Cloud
Sparkman & Stephens One Ton Cup SI
Sparkman & Stephens 33
Sparkman & Stephens 34
Sparkman & Stephens 35 Pilothouse
Sparkman & Stephens 38

These pre-owned Sparkman & Stephens boats offer a unique opportunity to acquire a true sailing masterpiece, ready to cruise the oceans with style and grace.

View all of our Sparkman & Stephens pre-owned boats.

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