Royono takes up residency on SF Bay
by Pressure-Drop.US on 10 Jun 2016
Royono - 2016 Master Mariners Regatta Pressure Drop . US
During the process of editing images from the 2016 Master Mariners Regatta, we had a bit more time to take a closer gander at some of the boats participating. One that had really caught the eye was this 71' Alden designed, Herreshoff beauty built 1in 1936 in Bristol Rhode Island, Royono.
Launched as Mandoo II for D.Spencer Berger, where she raced actively from 1936 to 1939 before being sold to John B Ford and moved to the Great Lakes.
She was baptised as Royono, which translates to 'happy home on the water' in the local Native American dialect.
She raced intensively for a decade on the Great Lakes for a decade, including numerous Chicago Mackinac races before being donated to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1950.
For the next 17 years, she raced extensively on the Eastern Seaboard, winning the 1952 Newport Bermuda Race and was acquired by John F Kennedy for a period of time in the 60's.
From 1967 through 1973 she had several different owners, had a major refit in Maine, spend time as a charter boat in the Caribbean.
In 1875 she was arrested for smuggling marijuana and was brought to Florida by the USCG. In 1976 she was sold at auction to Mike Davis and Geoffrey Gibson, who recognized the boats vintage and had her restored in Massachusetts.
In 1985, she was sold to Philippe Bommer and moved to the Mediterranean where she sailed in many of the classic's regattas.
In 2001-2003 she exchanged owners once again and underwent an intensive retrofit including replacing her framework with steel Classic Works in La Ciotat to include all new steel frames, ensuring she was fully restored to her former glory yet still retained her magnificent original interior.
She was recently acquired by an unnamed Bay Area interest, and should be gracing the waters of San Francisco Bay for who knows how long.
She does have a slip at the San Francisco Marina, but with the current lack of water at entrance, she cannot get to her berth and is side tied in Sausalito at the moment!
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/145414
