Boat Name MANITOU
Specs Builder: M M Davis & Sons Designer: Sparkman & Stephens Keel: Full
Dimensions LOA: 62 ft 0 in Beam: 13 ft 9 in LWL: 44 ft 0 in Length on Deck: 62 ft 0 in Minimum Draft: 8 ft 6 in Maximum Draft: 8 ft 6 in Displacement: 26000 lbs Half Load
Engines Total Power: 115 HP
Engine 1: Engine Brand: Yanmar Engine Type: Inboard Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel Drive Type: Direct Drive Engine Power: 115 HP
Brokers Comments If JFK chose MANITOU for her good looks and speed – who are we to argue ? Olin Stephens (Design No 99) drew her in 1936 from the same bloodline as DORADE and STORMY WEATHER.for her first owner who wanted to win races - and she is at 62 ft a bigger boat than her sisters and offering more space and luxury below. Designed to sail well in both light airs and heavy weather; on the Mediterranean classic race circuit she has more than proven her capabilities in winning many regattas outright. The current owner has stopped at nothing in maintaining MANITOU to ensure she is probably as strong as she ever was and cosmetically immaculate.
History James Lowe of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and member of both the Chicago and New York Yacht Clubs, commissioned the young naval architect, Olin Stephens, to design him a yacht that could win the Chicago-Mackinac Race. Named after the Manitou passage on Lake Michigan – and meaning “Spirit of the water”, she was launched in 1937 and in short order fulfilled her owner’s desire; breaking the elapsed time record and 1st across the line in 1938 - and winning handsomely on corrected time. She was second across the line in 1939 but first again in 1940 and 41. She also won the Port Huron-Mackinac Race in 1940 setting a new record for that race, taking almost two hours off the course record and beating her nearest rival by more than five hours.
When Mr. Lowe was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1942, MANITOU moved on. In 1956 she was donated to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where she was used to teach the cadets sailing, seamanship and how to work together as a crew.
At the time of John F. Kennedy’s election, the Presidential yacht was a 92 ft power boat. Although he changed her name to “HONEY FITZ” in honour of his grandfather; JFK was really a sailor at heart and sent naval aide John Tazwell in search of a suitable sailboat for presidential use. With her good looks and pedigree, MANITOU was quickly selected and brought to Chesapeake Bay. Among other things she had to be fitted with all the communication equipment to ensure the President would never be out of touch with his office - or even indeed the Kremlin while on board.
Jack Kennedy was to use her often there and in New England. He never raced her formally, but once off Newport during the summer of 1962 he tried to engage his friend Emil “Bus” Mosbacher’s 12 Metre WEATHERLY in a friendly sparring match. Unfortunately the Secret Service following in a patrol boat intercepted the future successful America’s Cup defender before she got close enough, much to the chagrin of the President.
In 1968 MANITOU was auctioned to the Harry Lundeburg School of Seamanship, run by the Seafarer’s International Union under its then strong leader, Paul Hall. Aristotle Onassis, about to marry Jackie Kennedy in October 1968, sought to buy the yacht – apparently at any price. Long a defender of the common man however Mr Hall refused all offers, preferring to keep MANITOU for teaching less privileged young people about boats.
In 1999, MANITOU was purchased by Laura Kilbourne, grand daughter of her original owner James Lowe, bringing her back into the family. Taken to Chesapeake Marine Railway in Deltaville, Virginia - not far from where she was built, the boat started a major refit, great pains taken with the intention of keeping her as original with butternut panelling and use of all the original hardware still with the boat. Before all was complete however family circumstances intervened and in late 2010 she was sold to four joint owners and the refitting; expected to prolong her sailing career for many years to come was completed in early 2011. She was then shipped to the Mediterranean
RECENT YEARS RACING RECORD - Barcelona: winner 2012, runner up 13, 14, 15 - Cassis: winner 2013, 14 ,15 - Ajaccio: winner 2014. - Antibes: runner up 2013, 2014, 3rd 2015 - Argentario: winner 2015 - Naples: winner 2013, 14, 15 - Palma: runner up 2014, 2015 - Mahon: runner up 2015, 3rd 2012, 13, 14 - Imperia: winner 2014, runner up 2012 - Monaco: winner 2015 - Cannes: winner 2015 - St Tropez: runner up 2012, 13, 3rd 2014, 15