12 US 5 Anitra

A Distinguished 12mR Legacy

Commissioned by the New York Yacht Club, Anitra (US-5) was one of six identical hulls designed by the renowned William Starling Burgess and built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 1928. These yachts were purpose-built for comparison sailing in NYYC regattas. While the hulls were uniform, each yacht featured unique deck layouts, rig configurations, and interior arrangements.

Constructed in composite style, every second frame throughout Anitra’s hull was galvanized steel, including the floor plates. The planking was crafted from elegant Honduras mahogany, a popular material of the time. All six yachts—Waiandance (US-1), Isolde (US-2), Tycoon (US-3), Iris (US-4), Anitra (US-5), and Onawa (US-6)—were built in just five months and shipped to Halifax, Canada, to be rigged. From there, they were sailed to the U.S. to avoid steep import duties.

Ownership Timeline & Racing History

1928–1942
Owner: Charles L. Harding (Boston, MA)
Anitra was completed in May 1928 and rigged as a Bermudan sloop. She entered class races annually, with her best season in 1931, taking 3 firsts and 1 third from 6 starts. In 1934, she placed second to Iris (US-4). That same year, an engine was installed to aid in auxiliary operations.

1946–1951
Owner: Maurice O. Guerin (Boston & Newport, RI)
Re-powered in 1946
Winner of the King’s Cup (New York Yacht Club) in 1949

1952
Owner: River Mills Corp.
Re-powered again

1952–1954
Owner: Max Meyer (Boston, MA & Tiverton, RI)

1955–1956
Owner: Frank H. Walker (North Weymouth, MA)

1957–1959
Owner: George D. Haskell (Marblehead, MA)
Converted to an auxiliary yawl in 1958 (sail area: 154 m²)

1960–1963
Owner: S. Davis Robins (Oyster Bay, NY)
Re-powered in 1963

1964–1965
Owner: Joseph S. Montgomery

1966–1967
Owner: Baxter R. Still, Jr. (Miami, FL)

1968–1975
Owner: Robert S. Lint
Re-powered again in 1968

1976
Disappeared from Lloyd's Register

Modern Era

1976–1990
Owner: Mr. Sprague (Tustin, CA)

1990–1995
Owners: Rob & Devon Anderson (Alameda, CA)

1995–2001
Owner: Robert D. Manning (Odessa, TX)

2001–2003
Owners: Yacht Anitra LLC (McMillen Yachts Inc. & Charles Parrish, Newport, RI)

2003
Purchased by Rüdiger Stihl & Josef Martin of Martin Yachts and Bootswerft, Radolfzell, Germany

2003–2006
Underwent a comprehensive restoration

2008
Anitra was re-launched, home port: Flensburg, Germany

2008–
Actively sailing and racing in the North European 12mR fleet