Blue Marlin 12 Fin 1
Ownership & Racing History
1936: Miss Marion “Betty” Carstairs
Home Port: Portsmouth, England
The yacht was originally commissioned by Miss Betty Carstairs, an American heiress known for her powerboat racing achievements, including winning the Harmsworth Trophy in 1928. Although she initiated the project, she sold the vessel before its completion.
1937: Charles Eric Addington Hartridge
Home Port: Portsmouth, England
Renamed: Alanna
Sail Number: K-2
Hartridge acquired the yacht early in construction, as evidenced by the Camper & Nicholsons (C&N) plans labeled Alanna. He had previously ordered another 12mR also named Alanna (now Evaine), but sold that vessel before completion. In the 1937 racing season, Alanna had seven starts, placing third in only one race.
1938: Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch (T.O.M.) Sopwith
Renamed: Blue Marlin
Sail Number: K-17
Now painted in Sopwith’s signature “Endeavour Blue,” Blue Marlin’s first racing season proved underwhelming: 31 starts, 0 firsts, 2 seconds, and 9 thirds—racing against Trivia (K-10), Marina, Evaine (K-2), Little Astra, and Flica (K-16). Sopwith soon shifted focus to his new 12mR, Tomahawk (K-13), and sold Blue Marlin at the start of the 1939 season.
1939–1945: W.R. Westhead
Blue Marlin returned strong the following year. Despite suffering a dismasting early in the season, she placed third overall behind Vim (US-15) and Tomahawk, with a race record of 6 firsts, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds. She earned distinction as the only British 12mR to beat Vim in a scored race—by 13 seconds at the Royal Albert Yacht Club’s Southsea Regatta on August 9.
From Yachting World, September 8, 1939:
“None had a career so interesting as that of Blue Marlin. Mr. Sopwith never did any good with her in 1938. Mr. Westhead brought her out late in the season which she began by losing her mast... Blue Marlin became a very formidable member of the Class. In very light airs in particular, she was good. She was a very fast 'drifter'...”
— Major Heckstall-Smith
1946: Geoffrey and Ralph Hawkes
Home Port: Not specified
1947: Mrs. J.W. Boumphrey
Home Port: Not specified
An engine was installed during this ownership.
1948–1950: Charles Eric A. Hartridge (Re-purchase)
Home Port: Portsmouth, England
Hartridge returned as owner, reacquiring the yacht over a decade after his original commission.
1951: John G. Fairweather
Home Port: Not specified
1951–1956: Ippolito Berrone
Home Port: Genoa, Italy
A member of one of Genoa’s most distinguished families, Ippolito Berrone personally transported Blue Marlin from England to the Mediterranean. She was refitted for cruising, including shortening of the mast, and crewed by two Italian Navy officers. The original logbook was unfortunately lost.
“She was used for extensive cruises.” – Luigi Lang
1956: Removed from Lloyd’s Register
1956–1997: Alessandro Colussi
Home Port: Venice, Italy
Purchased for eight million Lire, Blue Marlin cruised and raced across the Mediterranean, with notable visits to France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and North Africa. She claimed several first-place finishes in both Italian and Dalmatian waters.
– Luigi Lang
1997–2006: Rossella and Andrea Colussi
Home Port: Isola, Slovakia
Children of Alessandro Colussi, they continued her legacy. In 1999, she was re-powered with two new 68 HP Ford engines.
2006: Henrik Andersin
Home Port: Helsinki, Finland
Under Andersin’s ownership, Blue Marlin was moved to Kotka, Finland, where she underwent a full restoration by Red Sky Yachts.
Restoration led by: Leo Skogström
Naval design advisor: David Pedrick
2014: Relaunched
Now racing and cruising with the 12mR Northern European fleet in the Baltic.
2019: 12mR World Championship
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Blue Marlin competed proudly among a global fleet of Twelves.
2021: 12mR World Championship
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Yacht Club: NJK (Nylandska Jaktklubben)