Stiarna K 218

Design & Classification

Stiarna was one of three Nicholson-designed ocean racers derived from a common hull form intended to comply with the International Third Rule while remaining competitive under contemporary ocean-racing regulations. The other yachts of this group were Foxhound and Bloodhound. Although conceived with strong Twelve Metre Class influence and sharing the same fundamental hull design, Stiarna was never measured, classed, or raced as an official 12 Metre, and is therefore best described as a Nicholson ocean racer influenced by 12mR principles rather than a true class yacht.

Construction

Built in 1937 by Camper & Nicholsons, Stiarna was constructed as a speculative project but found an owner prior to launch. She was rigged as a Bermudan cutter and was unique among her two sisters in having an auxiliary engine installed from the outset, a notable feature at the time. She was registered with RORC sail number K-218 and initially based in Portsmouth.

Early Ownership & Racing Career

Stiarna was originally owned by J. E. B. Gage, under whom she carried an early RORC rating of 45.28. While she was never campaigned with the same intensity as Foxhound or Bloodhound, she nevertheless achieved significant results. In 1937, she finished second overall in the Fastnet Race, a remarkable performance for a lightly campaigned yacht. In 1938, although not actively raced in UK waters, she won second prize in the Dover–Kristiansand Race, further demonstrating her offshore capability.

Post-War Ownership

Between 1948 and 1950, Stiarna was owned by Cecil E. Donne and C. Peto Bennett, during which period her RORC rating was recorded as 42.17. From 1951 to 1957, she passed to E. Vintiadis, with home ports listed as Piraeus and Genoa, and her rating adjusted to 40.34 in line with evolving rating rules and modifications.

Later Years & Modifications

In 1958, Stiarna was re-engined, coinciding with ownership by Lord Shawcross, whose home port was Falmouth, and during whose tenure she carried a rating of 41.09. From 1961 to 1963, she was owned by A. H. David Rowse of Hamble, and in 1964 she underwent a further re-powering, extending her service life well beyond that of many contemporaries.

Final Ownership & Loss

From 1963 to 1976, Stiarna was owned by Broadsword Ltd., based in Palma de Mallorca, followed by ownership from 1977 to 1980, and later by Alain Hanover, whose home port was Boston, Massachusetts (USA). In the late 1990s, while being towed from Trinidad to Grenada en route to New England for extensive refit work, Stiarna was destroyed by fire and sank under tow, bringing an end to one of the last surviving Nicholson ocean racers directly descended from Twelve Metre design thinking.

Historical Significance

Stiarna occupies an important place in Twelve Metre–related history as a transitional yacht, bridging the gap between pure 12 Metre Class racers and purpose-built offshore ocean racers. Sharing hull lineage with Foxhound and Bloodhound, she represents an alternative expression of International Rule thinking—less intensively campaigned, but no less significant in design heritage.