Vanity V 12 K 5

A Vintage Beauty by William Fife

Among the world-famous 12 Metre yachts, Vanity V stands as a graceful representative of the 1930s — that nostalgically named Golden Age of yachting. Designed and built by the legendary Scottish naval architect William Fife III at his Fairlie yard in 1936, she embodies the timeless elegance and craftsmanship that made Fife yachts renowned across generations. Her slender teak and mahogany hull, sweeping overhangs, and balanced rig exude the poise and purity of line that defined the Fife tradition. Sailing her is both a challenge and a privilege — she demands precision and rewards her helmsman with incomparable grace and responsiveness.

Design and Construction

Vanity V was one of the final designs drawn by William Fife III, who was seventy-nine years old when she was launched. Built to the International 12 Metre Rule, she measures 21.5 m overall, with a beam of 3.7 m and a draft of 2.65 m. Her hull is constructed of teak and mahogany planking on ash and riveted-steel frames, with Oregon-pine deck beams and varnished-mahogany trim.
Over the decades, she has been refitted multiple times, each with extraordinary attention to preserving her original form and balance. A comprehensive rebuild was undertaken between 1998 and 2000 at Chantier du Guip in Brest under the supervision of naval architect Guy Ribadeau-Dumas, renewing her structure while maintaining her authentic Fife lines and craftsmanship.

Early Ownership and Racing Career

Her first owner, J. R. “Fiddler” Pane, was both a talented violinist and a skilled yachtsman who had previously campaigned Vanity (K-1) in 1923. Pane lived aboard Vanity V, racing and cruising extensively throughout Britain and the Mediterranean. By 1938, she was the only Fife-designed 12 Metre still active in competition — a testament to her enduring performance and design excellence.

Rebirth and Modern Campaigns

Following her major rebuild, Vanity V returned to competition with renewed vitality. She finished 6th in the Classic Division of the 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee at Cowes, 5th in the Vintage Division of the 2008 12 Metre Worlds at Flensburg, and claimed victory at the 2007 12 Metre America’s Cup Regatta in Valencia. Her success culminated in winning the 2011 Robbe & Berking 12 Metre World Championship, reaffirming her place among the most competitive and beautifully maintained classic 12s afloat.

Enduring Legacy

Today, Vanity V (K-5) remains one of the most admired examples of William Fife’s late genius — a living work of art that continues to race and cruise across Europe’s classic-yacht circuit. With her gleaming varnished interior, spruce spars, and characteristic golden scrollwork, she captures the romance and artistry of the Fife era.
For those fortunate enough to sail her, Vanity V is not merely a yacht but an experience — a link to history, a celebration of craftsmanship, and an enduring symbol of the 12 Metre Class at its zenith.