SIGHTINGS see you at
spotlight on an s&s thoroughbred If you've got a special place in your heart for sleek and sexy vintage yachts — and the deep pockets to support one — you'll be interested to know that one of the most famous racing yachts ever to call the West Coast home is poised to change ownership for only the third time since she was launched in 1939 at Southern California's Wilmington Boat Works. The 67-ft yawl Chubasco is a true thoroughbred whose lineage in the stable of Sparkman & Stephens yachts descends directly from the firm's most famous design, Dorade.
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Latitude 38
• April, 2016
COURTESY CHUBASCO / YACHTWORLD COURTESY CHUBASCO / NORTHROP & JOHNSON
Commissioned by Union Oil Chairman William L Stewart, Jr of Los Angeles YC to race in the 1939 Transpac, Chubasco replaced his schooner Santana, and is one of nearly a dozen fast sister-yawls built in the decade after Dorade. Named after the powerful lightning squalls that are common off Mexico and Central America, Chubasco — or Chubby, as some affectionately call her despite her narrow beam — has raced actively throughout her 77-year career, mostly on the West Coast, but also on the East Coast and in the Caribbean and the Med. She began making a name for herself only months after her launch, scoring a second in class — ahead of Dorade — in the '39 Transpac. The next Hawaii race wasn't until 1947 due to a WWII hiatus, and that year Chubasco took line honors, and won both first in fleet and class. In the '53 Transpac she was third to finish and took class honors again. In 1959 Chubby was purchased by Orange County businessman Arnold Haskell of Newport Harbor YC. His nephew Don — founder of Ardell Yacht and Ship Brokers — campaigned her in both the '59 and '61 Transpacs; the former seeing some of the most extreme weather in the race's history. Living up to her name, Chubasco famously endured a "six-hour squall" with gusts up to 50 knots. In the end, she finished second only to the 161-ft gaff schooner Goodwill, and won her class. During the six decades that the Haskell family owned her, she was always kept in Bristol condition, and has long been regarded as one of Southern California's most important yachting icons. In the aftermath of Don Haskell's death last December, Chubasco was donated to the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship by Haskell estate executor Craig Cadwalader, a longtime Chubasco crewman who — interestingly enough — was on the OCC sailing team while a student there in 1961. Much as it pains him to do so, OCCSSS Director Brad Avery has listed Chubasco for sale with Northrop & Johnson, as he fully understands the maintenance demands of such a famous thoroughbred. That said, Brad won't be turning her over to just any antique-boat lover with a fat wallet. A classic wooden yacht that's as soulful as Chubasco deserves an owner who regards his or her role as being the temporary caretaker of a cherished piece of nautical history — and who isn't afraid to spend whatever it takes to keep her in the pristince condition that she deserves. — andy
The crew at Latitude 38 looks forward to some face time with many of our readers at Strictly Sail Pacific on April 7-10. But don't look for us at Oakland's Jack London Square — the show is moving to Richmond's Craneway Pavilion and Marina Bay Yacht Harbor this year. Our booth, #C1, will offer Latitude logowear for sale, scads of info, the opportunity to snap a selfie with spokesmodel Crissy Fields and, of course, free magazines. Andy Turpin, our managing editor, will present seminars on Baja Ha-Ha How-To (Friday the 8th at 1 p.m. and Saturday the 9th at 11:45 a.m.) and Cruising Tahiti and the Pacific Puddle
A thoroughbred with a pedigree like few other actively sailed classics, the 67-ft S&S yawl 'Chubasco' is in need of a new caretaker.
