Although he lived only 67 years and was orphaned at age 13, W. Starling Burgess, like his father Edward before him, left an indelible mark on yachting. He’s best known for his three America’s Cup winners, ENTERPRISE, RAINBOW, and RANGER, but he also designed a series of one-design racers including Atlantics, a class of 8, 10 and 12-meter sloops, along with several legendary schooners. A matematical genius who was experienced at aerodynamics as well as naval architecture, he was purely poetic when it came to creating signature beauty on the water.
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eugene connolly says:
New subjects very welcomed by this eighty nine year old sailer. I started at age 11 in Marblehed with an Edward Burgefss-designed Brutal Beast, that’s 1942. I think he was Starling’s brother, or assumed that. Both films are beautiful, good camera, 1st film weak coustics. Thanks for giving us th ese . . and so manyother films. Hard to imagine you have been able to produce such beautiful, intimate, romantic, historic work! Many thanks.
Gene Connolly, New Haven, CT August 2, 2020
Björn Nilsson Thafvelin says:
Hello Mr Bray,
I saw this about Starling B, don’t forget his father Edward he made some fine boats. I have in my possession an 1/3 scale of the yacht Chiquita made in GRP you can see it in the word file. Its with centerboard and the sail plan is with everything, have a complete set.
Its sailed by two people sitting in tandem and it s like a 2,4 pedal steering, its a lot of rope to handle. I also have the mould for the hull.
My 1/3 boat is 4,7 m + bowspirit.
The story is that a boatdesigner scaled it down and with 4 friends built four boats. It was even at the Stockholm boatshow in 2006 and got good reviews. But ity all failed in the finances in the end.
I hope you like the info.
Best regards
Björn