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 mathematical 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.
In the video that follows, sailor/writer/historian Randy Peffer and master shipwright Wayne Ettel discuss a variety of aspects of Burgess’s work focusing much of it on the schooners ROSE OF SHARON and the legendary NIÑA.
Speaking of Wayne (whose task here is to encourage Randy to talk), you should know that he is one of the best boatbuilders I’ve ever met and has kept the southern California wooden-hulled fleet going for many years and more recently has produced some first-class videos of processes and projects. He also heads up the Maritime Institute Trust.
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And be sure to check out Wayne’s restoration of the S&S yawl CHUBASCO:
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