Eight Bells – Olin Stephens

The man considered by many to be the best known and most successful yacht designer of the 20th century died over the weekend. Olin Stephens passed away in his hometown of Hanover, New Hampshire, on Saturday. He had turned 100 just last April.

Stephens’s accomplishments are legion. In addition to being an excellent sailor in his own right, he is credited with designing or supervising the design of more than 2,000 boats, many under the auspices of the Sparkman & Stephens design firm, which he founded with brother Rod and yacht broker Drake Sparkman in 1929. That same year — on a commission from his non-sailor father — he produced the breakthrough 52-ft yawl Dorade, whose winning ways ushered in a new era of racing yacht design. In the America’s Cup arena, between 1937 and 1980, he designed eight of the nine winners, including the only two two-time winners, the 12 Meters Intrepid (’67, ’70) and Courageous (’74, ’77). The list of achievements and honors goes on and on.

Stephens retired from S&S back in 1978. Though he never owned another yacht after Dorade, he continued to sail on other people’s boats through the years. His curiosity over all things sailing never waned, and his mind remained sharp well into the internet age. In subjects ranging from design to his particular favorite, safety at sea, Olin would often weigh in on internet forums. His voice of experience almost always put the debate in the proper perspective.

Much has been written by or about Stephens over the years, including an autobiography called All This and Sailing, Too, which he completed when he was 90. We hope you’ll be inspired to do a bit more reading about this humble man who truly was a legend in his own lifetime.

Fair winds.