Randall von Wedel Visits ‘Pursuit’ and Announces Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show

We recently shared the story of Randall von Wedel’s visit to the former Bay Area classic yacht Grisette during his travels in Europe. On the same trip, he visited the former Sausalito classic Pursuit (owned for a couple of years by Randall’s grandfather), which is also being restored in Europe. Later, the 82-ft M-Class sloop was owned by Sausalito’s Ron MacAnnan for 55 years. She was a beauty to behold as you walked along Sausalito’s boardwalk, and even better if you got to see or be aboard her when she was sailing the Bay.

Pursuit (originally Avatar) is the last surviving M-Class yacht and was designed in 1927 and launched in 1929 by Abeking & Rasmussen. After decades of sailing on San Francisco Bay, the vessel fell into disrepair following the passing of Ron MacAnnan.​​ A local effort was made to find a buyer/patron who would help restore her and keep her in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, a local buyer was not found. Fortunately, a French yacht enthusiast, Benoît Couturier, known for restoring classic yachts such as the Fifes’ 19 Metre Mariquita, arranged for Pursuit to be shipped to France for a comprehensive restoration at the Saint-Guénolé Classics Restoration shipyard in France.

The local wooden-boat community is always sad to see the departure of these elegant ladies of the Bay, but the silver lining is knowing they are getting into good hands and will continue to sail the ocean blue. A short list of former classics that are now sailing Europe includes Viveka, Santana, Pursuit, Grisette, Wander Bird, and we’re quite sure, many more. That doesn’t mean the Bay Area has lost all its classics, as we are still home to Brigadoon, Yankee (now for sale), Birds, Bears, Folkboats, IODs, Farallone Clippers and many, many more.

Everyone who appreciates the beauty of these classics should put the annual Master Mariners Boat Show on their calendar for June 21, 2026, being held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. It’s an annual reminder of the beauty of wooden boats and why they deserve the care of owners and a supportive sailing community. The weekend celebration of Bay Area classics is also held at the Summer Sailstice global celebration of sailing, being held on the same solstice weekend.

Caring for a boat like Pursuit, or any other classic, is a worthwhile passion for those whose heartstrings are tugged by the look, feel and smell of wooden classics. It’s hard to appreciate the difference until you step aboard or sail aboard a wooden boat. Although we advise caution before you do: Wooden boats are known to be habit forming.

When relaunched, Pursuit will rejoin her former Bay Area wooden-boat neighbors as she sails the waters of Europe. If you are traveling overseas, the boatyard would be happy to show you the progress they’re making as they bring Pursuit back to life.

It’s hard to know the countless numbers of sailors who sailed aboard Pursuit over her 55-year residency on the Bay. We’re sure all of them are glad to see Randall’s photos and share the anticipation of her many more decades of sailing ahead.