When Is a Sailboat a Yacht?

"Is a sailboat a yacht?" the young man asked.

"I don’t know what Webster says, but by my definition, no, not usually. But some special sailboats do qualify as yachts."

"How can you tell?" the youngster asked. "Oh, you’ll know one when you see it. Believe me you’ll know."

If you find our explanation too wishy-washy, let us cut to the graphics. For the record, the sailboat below — the exquisite 180-ft schooner Elena of London — is, without a doubt, a yacht. If your boat looks anything like it, then it too is a yacht. If, on the other hand, it has rust-stained sails, peeling paint and moss growing on the cabin top then, no. Not so much.

Built of steel to a Herreshoff design at the Spanish shipyard Factoria Naval Marin, and launched in 2009, Elena of London is one magnificent vessel. This splendid photo crossed our desks last week, included with news about the annual Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, which just celebrated its 79th anniversary.

The Series included three days of coastal racing and a race around Barbados. It drew an international fleet, with 11 countries represented this year. An additional element is the 300-mile Ocean Race to Antigua, which ties into the Superyacht Cup there starting tomorrow — Elena will be there.

The parties? As you might imagine, with a sponsor like Mount Gay Rum they are always epic.