Iconic IOR classics: Help us find and celebrate them

Between the late 1960s and early 1990s we find what was, perhaps out of nostalgia, perhaps out of merit, the Golden Age of sailing, nearly three decades of discoveries, exceptional racing, and inimitable boats. It was the time of the IOR, (whose story can be found HERE)the real driving force of sailing at the time, the hidden architect of a world composed of characters unimaginable today, regattas ascended to legend and iconic hulls. Perhaps sailing’s highest peak, but above all a fundamental impetus to the creation of some of the “greatest” and most famous hulls ever,that IOR was a unique period, a proponent of exceptional hulls and legendary boats. To celebrate it in the best possible way, the Journal of Sailing now wants to take a census of these unique and precious boats, and for this it launches an appeal to all enthusiasts: report to us where the great cult boats of the IOR are and in what state they are, we will be grateful.

Classic IOR: Celebrating the great icons of sailing

The aim is to include these boats in our “registry” of Classic Boats by Giornale della Vela (we explain how to do it HERE). BEWARE, however, putting them in the registry does not only mean census them, it also means to enhance all those boats that have a history and pedigree that allows us to highlight their real historical value-exactly as it happens in the world of cars and real estate-to give them back the status they really deserve, and thus their true value. We will take the opportunity not only to create a large archive of them accessible to all, but also to tell and share them as best we can, so that the IOR, in its own way, can partly survive, regaining the status it deserves and enabling us, and you, to see these boats at sea again, and why not, maybe even in regattas…

• ENTERING A CLASSIC IOR INTO THE CLASSIC BOAT ARCHIVE IS SUPER EASY: CLICK HERE AND ENTER THE BOAT . ALWAYS HERE, ALSO FIND ALL YOUR CLASSIC BOATS ALREADY SURVEYED

Classic IOR: why celebrate old boats?

Made between the late 1960s and early 1990s, IOR hulls are increasingly and erroneously regarded, by many, as simply old boats. Of course, they are no longer new, but would you consider a historic car, or a piece of Bauhaus design, for example, to be just plain old? Hardly. Of course, age is not diminished solely on the basis of value, quality or merit behind the hull itself, but it is certainly not a suitable detail to define the value of anything. On the contrary, with the great IOR classics one is instead, and often, faced with excellent machines, platforms that, with a little care and a good dose of love, can shine again as they did, and as they should. Indeed, the IOR was the time of the purest sailing, the time of the most fearsome offshore races and round-the-world tours of our own “Brancaleone Armies.” It was the world of great hulls, of excellent boats, and, today, it is the world of prototypes to be saved, of boats to be identified and celebrated. It is a reality of exceptional projects that, too often, are not celebrated as they deserve, and it is time to rectify this. But what would be the benefits of doing this? Nothing could be more trivial.

Having already premised on the celebratory criterion, let us now move on to the next, more concrete step. Recognizing the value of a famous IOR hull, acknowledging its history, achievements, and the people who have trod its deck, is not only a recognition of the boat itself and its owner. It is a more concrete recognition, increasing its value. Transferring the example to iconic vehicles of the past, how many Jaguar E-Types are out there? Not a few, but not too many either. And regardless, they are not cheap. However, have you ever wondered how much the one that was Steve McQueen’s cost? The market bar is flying high. Yet it’s the same car–the same is true for so many other things. And the same would be true for an exceptional and well-maintained hull, if its merit, its history, were properly recognized. Here is already a good reason. But this is relative to the owner, or potential buyer. What’s in it for everyone else? Simple, knowing and understanding one’s history is never a mistake. And the IOR is nothing but the history, the foundational basis, of today’s sailing.

The IOR was a climbed peak, a period not only remained in the hearts of many, but not only. The IOR was a period of constant evolution, an experimental factory of exceptional boats. Boats that remain. And this is the key to it. IOR hulls still exist, can be fixed, and can still give so much. And the more they return to circulation, the better their chances, and ours, of getting back to dreaming. The world of “vintage” regattas exists, and it is increasingly opening up to newer hulls as well, the IORs in fact. An opening that opens up new circuits, new passions and equally new (and probably less expensive) “markets.” An opportunity for all to, simultaneously, celebrate sailing, enjoy it, and restore life and value to a phenomenon that, perhaps, will never really die. Following in this vein are the hulls that you have already reported and told us about.

MAGIC TWELVE (Formerly Blue Diamond) | Bénéteau

Bénéteau; 1987; 11.96 x 3.80 m; Group Finot

During the Golden Age of sailing, the Admiral’s Cup was long an unmissable event. An appointment toward which the greatest minds were projecting themselves in an attempt to design the best possible hull. It was with this in mind that Magic Twelve (formerly Blue Diamond) was born. Designed by Groupe Finot to compete in the 1987 edition of the Admiral’s Cup, Magic Twelve is the last sailing survivor of the three existing prototypes developed by Beneteau for the event, a pulled hull capable of making most people dream, hopeful for mass production that, indeed will come: her DNA survives in Bénéteau’s First Class 12 Metre series.

PHANTOM | C&C

C&C; 1973; 20.15 x 4.85 m; Cuthbertson and Cassian

After the successful C&C 61 series, Canadians Cuthbertson and Cassian designed a 66-foot cruiser/racer, a far more ambitious one-off: the Phantom was born. It is 1973 and the Canadian shipyard churns out a hull that has never been seen: 20.15 meters long, 4.85 wide and 3.30 in draft, all made with the then innovative double sandwich technique of balsa wood, fiberglass and Kevlar (the latter an innovative material for the time). Among the first to feature dual wheelhouses in one large aft cockpit, it was a more than remarkable hull for its time, soon becoming particularly famous for its great performance and, perhaps even more so, for its visual impact, strong with huge spinnakers depicting Phantomas, the masked man then famous in comic books.

ATENA (ex-Splash) | Sangermani

Sangermani Shipyards; 1973; 14.71 x 4.21 m; Sparkman & Stephens

Athena is a 48-foot Sangermani designed by Sparkman & Stephens and, for all intents and purposes, is a Swan 48 ante-litteram. Shortly after Sangermani made the hull, in fact, the design (originally “Splash”), was acquired by Nautor Swan to bring the molds of the best-selling Swan48 to life. Today, after 16 years of “seclusion” in a shed, Athena sees the light again, put back in the water in 2020 and refitted as necessary for a hull of her caliber.

• ENTERING A CLASSIC IOR INTO THE CLASSIC BOAT ARCHIVE IS SUPER EASY: CLICK HERE AND ENTER THE BOAT . ALWAYS HERE, ALSO FIND ALL YOUR CLASSIC BOATS ALREADY SURVEYED

Three “tidbits” about Classic Boats

• Want to learn more about the world of Classic Boats (1967-1998), the iconic boats of the period, the legendary designers, the stories and races of the “golden age” of sailing? Check out our section dedicated to Classic Boats!
• Do you have a Classic Boat to sell? Put it (for free) on our classifieds market!

BARCHE USATE Che affare essere una Classic Boat!