Olin Stephens
Encyclopedia
Olin James Stephens II was an American yacht designer of the 20th century. Stephens was born in New York
, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England
coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
for a term.
Stephens' name had a long history in connection with America's Cup
. He assisted W. Starling Burgess with the design of the J-Class
Ranger
, which won the America's Cup in 1937, defeating the Royal Yacht Squadron
's Endeavour II in four races. He was the original designer of six out of seven successful 12 Metre defenders of the America's Cup between 1958 and 1980, with the exception of Weatherly in 1962. Other than Ranger, the most remarkable of his defenders was the Intrepid
. She had a rudder separate from her keel to reduce wetted surface and improve steering. Stephens had previously designed separate rudders on a number of increasingly large ocean racers of the 1960s, most notably Thomas Watson's state of the art Palawan III, before using it successfully on the Intrepid in 1967. After alterations by Britton Chance, Jr., she won the America's Cup again in 1970.
Stephens also designed many off-shore and stock boats, including the Dark Harbor 20, which he designed in 1934. His brother, Roderick Stephens, was also a partner in the yacht-designing and yacht brokerage firm Sparkman & Stephens
, specializing in supervision and testing of yachts designed by the firm. Olin was working in the Nevins shipyard in 1928 as a draftsman when he first met yacht broker Drake Sparkman. They together set up an office next door to Nevins in 1929. Since retiring from the company he lived in Hanover, New Hampshire
, where he spent his final years writing computer programs for designing yachts. He was awarded the Herreshoff
Award by the North American Yacht Racing Union in 1965 for his contributions to sailing.
Stephens was also involved in ocean-going sailboats. His yawl designs Dorade
(1929) and Stormy Weather
(1934), his favorite design, each won the Newport Bermuda Race and the Fastnet race
several times. Both brothers were accomplished yachtsmen. They were members of the winning crews of Dorade and Ranger. Olin served as tactician and navigator, while Rod trimmed the rig and sails. In the 1960s and 1970s, Olin contributed to the luxury yacht builders Nautor Swan of Finland and Hallberg-Rassy
of Sweden.
and awarded the Gibbs Brothers Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences
.. Several years later, in 2000, he wrote the autobiography All This and Sailing Too. In 2007, he was named as one of six inductees to the inaugural ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame. He was ranked member number 1 on the New York Yacht Club
Member Seniority List at the time of his death. Stephens died exactly five months after celebrating his his 100th birthday
in 2008.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
for a term.
Stephens' name had a long history in connection with America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. He assisted W. Starling Burgess with the design of the J-Class
J-class yacht
The J-Class serves as a rating for large sailing yachts designed between 1930 and 1937. Reserved for a wealthy elite of yachtsmen, these boats were used to compete with the best sailing talents in three races of the America's Cup.-The 1930s:...
Ranger
Ranger (yacht)
The J-class yacht Ranger successfully defended the 1937 America's Cup, defeating the British challenger Endeavour II 4-0 at Newport, Rhode Island. It was the last time J-class yachts would race for the America's Cup.-Construction:...
, which won the America's Cup in 1937, defeating the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
's Endeavour II in four races. He was the original designer of six out of seven successful 12 Metre defenders of the America's Cup between 1958 and 1980, with the exception of Weatherly in 1962. Other than Ranger, the most remarkable of his defenders was the Intrepid
Intrepid (yacht)
The Intrepid is a 12-metre class yacht which won the America's Cup in 1967 and again in 1970.-Design:Intrepid was designed by Olin Stephens, and was built of double-planked mahogany on white oak frames. She featured important innovations both above and below the waterline. The rudder was separated...
. She had a rudder separate from her keel to reduce wetted surface and improve steering. Stephens had previously designed separate rudders on a number of increasingly large ocean racers of the 1960s, most notably Thomas Watson's state of the art Palawan III, before using it successfully on the Intrepid in 1967. After alterations by Britton Chance, Jr., she won the America's Cup again in 1970.
Stephens also designed many off-shore and stock boats, including the Dark Harbor 20, which he designed in 1934. His brother, Roderick Stephens, was also a partner in the yacht-designing and yacht brokerage firm Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens is a naval architecture and yacht brokerage firm with main offices on 5th Avenue in New York City, USA and offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The firm performs design and engineering of new vessels for pleasure, commercial, and military use....
, specializing in supervision and testing of yachts designed by the firm. Olin was working in the Nevins shipyard in 1928 as a draftsman when he first met yacht broker Drake Sparkman. They together set up an office next door to Nevins in 1929. Since retiring from the company he lived in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, where he spent his final years writing computer programs for designing yachts. He was awarded the Herreshoff
Herreshoff
-People:* Lewis Francis Herreshoff , American boat designer* Nathanael Greene Herreshoff , American boat designer* Frederick Herreshoff , American golfer...
Award by the North American Yacht Racing Union in 1965 for his contributions to sailing.
Stephens was also involved in ocean-going sailboats. His yawl designs Dorade
Dorade (yacht)
Dorade was a yacht designed in 1929 by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens and built 1929-1930 by the Minneford Yacht Yard in City Island, New York....
(1929) and Stormy Weather
Stormy Weather (yacht)
Stormy Weather is a ocean-racing yawl that was designed by Olin Stephens when he was only twenty-five, and launched from the Henry B. Nevins yard in New York in 1934....
(1934), his favorite design, each won the Newport Bermuda Race and the Fastnet race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
several times. Both brothers were accomplished yachtsmen. They were members of the winning crews of Dorade and Ranger. Olin served as tactician and navigator, while Rod trimmed the rig and sails. In the 1960s and 1970s, Olin contributed to the luxury yacht builders Nautor Swan of Finland and Hallberg-Rassy
Hallberg-Rassy
Hallberg-Rassy AB is a Swedish shipyard internationally known for producing exclusive, high quality sailing yachts.The yard is located in Ellös on the island of Orust, Västra Götaland....
of Sweden.
Later years
In 1993, Stephens was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of FameAmerica's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
and awarded the Gibbs Brothers Medal
Gibbs Brothers Medal
The Gibbs Brothers Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for "outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering". It was established by a gift from William Francis Gibbs and Frederic H. Gibbs....
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.. Several years later, in 2000, he wrote the autobiography All This and Sailing Too. In 2007, he was named as one of six inductees to the inaugural ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame. He was ranked member number 1 on the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
Member Seniority List at the time of his death. Stephens died exactly five months after celebrating his his 100th birthday
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
in 2008.
External links
- http://sailing.org/halloffame/21220.php (article mentioning his early years and education)
- Dorade: photos
- Stormy Weather: photos
- Website: Sparkman & Stephens Inc. (S&S)
- http://www.sailing.org/22732.php (article highlighting his 100th birthday, with a picture)
- Daily Sail Obit
- Sailing World Obit
- NY Times Obit
- dolphin24.org