kelpie classic yacht

Kelpie Of Falmouth

Originally named ‘Hopeful’ and built for the New York stockbroker, Archibald McLaren, on the eve of the Great Depression.

Kelpie did duty in World War II serving with the US Coastguard. She was a popular boat to crew on and notably never missed a day’s service. Like many other yachts, the end of the war saw a change in ownership and she moved to the West Coast of the states. Kelpie was in the ownership of the Minney family for over thirty years and undertook extensive cruising through the Pacific to Tahiti and beyond.

In the 1960’s Kelpie was chartered out of California and amongst her other adventures, played host to the film stars Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. It was during this time that she was converted to a staysail rig and a bumpkin was added to provide a fixed backstay. In later years the boat was modified to compete on the West Coast regatta circuit and at one point was chartered by Dennis Connor. She was well-loved and campaigned hard, earning the title ‘fastest schooner in the west’ for breaking a long-standing record in the Newport to Ensenada offshore race.

Kelpie was found on the West Coast of the USA in a state of semi-neglect by Charlie Wroe, the skipper of Mariette . After purchase she was made ready for sea in San Francisco, California, before sailing back the nine thousand miles to the UK via Panama and the Caribbean. Kelpie, renamed ‘Kelpie of Falmouth’ upon her re-registry in the UK, is nearing completion (May, 2014) at Gweek Quay Boatyard in Cornwall. She is undergoing major refurbishment by a team under the management of Charlie Wroe. Carpentry led by Ken Wilkinson, naval architecture is in the hands of Theo Rye and Pendennis Shipyard are developing the interior drawings. Kelpie’s sails will be built by James Lawrence Sailmakers. Her two masts are to be overhauled by Jeremy Freeland from Collars of Oxford – who will also be building her four new spars, two booms, a bowsprit and a gaff. Kelpie will be returned to her original configuration of a Bermudian main with a gaff foresail. The aim being to restore her as sympathetically as possible whilst doing the utmost to honour her regatta pedigree. Kelpie’s debut regatta is planned for the Pendennis Cup in May, 2014.

More at the ‘Kelpie Of Falmouth’ Group on Facebook and in a 3 part series of her restoration on Classic Yacht TV .

Write an Article

Covering news on classic yachting worldwide is a tall ask and with your input Classic Yacht Info can expose stories from your own back yard.

We are keen to hear about everything from local regattas and classic events to a local restoration or yachting adventure. Pictures are welcome and ideal for making the article more engaging.

With a site that has been created with the assistance of an international group of classic yacht enthusiasts we value your input and with your help we strive to make CYI more up-to-date and more informative than ever.

Please register and get in touch if you would like to contribute.

choose your language:

We’re passionate about Classic Yachts here at CYI, and we welcome submissions from all over the globe!

Captain, rigger, sail-maker or chef – if you’d like to write for CYI just let us know!

Email [email protected] to be set up as a Contributor, and share your Classic thoughts with the world.

ClassicYachtInfo.com has the largest database of classic yachts on the internet.

We’re continually working to keep it accurate and up-to-date, and we greatly appreciate contributions of any type. If you spot an error, or you have some information on a yacht and would like to contribute, please jump on in!

Don’t be shy…. Breeze on!

Sell Your Yacht

Skip to main content
Skip to footer

Yacht Kelpie | Sag Harbor Sailing Charters

Unsurpassed Hospitality at Sea

She’s called Kelpie , the Scots name given to a shape-shifting water spirit inhabiting the lochs and pools of Scotland. Many myths tell the story of beautiful and beguiling maidens or mermaids that are able to change form into water horses. Kelpies were most often friendly and benevolent, but fairytales about them also served a practical purpose in keeping children away from stretches of water, and warning young women to be wary of handsome strangers.

Designed by Francis Sweisguth and built at the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in 1928 in Maine, Kelpie is a 78.8ft traditional gaff-rigged schooner once employed by the U.S. Coast Guard to hunt German U-Boats during WWII.

Kelpie was named Classic Refit of the Year by Classic Boat Magazine in 2014, after a full refit. Kelpie entered the Mediterranean regatta circuit and immediately took First Place at the Pendennis Cup in Cornwall, England. She went on to compete among the finest super-yachts in the world before catching the eye of Captain Shannon Carleton, a pioneer of the Hamptons charter fleet.

Sanding the paint on 2014 Kelpie charter boat.

Kelpie has been re-flagged to proudly fly the star-spangled ensign once again. After the last few years of racing the finest classic yachts in the Mediterranean, this American schooner has come home to take her place as the crown jewel of The Hamptons fleet.

Kelpie ‘s interior is airy and spacious. Several butterfly hatches on deck bathe the interior in a beautiful light, illuminating the richly varnished furnishings. She has also been lavishly installed with American black walnut panelling and deep-buttoned leather couches in her signature green, which beautifully contrast with other fixtures set in a crisp white. The over-all effect gives the space a clean, bright, comfortable feel, tastefully decorated in an old world style.