Stone Horse Builder’s Cup a celebration of an iconic sailboat
The crew and skipper of the Windfall, from left to right: Mary Brown, Tommy Kenney, Ellie Bailey Whelan, and Tom Kenney COURTESY WALT SUCHON
Metaphor round the windward mark with Able in hot pursuit. COURTESY WALT SUCHON
The Butterfly, Blue Jay, and Windfall round the weather mark. COURTESY WALT SUCHON
Kathy Parker, Bill McBrine, Lauren Stein Falls, and David Neumeyer aboard the Metaphor. COURTESY MARGARET MCBRINE
The crew and skipper of the Windfall, from left to right: Mary Brown, Tommy Kenney, Ellie Bailey Whelan, and Tom Kenney COURTESY WALT SUCHON
Metaphor round the windward mark with Able in hot pursuit. COURTESY WALT SUCHON
The Butterfly, Blue Jay, and Windfall round the weather mark. COURTESY WALT SUCHON
Kathy Parker, Bill McBrine, Lauren Stein Falls, and David Neumeyer aboard the Metaphor. COURTESY MARGARET MCBRINE
A sailboat design dating back to before World War II and perfected for the waters of Buzzards Bay still maintains a strong community — and its own race — in Padanaram Harbor.
Enthusiasts and owners of the Stone Horse 23’ took to the waters of Padanaram from August 10-11 for the two-day race series. It’s a sailboat design pioneered by S.S. Crocker before World War II, and (somewhat) mass-produced by Mattapoisett’s Edey and Duff Boats between 1969 and 1996 with a fiberglass design.
With only 151 authentic Stone Horse 23’s built, it’s a small yet close-knit community concentrated within the region.
“People who own this boat tend to be a little cult-like,” acknowledged Tom Kenney, who skippered Windfall out of Padanaram.
The Dartmouth resident was joined by crew Ellie Whelan, also of Dartmouth, Tommy Kenny of Seattle, and Mary Brown of Saranac Lake, NY. The Windfall rounded out fifth place.
Others still remember the days when the races used to be run out of Mattapoisett when Edey and Duff Boats was still in operation. Vern Tisdale, who skippered the Butterfly, purchased the sailboat in 1989.
“I like the classic style of the older boat with the less maintenance with its fiberglass hull,” Tisdale said, noting that at a distance it looks exactly like a wooden-framed sailboat.
David Neumeyer, who summers in Marion and lives in Virginia, skippered the Metaphor. With strong wind during the first race, it was Neumeyer’s longest, but the last two races were much shorter and more fun. With two out of three races in first place, Neumeyer and his crew secured a first place finish overall.
The Metaphor holds a special distinction as being owned by Jane Duff Gleason -- the daughter of Peter Duff, the founder and managing partner of Edey and Duff. She chartered Neumeyer to serve as skipper, along with crew Bill McBrine of Malden, Kathy Parker of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and Lauren Stein Falls of Melrose.
“Her father helped make these sailboats popular,” Neumeyer said.
Here are the full results from the races:
First place: Metaphor, Wareham, MA. Skipper: David Neumeyer of Marion and Virginia. Crew: Bill McBrine of Malden, MA; Kathy Parker of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Lauren Stein Falls of Melrose, MA
Second place: Able, Newport, R.I. Skipper: Dave Kane, Newport, R.I. Crew: Mairtín Rowland, Fiona Rowland, and Kathy Rowland, all of Ireland.
Third place: Butterfly, Mattapoisett, MA. Skipper: Vern Tisdale, Mattapoisett, MA. Crew: Josh Orr of Cambridge, MA; Ship Orr of Centerville, MA; and Whit Bodman of Austin, TX.
Fourth place: Blue Jay, Westport, MA. Skipper: Phil McGlave of St. Paul, Minn. and Sakonnet, R.I. Crew: Tom Hohenstein, Sakonnet Point, R.I.; Rip Hastings, Booth Bay ME; John Balletto, Hamilton, N.J.
Fifth place: Windfall, Padanaram, MA. Skipper: Tom Kenney of Dartmouth. Crew: Ellie Whelan of Dartmouth; Tommy Kenney of Seattle, WA; and Mary Brown of Saranac Lake, N.Y.
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