Sailboats. Living the past.

- Going through my files, I intend to go back over 50 years. Years of Yacht Designs from, my first Professional job until I started Tanton Yacht Design in October 1973 and established Tanton Inc, the official company in January 1st. 1974, after having moved to Newport, R.I., my home base until now.

  

- P.S. You have to forgive the low quality of many original drawings since they are so old, and I was so young. But I was given the job of designing this Quarter Tonner, my first design and the last of the Malham's.

- Read more on this Blog under: Kayitsis 111; Tanton Design No. 936.

- Yes, the above introduction drawing is my first job at the prestigious Design Firm headed by John Illingworth in England. Formally I & P, and now Illingworth and Associates. I had sailed I & P boats for years, and meeting with Mr. Illingworth on numerous occasions in the Med and in England, I decided this was the firm I wanted to apprentice with. Ruling the wave, the combination of John and of Angus Primrose and the R.O.R.C machines they produced indeed ruled the waves, at least on this side of the Atlantic.

- So, to England I went.  Maybe people do not remember, but the UK was under the Socialist Wilson government and things were not going too well. In order for a Frenchman to go there for work was nearly impossible, considering the labor situation. But John managed to get me working papers. I was there for about nine months and during my spare time designed for myself  two boats. You see, I had keys to the office and on Saturdays and often Sundays I sneaked in and drew boats.

- The first one, for which I designed the Lines which in later years became the C38, is a typical R.O.R.C 

of that era and in England. An elegant boat, with gracious overhangs and moderate in all directions. With a 30' waterline.

- While working for an English Firm, I kept my eyes on anything and everything going around and especially towards America. 

After leaving the Firm, my opportunity was to join Baron Bich on his quest for the America's Cup. And working for Andre Mauric, the French Architect for the Venture.