In July 1931 Mme. Virginie Heriot (owner of the three masted schooner Ailèe of 490 tons Thames measurement) challenged Miss Marion Carstairs (owner of the 430 ton three masted schooner Sonia II) to a race, writes Enrico Zaccagni of ZacBoats.
The course was from Ryde Pier on the northeast coast of the Isle of Wight to the Le Havre lightship (anchored about 7 miles and bearing 285° from Cap de la Heve, outside Le Havre harbour) and back to Ryde. After racing about 200 miles the two magnificent yachts were still close to each other. At the finishing line Ailèe won on handicap by 9 minutes and 40 seconds. The lovely silver trophy, a shallow bowl with a mermaid peeping over each handle, was offered as the ‘Coupe Nicholson’ by Charles and John Nicholson and “M.me Heriot was so delighted that she had an alcove made in the saloon for its permanent display” (quoted from John Nicholson’s volume ‘Great Years in Yachting’).
It was one of the most extraordinary races of the classic yachting era.
The two yachts were huge and extremely refined; both were designed by C.E. Nicholson and built in Camper & Nicholson’s Gosport yard for the two legendary and extremely wealthy ladies, both involved in many other sports.
Many hundreds of pages have been written about Virginie Heriot, a glory in French sailing. She had acquired the Max Oertz designed 400 ton schooner Meteor in 1923 and renamed her Ailèe. She also had five 8-Metres built for her: Aile II in 1922, Aile III in 1923, Aile IV in 1925, Aile V in 1926 and Aile VI in 1928. In 1928 she won the Olympic Gold Medal with her 8-Metre Aile VI.
Hériot’s C&N schooner, again named Ailèe, was launched in June 1928. She cost £62,500 to build (almost 40 million in present day Euros). With an overall length of 57 metres and a displacement of 347 tons, she had 1,116 square metres of sail area, a 200 horsepower engine and a generator that supplied the electricity on board and operated the winches and windlass. Not many other boats were fitted with such technology and comforts almost a hundred years ago! Four large cabins, two bathrooms, mahogany panelling, plus a library with a piano and sofas, cluttered with display cabinets and knick-knacks of all kinds. The yacht was a floating residence for Virginie Hériot, who had left her private mansion in Avenue Foch in Paris to live aboard her schooner. Ailèe also proved to be very good under sail, running easily 9-10 knots upwind and 14-15 knots downwind.
Sonia II was built for Miss Marion Carstairs. The yachtsman Anthony Heckstall-Smith remembered her as a first-class helmswoman, winning almost every race in class in East Cowes in the 1920s. As an extremely rich heiress, Carstairs lived a colourful life. She usually dressed as a man, had tattooed arms, and loved machines, adventure and speed. Her eccentric lifestyle and gender nonconformity were well known in the motor-car and motor-boat racing circles. In the 1920s she was known as the fastest woman on water.
The Carstairs Collection came to the Gallery of the Classic Boats Museum of Cowes after the closure of the Basildon Motorboat Museum and much of it is on display in the Gallery. As well as trophies there are albums, press cutting books, and photographs.
Sonia II was designed by C.E. Nicholson as a steel three-masted cruising schooner built to Lloyd’s 100A1+ Class for treasure hunting off the Cocos islands (!!) and ocean cruising. She was launched on March 21st, 1931.
Her dimensions were very similar to those of Ailèe with a displacement of 337 tons and 56 meters of length overall. The yacht had many comforts to allow for relaxed ocean cruising; her accommodations were admirable. There was also a small gymnasium with rowing and cycling machines to keep her guests fit!
By courtesy of CAMPER & NICHOLSON ARCHIVE
