Designed in 1971 and launched in 1972 she was the prototype for ‘Swan’ yachts. Other names include ‘Dora IV’ and ‘Tenacious’. As ‘Tenacious’ she went on to win the tragic 1979 Fastnet race under skipper Ted Turner.
My family have owned and sailed the ‘War Baby’ named vessels for 80 years. The original is with me in Ireland, a 14 foot Bermuda fitted dinghy designed in part by Nat Herreshofff with Eldon Trimingham. Subsequent War Baby boats/yachts have been, in order, a Luders, an International One Design and a Soling(all gone), then a Swan 48, the 12-Metre American Eagle, then the custom Sparkman and Stephens Dora IV. Archie Brown, then Warren Brown, then Warren Brown Jnr owned these War Babys – the older Warren won the Blue Water Medal with the 61′ SS taking her to the Arctic and Antarctic amongst other far flung regions’.
Information courtesy of Warren Brown.
