41' Hunt/Howland Concordia Yawl (1959) - POLARIS

Polaris is Concordia 41, #71, built 1959 in Bremerhaven Germany at the A&R Yard, sloop-rigged, mahogany on oak, recently restored by Leif Arntzen, current owner. Polaris sails out of New York. Interesting characteristic of this particular Concordia of the 103 built between 1938 & 1966 (most between 1951-1966): Most builds of this design (designed by C.Raymond Hunt) were 39’10”, and famously yawl-rigged. However, Hunt being a relentless tinkerer, 26 were built to 41’, of which 6 were sloop-rigged. Besides Polaris, one of these 6 was “Harrier”, built before Polaris in 1955 for C. Raymond Hunt’s own use. A masterful sailor, Hunt traveled with his family & a friend to Germany to pick up the boat in 1955, whereupon he sailed it to England, and entered the Cowes Week, winning 6 of the 7 races. Part of this legendary racing story is that Hunt & Harrier would have won the 7 as well, but pulled out because of a failed turnbuckle. The British racing community went nuts, both celebratory & critical, believing Hunt had somehow cheated the ratings, demanding that the boat be hauled and carefully measured. In fact the survey results actually favored Harrier further, and the incredible win was confirmed, cemented in history. It was an astounding sailing feat: to sail so well on a brand new launch, in foreign water. Hunt was a genius self-taught designer, who also designed the Boston Whaler, and invented/pioneered the deep V planing hull, which became the basis of all modern day motor yachts such as Bertram developed and mass marketed.

Of 103 Concordia’s built, 102 still exist.