Built by renowned Patchogue boat builder Gilbert Monroe (Gil) Smith (1843–1945) and launched on June 6, 1906, Elvira is the oldest surviving original “P”-class sloop—one of the largest racing classes to have sailed on the Great South Bay, Long Island.
After decades of being laid up in a shed, Elvira was fully restored by the Carmans River Maritime Center in 2006 and relaunched in 2018.
Today, Elvira remains an active sailboat, cruising and racing on the Great South Bay, maintained and enjoyed through a community effort with the Bellport Historic Vessel Preserve.
Back when Rce Week was a week.. When each club’s regatta drew over a hundred boats. Correct me if I am wrong. Dowling College owner her.. And a man named Bitey Fenner would take her out.. Sailed on her once …Thank you for saving her…