Easterner, US-18

HISTORY:

1958-1966: Built for the Chandler Hovey family at the Graves Yacht Yard in Marblehead, MA. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt, she entered the 1958, 1962 and 1964  Defender Trials sailing for the Eastern Yacht Club. Although the boat had great potential, as she was considered the fastest of the 1958 12mRs, she was unsuccessful in capturing the Defender position. In 1962 she won the Astor Cup (NYYC) and the Queen’s Cup (NYYC) in 1964.

1967-1995: She was purchased by John F. Baillie who renamed her Newsboy. During this time her homeport was Newport Beach, CA. She had an extensive interior refit suitable for extended offshore racing on the west coast, including installing a small piano under the chart table. Sailing from the Balboa Yacht Club, US-18 won dozens of local and long-range large yacht offshore races during this period, including the Ensenada, Catalina, and Los Angeles Yacht Club races. ( Newsboy  was moored in Balboa Bay in front of the Bernard family home. She was much admire by Scott Bernard as he learned to sail and 50 years later he became the sixth owner of US-18.)

1995-2013: Arthur Schlossmann (Jamestown RI), SASA Charters Inc., purchased her and undertook a refit at the Brooklin Boat Yard and Cove Haven Marina with a major structural restoration including re-framing, re-fastening and refinishing. In 2008 Schlossmann donated Easterner to Sail to Prevail (Newport, RI), The National Disabled Sailing Program. At that time she was fitted with helm modifications to accommodate disabled skippers.

2014: Thorpe Lesson (Newport,RI) purchased Easterner, he started but did not complete a refit in Maine and Somerset MA

2018: Scott Bernard (Annapolis, MD) purchased Easterner with plans to race in Newport, RI and Annapolis, MD. She will undergo a refit keeping the hull bright and the bottom white. Near future plans include racing in Newport- Summer 2018, and Annapolis- Fall / Winter 2018-9. The refit was completed in 6 months allowing US-18 to go back into the water in June with honors performed by Nancy Hovey, as she did 60 years earlier when US-18 was first launched.. She sailed at the 2018 12mR North Americans.

2019: Underwent a deck replacement at the Bridgeport Boatworks, CT and returned to Newport for  2019 12mR World Championship at Newport, RI but was not able do race due to rigging issues. She went south thereafter to her new homeport of Annapolis MD, berthed at City Dock.

2020-21: Due to pandemic restrictions, US-18 spent this time on the hard at the Yacht Maintenance Co. boatyard in Cambridge, MD. Meanwhile, Bernard established the non-profit Easterner Foundation, donated US-18 and oversaw a refit of mechanical systems. She was re-launched in April, 2021. US-18 has year-round dockage at the Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis and has become a harbor icon, sailing in local races and supporting outreach events with the US Naval Academy, City of Annapolis, Wounded Warriors, Sea Scouts, and other civic organizations.

2022: Easterner travelled to New York Harbor for the 12mR Heritage Regatta and returned to Annapolis in August for local events. Future plans include east coast 12mR events, local races on the Chesapeake and outreach day sails.