The art work of William Fife III continues alive at the Copa del Rey of Vintage Boats

The scottish naval architect William Fife III (1857-1944), also known as William Fife Jr., he designed during his life about 600 ships, a third of which are estimated to be still sailing today. Three of them, “Hallowe’en” (1926), “Mariska” (1908) y “Viola” (1908), participate in the XIX Copa del Rey Repsol, the reunion of classic boats that the Marine Club of Mahón organizes.

To speak of Fife III is to speak of the search for perfection and beauty. The most modern of its sailing yachts present in Mahón, the "Hallowe'en" was launched in 1926 for the second edition of the Fastnet and was fitted with one of the first triangular sai in history.  It was the fastest and maintained the trial record (3 days, 19 hours and 5 minutes) until 1939, when the scene of “Nordwind”  appeared, the boat of regattas of Kriegsmarine (the marine war of the German nazi) designed by Henry Graber. The mark was reduced, in large part, because the route was changed to a shorter one.

William Fife III himself,  classified “Hallowe’en” as “the perfect jewel”. It is difficult to know if it was his favorite, but what is certain is that he dedicated numerous praises. He could not hide a certain predilection. And no wonder: her sleek lines, the peculiar rounded shape of her stern and her imposing 25-meter length make her one of the most attractive 'big boats' in the vintage fleet.

The current skipper of the boat, Inigo Strez, affirms about the validity of this marvelous ship. “I do not think that Fife would imagine that these boats are competing and winning races a decade later, or maybe he did imagine it? We are fortunate that they have survived and to have enjoyed and take care of them  with the goal that other people, in 50, 60 or 100 years, can still do this”.

In its years of great splendor, the “Hallowe’en” normally counted onboard with the presence of prince Olaf, future king of Norway. Its almost century-long existence has not been without vicissitudes and dangers. Like many other vessels of its type, were in danger of disappearing, but from the last big restoration which was submitted in 2009, the new boat, built in the Scottish shipyards of Failie, where it was born, maintains the splendor of its early years.

The crew of “Hallowe’en” will be at Mahón with “Mariska” (1908) in the category of Big Boats. This ship was also designed by William Fife III in 1908 by the category FI15, which belongs to “Hispania” (1909), the “Tuiga” (1909) and “Lady Anne” (1912), the only four survivors of the formula that allowed for real-time racing.

The “Mariska” was, in reality, the second yacht of the category of 15 meters designed and constructed by Fife Jr. a year after the launch of “Shinna” in 1907. It was ordered by A.K. Stothert, a wealthy yacht collector who was not willing to be left out of the group of millionaires and aristocratic yachtsmen, including King Alfonso III and the Duke of Medinacelli.

With everything, the “Mariska” had a relatively short sports life in its first years. After changing owners five times until 1923, saw her rigging transformed from a racing cutter to a dinghy rig first, and then to a ketch rig, both more suited to a recreational boat than a thoroughbred.

Thanks to these transformations and its new uses, however, it managed to survive two world wars and come alive, although very hurt and undermined, to the year XXI. In 2001 they started with the reconstruction work which returned it to its original appearance. The responsible for its resurrection are the ship carpenters Jacques Faroux and his son Nicolas.

The “Viola”, of the skipper Belkin Kostia, won the Copa del Rey Repsol in 2021, in its first participation at Menorca. William Fife III made up the plans and personally directed to the construction of the construction of this 14-meter cutter, which sails on behalf of the Yacht Club de Monaco and competes in the Gaff rig sailing Era category, corresponding to pre-1950 trapezoidal-rigged sailing yachts.

The boat has been passed on to 14 skippers and submitted to constant work of conservation from its restoration in 1999. France awarded the classification of “national monument”, which guaranteed its protection. Its path was the reverse of “Mariska”: the “Viola”  started being a cruise boat that, by chance and thanks to the boost of regattas such as the Copa del Rey of Vintage Boats at Mahón, has ended up transformed into a racing yacht. And a very competitive one at that

Its current skipper assures that “Viola” , in reality, does not belong to him and that he is in charge of its conservation and taking care of it. A feeling that shares many lovers of the sea and heritage that these days gather with their floating jewels in the port of Mahón.