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Shenandoah of Sark, more than a century at sea under sail

Shenandoah of Sark, the 54-metre schooner built in 1902 that still sails today across oceans and the Mediterranean

More than a century at sea for Shenandoah of Sark, a classic yacht shaped by restoration, ocean passages and sailing history

Shenandoah of Sark was launched in 1902, when yachting was still defined by large sail plans, long passages and vessels built to accompany their owners across oceans and continents. More than a century later, this three-masted schooner continues to sail with the unmistakable silhouette that has defined her through generations, combining her historical identity with the comfort expected from contemporary yachting.

Built in the United States by Townsend & Downey and designed by naval architect Theodore E. Ferris, she measures 54.35 metres overall. Her steel hull, classic rig and proportions unmistakably belong to another era, yet that authenticity remains one of the strongest elements of her appeal.

Born during yachting’s Golden Age

Shenandoah was commissioned by American banker Charles Fahnestock as a private yacht intended for cruising between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Ferris designed her at a time when elegance and sailing ability were considered inseparable, producing a three-masted topsail schooner that attracted attention from the earliest years of her life.

The Mediterranean soon became part of her story. During the early twentieth century she cruised the French Riviera and Amalfi Coast, hosting gatherings that reflected a very different era yet remain surprisingly close to the imagery that still surrounds classic yachting today.

Almost five journeys around the world written in her wake

Shenandoah has never lived the life of a historical yacht permanently preserved in a harbour. Atlantic crossings, ocean passages, regattas and long periods spent far from the Mediterranean have given her a history measured primarily in miles sailed.

Her official website records that the routes accumulated since her major restoration in the 1990s amount to almost five circumnavigations of the globe. It is perhaps a more meaningful measure of this yacht’s character than any conventional technical specification.

Her story also includes participation in prestigious events such as the 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee and numerous classic yacht regattas. Shenandoah has therefore continued doing what she was originally created to do, actually sail, rather than become an object intended only for preservation.

Restoring history without erasing it

A yacht built in 1902 does not reach the present simply by surviving the passing years. Shenandoah has undergone major restoration and refit programmes, with work recorded by her official website in 2004, 2009, 2016 and 2019.

One of the most important chapters began after she was found in very poor condition in Southeast Asia. The restoration that followed required thousands of hours of work, with the intention of preserving as much of the yacht’s historical identity as possible while updating structures, systems and practical elements required for modern navigation.

That balance is perhaps what makes Shenandoah particularly compelling. Her past is not simply recreated as a decorative backdrop; it continues to coexist with everything required to operate a sailing yacht of more than fifty metres.

54 metres retaining the character of a classic schooner

At 54.35 metres overall, with an 8.23-metre beam and a 4.65-metre draft, Shenandoah has considerable presence without losing the elegance associated with the great sailing yachts of the early twentieth century. Her declared sail area reaches 888 square metres upwind and 1,658 square metres downwind.

When sailing conditions do not provide the propulsion, twin Lugger engines give her a cruising speed of approximately 9 knots and a maximum of 12 knots. Her official range is listed at around 3,250 nautical miles.

They are figures consistent with a yacht created to travel between regions and continents rather than simply make short coastal passages.

History meets contemporary comfort

The interiors are associated with British designer Terence Disdale, while the current accommodation allows up to 11 guests across four cabins, supported by a similarly sized crew.

Her historical character therefore does not exclude the amenities expected from a modern yacht also operating in the charter market. Air conditioning, tenders and a collection of equipment for enjoying the water are available, including Laser sailing dinghies, diving equipment, paddleboards, kayaks, Seabobs and other water toys.

The contrast is part of the experience. Guests can step aboard a schooner conceived when the twentieth century had barely begun and spend their day with amenities firmly rooted in contemporary yachting.

A familiar Mediterranean presence for more than a century

For Shenandoah, the Mediterranean is not a recently discovered cruising ground. She was already sailing these waters during the earliest years of her history, when the French Riviera and Amalfi Coast were beginning to establish themselves as international yachting destinations.

Seeing her under sail today therefore means encountering something increasingly rare, a yacht that belongs to yachting history yet continues to fulfil the purpose for which she was originally designed.

It is more than the preservation of an important classic yacht. It is the continuation of a way of sailing that has survived more than a century, wars, changes of ownership, restorations and thousands of nautical miles without losing its connection with the sea.

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Shenandoah of Sark, official website

14 Agosto 2026
© Redazione MED Yachting
Shenandoah of Sark, more than a century at sea under sail
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Le informazioni contenute in questo articolo sono tratte e rielaborate da fonti ufficiali e/o comunicati stampa, nel rispetto del codice etico redazionale.