45 foot 1970's IOR racer stored in a barn for 25 to 30 years

[soundsail]

This looks like Fantasia built by Everett Pearson and designed by Skip Etchells. I have a Sail magazine article about this yacht. It was built for speed without regard for IOR.

[soundsail]

Further details about “Fantasia” in attachments.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by soundsail

Further details about “Fantasia” in attachments.

Looks like we have our winner!

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by soundsail

This looks like Fantasia built by Everett Pearson and designed by Skip Etchells. I have a Sail magazine article about this yacht. It was built for speed without regard for IOR.

That's am impressive first post.

[soundsail]

Here are better photos of Sail article about Fantasia. Besides the E-22 Etchells also designed a smaller version of Fantasia that was a one tonner named Fair American and owned by a syndicate from American Yacht Club in Rye, NY.

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by soundsail

Further details about “Fantasia” in attachments.

Hi soundsail,

WOW! HAPPY NEW YEARS! THANK YOU!

Soundsail, you win the grand prize! I will send you a message.

I am just guessing, but the photo looks like it could have been taken in the Tillotson Pearson Inc factory in Everett, Massachusetts just north of Boston. I know that Tillotson Pearson built the hulls of the Etchells Class, 30 foot, E22 in the plant for Skip Etchells, who fitted them out at another nearby location. So everything fits together and makes sense. I had no idea that Skip Etchells designed any larger sailboats than his E22.

So, MYSTERY is a Fantasia sailing yacht designed by Skip Etchells and built by Tillotson Pearson Inc in Everett, Massachusetts.

What a pedigree for an old sail boat hidden in a barn all these decades!

To all those who viewed and posted to this thread.....I would like to say thank you! I will continue to post updates on this thread as I learn them from soundsail. I will also post pictures of MYSTERY's refit and eventually a picture of her sailing again.

Cheers, Ric

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by soundsail

Here are better photos of Sail article about Fantasia. Besides the E-22 Etchells also designed a smaller version of Fantasia that was a one tonner named Fair American and owned by a syndicate from American Yacht Club in Rye, NY.

Hi soundsail,

While I was typing my previous post to you, you posted the additional picks. Thank you!

I will send you a message.

Cheers, Ric

[Russel2]

Hi All,

After learning from Soundsail that MYSTERY is a Fantasia 46 designed by Skip Etchells and built by Everett Pearson probably in the Tillotson factory in Everett, Massachusetts, I started a google search using variations on the boat's model name.

If you do an internet search using EP-46 Etchells you will find a uSHiP page.

It appears that a Mr. Steve A. asked for a quote on uSHiP to ship his;

"World Cruiser EP-46 Etchells Pearson Sailboat"

from Alameda, California to Chicago, Illinois in March of 2017.

From the picture on uSHiP, Steve A's EP-46 appears to have a white hull with a red or possibly maroon waterline stripe and a dark or black bottom.

Is this the original Fantasia?, or is it a second boat of the same model line?

Is this EP-46 in California still or is it in Chicago now?

Does anyone know of this boat or the 2017 owner Steve A?

Soundsail's Fantasia info show's that the EP-46 had a V-drive engine under the cockpit with a cockpit companionway.

MYSTERY has a inline engine with a original engine box installed in the middle of the boat and no companionway in the cockpit. Is MYSTERY the second or third EP-46 built that was optimized for IOR racing?

MYSTERY still has some mystery about her!

Cheers, Ric

[NormanMartin]

Also called an EP46. I saw her in Mystic CT 30 years ago on a trailer. Raced against her in the SORC in 71 or 72 if I recall correctly. I always thought they were pretty boats.
Norm

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by NormanMartin

Also called an EP46. I saw her in Mystic CT 30 years ago on a trailer. Raced against her in the SORC in 71 or 72 if I recall correctly. I always thought they were pretty boats.
Norm

Hi NormanMartin,

Thank you for your response! MYSTERY is currently painted a very dark blue that almost looks black. The previous color she was painted was a "medium dark" blue. Was the EP 46 that you saw on the trailer in Mystic CT blue?

Cheers, Ric

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by NormanMartin

Also called an EP46. I saw her in Mystic CT 30 years ago on a trailer. Raced against her in the SORC in 71 or 72 if I recall correctly. I always thought they were pretty boats.
Norm

Hi NormanMartin,

And I almost forgot to ask about the EP 46 that you saw in the SORC.

Was it white or blue? Thank you for your response.

Cheers, Ric

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Russel2

...Is MYSTERY the second or third EP-46 built that was optimized for IOR racing?...

I doubt that this boat was optimized for IOR racing. Nothing about the appearance of the hull in any of the photos show the IOR distortions that were typically added to optimize them and nothing in the basic hull shape makes it look like it would be competitive under the IOR rule.

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by RLMM

Dark Horse was a Canada's Cup Rule designed racer from the 70's. Tried hard to earn a place in history but was mostly forgotten about. A lot of effort went into the project by some well-heeled individuals, which I will suggest passed on pre-Covid. (I think this will be the new way we describe our ages and time) There will be something in the history books and the Marine Museum in Kingston and your best living contact might be Jake Rogerson up in Bayfield. There are a couple of other senior sailors in the area who you may search out as well. Both, blue water cruisers, both with an interest in things like this. Whether they see this page or not I do not know. You do have some work in front of you. If I can help more, reach out. slowasmolasses@hotmail.com

Hi RLMM,

Thanks for the info. I will look into it. Jake Rogerson is a great guy with vast amounts of knowledge and experience. He used to survey my boat. Jake came around to see MYSTERY when she arrived in Bayfield. Jake's comment was "interesting boat" and he thought that it was a US east coast design. He was going to ask around during the winter about it. The next time I see Jake I will be able to tell him that she is an EP 46.

Cheers, Ric

[Russel2]

Originally Posted by wingssail

I doubt that this boat was optimized for IOR racing. Nothing about the appearance of the hull in any of the photos show the IOR distortions that were typically added to optimize them and nothing in the basic hull shape makes it look like it would be competitive under the IOR rule.

Hi Wingssail,

You are right! I should not have used the word optimized so loosely. What MYSTERY does have is the typical tumble home of the era. Then, compared to the Fantasia 46, MYSTERY had a bustle added at the rudder post, the engine moved forward and a lead shoe added to the trailing edge of the keel. In milder terms, someone attempted to give a Fantasia 46 a more favorable IOR rating within the limitations of the hull design. The end result was MYSTERY.

Cheers, Ric

[Russel2]

Hi all,

For those who are new to this forum and cannot find the pictures of MYSTERY. Please just do the following, because the pictures are in my album.

After you open the thread, then click on Russel2, on the right side of the new screen you will see two pictures, click on the top picture, you will now see four pictures, just click on any of the pictures and you will see an enlarged view of the picture with a narrative under it.

Cheers, Ric