Mariquita Book - mk2

There were some magnificent classic sailing yachts that stole the limelight at the
Royal Yacht Squadron’s bicentenary celebrations in 2015. Heads were turned at
the sight of the superbly maintained and varnished Mariquita competing against
some of the fastest yachts afloat today in the Race Around the Isle of Wight,
following the same course as the original America’s Cup in 1851.
With Sir Ben Ainslie leading the Squadron’s current campaign to bring the
Cup back to the UK in very high speed catamarans, the contrasting beauty of
Mariquita, which was the fastest yacht of its type 100 years ago, is a reminder of
a more elegant age fortunately still on display thanks to the vision and generosity
of the current owners.
Two of Mariquita’s owners are Members of the Royal Yacht Squadron which made
this vessel’s participation at our bicentenary even more poignant. The owners take
it in turn on the helm which is impressive at a time when professional sailors are
tending to dominate the yachting scene at this level.
Mariquita provided our bicentenary with a glimpse of how yacht racing would
have looked in the early 20th century. Technology may move on apace but some
aspects of yacht design have never been bettered and Mariquita is the perfect
example.
Christopher Sharples
May 2016
James Robinson Taylor
314