1888 Historic High Gaff Top Sail Cutter

ELF is the Oldest Active Racing Vessel in the United States, 1888 to present. A Classic. A quintessential Masterpiece

A 1888 Lawley-built (Boston) A high gaff top sail cutter, meticulously restored and maintained for the last 60 years by Captain Rick Carrion, President of CYRG. Restoration completed 2008. Historically and accurately restored and relaunched in 2008. She has been a continuous part of American maritime culture for more than a century. She was built by George Lawley & Sons for Mr. William H. Wilkinson in 1888 as a state-of-the-art racing yacht. She continues today as a more than formidable Leader on the Classic Vessel Racing Circuit.

From the Cockpit, you step down the companionway into the cabin, galley starboard, 2 quarter berths midship port & starboard, work area port aft, storage starboard aft, Walking forward V berth.

Elf offers a V berth forward, quarter berths port & starboard. The head is port side mid ship.

The cabin offers bench seat convertible quarter berths port & starboard, with Sasafrass bunk boards. Long Leaf Yellow Pine sole, Cypress ceiling, storage cabinets, 2 skyllights in hatches, 3 vintage oil lamps, copper sink with reversible cutting board top, Cypress electric runs installed, DC port side, AC starboard side for auxiliary power. Main cabinetry North American Black Cherry.

The galley is starboard side,

• Defy Traveller top stove / oven to starboard
• Copper sink with reversible cutting board top, custom built Ash faucet
• Dry storage
• Storage areas under bench / quarter berth bunks

• ICOM VHF IC-M127
• Garmin Radar echoMAP CV
• Garmin Depth Sounder Fishfinder 160C

• 30 Amp shore power cord
• Cypress electrical channel runs for auxiliary power items.
• Inverter hookup

• Westerbeke MD44B
• Manual Bronze Handle head

• Danforth 45 LB anchor
• CQR 35 LB anchor
• 10 ft chain
• 300 ft, 3/4 Nylon for each anchor
• Mahogany pole for manual windlass
• Sika Spruce bow sprit
• Teak decks, Douglas Fir
• Engraved Ship's Bell on front of mast
• Cockpit cushions and covers
• Enclosures
• Hatches, and tiller cover

• Covers for Main, Jib and Jackyard
• Jackyard Topsail
• Working Top
• Radial Spinaker with Sitka Spruce Pole
• Unstayed Jib
• 4:1 purchase on Peak and Throat Halyard
• 4:1 purchase on Jib
• 3:1 purchase on Topsail
• 6:1 purchase on Traveler split on Port & Starboard
• 1:1 Flying jib led aft

• Fire Extinguishers
• Throwing float
• Bilge Pump (Automatic and Manual)

• Seller's personal belongings

The Early Sailing Years

• Marblehead 1888, 1889
• Halifax Voyage 1893

Restoration Personnel

• Captain Rick Carrion, Founder of the Classic Yacht Restoration Guild CYRG
• Graham Ero, Boatwright
• John Griffiths, Consultant
• Kurt Hasselbach, M.I.T. Consultant
• Peter Vemilla, Mystic Seaport Museum

Restoration Schedule

• 1991 Hauled for Restoration
• 1991-2001 Futtocks and Structural
• 2001 Shudder Plank
• 2001-2004 Interior Construction
• 2004 Auxiliary and Structure
• 2005 Decking
• 2006 Launch
• 2006 Spars and Rigging
• 2008 Accurately and Fully Restored

• Maryland Historical Trust
• Cecil County Historical Trust
• Classic Yacht Restoration Guild
• Gus and Veda Van Lennep

• Flagship of Classic Yacht Restoration Guild
• Maritime Education
• Environmental Awareness
• National Historic Register
• Restoration sustainability for the next Century
• Survey 2021 available

Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

Engine hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.