Designed in 1938 by renowned naval architect C. Raymond Hunt, the legendary Concordia Yawl is arguably the most successful large one-design wooden sailboat in history. “The original 39’ Concordia Yawls were never made to fit any racing rules; they were made to fit the ocean.” said Waldo Howland who conceived the famous design for equal success racing and/or cruising. Comfortable, sea-kindly, and fast in all conditions, the well-proven Concordia Yawl is "much like a good apple pie: you can’t improve on it.” Of the original 103 Concordia Yawls that were built, all but two are still in existence today!
Concordia Yawl #86 DAME of SARK was built at Abeking and Rasmussen in 1961. Being a later model she was built with such improvements over the earlier boats as laminated frames and a mast-head rig with no running back-stays. She was also ordered with a varnished hull; a costly upgrade requiring the best possible materials. DAME began her life as the best of the best and has only improved since then.
Today DAME in near-perfect condition following an expensive rebuild, continuous maintenance, and recent upgrades under the care of Dodson Boatyard for 25 years and Artisan Boatworks since 2019. Her structural and cosmetic condition and extensive mechanical and electronics upgrades make her possibly the strongest and most trouble-free, fully upgraded, and beautiful Concordia Yawl there is.
When comparing the various Concordia Yawls on the market buyers have many factors to consider: Keel and backbone timber condition, floor timbers and frames, planking fasteners, mast step reinforcement, original canvas decks replaced with Dynel/epoxy, self-tailing winches, refrigeration, upgraded cooking stove, modern electronics, new engine, new sails, interior and exterior paint and varnish… the list goes on; and DAME has received every single one of these upgrades, executed at the highest possible standard.
She has a large sail inventory (17), many new or new-ish; including light and heavy air mainsails, a classic convenient self-tacking jib, and a range of spinnakers & staysails for both light and heavy air. DAME has also been successful in wooden boat racing, including 1st in the Concordia Division at the 2024 Corinthian Classic, and a 1st and two 2nd’s in the Concordia Division at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Nantucket Opera House Cup races.
Notable major work since 1995 includes the following:
2019 - 2024
-Varnished topsides re-varnished every year (4 to 7 coats)
-All deck brightwork re-varnished every year (4 to 7 coats)
-Custom Reineck bronze traveler installed on bridge-deck
-4-blade MaxProp
-Complete B&G/Simrad integrated navigation electronics package (list below)
-All winches upgraded to bronze Wilmex self-tailing
-Additional deck hardware upgraded to Reineck: bronze blocks, cam cleats, etc.
-Replaced fixed portlights with period-correct bronze opening portlights
-Harken roller furler on bow for use with either genoa or self-tacking club jib
-New interior and mast 12v wiring, with LED bulbs throughout
-Custom varnished locust cockpit coaming backrests to match original aft backrests
-Re-painted non-skid Dynel/Epoxy deck and housetop
-New electric fresh-water flush Raritan head with ABYC compliant holding tank.
2018-2019
-Bottom stripped to the wood and thoroughly inspected
-Replaced second broad plank, starboard side (14’ African Mahogany)
-Coated bottom planking and ballast with 8 coats Interprotect 2000
-Topsides stripped to bare wood, faired and varnished (12 coats)
-All deck brightwork refinished every year with a minimum of 4 coats
-Bilges inspected and painted
-Gold leaf applied to cove stripes, stars and crescent moons
-New (2019) 38 HP Yanmar 3JH5-E diesel engine installed
-New engine beds, mounts, stainless shaft, dripless seal, and Vetus muffler
-New main electrical service wiring, battery switches, breakers, and batteries
2001 - 2005
-Removed all interior joiner work, tanks, engine, etc. for full access to structure
-Repaired frame heels as necessary and reinforced with bronze strapping
-Complete refastening below waterline
-Removed iron ballast, sandblasted, and applied 4 coats of epoxy
-Replaced keel bolts with Nitronic 50 stainless steel
-Replaced all floor timbers and floor timber bolts
-Installed extended bronze/oak laminated mast step with tie-rods to chain plates
-Installed bronze sheer clamp / chain plate reinforcements
-Installed sea-hood (garage) over companionway slide for water sealing offshore
-Rebuilt original Concordia cast iron cabin heater
-Replaced rudder (mahogany with Garolite 10 splines and bronze rods)
-Interior overhead and under side of deck repainted
-New fully insulated (closed cell foam) Sea Frost refrigeration
1995 -1996
-Bi-axial fiberglass/epoxy/Awlgrip deck with all hardware and rails removed
MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES ADDED SINCE 2001
-Custom cast bronze “Dame of Sark” bell
-Custom bronze name plaque for top companionway
-Custom mahogany and bronze swim ladder (quite beautiful – rarely used)
-All new Sunbrella sail covers, hatch covers, dodger, and other canvas work
ELECTRONICS
-B&G Zeus 13 inch combo touch-screen chart-plotter/radar with Insight charts
-B&G Triton 2 screens (2): Autopilot—Speed—Depth— Wind speed / direction
-Integrated Simrad NAC-3 Computer Autopilot w/DD15 Direct Drive
-B&G VHF with Registered AIS Transceiver
-B&G HALO 20+ Pulse compression radar with 20-inch dome antenna
-Navico Precision 9 Solid State Compass
-Integrated Fusion sound system with Sirius XM music app/antenna
SAILS
-Mainsail, M&H Bartles 2023 lightweight traditional cut 2 reefs
-Mainsail, Doyle 2012, standard weight, 2 reefs, 2 full length battens
-Mizzen, M&H Bartles 2020, lightweight
-Mizzen spinnaker, M&H Bartles 2023, with Concordia logo
-Mizzen Staysail, Manchester Headsails, excellent condition
-#1 Genoa 130%, M&H Bartles 2023, lightweight, traditional cut
-#1 Genoa 140% Doyle 2010
-#1 Genoa, Halsey, tri-radial cut, Mylar Laminate, very good condition
-#2 Genoa 150% Doyle 2012
-#2 Genoa 130% Halsey, older, needs work
-#2 Genoa 100% Clark, older, narrow panel, miter-cut
-#3 Jib, M&H Bartles 2020 for self-tacking club
-Heavy Air Jib, Doyle 2005, Dacron
-Storm Jib, Halsey, blaze orange (like new)
-Spinnaker, M&H Bartles 2023, full-size symmetrical in ATN sleeve
-Spinnaker, Doyle 2009, Asymmetrical, tri-radial, in ATN sleeve
-Spinnaker, Doyle 2011, symmetrical cross cut
-Spinnaker, Hood, Asymmetrical, Radial head, in ATN
MISCELLANEOUS
-2 original bronze winch handles and deck mounts at mast
-2 bronze Barient winch handles for primary winches
-2 bronze winch handles for secondary winches
-EPIRB (federally registered)
-Fortress Anchor FX16 stored in chocks on coach roof
-Fortress Anchor FX 23 stored in forepeak
-2 anchor rodes
-original bronze anchor hawse pipe and cover
-bronze cowl vents
-2 bronze removable anchor rollers
-4 fenders with embroidered covers
-Docklines (black) in exc condition
-Varnished flag-staff with ensign
-3 pig sticks for mast head flags/burgees
-Chocks on foredeck for yachtsman style anchor
-Chocks on coach roof for stowage of 8’ Dyer Dhow (not included)
-Folding varnished oak seat backs at aft end of cockpit
-Bronze dodger frame
-Bronze/wood/leather folding main boom gallows
-Original self-tacking jib club with new Reineck blocks and cam cleats
-Original Concordia stainless steel Charlie Noble for stove pipe
-Bronze mounts in cockpit and main salon for custom cast bell
-Original bronze foredeck hatch locking mechanism (uninstalled)
-CNG two burner stove with oven (tank under starboard cockpit seat)
-Ash/Bronze boathook
-Original Danforth constellation compass in cockpit
-Masthead tricolor/anchor light – spreader lights
