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| History
of WHEN AND IF |
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| The
famous General |
WHEN AND IF was built for Colonel and Mrs. George
S. Patton and was named for their plan to sail
around the world "when and if" he returned from the
war he saw looming in Europe. Designed by respected
marine architect John G. Alden and built by F.F.
Pendleton of Wiscasset, Maine, she was launched
in 1939. General Patton's world sail dream ended with
his death in a freak jeep accident in Germany shortly
before the war ended, but fortunatley he did get a chance
to sail WHEN AND IF before his death for several years.
He and his family had sailed an earlier Alden schooner
(Arcturus, a 43' schooner now rebuilt and sailing in
New Zealand) from California to Hawaii.
After the general's death, WHEN AND IF was sailed by
Mrs. Patton for some years. She then
gave the schooner to her brother Frederick Ayer,
who sailed her along the New England Coast, where she acquired many admirers for her lovely design, superb seaworthiness and sailing qualities.
The family continued to sail WHEN AND IF until the 1970s
when they donated the vessel to the Landmark
School north of Boston. For over 20 years,
she was used in the Landmark sail training program for
dyslexic kids (Patton himself was dyslexic). She took
hundreds of kids sailing, teaching them the elements
of seamanship, and a lot about life, in the finest traditions
of the sea.
This
image is from a 1939 issue of National Geographic.
It shows Frederick Ayer at the helm with Mrs.
Patton to his starboard side. After Patton's death,
the family sailed WHEN AND IF on parts of her
intended journey around the world, photographed
here in the West Indies. |
In 1990 she broke loose from her mooring during a November
gale and landed on the rocks in Manchester By The Sea,
Massachusetts. Her insurers delared her a total loss
and ordered the boat chainsawed, but the owners of the
land on which she was hauled knew and admired WHEN AND
IF and refused to allow them to cut her up on their
lawn. A relative of the Ayer family, they appreciated
the history and significance of WHEN AND IF. His refusal
to allow her be cut up gave her admirers (and they were
many) the time necessity to secure her survival.
When she was lifted off the rocks the damage was substantial
but not as bad as feared. She was placed aboard a barge
and brought to the renowned Gannon & Benjamin
Boatyard of Martha's Vineyard. Vineyard Haven
Harbor has long been known as a haven for wooden schooners
and boats, and the island had the craftsmen and skilled
shipbuilders to repair her.
She remained in the boatyard for two years and was relaunched
in June of 1994 to much joy in the classic yacht and
the sailing world.
In 2003, WHEN AND IF garnered the award for "the most dramatic finish" in the Retired Skippers Race off Castine, Maine. She sailed in Foxy's Regatta sponsored by the Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead, MA, the Gloucester Schooner Race and, closer to home, the MOFFETT Cup out of Vineyard Haven.
She is now proudly owned by the Ruitenberg family,
who manage her charter with love and the thrill of a
classic sailing vessel slicing through the Atlantic
waters again.
John Gale Alden stands shoulder-to-shoulder
with the great American yacht designers of the 20th
Century. He is ranked with such designers as Starling
Burgess, Nathaniel Herreshoff, Olin Stephens and Philip
Rhodes.
Alden’s contribution to yacht design is written in the
lines of his yachts. Seakindly and comfortable, these
ocean-going yachts were made for the real world. He
was critical of some of the overly tender cruising yachts
of his day, of which he said, they sail “on their ear.”
Many of John Alden’s designs show the influence of New
England fishing schooners and cargo carriers. When Alden
was a young man, these sail-powered working vessels
were being built locally, with lines and proportions
shaped for the sea.
The Alden Design Office was founded in 1909 and became
known worldwide due to his design class of MALABAR yachts
and their subsequent success dominating the offshore
racing scene between 1923 and 1932. Alden is best known
for his fast and seaworthy offshore boats but he also
designed a broad range of exceptional boats that have
become true classics and still turn heads.
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| Vessel Specifics |
Measuring 63' 5" x 47' 3"
x 15' 1" x 9', plus bowsprit and boomkin, WIF displaces
43 tons and carries about 1700 square feet of sail area.
WHEN AND IF is Coast Guard licensed and inspected to
carry 17 guests and 3 crew on near shore routes during
day light hours, from XXXX N to Calais, Maine. Coast
Guard permission can be obtained to sail to the Canadian
Maritimes, and further south as well.
Accommodation: Chain locker forward, foc's'le with crew accommodations (single and double bunk plus lockers), aft to port is a bosun's locker, aft to port again is a head with basin and toilet, to starboard is a double cabin with large hanging locker and book shelves plus drawers, aft and full width is the main salon with two pilot berths, table and seating for 6 to 8, aft to port is the galley with propane 3 burner stove with oven, and sink, to starboard is the icebox and dish locker (ample storage in lockers and bins) to aft to port is a large head with basin, toilet and shower plus linen lockers.
To starboard is a foul weather gear locker. Aft is the "general's cabin" with a single and double bunk, settees, bureau and hanging lockers. The engine room is under the dog house which has the chart table and a bunk plus a settee.
Lighting is a combination of electrical and kerosene lamps. She has portholes and a skylight plus two hatches, for ventilation and light plus several dorade boxes with cowl vents.
Sails, rig and rigging: Main, foresail, staysail, jib
(yankee, genoa), fisherman. All standing rigging renewed
2006.
Safety Equipment: All Coast Guard approved: Life Raft,
EPIRB, Man Overboard Pole and light, MOM equipment,
Fire extinguishers, flares, etc.
Electronics: VHF, GPS, RADAR, Depth sounder, and FM
radio/CD player.
Comprehensive refit during the winter of 2005/2006 includes
installation of generator, new standing and running
rigging, engine overhaul, complete cosmetic refinishing
on deck and below.
Tender: Rowing dinghy ("IF" - of course!).
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