HISTORY

Classically beautiful Onawa was designed by the notable naval architect, W. Starling Burgess, of Burgess, Rigg & Morgan, Ltd. in New York City. Built by the distinguished Abeking & Rasmussen Yard of Lemwerder, Germany, Onawa was number 6 of 6 nearly identical 12 Meter yachts built for prominent members of the New York Yacht Club in 1928. Onawa was built for W. Cameron Forbes of Boston, who was also a member of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts and campaigned Onawa vigorously for six memorable years. In 1934, she was sold to Horace F. Smith, Jr., who sailed Onawa out of Jamestown, Rhode Island under the Conanicut Yacht Club burgee until the beginning of World War II. Onawa was sold during World War II, and shortly after the sale her lead keel was lost to the war effort as it was used for submarine ballast. Her next owner, John F. Requardt, Jr., bought her - without her keel - after the 1941 Harvard-Yale boat race. She then spent time at the Williams & Manchester Boat Yard, which was near the present location of the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island, and in 1946 she received a new lead keel.

During the following years, Onawa spent time in several ports, including Annapolis, Maryland and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She had a couple of name changes during this time but was finally brought to Newport, Rhode Island - and her original name restored - in the early 1990s. Currently, Onawa enjoys ownership by a group formed by McMillen Yachts and has undergone a stem to stern restoration.

In 2019, Onawa finished 2nd in the Vintage division of the 2019 12 Metre World Championships at Newport, Rhode Island. She has a history of racing successes, including placing 2nd in her class in the 175th NYYC Anniversary Regatta and earning solid finishes over the years in the Opera House Cup and Newport Regatta. In 2022, Onawa won the 50th Opera House Cup in Nantucket. We are very happy to have Onawa back in our fleet and available for charter through 12 Meter Yacht Charters!

SPECIFICATIONS:

LOA – 69′ 2”
LWL – 42′ 75”
Beam – 12’7”
Draft – 8’5”
Year Built – 1928
Designer – W. Starling Burgess
Builder – Abetting & Rasmussen Yard, Lemwerder, Germany

Please contact 12 Meter Yacht Charters for more information about chartering Onawa and our customized yacht charters.