Challenger 50th Anniversary

[CaravelaofExe]

From the “frames” thread…

southport on Mon Nov 03, 2008

… Which brings up a totally unrelated topic--- Let's (start?) plan (-ning) some sort of 50th. It would be a great way to show off these boats! I'd be glad to start/help/whatever.

What do you think?

Jon Smith

Tom Young on Tue Nov 04, 2008

Sounds like a great idea to me John. What year is the 50th for the Challenger? Let's see if we can get something going.

southport on Tue Nov 04, 2008

I have the spec sheets for design # 937 dated July 17, 1958 with an addenda noting wherever 937 is mentioned to change that to 949. There are obviously more changes in the design. It looks like 937 was wood for starters.

Probably there was a year or two while Alden sought out interest before actually having Hallmatic build molds, etc. Was there a group all built at once? When was 949A delivered?

Would the classic boat weekend be a good target site?

Looks like 2010’s your year as the first boats were delivered in 1960.

Any seriously big celebration of the Alden office centenary in 2009 would have had to be in the planning long before now…

But 2010 seems a good target for a nice Challenger event if planning starts now. Doing it in Boston seems to make sense as an historically relevant halfway house; pity the Alden office right on the harbor front has closed… But perhaps somewhere less hectic might be more attractive?

Anyway, over to you, Challenger owners on the right side of the pond!

 

[southport]

Isn't there a classic boat regatta/event in Marblehead? That would be centrally located and Niels has his office there too.

 

[TomY]

Marblehead could be a good location with most boat likely to attend spread between southern NE and Maine. I took a mooring there 2 years ago for a night. It's pretty well packed with boats on hundreds of moorings and docks look filled as well. Anyone know the potential there for a collection of (?) number of boats?

What potential is there in Boston or close by?

If we go south, it won't make too much difference for Maine boats to go all the way to the Cape Cod area. Conversely, if we go north east, much of Maine is easily reached for southern boats.

Also, to throw a wrench in the works, there is an annual Classic Boat (glass) race in Penobscot Bay that coincides with some wooden boat races, Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, etc.

I suppose it could boil down to how many Challengers would attend. And could we include and hope some other Aldens would attend?

Thanks Jon for the copies. I'll get to scanning them and post them to the thread.

 

[southport]

I know it's wicked early but how many are interested in some sort of event in 2010? We could make it low key extending over the summer months, one event, or any thing in between.

There could be a So. and No. NE rendezvous (?SP?). To me it would be fun to be at Castine for that regatta/weekend in early August. Is there a similar one in S. NE earlier? It'd be a great time to cruise in that direction say in July- My family summered and I taught sailing at the Cuttyhunk yacht club waaaaay back when. Cruised all over Buzzards Bay, et al.

 

[stevens]

I own a zephyr that is in very good to excelent condition, with like-new bright work, dodger
sail covers, alwgrip etc. There are relatively few Zephyrs, so I bet we don't have critical mass
for a reunion on our own. How would the Challenger owns feel if the Zephyr owners joined in 2010?

 

[TomY]

I would certainly be glad if you joined us Stevens. I think it may be difficult to drum up enough Challenger owners as it is. I also think your boat, just like the Caravelle, Mistral (and any other Aldens for that matter) will be a plus as they're all of a similar era and design.

Hopefully some other owners will chime in and let us know how they feel.

I'm up for exploring some ideas such as Jon mentioned. His ideas sound interesting. I could go anywhere on the New England coast.

 

[Whit]

Count me in. Maine, Boston all sound good. If anyone wants to come to the Cape there's always moorings & a shower in Cotuit. Plenty of room to host the fleet if there's any interest.