Mariquita Book - mk2.5

mariquita’s history
“HAUL AWAY YOU ROLLING KINGS
HEAVE AWAY, HAUL AWAY
HAUL AWAY YOU’LL HEAR ME SING
WE’RE BOUND FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA …”
1911 – 1918 ‘THE GREAT 19s’ AND THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I
Designed and built for industrialist Arthur Stothert by William Fife III, Mariquita was launched in 1911
at Fairlie on the Clyde in Scotland. She joined five other 19-Metres including Octavia, Norada and Corona
in a new class that caught the imagination of everyone who followed sailing just before the First World
War. The arrival of the 19-Metre Class in 1911 marked the return of ‘Big Class’ racing, which had been
extinguished in 1896 when the future Edward VII had quietly retired his yacht Britannia from competition
after being upset by the German Kaiser and his unsporting behaviour at the previous Cowes Week.
The ‘Great 19s’ travelled far and wide: The Clyde, Cork, Harwich, Cowes, Dartmouth and abroad to Kiel
and Le Havre. Mariquita performed admirably in the three seasons from 1911-13 especially in light winds.
Not only was the arrival of the 19-Metres unexpected but the quality of the racing was astonishing. The
racing was very competitive and close, after five hours racing the yachts would often finish within seconds
of each other. The threat of war in 1914 stopped sailing in its tracks. William Burton the owner of Octavia
put her up for sale marking the end of the 19-Metre Class. Mariquita was sold in 1915 and spent four
peaceful years sailing in neutral Norway.
Sir William Fife III, OBE, 1857-1944
Mariquita is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful classic yachts sailing today.
As a gaff-rigged cutter she is a direct link to the historic ‘Big Class’ and a precursor to the
J-Class that would follow in the 1930s.
For over 100 years Mariquita has thrilled her owners, crew and spectators alike.
Her history is one of the great maritime stories.
11