Posted on 12/15/2015
John Alden’s schooner used extensively in northern waters was PRIMROSE IV, design number 111. She became for a time one of the designer’s most talked about boats, because in 1927 she won for her young master, Frederick I. Ames, the Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal, that has been described as sailing’s most coveted award.
PRIMROSE IV was built in 1923 by Rufus Condon at Friendship, ME, for Walter H. Huggins of Boston. She was the second, or “B” boat, built to the 111 design, that was created in 1920. In a sense she was a forerunner to the early Malabars. Like the Malabars, PRIMROSE IV has a gradually curving keel profile with a fair amount of drag. Her beam at the deck is generous forward...