Boat Name: Bobkat II, ex. Sceptre

Sail: US 54

Year Built: 1931

Designer: Sparkman & Stephens

Builder: Henry Nevins
Website: http://www.6mrnorthamerica.com/bobkat2/bobkat2index.html

Owner: For sale

History: US 54 Bobkat II was designed by Olin Stephens and built at Henry B. Nevins' yard on City Island, New York. She was built for Robert Meyer, who named the boat after he and his wife, Katherine (Bob + Kat). Bobkat II went to England for the 1932 British American Team Races and dominated with the other USA team members US 55 Lucie, US 56 Jill and US 60 Nancy. Bob Kat II was the top scoring boat for the regatta. Bobkat II was also on the 1934 B-A Cup Team and again had the best record of all competitors, scoring 1, 1, 3. She went on that year to win the Seawankaka Cup and was the runner up in the 1935 One Ton Cup. Bob Kat II spent the late 30s racing out of Gibson Island on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. By the mid 1940s she had been sold to California, where she spent the next 55 years. At some point during this period Bob Kat II was fitted with a cruising style cabin which allowed her to take part in offshore racing. She was a resident of Newport Harbor and at the San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC). She was renamed twice; Angelina and Sceptre. 

In 2002 she was purchased by yacht designer Doug Peterson, best known for his One Tonners and America's Cup designs, and shipped to Cantieri dell Argentario in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy for a comprehensive rebuild to her original deck and rig configuration. Her re-debut came at the 2004 European Championships in Porto Rotondo and she later won 11 of 11 races in her division at the 2004 Regates Royale at Cannes. Doug raced Bobkat II from 2004 until 2007 with a remarkable set of results. Highlights of this time include; 1st 2004 Regatta Royale Cannes, 1st 2004 San Tropez Classic 6mR. At the 2005 Worlds at Sandhamn she placed 12 of 29 even with 2 DNFs due to a spreader failure. Bobkat and Doug's 6th of 25 at the 2007 Worlds at Cowes earned her the Baum & Koenig Trophy for highest placing Rule 2 boat. In 2007 she was put away in a shed until her current owner found her in 2014. She was transported to the Elephant Boat Yard, most famous for their love of 6mR, where she had a cosmetic refit, new winches and her running gear was updated. Bob Kat II took part in the 2014 European 6m Regatta in Falmouth and then went on to the 2015 Worlds in La Trinite Sur Mer, France. Here she was involved in an unfortunate collision while sailing on starboard. Bob Kat II was shipped to Netherlands (Ventis Shipyard) where she underwent repairs of her bow and came back home to the Elephant Boat Yard better than new sporting her new Spruce mast.

 

More details can be found here: https://www.themetreyard.co.uk/bobkat6metre

 

Race Summary, Historic and Recent results
1932 & 1934 British American Team Race Cup teams - on the winning team, high scoring boat.
1934 Seawanhaka Cup - winner
1935 One Ton Cup - runner up
1935 Very successful racing in Scandinavian regattas
2004 European Championship - Porto Rotundo. 4th Place - 2, 3, DNF, DNS, 3, 3, 3, 3 (rig troubles day 2)
2004 Regates Royales Cannes - 1st - 11 starts, 11 firsts.
2004 San Tropez - 1st Classic 6mR
2005 Worlds Sandham - 12th - 5, 30(DNF), 30(DNS), 3, 3, 12, 3 Very fast at Sandham. Spreader failure put her out of contention.
2007 Worlds Cowes - 6th - 10, 8, 5, 2, 5, 12, 5
2007 World Cup Rule 2 winner and Baum & Koenig Trophy winner.

Photos below of Bobkat II as found in San Diego in 2003