Boat Name: Harpoon, ex. Ednada V, ex. Gizela, ex. Harpoon

Sail: US 45

Year Built: 1928

Designer: Nicholas S. Potter

Builder: Wilmington Boat Works

Owner: Time and Memory

History: Harpoon was built at nearly the same time as another Nick Potter design, US 46 Caprice. Both boats spent the entirety of their sailing careers in Southern California and were part of the vibrant 6 meter scene which took place there from the late 20's to the late 40's. Harpoon must have been very distinctive with her blunt bow and truncated stern, both features that were uncommon on a 6 metre of that era. Your editor is woefully uninformed about the origins of the boat and who commissioned her, though here are her particulars, several of the owners and a few photographs. All photos courtesy of Hank Thayer.

 

Length Overall : 34' 6"

Length W.L.: 23' 8"

Beam: 6' 4"

Draft: 5' 3"

Owners:
1948: Elliott Johnson, Los Angeles, CA
1951: William W. Clary, Newport, CA
1957: Dr. Lawrence Hody, San Diego, CA

The photos immediately below are of Harpoon in action off of Los Angeles at one of the midwinter series in the 1930's. The shots further down the page are of her last days at a boatyard near Santa Barbara, California a few weeks before she was cut up in the mid 90's.

Left to right: US 45 Harpoon, US 59 Gallant, US 61 Ay Ay Ay (ex. D 34)

Some of the Southern California Fleet, none of which exist today, broad reaching on the Pacific Ocean off of Los Angeles.
Left to Right: US 61 Ay Ay Ay, US 9 Rhapsody, US 45 Harpoon, US 29 Lanai, US 46 Caprice, US 38 May Be.