S/Y ORION OF THE SEAS

S/Y ORION OF THE SEAS

Year :1910
Type of boat: Schooner
Country: /
Length (LOD): 45 m
Architect: Charles Ernest Nicholson

Sylvana, the original name of Orion, was commissioned by the Spanish royal family, but they never purchase her. Her first owner was Lieutenant Colonel C.E. Morgan, who sailed her under the Union Jack and based her at Portsmouth. There are some very beautiful photographs taken by Beken of Cowes, where the yacht raced in the Solent under two large gaff sails, with a gigantic boom, top sails and three foresails, tacked to a 11-metre bowsprit. Her sail area of around 750 m2 can be increased today to 1,370 m2. At the time, a crew of twenty-five members was required to be able to manoeuvre the boat! Charles Nicholson designed a sturdy yacht, made for open sea sailing, able to deal with strong winds. Orion has known a tumultuous life. With constant changes of owner and of home port, she has been seen berthed at many of the small harbours or huge ports in Brittany, Argentina, Spain, and the French Riviera.