As reported many years ago in The Islander, HISPANIA is the famous, or perhaps now infamous, gaff cutter designed by William Fife III upon order of H.M. King Alfonso XIII. Built in 1909 by the Karrpard Shipyard in Pasajes de San Pedro, Guipúzcoa as a First International Rule 15-Metre Class, she is sail number D5 in this Class and has also been granted the number ESP-1 by the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation.
The 15-Metre Class, a confusing term in itself as the boats are actually over 23 metres (76 feet) on deck, and 30 metres (100 feet)overall length, including the bowsprit, were among the most prolific of racing classes, having gathered an impressive fleet of 20 boats between 1907 and 1917. HISPANIA carries a total sail area of 420m2 / 24,520sq.ft. (upwind sail area: 258m2 / 2,777 sq ft). The 15mR raced mostly in the English Channel, North of Spain, and France.
HISPANIA obtained many triumphs in international regattas and was soon recognised as one the most notorious of the 15 Metre Class racing yachts. But her glorious days as a racer and the memory of her royal background slowly vanished as she was passed between many owners and was cast into oblivion during the World War where her lead keel was used for ammunition.
H.R.H. Juan de Borbón, inspired the creation of the international regatta for classic and vintage boats that bears his name. It promotes recovering older boats to prevent them from falling into disuse and becoming abandoned or scrapped. He personally initiated and promoted the reconstitution of positive actions in favour of Spanish marine cultural heritage.
TUIGA, the closest sistership to HISPANIA, ordered by the Duque of Medinacelli, was found in 1989 in a pitiful state and entrusted to Fairlie Restorations for an intensive restoration, fully recovering in 1993, the same year in which she started competing in international regattas. The Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona regatta was the first that she raced in, and she caused a sensation among the participants and organisers of the regatta with her elegance and superior sailing qualities.
The interest and admiration aroused was such that HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, who had long been searching for a prestigious classic yacht with which to compete, embraced and titled TUIGA flagship of Yacht Club de Monaco. Her participation in regattas and representative acts provided her with a fair supply of publicity, good image, and success.
In 1996, with the help of Dr. William Collier, a classic yacht historian, Emilio Espinosa, José Ramón Bono and Jonathan Syrett of the Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona regatta, found and recognised HISPANIA in West Mersea. With her hull buried in the mud, she had been used as a floating home for the previous 30 years. The owners had bought a new boat, but the local council would not accept any increase in the number of yachts occupying mud berths. HISPANIA was to be broken up to make way for her replacement.
This was not an acceptable option for a rare 15-Metre that had the distinction of being the last survivor of the great pre-World War I royal racing yachts. Mr Espinosa and Mr Bono purchased HISPANIA and later donated her to the Hispania Foundation which was set up in 1997. If buying HISPANIA was the most important step, it was also to be the easiest. The summer of 1997 saw William Collier, Harry Spencer and a team from Fairlie Restorations re-float the broken-backed HISPANIA and load her onto a barge. It was touch and go at times and by far the filthiest job they had ever done.
It would take many years for the Fundación Hispania to raise the funds for her restoration. Eventually, the hull was restored at Fairlie Restorations, completing in 2006, with further work carried out at Astilleros de Mallorca. It had taken over 11 years of restoration work and in excess of €3 million to return the boat to her original appearance. But, when the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis struck, the foundation could not raise the final payments to the shipyard and was forced “in extremis” to enter a loan and bareboat charter agreement for ten years with another foundation to prevent HISPANIA from being auctioned off.
HISPANIA was seen racing with her 15-Metre Class sister ships TUIGA, MARISKA and THE LADY ANNE between 2010 and 2017 but sadly, HISPANIA was abandoned in 2018 and the Real Fundación Hispania, after several years of legal battles, has recovered the legal and physical possession, although it will take at least €500,000 to restore her to top racing condition.
Once fully restored, HISPANIA will return to the national and international classic racing circuit and we hope to set up a classic sailing and gaff rig school. She will be involved in training crews and engaging in team-building activities while instilling classic yacht enthusiasts and racing crew with the true essence of traditional sailing, knot tying and splicing. Also familiarising them with maritime values transmitted and perceived throughout naval history, and instilling respect for the preservation of the marine environment. We are intent on inspiring a new generation of sailors that will help keep the spirit of the classics alive for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.
As written recently by Yolanda Llinás in the Spanish classic sailing magazine, Sea Fever: “Without a doubt, it is the desire and the dream of every lover of historic sailing that the HISPANIA, Spain’s Crown Jewel, returns to sail and compete. To once again be part of that quartet of surviving 15 meters that make up the 15-Metre Class Association, and thereby re-enter the racing circuit to conquer the highly coveted 15-Meter Class Annual Trophy, sponsored by Rolex.
Now, the Real Fundación Hispania faces the arduous task of raising the necessary funds to carry out the indispensable, deep and costly restoration of the boat, whose state of neglect is once again worrying – but whose recovery is feasible, necessary, and desirable. At the moment, the HISPANIA remains moored in Puerto Sherry, and several experts have conducted their respective examinations of her condition. They issued their verdicts and assessed the cost of the work to be done at an initial estimate of around half a million euros.
But let’s not be deceived, as the goal is not only to restore HISPANIA’s ability to sail but also to make her shine again on the racecourses. For that, it is necessary to foresee a high budget capable of covering the expenses of a large and experienced crew, as well as those derived from a racing campaign: travel costs, repairs, tuning, etc… Obviously, it is not an easy task to obtain such a high budget, but on the other hand, we must consider that we are talking about a boat that should be considered a fundamental piece of Spain’s maritime heritage and therefore cannot and must not disappear.
If extremely costly and highly commendable actions are carried out to protect and restore buildings or any type of asset classified as historical, why not also focus through the efforts of individuals, private companies, associations, or the administration itself on preserving a Crown Jewel like the HISPANIA? To enjoy its beautiful sight again, sailing at full speed and competing against the other existing 15mR would be the best tribute to the significant history of the Spanish naval industry. And to the brilliant role played by Spanish shipowners and sailors in the highest level of sailing competition. And to the more than deserved recognition of the quality of Spain’s master shipbuilders, capable of creating boats that, like the HISPANIA, have already celebrated their 115th anniversary.
Are we going to let her end her days abandoned to her fate without allowing her to continue ageing in full activity? What is important now is to join forces and make it clear that what matters here is to restore the HISPANIA to her lost splendour, moving beyond past actions of varying success and transparency, as well as claims of acquired rights that can only serve to hinder the future salvation of the boat, which is what really matters.
For the HISPANIA… all for one.
HISPANIA has been declared a Possession of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) by the Consell de Mallorca and Spanish Authorities. She can be made available to official organisations, entities, associations, companies and private individuals for institutional acts, cultural or sports events and marketing promotions. She can also serve as an imaging tool and draw the attention of the general public towards a greater appreciation for the sea and higher respect for the environment.
The Royal Hispania Foundation is officially recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Sports (Protectorate of Foundations). Consequently, all economic contributions will be entitled to fiscal deductions in favour of their donors.
If you wish to become a donor, sponsor or supporter of the project, please contact Jonathan Syrett, founding patron and International Relations of the Real Fundación Hispania de Barcos de Época at jonathan.syrett@hamilton-connections.com or Mob. +34 609 433 333
