Search for history of Liberty

[Marcel Rot]

We own a classic yacht which is called Liberty. My dad bought Liberty in 1974 after she was sunk due to a gibe going wrong. Shortly after the buy, all the bronze fittings were stolen, including the plaque with the designer and/or buider information. In the attached file I will introduce Liberty and there are some pictures of details which might help to identify her. I hope some of you can help us find out more about Liberty's history.

 

[CT249]

We own a classic yacht which is called Liberty. My dad bought Liberty in 1974 after she was sunk due to a gibe going wrong. Shortly after the buy, all the bronze fittings were stolen, including the plaque with the designer and/or buider information. In the attached file I will introduce Liberty and there are some pictures of details which might help to identify her. I hope some of you can help us find out more about Liberty's history.

I know it doesn't fit the claimed history, but she looks a lot like a German 40er Seefahrtkreuzer. As you noted, her overall length is short for an R Class, although Rs built before WW1 were much shorter than the ones in the 1920s and later, which were about 38' LOA. All the R Class plans I have, and the pics, show them to have more slender lines and less "toe" at the front of the keel. They seem to generally have less volume in the hull, much smaller cabin tops, and they had even less freeboard than a 6 Metre.

The Seefahtkreuzers are lovely boats and to me eye the comparatively rare 40s look a lot like your boat and are of similar dimensions. The problem is that doesn't suit the history - but in the late 1930s many Seafahtkreuzers were built for the German armed forces. After WW2 the British grabbed many (over 100, I think) of them, called them "Windfalls", and used them for their armed forces sailing clubs. Many of them remained in the UK but I think some stayed in Europe. However there was sometimes a contest with the Americans to get their hands on the Seefahtkreuzers and other boats. The Americans got at least Seefahtkreuzer and took it back to the UA. The British renamed their "windfalls" and it's possible that the Americans "liberated" a 40 and called it "Liberty".

Here's an Abeking and Rasmussen 40 Sq M Seeefahtkreuzer, from the German classic yacht association site;

 

[Marcel Rot]

Thanks for the reply,

Surely something to explore further,