International Six Meter.

Designed by J.G. Stephens

Built by his family yard, Alex Stephens & SOns, Glasgow in 1932.

Alexander Stephens & Sons was a famous C lydeside shipyard already established for 200 years when this yacht was built and Stephens senior had had considerable success with some of his race boat designs.

One of his Six Meter designs won the coveted Seawanhaka Cup on several occasions.

This was his son, J.G or known as "Wee John" Stephens' early entry into the world of racing yacht designb and the young man incorporated some interesting new ideas in his personal search for speed.

According to an article in Yachting Monthly at the time of her launch, young Stephens hd tank tested his adventurous designs, finding some of his ideas proven and justified and others not so much.

Amongst other ideas, he is remembered for putting his mast in the boat "the wrong way round" - a traditional pear shaped section but stepped with the fine end forward.

As a reflection of his confidence in his design he was a part owner along with two others, one the local MP.

The design is somewhat extreme with an almost straight line from the stemhead to the rudder heel with a vertical stern post. The hull is unusually full forward of the mast with a limited forward overhang and some quite flat floors to give the bow some bouyancy and the counter runs off to a long very fine end finishing in a small arch board.

Maida is famous for having lost the Seawanhaka Cup to Jill in 1932 so she was not a slow boat, just not quite fast enough or perhaps the tactics were wrong. Wee John Stephens and co-owner Maj. C.G. MacAndrew both had experience of the Seawanhaka Cup so despite high hopes, failure to bring the cup home must have been a bitter blow at the time.

In later life, a dog-house and an engine were added to convert her for cruising. She spent an extended period of time ashore in the owner's Scottish back garden from 1972.

The rebuild bewgan around 1986 by Scottish boat-builder David Spy who replaced all her ribs and some of the planking.

The restoration was completed for the present owner by Peter Wilson at Aldeburgh Boatyard using the original drawings. Some small changes were made on deck and some modern techniques and materials used but the spirit of the original yacht has been retained.

Maida proved to be a good boat to sail in competetion since her rebuild and with a well-practised crew can still make a good show.

Length on deck                           35'

Lwl                                             23'

Beam                                         7'

Draft                                           5'

Displacement                              4 1/2 tons approx

Ballast