Gitana was built by Nunes Bros Shipbuilders in Sausalito, California for Richard Danforth, an American civil engineer and inventor of a popular, patented lightweight anchor.
Originally drawn as a Bermuda riggedsloop, John Alden's design number 630 represents the architects modern type, in contrast to his successful series of gaff-riggedschooners.[1]
With a displacement of 26000lbs at a hull length of 40 and beam of 10 feet, Gitana was, at the time, a relatively moderate displacement vessel. Hull construction is 5/4 inch Mahogany carvel planking over white oak centerline and steam-bent frames. All fixed ballast is external.
History
After campaigning Gitana in San Francisco and West Coast races including the 1947 transpacific race,[2] Danforth relocated the boat to the Maine coast where she was converted for cruising with the addition of a mizzen mast and sail. In 1961, the boat was acquired by Coast GuardCaptain Ernest Burt Jr of Annapolis. In 2014, the ship was acquired and is now privately owned and berthed in New Rochelle, New York.
An annual boat race in Maine is named after Gitana.[3]