SANTA MARIA OF LLOYD HARBOR - designer and first owner, Francis S Kinney, after a period with Philip Rhodes was a naval architect for more than 30 years with Sparkman & Stephens through the most dynamic period in the life of an office always in the forefront of yacht design development, becoming an Associate and latterly its chronicler. No surprise then that his retirement project - launched as SANTA MARIA OF LLOYD HARBOR by one of their favourite builders Walsteds of Denmark in 1967, when Kinney was still only 50-years-old - is very special indeed. SANTA MARIA OF LLOYD HARBOR - is the beautiful yawl featured on the dust jacket of 'Skene's Elements of Yacht Design' 8th edition; and so for two decades one of the most famous of yachts in the days before the 'classic revival'.
GESTURE - For several years before Kinney's death in 1993 and many more years after (20 in total), she lay in storage in boat sheds in Massachusetts and Maine. Having been purchased by a Walsted yard fan and member of the Fuller (Brush Company) family - hence the name change to GESTURE in honour of Howard Fuller's seminal S&S Ocean Racer of 1941. In 2009 Gesture was rescued and underwent extensive restoration by Stephen Florimbi, now of Rockport Marine. She spent the next decade under the carful ownership of a retired classic superyacht Captain. Very much back to life again, this gorgeous yacht has been well tested on the Maine classic regatta circuit in recent seasons: a popular and very relevant participant.
KINNSHIP - In 2022 she was purchased by her current owner, the Grandson of her designer and original owner, Francis S. Kinney. She was moved to Lake Champlain where she will be enjoyed and eventually receive a complete restoration before hopefully returning to the shores of New England.