Welcome Aboard Chicane
Meet Chicane, a charming 56ft sloop by the legendary Scottish yacht designer Alfred Mylne. She is Mylne's design No. 303, and was built in 1926 by A.M. Dickie & Sons in Bangor, Wales.
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Though records of her early years remain somewhat elusive, the story of Chicane comes to life in 1958 when she was purchased by a Bermudian named William Kempe. Alongside three fellow sailors, Kempe undertook a transatlantic voyage, guiding Chicane from England to Hamilton Harbor, Bermuda.
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Chicane evolved into more than just a vessel; she became the cherished heart of the Kempe family. For generations, the Kempes nurtured their passion for sailing aboard Chicane, fostering three generations of Olympic world-class sailors. In 1975, William Kempe's nephew, Reid Kempe, took ownership. Reid and his wife, Luica, chartered Chicane for 14 years alongside their day jobs, marking the vessel's golden years as a sought-after charter and party boat.
In 1990, Chicane was moved to the Royal Naval Yard where she began a long, complicated restoration journey under shipwrights Joe Postich and Wendy Bliss. The pair faced challenge after challenge while rebuilding a classic wooden yacht in such a remote location. But, after 21 years of dedication, and help from a host of wooden boat experts, Chicane was nearly ready to return to sea.
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However, fate took a cruel turn. In the face of a devastating cancer diagnosis, Reid Kempe passed away the following year. Chicane was reluctantly put up for sale and found a new custodian in an American buyer, thus drawing to a close her extraordinary single-family ownership that had spanned over half a century.
Her new chapter unfolded in the Wooden Boat Yard in Greenport, NY. Here, new owners Donn and Linda Costanzo, alongside craftsmen Steve Lubitz and Patrick Brennan, found that much more restoration was necessary than the buyers had originally anticipated. Thankfully, several generous wooden boat enthusiasts took note of Chicanes situation and became dedicated to helping complete her restoration. Rich Armstrong, in collaboration with the Mystic Seaport Museum and the support of Hunt and Betsy Lawrence, ensured Chicane's revival.
In 2020, Chicane emerged anew and embarked on a successful campaign in the Maine Classic Vintage Wooden Boat Races in 2021, rekindling the spirit of her glory days. Her triumphant return and masterful rebuild earned Chicane a well-deserved spot on the shortlist for the Classic Boat Awards 2021 'Restored Sailing Vessel Over 40ft'.
Just a year later, Chicane changed hands once more. The very same philanthropists, Hunt and Betsy Lawrence, who made Chicane's remarkable restoration possible, assumed ownership. Chicane found her new home in Oyster Bay harbor, where she enters a new era as the headquarters of the CI Bird Sanctuary. In this role, she leads birding expeditions in Oyster Bay and its adjacent waters. We invite you to join us on these exciting journeys as we explore the avian world and the wonders of our coastal environment.
Information and history curtesy of David Gray and Neil Lyndon's "Alfred Mylne- the Life, Yachts and Legacy of Scotland’s Greatest Yacht Designer", Classic Yacht Info, and Sandeman Yacht Company.
@ Todd Davis
