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Constellation Painted Large Sailboat Schooner Yacht Model 32 Inches Long
Constellation Painted Large Sailboat Schooner Yacht Model 32 Inches Long
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The Constellation was a schooner launched on June 20, 1889, in Newport, Rhode Island, before a crowd of 300 spectators. Designed by Edward Burgess, the yacht was christened by Elizabeth Morgan, wife of owner E.D. Morgan. It became a part of the New York Yacht Club fleet and was anchored near Morgan's estate, *Beacon Rock*. However, after just two years, Morgan sold the yacht on September 10, 1891. Bayard Thayer of the prominent Thayer family purchased *Constellation* for $40,000 and continued its successful racing legacy. Under Thayer's ownership, the schooner won numerous races in its class. In 1899, he sold the yacht to Francis Skinner of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In 1914, *Constellation* found its longest owner, Herbert M. Sears, commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club. Serving as the club's flagship, it was affectionately known as the *Queen of the Eastern*. That same year, the yacht underwent a significant refit, including the installation of an auxiliary motor and an updated interior. In 1921, a 22-foot motorized tender was added, followed by a 6-cylinder Winton diesel engine in 1924. Modifications continued with a shortened rig, reduced masts, and a false metal keel replacing the centerboard in 1934. The Constellation was immortalized in two paintings by renowned artist John Singer Sargent, depicting Commodore Sears on its deck. However, with the looming war in the Atlantic, the yacht was laid up in 1941 at the George Lawley & Son shipyard. Later that year, Sears donated its metal hull to support the war effort, leading to the yacht;s dismantling in Neponset, Boston. Today, salvaged elements such as the stern board and wheel remain on display at the Eastern Yacht Club, preserving Constellation's legacy.
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