68 Members

Boat-  "Xiao Rui"  - 1986  Clipper 33
OWNERS - Robert Henry de Haer
AREA OF SAILING - Hong Kong
E-Mail Robert

Here is article Jonathan Canon wrote on Katrina, then named Ying Lu and now name is Xiao Rui

Cheoy Lee’s Clipper 33 double headsail ketches enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 1970s and around 90 of the Bill Luders-designed classic were produced. By 1980, mass production of the model ceased as Cheoy Lee’s emphasis shifted towards the more modern, and higher performance, David Pedrick-designed sailboats, and sophisticated (for their day) Tom Fexas motoryacht designs. However, there was one anomaly. In 1986, Cheoy Lee produced a final Clipper 33, yard number 4193, for a local client in Hong Kong. Although the youngest Clipper 33 by some years, the yacht is now 23 years old, and when she last changed hands in 2007, the latest in a line of Hong Kong-based owners set about building on the work of his predecessor, who had extensively repaired and refinished the masts and replaced the standing rigging and engine. The current owner’s restoration obsession started with an “ancient” teak Alden Malabar Junior in Hong Kong over 20 years ago and the Clipper 33, now named ‘Katrina’, is his fifth project. The yacht was inherited in basically sound condition and new work has included Awlgripping the hull and replacing all the running rigging. A new set of Lee sails and a feathering Kiwiprop have also been added in an attempt to eek out every drop of performance from this venerable yacht. Having resisted an early urge to convert ‘Katrina’ from ketch to cutter, the owner is planning to remove the wheel steering and install a tiller helm in order to gain space in the cockpit. This should be relatively straightforward job, given the fact that the rudder stock was sensibly left protruding through the cockpit sole to provide easy access to the emergency tiller. After that, the owner hopes to move on to renovating the interior. He notes that, while the Clipper 33s are not fast, they are very comfortable, a pleasure to sail and one of the best looking yachts around. And his efforts have paid off. At last year's Classic Yacht Rally in Hong Kong (also featuring many other Cheoy Lees), ‘Katrina’ took the honors for best-presented yacht of her vintage

.Tumbir page of previous owner - http://yinglu.tumbir.com/

Boat-  "Jennifer II"  - 1975  Clipper 33
OWNERS - Bernie Tobisch
AREA OF SAILING - Gulf Islands
E-Mail Bernie Bernie has owned for 9 yrs, sailed throughout Gulf Islands, Mexico and Hawaii

Update 2/15 Hi James and Cilla, Thank you for keeping this page going. It is always a pleasure to come and browse. I especially love that you have that great picture of Jennifer II on the opening page. I wanted to update the info on her. I have now owned her for 25 years ( time sure flies ) and she is about to get the second refit since I bought her. She richly deserves it. The masts and all the exterior teak are getting coated in new and modern materials. I will report how it turns out when it is done this summer. The decks are also getting their fair share of attention. I replaced every screw and teak plug. I don't think my back has recovered yet. For what it's worth, there were only two screw holes that had a very minor water ingress. Each groove in the deck has been cut deeper and will get new rubber. The ballast that I first encapsulated in 1992, with help from articles on your site, has held up beautifully and will require only minor repair. I'm doing all the work myself so it's taking longer, but, it will be very satisfying when it is done. If any one could do a drawing of the standing rigging on their Clipper 33 and forward it to me, I would be grateful. I have misplaced mine and though I can figure it out, I'd rather get it right the first time. Again, thanks for keeping this site alive, it's very much appreciated. Regards, Bernie Tobisch, SV Jennifer II

Boat-  "Spirit " -  1971 Clipper 33
OWNERS - Lorraine & Fred
AREA OF SAILING - Sassafras River, Chesapeake Bay
E-Mail Lorraine & Fred    

Back in January 2015, my wife and I purchased the SPIRIT. Its a 1971 Cheoy Lee Clipper Ketch 33. The boat went through a major restoration back in 2002 then was kept in dry dock for another 5 years. When we bought the boat it was dirty and neglected but nothing that TLC couldn't fix. We spent a good chunk of time and money and she is back to get glory. We plan to sail her for the next 8 + years gaining experience to later retire and sail the oceans as far as she can take us. We absolutely love the retro classic look of the Cheoy Lee Clipper. it was love at first site!!

Boat-  "Necessity " - Clipper 33 
OWNERS - Bill Cole
AREA OF SAILING - Gulf Coast & Fort Myers Area
E-Mail Bill As you can see "Necessity" made the cover of Chesapeake Bay magazine
Photo by Scott Dine and is copyrighted

Capt Bill Ross sold me "Necessity" in June 2008. "Necessity" was in the Boston/New England area until 1993 when it was moved to the Chesapeake Bay.  Need crew for ICW trip to FLa. in 11/08 and welcome contact from Cheoy Lee Owners on the Gulf Coast in Fla.

Boat-  "Dragon Lady " -  Clipper 33
OWNERS - Chris Kirkwood
AREA OF SAILING - Australia

Chris has submitted pics of new deck on "Dragon Lady"

Vancouver registered. Same owner since 1976. Bought from this owner in 2003. Major restoration undertaken in 2004. First was a complete overhaul of the Volvo diesel MD3B,new clutch and reduction gear, conversion to fresh water cooling, modifying the bilge system re-piping and fully auto pump system. Restoration still in progress.

Boat-  "Mon Ami" -  1977 Clipper 33
OWNERS - Don Townsend
AREA OF SAILING - Sausalito, CA
E-Mail Don   I am the original owner of a 33’ Cheoy Lee Clipper, Luders design, built in 1977. Her home port is Sausalito, CA
In 1981 I sailed “Mon Ami” from San Francisco to Acapulco, to Hawaii, and back to San Francisco. On the way back from Hawaii we hit 35 foot seas in a full gale. Twice she went under for a few seconds, popped up, and we sailed on.
She has always been maintained in Bristol condition. Over the past 5 years she has gotten a new deck, new engine, and many other upgrades.  11/14

I have a page now built on Mon Ami,  Click Here, James

True North Sailing Charters is a sailing business that operates a 1972 Cheoy Lee Clipper sailboat with an electric motor. This classic sailboat is well-maintained and equipped to provide a comfortable and enjoyable sailing experience for guests. The electric motor allows for a more eco-friendly and quiet ride, making it perfect for exploring the beauty of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a first-time charterer, True North Sailing Charters has something to offer for everyone looking to experience the thrill of sailing on Lake Superior.

truenorthsailingcharters@gmail.com
www.truenorthsailingcharters.com

71 Members

Boat-  "JAMCILL" -   1969  Clipper Ketch 36, Hull #2318
OWNERS - Charles Hudacko
AREA OF SAILING - Coast of North Carolina
  "Jamcill" formally "Tender Lies" was featured on the cover of Practical Sailor for the review of the Clippers  
 E-Mail Charles  Sept 2019.  This is james and cilla.  We are glad that Jamcill has found a new home.  She was not maintained by the person we sold her to 10 years ago but now will be restored.  James  Here is message we received this week from Charles

I got her!!
Now the fun begins, going to have her moved to my house in Lillington so I can work on her. Hopefully within two years she’ll be ready for a renaming and recommissioning, I really want to sail her into Plymouth Ma harbor with the Mayflower II and help celebrate the 400th anniversary of pilgrims arriving here.
 

Boat-  "Coalminers Daughter"  - 1977 Luders 36
OWNERS - Gary Sutton
AREA OF SAILING - Mackay Whitsunday Islands

Coalminers Daughter formally Rashomon, was purchased in Antigua, sailed her to Florida and shipped to Australia on Dockwise vessel. Now rigged Bermuda cutter she has undergone extensive refit including new teak laid cockpit, new dodger, Bimini, davits, new 44b Westerbeck engine and a complete paint job, still have along way to go but that's boats.
This boat took part in the Antigua Classic Regatta.  See www.photoaction.com  for pics - 2002 are especially attractive. 

I bought CAELAN (then named Silver Hind) in 1996 and have upgraded the boat significantly since then. The first priority for both comfort and security was a doghouse to replace the pramhood which I felt was too insubstantial for the Arctic sailing I had in mind. Since then we have had several Arctic seasons - Iceland/Greenland, Svalbard twice and East Greenland again last year. Storms, ice and flat calms, CAELAN has proved an able and seaworthy craft. Her only vice is a waywardness in light airs which I suspect may be due to being undercanvassed. I have just ordered a new headsail to replace the yankee jib to see if that rectifies the problem - any views would be welcome. We are now engaged in thw winter re-fit and plan to launch again before Christmas with a busy season anticipated in 2007.

Boat-  "

"  -  1971 Clipper 36
OWNERS - Patrick & Maria Smart
AREA OF SAILING - San Mateo, California
E-Mail Patrick & Maria 

Purchased in June of 2010 and shipped from Michigan to the SF Bay Area.  Wife Maria and I started a long overdue restoration.  Starting with rebuilding a water logged rudder, epoxied the keel, and then on to the bright work.  We finished all of the external wood (masts, rails and cabin bulkheads).  This season we will paint the exterior and refinish the mahogany decks. Next year we paint the hull.  A true labor we love.  
It has not been all work and no play.  We have enjoyed many days sailing SF Bay with our family.  This was to be a retirement project but who could wait.  We plan to visit each of the ports within San Francisco Bay.  This is a fine boat and has been called the “Belle of the harbor”…pat, 2012

42 Members

Boat-  "Lachesis "  - 1973  Clipper 42
OWNERS - Roberto & Tony Tola
AREA OF SAILING - Alghero, Sardegna Island, Italy
E-Mail Roberto
Robert has a great website at http://www.lachesis.it

Lachesis is for sale, click here for information

Boat-  "Taxi Dancer "  - 1971  Clipper 42
OWNERS - Scott McCoy
AREA OF SAILING - Puget Sound
E-Mail Scott

Very few Schooner versions of the Clipper were produced, here is history of Taxi Dancer

The photo of the "clipper schooner" on the bottom left of your website is one 1971 Choey Lee Clipper '42 Staysail Schooner christened the "Taxi Dancer" of Juneau, AK. The vessel was originally named "TAI-PAN" and still has the plaque inside with the name on it, which reads in Chinese that it was made in a shipyard in Kowloon, Hong Kong (luckily my girlfriend is chinese). The vessel was renamed by it's second owner to "Foreign Affair", and renamed again by it's 3rd owner (Timothy Davis I believe) in 1981 to the Taxi Dancer. The boat at that time was torn down to the hull and completely remodeled. A new motor and transmission was put in it, among other things, and the dog house was added. The vessel was acquired in 1999 by one Mark Dorsey who I believe to be the Fourth owner. I acquired the vessel in August of 2006. She's in good shape with a few minor chips in the gel coat from a few recent storms, and looks quite like she did in that photo. Add a dinghy hoisted off the stern, and in place sail bags and you have the boat I'm writing this email from.
 

Boat-  "Maya"  - 1978 Clipper 42
OWNERS - McKim B. Sherman 
AREA OF SAILING - Montego Bay, Jamaica
E-Mail McKim   Bought the boat after Hurricane Ivan threw her up onto the beach.  She is once again floating and the owner is just starting a restoration process.  Could use some input. 

Hello from Perth Western Australia. I have recently purchased a Cheoy Lee Ketch that I discovered in a small ship yard in the Solomon Islands. She is registered on the Australian Shipping Register as 12.12m, not that this means much, and is meant to be a Formosan. A search of the web turned up your page and I am hoping to find some more information about my boat. From your page I am able to recognize the Clipper 42 as being very close to what I have. From a hull shape, rigging and layout perspective that is. The information I was given about this yacht is that she was custom built by Cheoy Lee for a retiring Royal Australian Navy skipper. He was the skipper of the Australian aircraft carrier the HMAS Melbourne at the time he retired. The boat was built by Cheoy Lee then shipped to Taiwan for the interior fitout and then shipped to Australia for final rigging. First registered in 1973, she was christened Taholi and that name still adorns the stern today. While I was given the model Formosan I have been unable to find any reference to that model in any web site associated with Cheoy Lee or Choy Lee for that matter. One person also suggested that Formosan was another boat builder using Cheoy Lee moulds? None the less, my boat looks very much like the Clipper 42 from the beautiful bow spit all the way back to the stern. Some differences are noted in upper deck shape but the boat was apparently custom built to the owners needs at the time so this would account for cabin and layout differences.
       Website - www.solomonislandsyachtcharters.com

Boat-  "Nancy Dawson"  -  1970 Clipper 42
OWNERS - Randall Sherman & Susan Brown
AREA OF SAILING - Halifax, N.S. East Coast / Caribbean
E-Mail Randall & Susan 

Click Here for Nancy Dawson Blog

9 Members

Boat-  "Bird of Paradise " - 1979 Clipper 48
OWNERS - Charles Paul
AREA OF SAILING - Western US, Mexico & Central America
E-Mail Charles

3/15 Update, Bird of Paradise is leaving for circumnavigation.  To follow them go to their website.  www.sailingbird.com Good luck Charlespo

Lifetime Cheoy Lee Association Member

  Click Here for Photo Album of Restoration of Alice

Boat-  "Empress Milli Lani " - 1979 Clipper 48
OWNERS - Prof. Rafi Boritzer
AREA OF SAILING - Israel
E-Mail Rafi  Rafi has a great website with pictures of "Malkat Singapore".  The URL is http://www.land-sea.org Website has information on the voyage and many pictures of crews.  Also http://www.empressmilli.blogspot.com/
I bought the vessel in Honolulu in 1989 and spent 7 year as a liveaboard at the Ala Wai Marina preparing her for journey to the Med.  In 1996 we sailed to Israel via the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea.  Currently she sails between Israel and Gibraltar. Her Mediterranean base is Herzelia Marina (6 miles North of Tel Aviv), Israel.

Hemmingway's Whiskey is for sale, click here for information from previous owners ad when Paul Stinson was selling this boat.  If interested contact new owner Wesley Green at above email address  james 11/2022