In August 1928, there was the following report in the San Jose news:
America Yacht Nina Leads in Fastnet Race
London August 18th (AP) The yacht American Nina rounded Fastnet light at 8 o’clock this morning, the first vessel to pass the turning buoy in the fourth annual race from Cowes to Plymouth for the Fastnet Cup. No other yacht were in sight at the time, said a message from Newport, Isle of Wight. Besides the Nina, there are eight English and one American craft left in the race at this time. The course is from Cowes in the Isle of Wight to Fastnet, on the southwest coast of Count Cork, Ireland , and back to Plymouth.
Nina went on to win the race, the first time an American yacht had done this in the four years the race had been held, the three previous winners were British. The following report was published in the Glasgow Herald on August 21st, 1928
Nina Wins the Fastnet Cup – Amercian yacht home first
Four yachts completed the course in the ocean yacht race for the Fastnet Cup yesterday. The first two arrivals were the American Schooners Nina and Mohawk. They were followed to Plymouth by Neptune and Jolie Brise, while several others were reported in the English Channel. The race started at Cowes last Wednesday morning. The yachts had to proceed through Spithead, leaving the Isle of Wight on the starboard hand, thence round the Fastnet Rock, leaving it on the starboard hand and back to Plymouth, finishing inside the breakwater. The course is 615 miles but with the amount of turning to windward involved, the distance ha been considerably increased.
Starters were as follows:
- L’Oiseau Bleu – French … M. Leon Diot
- Nina – American … Mr Paul Hammond
- Lassie -British … Mr R. Arthur Thomas
- Mohawk American … Mr Dudley F. Wolfe
- neptune – British … Lt. Col. G.L. Chambers
- Jolie Brise – British … Messers. W.L. Farrer and B. Smith
- Magnet – British … Mr W.F. Roach
- Amaryllis – British … Royal Naval College Dartmouth
- Viking – British … Lt. R.L. Fisher RN
- Ilex – British … Royal Engineers YC
- Mamago – British … Capt. F. Stevens
- Noreen – British … Mr Crankshaw
The report went on to detail the handicapping allowance for each yacht and then continued: The Nina went on to win many other races, and was a beautiful, elegant and much-loved yacht. I say was, because she has been reported lost somewhere in the Tasman Sea. It is feared her owners who were on board, their 17-year-old son and six other people, may also be lost.
Lois Elsden 