whitehawk sailboat

Similar yachts

New listings

This site has features that require javascript. Follow these simple instructions to enable JavaScript in your web browser .

• Open Search

On the Watch for Whitehawk

A 105’ ketch has entered the bell’s beer bayview mackinac race and will make the great lakes her unlikely home.

Currently,  Whitehawk  is making her way from Newport, R.I., where for many years she has been a familiar sight among other traditionally designed sailing megayachts, to the Great Lakes where such lines are rarely seen. She was recently bought by Peter Thornton, a Key Largo, Fla. resident who has homes in  Bay Harbor and Detroit, Mich. Among other racing accomplishments, he set the Elapsed Time Monohull Record (Cove Island Course) in the 2017 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race with his Volvo 70  Il Mostro , which he has donated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation.

“A yacht like  Whitehawk  has never been on the Great Lakes,” said Thornton, shortly after closing his purchase in mid-May, “and my desire is to show her off in Chicago and Detroit for the Mackinac Races. She is a magnificent machine that should be viewed by as many people as possible.”

Whitehawk  left Newport on her own bottom and last week, after reaching the Erie Canal, was preparing to meet a truck delivering her rig in Oswego, N.Y.  After her masts are stepped, she will head for Lake Ontario and up the Detroit River to Lake Huron where she will stop in Bay Harbor to provision before heading to Chicago for the Chicago Mackinac Race and then back to Port Huron for the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race.

Thornton, in his late seventies, has competed in at least 28 Bayview Mackinac Races, taking many class victories in go-fast boats like the Santa Cruz 70 he owned for many years. He decided after last year, however, that he was ready to “wind down” his racing career with a kinder, gentler experience that  Whitehawk will offer. First things first: his racing crew and family will have to get used to the yacht’s luxurious accommodations as compared to the stripped- down  Il Mostro . Belowdecks features three oversized staterooms and magnificent appointments, including a ten-sided Mandala skylight, a fireplace, and a head with a teak bathtub.

At the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race,  Whitehawk  will sail in Division 1 on the Cove Island course – the longer of the two course options designed for the larger, racier boats entered. “Going from a complete carbon racing machine like  Il Mostro  to a wooden cruising yacht like  Whitehawk  will be quite a transition,” said Thornton, with a grin reflected in his voice. “We’ll be mixed in with boats like the TP52s, and they’ll be running away from us, but that’s okay.”

Sponsors for the 2019 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race include  Bell's Brewery ,  Grand Hotel ,  Luca Mariano , Gill ,  Coral Reef Sailing Apparel ,  Tito’s Handmade Vodka ,   Pentastar Aviation ,  North Sails ,  Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry ,  NôMI Sparkling Water ,   Aitken & Ormond Insurance ,  Frankenmuth Insurance , Sharpe Travel Services,  Legal Copy Services , Sykes & Webster - The Burton Families,  Bayview Yacht Club Foundation ,  Detroit Sports Media , and  Marx Layne . Supporters are  Freighter’s Eatery & Tap Room ,  Futuramic Tool and Engineering ,  Harken ,  Pink Pony - Chippewa Hotel  and  Thomas Hardware Company .

For more information go to  www.bycmack.com  or contact Race Chairman Robert Nutter at [email protected]

Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Quicklinks:

Event website Facebook Page Follow via Twitter More About Bayview Yacht Club Bayview Yacht Club, founded in 1915, is widely regarded as the premier sailing club in Michigan and the Midwest.  Located on the Detroit River near the mouth of Lake St. Clair, it has been hosting the Bayview Mackinac Race since 1925 and has more than 1,000 members.  For more information:  www.byc.com .

Like what you read?

Want to know when we have important news, updates or interviews?

Join our newsletter today!

You Might Also Be Interested In...

A Connector for Nearly Any Global Shore Power Need

Complex Data Reined-in with Stylish Touchscreen

High-Torque Access Plates Shine in Tough Environments

Smartgyro Available with Garmin OneHelm

New Pumps Combine High Flow, Low Power Draw

Water Spot Protection Easy as Spraying a Hose

Send to your friends!

Already a subscriber? Please check your email for the latest full issue link.

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

We don't have any additional photos of this yacht. Do you?

Whitehawk is a custom sailing yacht launched in 1978 by Lie-Nielsen in Rockland Me, United States and most recently refitted in 2008.

Whitehawk measures 32.00 metres in length, with a max draft of 2.30 metres and a beam of 6.20 metres. She has a gross tonnage of 84 tonnes. She has a deck material of teak.

Whitehawk has a wood hull with a wood superstructure.

Her interior design is by John Munford Design.

Whitehawk also features naval architecture by Bruce King Yacht Design.

Performance and Capabilities

Whitehawk has a top speed of 11.00 knots and a cruising speed of 9.00 knots. She is powered by a single screw propulsion system.

Whitehawk has a fuel capacity of 3,217 litres, and a water capacity of 2,840 litres.

She also has a range of 500 nautical miles.

Accommodation

Whitehawk accommodates up to 7 guests . She also houses room for up to 4 crew members.

Other Specifications

Whitehawk has a hull NB of 781.

Whitehawk flies the flag of the USA.

• Yacht Builder Lie-Nielsen No profile available
• Naval Architect Bruce King Yacht Design No profile available
• Exterior Designer Bruce King Yacht Design No profile available
• Interior Designer John Munford Design No profile available

Yacht Specs

From plastic to classic

W hat do you do when you no longer have your Volvo 70 Il Mostro to race the Mackinac races on? If you’re Peter Thorton, you buy a 105-foot classic ketch and bring it to the Great Lakes. 

Built in 1978 in Rockland, Maine, the clipper-bowed Bruce King-designed Whitehawk was patterned after the famous 1936 Herreshoff-designed racing yacht Ticonderoga and is one of the largest cold-molded wooden boats. 

Whitehawk made her way from her home port of Newport, Rhode Island, where she was a popular participant in the East Coast classic regattas. 

“A yacht like Whitehawk has never been on the Great Lakes,” said Thornton, a Key Largo, Florida resident who has homes in Bay Harbor and Detroit, Michigan. “My desire is to show her off in Chicago and Detroit for the Mackinac Races. She is a magnificent machine that should be viewed by as many people as possible.”

Thornton set the Bayview Mackinac Race record in 2017 with his Volvo 70 Il Mostro , which he recently donated to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation.

Thornton, in his late 70s, has long competed in the Mac races with boats such as his Santa Cruz 70 Holua . He said he decided last year to wind down his racing career with a kinder, gentler experience aboard Whitehawk . The boat will be quite a change from the carbon fiber Il Mostro with her three oversized staterooms and traditional features, including a 10-sided Mandala skylight, a fireplace and a head with a teak bathtub.

Whitehawk left Newport on her own bottom, and after reaching the Erie Canal, met a truck delivering her rig to Oswego, New York. After her masts were to be stepped, she was to head to Lake Ontario and up the Detroit River through Lake Huron to Chicago for the Chicago-Mackinac Race and then back to Port Huron for the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race in July.

 “Going from a complete carbon racing machine like Il Mostro to a wooden cruising yacht like Whitehawk will be quite a transition,” Thornton said. “We’ll be mixed in with boats like the TP52s, and they’ll be running away from us, but that’s okay.”

To follow the action for the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac that begins July 13, visit www.cycracetomackinac.com . The Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race, www.bycmack.com , begins July 20. 

Also in Splashes

• A ‘textbook perfect’ rescue
• Voyage for the sea
• Partnership on the seas
• Gone in a firestorm
• Power it up
• A pilot's homecoming
• Hot Soup for All
• Royal regatta
• Novice sailor makes a remarkable rescue

Also from SAILING Magazine

• Sailing in light air
• Foul weather gear care
• Annapolis Sailboat Show
• September 2024
• July/august 2024
• Safety at sea
• Back to School
• April/May 2024
• No passport required

WHITEHAWK Lie-Neilsen

• Inspiration

WHITEHAWK has 1 Photos

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Whitehawk news.

Bequia wins the 2017 Candy Store Cup ...

Similar yachts.

ATTIMO | From EUR€ 39,000/wk

• Yachts >
• All Yachts >
• All Sail Boats Over 100ft/30m >

If you have any questions about the WHITEHAWK information page below please contact us .

A General Description of Sailing Yacht WHITEHAWK

This sailing yacht WHITEHAWK is a 32 metre 105 (ft) well proportioned wooden/epoxy vessel which was produced at Lie-Neilsen and concieved by Bruce King and Phil Long. This private boat has been envisaged by the naval architecture of Bruce King and Phil Long.

Construction & Yacht Design with respect to Luxury Yacht WHITEHAWK

Bruce King was the naval architect involved in the formal superyacht composition for WHITEHAWK. Bruce King and Phil Long is also associated with the yacht general design work for this boat. In 1978 she was actually launched with celebration in Rockland Me and post sea trials and final completion was afterwards handed over to the owner who commissioned her. Lie-Neilsen completed their new build sailing yacht in the United States. A reasonable feeling is manifested with a total beam (width) of 6.25 m or 20.5 feet. With a 5.12m (16.8ft) draught (maximum depth) she is fairly deep. The material wooden/epoxy was used in the building of the hull of the sailing yacht. Her superstructure over the hull is created with the use of teak. Over the deck of WHITEHAWK she is 28.04 (92 ft) in length. In 1997 extra refitting and updating was additionally performed.

Propulsion Type & Engines On S/Y WHITEHAWK:

Installed with a sole GM diesel main engines, WHITEHAWK is able to attain a maximum speed of 11 knots. Connected to her GM engine(s) are a single screw propeller. Her total HP is 310 HP and her total Kilowatts are 228.

Accommodation Capacity On Aboard Superyacht WHITEHAWK:

The well sized luxury yacht S/Y WHITEHAWK is able to accommodate up to 6 passengers in addition to 5 qualified crew.

A List of the Specifications of the WHITEHAWK:

Miscellaneous Yacht Details

This sailing yacht has a teak deck.

WHITEHAWK Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht WHITEHAWK displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

Quick Enquiry

ELTON | From EUR€ 30,000/wk

Rosinante of Notika | From EUR€ 35,000/wk

BOLERO | From US$ 42,500/wk

Close Quarters

Whitehawk July 13, 2015

Document.write(postdate);.

Post a Comment

Whitehawk claims line honors for 114th Race to Mackinac

Other race news.

• Press Releases
• From the Mac Chairman

Posted Jul 23, 2023

CHICAGO and MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., July 23, 2023 – Racing into the Mackinac Straits, the majestic 104-foot ketch Whitehawk had every sail raised and every trick out of the bag to overtake Eagle One , the sleek 65-foot cruising boat that had led the entire fleet since the start. Trailing Eagle One for 288 nautical miles, it took until the final mile for Peter Thornton’s Whitehawk to overtake and clinch line honors of the 114th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust.

Eagle One , owned by Tim Lariviere of Grosse Pointe, Mich. and his crew of predominantly Bayview Yacht Club past commodores, credited Thornton for a well-sailed race and earned victory. This is Thornton’s second consecutive line honors with Whitehawk .

The Race to Mackinac began Friday afternoon for the Cruising Division, and Saturday for the Racing Division. Saturday’s boats began in beautiful downwind conditions for the first half of the fleet, but as a rain squall approached, snowflake-sized raindrops pelted the faster race boats as they began the 289-nautical miles (333 statute miles) up to Mackinac.

Sunday afternoon and evening, the two fleets continue to make their way up Lake Michigan, sailing in moderate conditions along the Michigan shoreline. The faster boats competing in the Racing Division are expected to finish overnight, with the remaining teams crossing the finish line throughout the day Monday. 

HOW TO WATCH: Live Race Tracking and CYCRTM social media

YB Race Tracking

Fans will be able to follow both the cruising and racing fleets via YB Tracking HERE . Each boat is equipped with a satellite tracker that sends GPS information (location, speed, and direction) every 15 minutes and displays the location and track on the race course.

Social Media  

Race organizers will be actively posting updates to CYC Race to Mackinac Social Media. We encourage all fans to follow the race on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter and stay engaged with the race as much as possible!

114th CYCRTM Fun Facts:

• More than 2,100 racers from 16 countries and nearly every state in the U.S. is represented (45)
• 240 entries
• The teams will compete on state-of-the-art carbon fiber racing boats to family cruisers ranging from 29 feet to 104 feet
• Crew numbers range between two (for the Doublehanded Division), to 22 (on board Maverick, the Andrews 80).

Inspired by L Francis Herreshoff ‘s famous 1936 racing yacht Ticonderoga .

When she was built, the hull was the largest cold-molded wooden boat ever made using the West System Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique.

SHARE THIS:

• Yachts for Sale

Recently updated...

Write an Article

Covering news on classic yachting worldwide is a tall ask and with your input Classic Yacht Info can expose stories from your own back yard.

We are keen to hear about everything from local regattas and classic events to a local restoration or yachting adventure. Pictures are welcome and ideal for making the article more engaging.

With a site that has been created with the assistance of an international group of classic yacht enthusiasts we value your input and with your help we strive to make CYI more up-to-date and more informative than ever.

Please register and get in touch if you would like to contribute.

choose your language:

We’re passionate about Classic Yachts here at CYI, and we welcome submissions from all over the globe!

Captain, rigger, sail-maker or chef – if you’d like to write for CYI just let us know!

Email [email protected] to be set up as a Contributor, and share your Classic thoughts with the world.

ClassicYachtInfo.com has the largest database of classic yachts on the internet.

We’re continually working to keep it accurate and up-to-date, and we greatly appreciate contributions of any type. If you spot an error, or you have some information on a yacht and would like to contribute, please jump on in!

Don’t be shy…. Breeze on!

• Sell Your Yacht

2019 CYC Race to Mackinac – Congratulations Whitehawk

Whitehawk crossed the finish line in light conditions for cruising division line-honors; the 111th cyc race to mackinac. (47 hours, 1 minute, 14 seconds. corrected time).

“Congratulations to owner Peter Thornton and his crew, from all of us at ClassicSailboats for winning the Ile Aux Galets Cup.”

The 104 foot ketch, owned by businessman Peter Thornton, was the highlight of the cruising division. Styled after the famous Herreshoff racing vessel Ticonderoga, Whitehawk was designed by renowned Maine yacht designer Bruce King and commissioned in 1978.

The 111th edition began at Chicago’s Navy Pier, with sailboats in the graceful cruising division getting underway. This year, 270 boats and 2,300 sailors from around the world competed. The boats sail 333 miles up Lake Michigan before hanging a big right turn into the Straits of Mackinac, gliding under the Mackinac Bridge before crossing the finish line near the island. It’s the world’s oldest freshwater distance race.

In 2018, Thornton’s sleek Volvo 70 racer, Il Mostro, won first-to-finish honors. But he’s since retired that speed monster, donating it to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation.

This year, Thornton, 79, took a slower – and more luxurious sail up the spine of the big lake. The massive Whitehawk features staterooms, a propane fireplace and a teak bathtub, according to the Associated Press. Thornton sailed with his sons and grandsons as part of the crew.

“I’m closing in on becoming an octogenarian in a few months and, after last year’s Mac race, I decided that I’ve had enough of the competitive racing and I wanted to try something different,” Thornton said in a phone interview with the AP. “I found Whitehawk was available. It really excited me when I saw the boat and what it represented and thought, ‘This is something I’ve got to try.”

CYC Race to Mackinac

The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac is the longest annual fresh water race in the world. “The Mac” starts at the Chicago Lighthouse, just off Navy Pier and ends after a 333-mile dash to Mackinac Island. More than 350 boats leave Chicago every July for the race which has become a bucket-list event for America’s Cup winners, Transpac and Volvo Ocean sailors. More than 2,700 people attend the race annually and in 2016, participants traveled to Chicago from 621 different cities, 38 states and 12 countries.

More about Whitehawk, visit: https://classicsailboats.org/?portfolio=suspendisse-arcu More about the 2019 CYC race to Mackinac Island: mlive.com/news/2019/07/chicago-yacht-club-race-to-mackinac-kicks-off-how-to-track-the-big-money-boats.html

Related posts:

• Curacao 5.5m World Championship (GER 79 wins top prize)
• L. Francis Herreshoff “Tioga II”
• America’s Cup Yacht “Reliance”
• William Fife “Mikado”

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address:

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

Classic Ketch Whitehawk sold by CNI

Georges Bourgoignie in the Fort Lauderdale office of Camper & Nicholsons tells me that the 32m Bruce King-designed classic ketch Whitehawk "has been sold to a passionate classic yacht owner and New York Yacht Club member. _Whitehawk _will undergo a substantial refit over the winter in Newport, Rhode Island. I represented both buyer and seller"

Whitehawk was built by O. Lie-Neilsen in 1978 and refitted in 2008. Accommodating seven guests, her asking price was $2.9 million.

Sign up to BOAT Briefing email

Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday

By signing up for BOAT newsletters, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy .

More stories

Most popular, from our partners, sponsored listings.

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3704
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

WHITEHAWK Interior & Exterior Photos

32m  /  105' | lie-nielsen | 1978 / 2010.

• Amenities & Toys

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

SIMILAR LUXURY YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Here are a selection of superyachts which are similar to Whitehawk yacht which are believed to be available for charter. To view all similar luxury charter yachts click on the button below.

Borkumriff II

31m | Lubbe-Voss

from $53,000 p/week ♦︎

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist