Freedom, US-30

HISTORY:

1979-1980: Freedom was the last 12 designed by Olin Stephens with Bill Langan. Her lines were inspired by Enterprise, with attention paid to reducing the pitch and windage of the hull resulting in reduced freeboard. Skippered by Dennis Conner, Freedom dominated the Defender Trials against Clipper and Courageous and beat Australia 4-1 for the America’s Cup. In 1980 she also won the Chandler Hovey Gold Bowl.

1981-2000: Freedom was altered by Sparkman & Stephens in 1982 and sailed as a trial horse against Liberty in 1983. In 1985 she was shipped to Europe, first to Consorzio, Italy, then to France as a trail horse for French Kiss in 1986. From 1995-2000 she was owned by Francois Fontes with her home port in Montpelier, France.

2000-2016: Purchased by Ernest Jacquet, she returned to Newport, RI where she was actively sailed and raced and subsequently donated for use to a non-profit organization in Greenwich, CT.

2016: Purchased by Charles A. Robertson, had a complete refit and returned to the Newport racing fleet in June of 2017. She was an active competitor throughout the 2019 World Championship.

2019: Finished 6th in the Modern Division at the 2019 12mR World Championship at Newport

2019: Purchased by Takashi Okura, who plans a very competitive program with his “SLED” racing team at the New York Yacht Club

Jump to Twelve Metre Yacht Club, Newport Station Fleet page for Freedom (US-30)

Freedom, US-30

Freedom (US-30), photo by SallyAnne Santos