History
Erik Maxwell was still just 24 years old when he made the daunting step up to the big league. In 1949, he bought Felma, a 1937 Fife 8-metre, and changed her name to Cherokee. Three years later, he bought the 1936 Tor Holm-designed 8-metre, Christina, from Mrs Rachel Pitt-Rivers, a formidable yachtswoman. Rachel skippered her 1935 Nicholson offshore 12mR, Foxhound of Lepe, across the Atlantic to compete in the 1956 Bermuda Race, and then she sailed the boat back again. Christina was built by Abramsson & Borjesson in Sweden and was one of the most beautiful boats on the Clyde. After Erik sold her in 1954, she became Christina of Cascais. Two decades later, Erik re-entered the class with Iskareen, then sailing as *Cheetah *(S&S design from 1938, built in Sweden). He promptly gave this famous yacht back her given name. From Highland Cowes, a History of Sailing in Scotland. Here Cherokee sets an early nylon spinnaker which had clearly been used in more breeze than it was designed for. (nb *Sirus *now carries K3.) Early post-war spinnakers were made of surplus parachute nylon which came only in blue – hence all the pale blue kites in images from this era. Photo: unknown, possible Yuile.
