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Rodney Denmon, owner of Sparhawk, a Bristol Corinthian built in the mid 1960's, shares his perceptions of his boat: "Carl Alberg's designs have always caught my attention. It started with the Cape Dory Typhoon. I grew up sailing mostly on a (Ted) Hood designed Bristol 40, but from the time I saw the first Typhoons I could not have imagined a better boat to dream about - once I was old enough to begin working and saving. When I drove launches for the clubs of Marblehead, Mass. the Corinthian really caught my eye! She was the predecessor of the Typhoon. In Marblehead there was a small fleet of 30 of these boats. In 1992 I caved in and bought hull number 162, which at the time was in need of improvements and upgrades. Alberg created a hull and sail plan in the Corinthian that seems to want to defy the laws of hull speed. She sails so beautifully in all weather conditions that it is truly a boat that can satisfy a sailing newcomer's desire to learn without the fear of being overpowered as well as an experienced sailor's desire to thoroughly enjoy the feel of a solid, responsive boat under tiller. Although I continue to race on J-24s, Etchells and J-80s, I always enjoy the feel of and the sense of security one has with a full keeled boat. The draft is not extreme and touching bottom (the sandier the better!) is generally not cause for concern. For a design that began in the mid 1960's it remains to be an easily managed, thoroughly enjoyable sailboat. Just imagine topping it off with being a relatively small investment! Some day a larger cruising boat will come into the picture I am sure, and although I am looking forwards to it, it doesn't necessarily mean I have any intention of parting with Carl Alberg's classic gem." Adolph and Charla, a self-described "50+" couple who sail a Corinthian, Tigger, from the Pultneyville Yacht Club, Pultneyville, New York, comment, "We use Tigger for cruising and have tried our hand at racing her and so far have done well...The full-keel, strong and well-designed hull allow us to enjoy the very comfortable motion in an even heavy sea. We cruise across Lake Ontario to Canada and always draw a crowd when we get there. "She is a beautiful boat to look at..." Dave Berke, owner and restorer of a Bristol 27, Second Wind, likes "the brick outhouse construction, the simple elegantly classic lines and the fact that she will sail beautifully in any wind (as long as its above 10 knots). On the minus side while running downwind with a following sea she tends to roll a little side to side (maybe due to her narrow beam?). Overall, she is a great boat which I love!" George Dinwiddie, member of the Chesapeake Bay Alberg 30 One-Design Association, Inc. sails an Alberg 30. "I guess the reason we bought the Alberg 30 is because it's drop-dead gorgeous. I think that's an important trait in a boat. As it turns out, it's also very sturdy and seakindly. It's been very forgiving of our errors over the last ten years." George Kendall, native Newfoundlander and later transplant to Long Island, New York and finally Collington Harbor, North Carolina, bought a Alberg designed Sea Sprite 23. After having sailed, raced and won a 60 mile race on the Albermarle Sound in winds up to 38 miles per hour, George was a firm believer in the seakindly qualities and speed of Alberg designs! His little Seaweed, the Alberg designed Sea Sprite, turned out to be some kind of boat! George liked the Sea Sprite but wanted something with cruising potential. He looked at a lovely Cape Dory 28, then found his Alberg 29 listed in an ad in Connecticut. The ad said, "If you like the Cape Dory 30, you will love the Alberg 29." Once he saw the beautiful Alberg 29 (built by Nye Yachts) he bought her sailed her home to the Outer Banks. George loves his Alberg 29 for it's seakeeping qualities and speed. He has cruised and raced Liberty Calls (winning a number of races) for the last few years on the Albermarle Sound off of the treacherous Outer Banks of North Carolina. "What I like about the Alberg boats is their smooth steadiness in water as well as their excellent ability to point into wind like fin keeled racing boats." Fran Tobin, a former 30' Hunter co-owner, now single-hands a Pearson Electra, the 22' 6" cruising boat from which spawned the popular daysailer, the Ensign. "I sail on the Chesapeake and love it! Drawing only 3' the boat is ideal for the bay. She is the first boat I have owned all by myself. I have always preferred the more classic style of sailboat, so I am perfectly delighted with my Electra. Her name is Silk Purse, since she was a derelict when I found her. She was full of trash and water. I have been restoring her to Bristol condition as dollars permit! Whenever I am out it seems that someone will comment on how pretty she is. I am very proud of her. She sails very well when their is wind to move her." Alberg designed boat owners are proud of the looks of their boats, the safety and sturdiness and the good sailing ability that the Alberg designs share in common. This article originally appeared in Good Old Boat magazine and is reprinted here with permission of Scott Wallace.
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