LIONHEART K-18

Harry H. Graves’ Lionheart races in the Newport fleet.

Designer: Ian Howlett | Joyce Brothers Marine

Year Built: 1979 | Other Names: Lionheart of Wessex (1980)

Length Overall: 19.43m | Waterline: 14.394m

Beam: 3.73m | Draft 2.82m | Displacement: 29.1 tons | Sail Area: 170sq. m

Construction: aluminum alloy

First Owner: British Industry 1500 Club (UK)

Current Owner: Harry H. Graves | Homeport: Newport, RI

1991-present
Owned by Harry H. Graves, Lionheart is sailed and raced with the Newport 12 metre fleet.

1981-1983
Peter de Savary had her altered in 1982 and sailed her as a trail horse against Victory ’82 and Victory ’83. By 1991 she was in the U.S. managed by Intrepid Marketing with her home port in Seekonk, MA.

1979-1980
Commissioned by the British Industry 1500 Club, Lionheart was a heavy displacement yacht built for the 1980 America’s Cup. Her most innovative feature was a “bendy” mast that increased her sail area by nearly 7%. She proved to be very fast in a straight line but had a lack of maneuverability when compared to other twelves. She was beaten by France II after a close fight at the 24th America’s Cup Challenger Trials.

*Content courtesy: The Twelve Metre Class by Dyer Jones & Luigi Lang

Jump to International Twelve Metre Association Yacht Database Record for Lionheart (K-18)