Lovely Freda is Back in Action

Although her mast and sails have yet to be fitted, the legendary 50-ft sloop Freda is essentially back in action now after her launch Saturday in Sausalito. Local craftsmen recently completed an exhaustive eight-year rebuild of the elegant sloop at the Spaulding Wooden Boat Center. 

Several hundred history buffs and wooden boat aficionados turned out for the splashing, many of whom had wondered in years past if this local maritime treasure would ever be truly seaworthy again. Built in Belvedere and first launched in 1885, Freda is the last remaining example of America’s earliest style of recreational sailing craft, dubbed ‘American sloop yachts’. She is, in fact, the last remaining relic of her era in the entire US. 

We’ll have more on the refit in next month’s Latitude, including ways that you can get involved with her ongoing stewardship — and perhaps even go for a sail aboard her.