Spike Africa Begins a New Chapter

We’re happy to report that Spike Africa, one of the most famous schooners ever built on the West Coast, has returned after a long hiatus in Kauai where she’d fallen into disrepair. Built in Costa Mesa during the mid-’70s by Robert Sloan, the 80-ft classic was named after a notorious real-life character who was a long-time sidekick of actor/author/sailor Sterling Hayden.

After a long West Coast career hauling freight, then passengers, Spike was sailed to Hawaii in 2004, where she largely sat idle and suffered from neglect. Earlier this year, however, she was purchased by Schooners North, a new charter company based out of Friday Harbor, which is currently in the process of refurbishing the former beauty for the Northwest charter trade. After two months of re-rigging in Port Townsend, WA, she can now be found at her new home base at Spring Street Landing in Friday Harbor.