HORBA needs your help
 

Big news..but HORBA needs your help --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As many of you know, HORBA was started a few years ago as a non profit organization with two goals:
1. Save the old race boats before they are cut up and thrown away.
2. Try to get real open ocean racing started again and get the boats off the beach.

Well thanks to California HORBA members, we have just been notified of a most generous donation for our someday to come museum.

Everyone remembers Don Aronow's 32 foot Cary that he called The Cigarette after the famous Brooklyn rum runner of the 30's.

He built that boat in secret and actually had three of those boats built for himself. There was also a boat made for Peter Rothschild, Thunderballs and an outboard version for Willy Meyers, Cigarillo and another outboard for Bob Magoon, Andrea. Six boats in all.

We have just been notified that the owner of Thunderballs, the 32 Cary originally owned by Peter Rothschild has been donated to HORBA.

As far as we have been able to tell this is the last remaining 32 Cary race boat built in 1968 from those original 6. I asked the owner what the boat looked like now. He said the only difference is someone added a windscreen in front of the instrument cluster on the deck, but it could be easlily removed and the boat would look just like it did when it raced in 1969.

Incredible. It has rare number 2 Speedmasters and two sets of, the then cutting edge, 2 blade racing propellors. It has the open front bolster that was used at that time. It has the same tri cornered fuel fills and low air vents on the rear hatches.

Our intent is to restore the boat to look exactly like...The Cigarette. It is the last of that 1/2 dozen and is so original as to be an example of offshore racers of that period.

HERE IS WHERE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

The boat is in California, Napa Valley. We need to move it to Florida for the restoration.

Would it be possible for any teams coming east to LOTO take an extra truck and bring it there....and then if any Florida teams could bring an extra truck and bring it back to Florida. It is sitting on a triple axle trailer that is currently registered in California.

If that is not possible could we arrange a Pony Express transfer of the boat. Somebody in California bring it to Arizona. Someone in Arizona bring it to New Mexico. Someone in New Mexico bring it to Texas..etc etc until we get it back to Florida.

Everyone who helps along the way will be named and acknowledged as part of the permanent display and in all the literature re the boat in the future.

This is the past of the sport of offshore, it is important, please help.

Thanks

This is another very good news Charlie.
Although I'm not very well in making a version of The Cigarette therefore prefer to mantain itin the original version I also understand that the historical weight of the two versions is absolutely in favor of what of Don.
I hope that before starting work,you will make a detailed photographic report of the current state of the boat.
About the number of 32' built I believe that we must bring the total to 7 units.
I am a long time doing a research on this and I think I will soon be able to come to the conclusion proving that with images and facts.
Is almost certain that in Italy they were taken three 32' for Balestrieri and Cosentino in 1970.
Don Aronow drove certainly three 32' in 1969 then in 1970 two of them went to Italy and one in Australia as we know.
It remains to be seen whether the 31' version that Balestrieri drove in Italy in 1971 and then Sahlman and Smith in USA in 1974 was a 32' then modified and cutted to 31' or amended direct from a mold modified to 31'.
If anyone remembers anything about that is welcome a clarification.
Congratulations Charlie!

Great find Charlie

The cut down former 32 was run by Sahlman as "Little Cigarette". So we know that was one of the former Balestreri boats.

The boat we had a problem with was the 32 driven by Wishnick as Boss O Nova II. I spoke to Brownie today and we both feel that was actually sold to Wishnick as a 32 foot Cigarette in 1970. In 1969 Bill was running the Bertram, not a 32 Cary.

Just a little something that will have you running for the darkroom door,Marco.

That the 32' of Wishnick (Boss O'Nova II) was a Cigarette and not a Cary was already clear, since it was the only 32' with a deck type 36' and not flat deck as were the Cary.
What remains to be understand is if the short 31' Black Tornado-Little Cigarette(hence the choice of name could not determine with certainty the manufacturer) was a former Cary 32' then modified (ie built in 1969) or a Cigarette 32' sister boat of the Boss O'Nova II and then modified to 31' with a deck in light plywood.
There is a third hypothesis that the 31' was made from a mold of 32'(Cary?-Cigarette?) specially modified.
In fact if it was built in 1969 is a Cary but if it was in 1970 becomes a Cigarette. The molds have been the same.
I hope that Brown or whoever else remember something about.

Graham I was expecting the list. Then I can work on in the darkroom.:cool:

Marco....it was an original Cary cut down and deck added. We have a photo of Balestreri in the boat before Sahlman.

Now back to our problem of moving the boat from California.

Any truckers out there who can load this whole thing, trailer and all, on a flatbed and give us a good rate and we can do some fundraising.

Did I hear the Name Bertram, stil the best in my eyes. Who Hoo Charlie!.:eek:

Bertrams were great boats.......and 1969 was supposed to be the "Year of the Bertram"...as Brownie says.....but then along came Don and those pesky Carys.....in the end the Cary's carried the day and won Don the World Championship again.

OKAY.....it looks like we have a workable situation.

Bobby Sheer has agreed to move the boat and trailer on top of one of his rigs so even our trailer won't get any more wear....Fantastic.

Now we need the good people of offshore to help out here with donations for the fuel and tolls that Bobby will have going from..... San Diego to Napa Valley and then back to Florida.

All donations may be sent to:

HORBA
PO BOX 8625
Warwick, RI 02888

Everyone who helps will be part of the record of the restoration of this boat.

Any donations of $500 or more will get a special signed copy of SEARACE.

I still have a few of those around that John signed before he died. Any extra money left over will go towards the restoration of the boat in Florida.

Thank you for your help with this project....it is all of our sports history that we are trying to preserve for the next generation.

The first part of the project is done......THANK YOU CATASTROPHE !!!!!!!

Our Canadian friend has agreed to pick up the entire cost of the move of the boat from California to Florida with Bobby Sheer.

He has encouraged us to move ahead with the drive for donated funds and help with the restoration......I will start a new thread for that.

HORBA RESTORATION PROJECT

Charlie/Bobby

I live about a hour south of Napa, Depending on the day/date, if Bobby needs a hand to load the boat and trailer on to his rig.
I could assist.

Thank you
Jim

Thanks Jim....I will pass that on to Bobby. I know that we do need a place to load the boat and trailer on top of Bobby's trailer....maybe a marina with a strap type lift.

Charlie

Depending in what part of Napa Valley the Cary is in?
you can check with

http://napavalleymarina.com. They look to be a full service marina close to the Town of Napa



thank you
Jim

Charlie , did you ever start restoring the Benihana Cig ? I'm half way through my Chris project but haven't looked at it since spring . I want to enjoy summer and my other toys .
I just replaced the 35 Fountain with a 42 Lightning so the Chris can wait , I'm still flying .
BTW , I would definitely retore this hull back to Thunderballs and not as an impostor of Aronow's boat .




" I can't respect a man that's screwed practically everyone he's done a deal with "