s/y VIOLA (1908), William FIFE III
Channel: VIOLA
Date: 2020-01-16

VIOLA is a gaff cutter designed and built in 1908 by William FIFE III in Fairlie, Scotland (alongside MARISKA).
Through 111 years she passed through the hands of 14 “keepers” and survived the two world wars thanks partly to her cast iron ballast.
Although already well restored from 1997 to 2014 by her 13th keeper , from 2015 until 2019 in the hands of her 14th and current keeper, VIOLA underwent sustained restoration including a new rigging and a reinforcement of all her stress points, while fiercely preserving her authenticity.
As a result, her hull and lower structure today is still 80% original, and speed was added to her beauty.
VIOLA usually races in the Mediterranean, with her longtime skipper Fabien Despres, and her crew of “VIOLA lovers”, who are also close friends.
In 2017, VIOLA won the Monaco Classic Week Trophy.
In 2018, she won Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez (FIFE Jubilee with 20 other FIFE boats) and the ROLEX Trophy.
In 2019 VIOLA won Les Voiles d’Antibes, the Argentario Sailing Week, and Les Régates Royales de Cannes, she also participated for her first time to the British Classic Week in Cowes and came 2nd.
VIOLA was named “Yacht of the Year” by French yachting magazine YACHTING CLASSIQUE consecutively in 2017 and 2018.
She sails under the colours of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Program 2020: following the FIFE regatta in Scotland in June, VIOLA and her crew are preparing for her first time visit to America from the end of July to early September 2020, and are looking forward to meet the East coast based classic boats and other passionate keepers and crews, and naturally engaging them in the classic regattas during that time window.

Designer: William FIFE III
Year Built: 1908
LOA: 15.5 m (49.2 ft)
LWL: 9.5 m (29.5 ft)
Rig Type: GAFF CUTTER
Hull Consruction: Wood
Year of Recent Restoration: 2015 to 2019
Yard of Recent Restoration: Candela, La Rochelle, France