Coronet (yacht) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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CORONET (Wooden Hull Schooner Yacht)
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Coronet during a race in 1893.
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mystic, Connecticut |
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| Built | 1885 |
| Built by | C. & R. Poillon |
| Architect | William Townsend |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000571 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 2004 |
The Coronet is a large wooden sailing ship called a schooner yacht. It was built way back in 1885 for a wealthy businessman named Rufus T. Bush. At 131 feet long, it is one of the oldest and biggest sailing yachts of its kind still in existence today.
After many years and different owners, the ship became worn down. From 2010 to 2022, it was carefully rebuilt at a special school for boat restoration in Newport, Rhode Island. The final part of its restoration is now happening at Mystic Seaport.
Contents
History of the Coronet
The Coronet was designed by William Townsend and built in a shipyard in Brooklyn, New York. Once it was finished, its owner, Rufus T. Bush, made a bold challenge. He offered $10,000 to any other yacht that could beat his in a race across the Atlantic Ocean.
A Famous Ocean Race
In March 1887, the race was on! The Coronet competed against a yacht named Dauntless. The race was a huge event, and when Coronet won, it became famous. The New York Times even wrote about the victory on its entire front page.
After winning the 3,000-mile race, Bush decided to sell the Coronet. But first, he and his son took it on an incredible journey.
Sailing Around the World
In 1888, the Bushes circumnavigated the globe, which means they sailed all the way around the world. The Coronet was the first registered yacht to ever sail around Cape Horn, the stormy southern tip of South America, from east to west.
Their journey took them across the Pacific Ocean to places like Hawaii, China, India, and Malta before they returned home.
New Owners and New Adventures
By 1905, the Coronet had been sold six times. During these years, the yacht sailed around the world several more times. It was even used for a scientific trip by Japanese and American scientists to study an eclipse.
In 1905, a religious group called The Kingdom bought the ship for $10,000. They used the Coronet for missionary trips around the world. One of their voyages to Africa in 1911 was very difficult. Because the trip was so long, some people on board got very sick from not having enough of the right kinds of food. The Kingdom owned the yacht until 1995.
Restoring a Historic Ship
By 1995, the Coronet was old and needed major repairs. The International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) in Newport, Rhode Island, took over the ship and began the huge job of restoring it. To recognize its importance, the Coronet was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
In 2010, a group called the Coronet Restoration Partners began funding the work to completely rebuild the ship on the IYRS campus. In December 2022, the Coronet was moved to the restoration shipyard at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut to have the final stages of its restoration completed.
Coronet Gallery
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The inside of the Coronet, showing its original fancy woodwork.
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A hallway inside the Coronet. Notice the curved wood and the detailed mirror on the left.
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A sleeping area, or berth, inside the yacht.
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The Coronet being rebuilt.
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The special building at IYRS where the Coronet was being restored in 2008.
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See also
- List of oldest surviving ships
- List of schooners
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut
