HISTORY
As Sag Harbor’s classic sailing yacht, Lelanta has graced the waters of Long Island’s east end for nearly 30 years. Her story began in 1929 on the drafting tables of renowned navel architect, John G. Alden. As one would imagine, the cast of characters that have come across her deck over the ensuing 94 years have written a colorful and charming story. This history, her exquisite interior and spacious decks (80’ LOA), combine to transport guests to a bygone era.
If Lelanta could talk…
the stories she could tell.
From the Arctic, to the Caribbean, movie stars to smugglers!
Launch day 1930
1930: Lelanta is Launched
Lelanta, Alden number 448, was designed in 1929 for Ralph St. L. Peverley, an American living near Liverpool, England. Measuring 65’6’’, by 46’6’’, by 14’7’’, by 9’3’’, she was built of steel by G. de Vries Lentsch at Amsterdam, Holland. Although the schooner was built for the 1931 Fastnet Race, she was completed in time for the 1930 Fastnet. Unfortunately, the untuned vessel encountered a heavy gale and withdrew from the race, along with half of the fleet. She served the family well until 1938 when Peverley ordered Lelanta II, his third Alden schooner. Other than being a few feet longer, she was identical to the first in nearly every regard. The original schooner was sold to an Englishman who in turn sold her soon after WWII to Gwenn-Aël Bolloré of Finistere, France.
1946-1965: A French Aristocrat
Gwenn-Aël Bolloré
In 1946, Lelanta resurfaced as Linotte III under the ownership of Gwenn-Aël Bolloré. One of the most colorful characters of his time, Bolloré is best known as the magnate of Bolloré Cigarette papers. With his captain, Raymond Javry, the two sailed throughout Europe and the Arctic, many of their sailing trips lasting for months. Together, with Linotte III as their research vessel and Gwenn-Aël’s knowledge of marine life, they made videos on a variety of subjects including the elusive Coelacanth (a fish considered to be a “living fossil”).
Bolleré would next marry his sweetheart, a French actress by the name of Renée Cosima. This developed into more filming aboard Linotte III and eventually produced the 1959 adventure film ‘Les Naufrageurs’, starring his wife Renée. Roselyne Javry, the daughter of Captain Javry, published a fine book documenting these and many other adventures. It is aptly titled, “Deux Bommes et un Bateau.”
1966-1972: Caribbean Charters
In 1965, Linotte III was purchased by Jan Iserbyt who renamed her Lelanta. Iserbyt quickly fell in love with the schooner, and sailed her across the Atlantic for the first time. He admired the boats dependability and her forgiving nature. He recalls that “she was easy to sail, fast enough to suit, and above all, seaworthy.” Iserbyt also stated that Lelanta was a simple boat, and this was the key to her dependability. Once across the Atlantic, she was put into the charter trade making her one of the first boats to be offered for charter in the Caribbean. Many fine stories emerged her this period.
In 1972, Iserbyt sold Lelanta to Johnathan McLean of Virginia. Under his ownership she underwent a thorough refit and was converted from gaff rigged to a staysail schooner. At the same time a new diesel engine was installed, a Detroit 4-71, the engine that serves her to this day!
Lelanta off Grenada, 1964
Lelanta sailing past the iconic Steele Point BVI estate, 2024
Mid ’70s: The Lost Years
In the mid to late ‘70s, Lelanta disappeared into the smuggling trade and her travels remain a mystery. She was eventually seized off the coast of Naples Florida. The story goes that one night, an off-duty sheriff was fishing off the coast when he saw what appeared to be a sailing vessel approaching without any navigation lights. Flashlights were then seen moving about the deck and the sheriff, assuming the vessel was in distress, turned on his police lights and approached to provide assistance. As he got near, the crew of the vessel jumped into smaller boats and fled. Upon boarding, he found the interior of Lelanta stacked to her deck with 7 tons of marijuana.
After her seizure, Lelanta was put up for auction and sold to a woman out of Miami. After taking possession of the vessel, the Coast Guard sent her the documentation, but was returned as undeliverable. Apparently, she had returned to smuggling. This time around she made regular runs between Panama and Nova Scotia, staying east of Bermuda, regardless of the weather or season. I guess smugglers know a good boat when they see one.
In 1978, she was seized again and auctioned to Charles and Nick Iliff, a father and son team intent on bringing her back to her original glory. This was no small task as the smugglers had stripped Lelanta of her interior. She was put back into service and the family enjoyed cruising the Chesapeake and sailing to Bermuda.
In 1981, they donated the boat to the Landmark School for Dyslexic children in Beverly, Massachusetts.
1981-1988: St. Barth’s Cargo Schooner
In the 1980s, Lelanta was owned by Stan Parks, who based her in St. Barth’s. A legend to many in the Caribbean, Stan returned Lelanta to her “cargo carrying” ways. His tenure coincided with the introduction of duty-free alcohol on St. Barth’s and Stan saw an opportunity. This time the cargo would be wine and Champagne! She sailed south with a cargo of fine French spirits, and returned with whatever commodity would turn a profit. This could be rum from down island, fruits and vegetables, or most interestingly, a deck load of motorcycles from Guyana.
1988-2016:
The turning point in Lelanta’s life was soon to come when two friends got together and began discussing boats. John Welteroth had been looking for a steel schooner to sail the Pacific with. He had been looking around for quite some time and was about to settle for less. He was told by his friend, “I know a schooner for sale.” They hopped on a plane from St. Barth’s to St. Martin and, while still in the air, looked at Simpson Bay lagoon and said, “that’s the one right there.” In his mind, he had bought the boat before the plane touched the ground.
After a cautious, but quick inspection, he bought the boat “as is-where is.” It took 8 months and a lot of work to get Lelanta in shape for the journey to her new home–Sag Harbor, NY. For the next 12 years John guided a complete refit. “We started with an empty shell, took her completely apart and started over again.”
After endless hours and effort, Lelanta was to make her debut in 2001 as virtually a new 1929 Alden Schooner. She has a completely new interior, fittings, wiring, plumbing, and fixtures. There is not a part of Lelanta’s refit that has been overlooked.
2016-Present:
Keli and Howard acquired Lelanta from John and Christina Welteroth in 2016. After secretly following the boat for years, they were able to meet John and go aboard for the first time during the summer of 2015 in Sag Harbor, NY. It’s a great story, but the bottom line is she was everything they had collectively dreamed of.
Months later after an overnight passage to the Bahamas, there was an early morning ding on the phone as cell service was acquired. It was John saying, essentially, it’s time for you to take over. With no regrets, Keli and Howard have enjoyed all the hard work and adventure, always with an eye on what lies ahead.
Today, Lelanta is very comfortable with 6 guests and 2 crew, has been a part of the Hamptons community for decades now, and will continue to do so years to come.
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