An online fundraising has been launched to preserve Victura, the Wianno Senior sailboat belonged to the US president John Fitzgerald Kennedy. A tireless sailor, JFK had a lifelong passion for the sea. His passion is testified by both literature and many photographs showing the always smiling president struggling with hulls and sails, often accompanied by an excited Jacqueline or the whole Kennedy’s brood. It is enough to mention the well-known ” Senator Kennedy Goes a Curtain” cover photo Life Magazine dedicated to the beautiful smiling couple, captured during a sailing trip precisely on board the Victura.
That between the Wianno Senior boat and JFK was really a long relationship. She was purchased by the Kennedy family when the future president was only 15 and she was his most loyal sailing partner until his premature death, although many other beautiful boats had temporarily drawn his attention. Starting from the 27-metre Royono yawl, built by Herreshoff in 1936, which was the flagship of the US Navy Academy for years. A boat which must have seen a lot, especially when you consider that Marylin Monroe was frequently the only one guest on board during the years when JFK was in office. Or the Flash II, the Star used by John together with his brother Joseph and sold after the latter died in war, or the Manitou, a 1937 19-metre ketch used by the US Navy Academy and renamed “the Floating White House”.
The Victura’s 25 feet were, however, the most loyal JFK’s travel companions. “The president loved the sea and water and he had many fond memories of his Victura, both as a child and from when he was dating the future first lady, Jackie“, the JFK Library Foundation Executive Director Steven Rothsein explained. And precisely to remember the president’s passion for sailing, the wooden 7.5 metre sailboat featuring a robin’ eggs blue deck is displayed on the lawn of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum of Boston every year.
” Every year, the Victura spends 7 months outdoors, exposed to weathering. She requires over 100 hours of preservation work every year” explains the staff of the Foundation that has consequently decided to launch a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to collect the $ 25,000 needed to complete the maintenance works.
The Foundation has already received many private donations, especially from some members of the Kennedy’s clan. Nevertheless, a public fundraising has been launched also in view of the Centennial of President Kennedy’s birth which will be held next May 29th.
2 Responses
Here’s a dumb question – why wouldn’t the Kennedy family want to spend the money to preserve this? Send them a bill.
I think the article says some of the Kennedys are contributing but I think it is also a good idea that the general public, the sailing folks, contribute to the cause. The boat is an enduring symbol. Pitch in.