by Ross Tibbits, Latitude 38
One of sailing’s most iconic yachts, Ragtime, the 1965 Spencer-designed 62-ft sloop first made famous for winning her first two Transpacs in 1973 and 1975, has a storied history like few others. It began in New Zealand and continues remarkably to this day in Southern California despite significant highs and lows.

The passion infused among many owners and crew alike has kept Ragtime alive as she prepares for a new chapter, painstakingly restored under current ownership, smartly updated and ready to take on the Pacific Ocean once again.

Ragtime’s DNA was forged before she was even christened Infidel in 1965. Sir Tom Clark, a prominent New Zealand industrialist, commissioned yacht designer John Spencer to construct Infidel after having raced the Spencer-designed Saracen, a 36-ft C-Class yacht that became a test-bed for the larger and faster Infidel.

Initially intended for comfortable in-shore and coastal racing, Clark’s perspective shifted after witnessing her remarkable speed — she was considered a scratch boat in the local A-Class Series the day she was launched and went on to beat the iconic Ranger. Spencer’s revolutionary lightweight design — she weighed only 26,000 pounds, half that of typical 60-footers — stunned the racing community. – Full report