Annual Fund | Dorade Society | Planned Giving | Olin Stephens Chair | Boat Donations

Support Yacht Design students with an endowment contribution

To honor one of the most distinguished designers in yachting history, The Landing School has established The Olin J. Stephens II Chair in Yacht Design. The purpose of this Chair is to imbue students with Olin Stephens’ high standards, respect for the science and love for the art of yacht design.

The Chair is endowed from private sources with income going to the further development of The School’s highly regarded Yacht Design Program. Donations to the Olin Stephens Chair support equipment, technology and curriculum development and fund honoraria for guest lecturers. The endowment goal is $1 million.

Olin Stephens' contribution to yacht design is unmatched, his accomplishments are a springboard for the naval architects who followed. His analytical and technical approach departed from earlier empirical and artistic methods, and his designs proved highly successful for both racing and cruising. The boats that came from his board are legendary: Dorade, Gimcrack, Ranger, Stormy Weather, Bolero, Finisterre, Columbia, Constellation, Intrepid, Running Tide and Flyer stand out as a small fraction of an enormous, remarkable body of work. The firm he co-founded, Sparkman and Stephens, remains one of the most prestigious yacht design companies in the world.

While the world of yachting knows Olin Stephens as a towering figure, The Landing School knows him as friend. For more than 15 years, Olin generously gave his time as a guest lecturer in The School’s Yacht Design Program, adding his unique perspective and challenging students’ thinking. His presence never failed to evoke enthusiasm and inspire students and faculty alike. He continued to offer technical input to the curriculum until his passing in 2008. With the Olin Stephens Chair, he allows us to honor him in a way that will continue to benefit the industry to which he dedicated his life.

Donate to the Olin Stephens Chair in Yacht Design by calling 207-985-7976 or emailing info@landingschool.edu.