Johnstone, Borges team up to rescue lovely Alerion sailboats

Alerion Yachts has emerged from the dissolution of Warren’s US Watercraft with a new, well-known owner and a familiar builder.

Peter Johnstone stepped up recently to buy the luxury daysailing brand out of US Watercraft receivership proceedings.

What’s more, Ron Borges, founder of US Watercraft at the former TPI facility in Warren, will build the Alerion boats at a new plant he has established in North Kingstown.

"It felt natural to do this," Mr. Johnstone said. "Alerion Yachts' timeless design and New England build quality are unmatched in the market. The Alerion style of sailing is perfectly suited for today's time constraints. They are uncomplicated, easy to sail, and simply beautiful.”

Alerion Yachts launched in 1991 with the Carl Schumacher-designed Alerion Express 28. Garry Hoyt established the brand and the modern daysailer yacht category when he assumed leadership of the firm shortly after its formation.

His Hoyt Jib Boom, designed to make sailing easier without sacrificing performance, remains a popular option on Alerion models.

Only eight Alerion Yachts will be built in 2018.

“The focus will be on producing extraordinary yachts by the finest craftsmen,” Mr. Johnstone said. The new Alerion Yachts model line-up consists of the five most in-demand models — the Alerion Express 20, 28, 30, 33 and 41. Sales are being handled by Peter Johnstone and Kristan McClintock of the Alerion Yachts sales team.

Mr. Borges, who had previously run Waterline Systems, which specialized in top level maintenance and preparation of racing and other sailboats in Bristol, subsequently opened US Watercraft. In addition to Alerion Yachts, the firm built the new C&C racing sailboats, True North powerboats with their distinctive reverse transom, North Rip powerboats, and several J/Boat models.

Mr. Johnstone, of the Johnstone family famous for introducing the J/24 sailboat and vast J/Boats family that followed, is also the founder of Johnstone One Design, Sunfish Laser (before Vanguard built those small boats), Escape Sailboats, EdgeWater powerboats and Gunboat luxury sailing catamarans.

Hawks fourth at sailing championships

The Roger Williams University sailing team finished fourth at the recent co-ed dinghy Atlantic Coast Championships hosted by New York Maritime.

Racing started in frigid conditions with a shifty breeze — finding sufficient wind was a challenge for both days of the regatta.

Dartmouth College took first place, followed by Boston University, MIT, Roger Williams and Yale among the 18 teams. Brown finished 7th.

At the women’s championship, hosted by Connecticut College, Yale took first, BC second, Brown was fourth, Connecticut College sixth, and URI 17th.