Mystery #8

The "Mystery" was built in 1932 of five logs by Harry Sinclair and his son Price of Oxford, Maryland. The Sinclairs were commissioned to build the boat by John D. Williams, who also owned the "Jay Dee".

Williams needed a sharp-sterned boat to be eligible to compete for the Governor's Cup, since the "Jay Dee" was ineligible due to her square transom. Of course he could have modified the stern to comply, as did Johnson Grimes for the "Flying Could"; but Williams considered the Jay Dee's lines too handsom to change. Therefore, he built the more conventional "Mystery" in order to compete for this trophy.

In the early 1960's the "Mystery" was purchased by John Whittum, who sailed her for a few years with a skipjack rig before re-rigging her as a canoe. he then sold the boat to her present owners, Fancis and Suzy Schauber of Chestertown, Maryland.

 

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