Description
TYPE OF BOAT: Classic Yacht (12M JI)
YEAR LAUNCHED: 1964
COUNTRY OF CONSTRUCTION: Scotland BUILDER
: Alexander Robertson (Robertson and sons) ARCHITECT: David Boyd
HISTORY: Ikra is a quasi-sister-ship to Sovereign, designed a year earlier by the same architect, David Boyd. Launched in 1964 as Kurrewa V to participate in the America’s Cup, it was to be the successor to Scepter and Sovereign, but failed to establish itself as a challenger and was defeated by Sovereign. It was bought in 1970 by Baron Bich, to serve as hare in France. It was then renamed Lévrier des Mers. In 1976, it became the property of Jean Rédélé, the creator of the famous Alpine racing cars, who gave it its current name, Ikra.
Ikra is at the origin of the prestigious gathering “Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez”. This indeed began with a challenge, launched in 1981 by the skipper of Ikra to his neighbor on the pontoon, the American Dick Jason, owner of a modern sailboat, the Swan 44 Pride. The two protagonists did not suspect the repercussions of their bravado. An annual meeting had just been born which, among yachtsmen, was to become world famous. In a few years the Nioulargue attracted all the beautiful sailboats that sail in the region.
After years of racing Ikra needed a major restoration which took place in 2006 at the Tréhard yard in Antibes. He then continued to participate in regattas in the Mediterranean, and more specifically in “his” Voiles de St-Tropez. Since 2005, it has been the property of the printer Y. M . Morault.
AND TODAY ? Restored in 2007, and owned by YM Morault, Ikra still competes in numerous regattas.