Whirlwind 2

Whirlwind 2 Documenting the build of WHIRLWIND II, the first and only Gil Smith catboat of this design built sinc

Here it is, folks! A big thank you to the whole team for making Whirlwind II come to life!
02/05/2026

Here it is, folks! A big thank you to the whole team for making Whirlwind II come to life!

Whirlwind II is a true catboat, imagined by her owner Yarrow Thorne and built by Artisan Boatworks in Maine. Pearl Marvell tells us her story.

It has been an inspiring summer full of learning for the Whirlwind II team. Summer may be ending, but the journey of Whi...
09/06/2025

It has been an inspiring summer full of learning for the Whirlwind II team. Summer may be ending, but the journey of Whirlwind II is just beginning!

What a day of learning on & off the water! It started at sunrise with a delivery from Wickford, then straight into race ...
08/27/2025

What a day of learning on & off the water! It started at sunrise with a delivery from Wickford, then straight into race mode for the 2025 Herreshoff Classic Yacht Regatta with a brand-new team — many of whom had never even been on the boat before.

This all-star crew of out-of-the-box thinkers — Yarrow & Mary Thorne, Ezra Smith, Oliver Moore, Mike Zani, Jessica Koenig, and Alison Langley — jumped right in as the breeze built and our untested boat came alive.

The first upwind surprised us all with incredible pointing ability, followed by a not-so-graceful crash jibe at the top mark 😅. But the learning curve was steep, and soon the team was sailing like an Aussie skiff one moment and a massive 1890’s cat the next — shifting weight, adjusting, steering, and laughing through every tack.

⚡️By the end of the day, we weren’t just sailing — we were flying. This little “potato chip” of a boat did not disappoint.

Thank you Herreshoff Marine Museum/America's Cup Hall of Fame for putting on such a great event!

Whirlwind II is now on view at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, Connecticut! Come and see us today and tomorrow. Don’t for...
06/27/2025

Whirlwind II is now on view at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, Connecticut! Come and see us today and tomorrow. Don’t forget to # your photos with to be entered to win some Whirlwind II swag! Photos by Alison Langley Photography

06/27/2025
Whirlwind II getting ready for the journey to Mystic Seaport Museum for the 33rd annual WoodenBoat Show! Come and see us...
06/26/2025

Whirlwind II getting ready for the journey to Mystic Seaport Museum for the 33rd annual WoodenBoat Show! Come and see us tomorrow and Saturday!

This year’s 33rd annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut will be host to a special story—...
06/21/2025

This year’s 33rd annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut will be host to a special story—one not just of craftsmanship and history, but of connection, legacy, and rediscovery.

Making her public debut in the main basin on a floating dock near the Artisan Boatworks booth (the company responsible for her build in Rockport, Maine) will be Whirlwind II, the 26-foot catboat that bridges maritime tradition and modern innovation.

If you are there, take some photos of her and tag us using . We will pick a winner and send them some Whirlwind II goodies!

Photo by Alison Langley Photography.

Whirlwind II will be at the 33rd annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport from June 27 to 28, 2025, making her public debut in the main basin on a floating dock near the Artisan Boatworks booth.

Building Whirlwind II, a 26’ cat boat based on the designs of long island boatbuilder Gil Smith, is a journey filled wit...
12/20/2024

Building Whirlwind II, a 26’ cat boat based on the designs of long island boatbuilder Gil Smith, is a journey filled with craftsmanship, storied design and beautiful results!

Whirlwind II went out for a sea trial in Maine just last month and she performed beautifully. Her more public maiden voyage will take place in the spring of 2025. 

Whirlwind II went out for sea trials last week and she performed beautifully. "This was a test on every level as the tea...
11/08/2024

Whirlwind II went out for sea trials last week and she performed beautifully. "This was a test on every level as the team didn't even know if she would float since no one has seen a '26 Gil Smith-designed boat since 1980," says the boats owner, Yarrow Thorne. A big thank you to the team that made this happen including Artisan Boatworks, Newport Yacht Builders, The Moore Brothers Company, Eben Wilson and Alison Langley Photography for documenting the entire build process.

There is something about the lines on that makes people from all over the world fall in love with them. How did you fa...
07/21/2022

There is something about the lines on that makes people from all over the world fall in love with them. How did you fall in love?

Photography by Alison Langley Photography

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WHIRLWIND II

Join us as we document the multi-year building of WHIRLWIND II, a re-creation of the catboat MARIAM, built by legendary builder Gilbert Monroe Smith. Designed by Ezra Smith Design (www.ezrasmith.com) and Matthew Smith, Naval Architect (www.matsmithnavalarchitect.com), WHIRLWIND II is the first and only Gil Smith of this design built since 1890’s.

Artist and innovator Yarrow Thorne of Providence, Rhode Island, has launched this project with inspiration from an 1899 photo of great-grandfather sailing a Gil Smith-designed 21 ft. shoal-draft, low-freeboard gaff-rigged catboat in which he circumnavigated Long Island. Artisan Boatworks of Rockport, Maine has commenced the building of this new design, based on Gil Smith’s catboat, MARIAM, which was named after the designer’s wife.