Chester Classics Speaker Series

Elizabeth Meyer is credited for saving the J Class America’s Cup yachts (same Universal Rule as Chester Classics’ Ps, Qs and Cs are designed and built to) and is a leader in classic yacht preservation.

In 1984 Meyer founded Endeavour, Inc., purchased the yacht Endeavour and began what was to prove the most renowned and trend-setting classic yacht restoration in the world. J Class Management, Inc., founded in 1988, has subsequently provided engineering, design work, publicity, charter and sales brokerage and management of, among others: Endeavour (130’, 1934 J Class, Nicholson); Shamrock V (124’, 1930 J Class, Nicholson); Hallowe’en (93’, 1926, William Fife); Victoria (73’, L. Francis Herreshoff); Savannah (90’, 1997 Pedrick), Cangarda (126’, 1901, Pusey and Jones steam yacht); Seminole (58’, 1916, Lawley Gaff Yawl); Bystander 42’, 1929 J Class Tender); and Coronet (190’, 1885, Poillon).

In 1993, Meyer founded the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) in Newport, Rhode Island. At IYRS Meyer has rescued and restored more than 80 classic yachts including: Herreshoff 12 1/2's , 15's and a Buzzards Bay 23; the Concordia Yawls: Java, Malay and Renaissance; a Sparkman and Stephens New York 32, an Olympic 5.5 Meter and a Manhasset Bay One Design; Phil Rhodes' Carina; the Consolidated commuter Cigarette; numerous motor launches; a Starling Burgess R Boat; a John Alden Indian Class sloop; a Lawley Knockabout; many, many Beetle cats; and the schools flagship, the 1885, 192' schooner, Coronet.