Skip to main content

Bernida to be enshrined at new home June 15th

Authored by Joann Mead
May 9, 2013

Bernida was the first yacht to win the Bayview Mackinac in 1925 and again in 1927 before being declared too fast. After a decade long restoration she came back to win again in 2012! The boat has a rich sailing history at Bayview in Detroit as well as racing for more than 60 years on Lake Michigan out of numerous yacht clubs including the Muskegon Yacht Club and Pentwater Yacht Club over her 92 year run. She will be enshrined at her permanent home at the Michigan Maritime Museum on June 15 at a special fundraiser. See flyer for more details or click HERE to link directly to the event and donor information.

Permalink

Emory Barnwell of Mackinac Island is the shipwright, who took the risk and restored Bernida with support from his family. His craftsmanship remade Bernida and perseverance kept her hopes alive. I hope he is able to attend the enshrinement, he more than anyone deserves credit for rescuing Bernida.

Al DeClerq then rescued Bernida and brought her to BYC. He raced her to a win in the 2012 Mackinac and then found her a home.

These men deserve the accolades of all of us for their efforts in preserving Bernida.