Coast Guard Project
World Premiere of the Civilian Model of Morris Yachts' U.S. Coast Guard Academy Leadership 44
Morris Yachts unveiled their civilian model of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Leadership 44 training yacht at the Annapolis Sail Boat Show 2011.
Download Leadership 44 Brochure: Click Here
Download Cruising World’s Write up on the Leadership 44: Click Here
The new Leadership 44 Civilian models evolved from the terrific success of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy project, in which Morris Yachts was chosen out of 11 yards to build eight new 44-foot sailboats for Cadet leadership training at the Academy. The Leadership 44s are a unique blend of advanced naval architecture, high-quality engineering and reliability that will give Cadets, and sailors alike, a robust, responsive and progressive vessel.
Leadership 44 Design Heritage
The Academy chose Morris Yachts because of its ability to deliver high quality vessels that meet specific requirements in both layout design and functionality. The L44s are a unique blend of advanced naval architecture, high-quality engineering and reliability that will give cadets, and sailors alike, a robust, responsive and progressive vessel. Two L44 models are now available for sailors around the world to enjoy.
More in the news:
Morris Yachts Wins Project with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy
On October 21, 2009 Cuyler Morris, President of Morris Yachts confirmed that Morris Yachts had won the contract to build the Coast Guard Academy’s new Leadership 44 training vessels. Morris won the contract after a nine-month proposal process and was selected over several other prestigious yards including Goetz, Hinckley, Pearson and Tartan. Since the money for the vessels is being raised privately, the initial contract was to build 4 boat of the possible 8 total. The Leadership 44 is designed by David Pedrick and based on his design for the U.S. Navy sail program. The new vessels will replace the elegant but decades old Luders sailing craft.
“This is a very prestigious and exciting contract for Morris Yachts,” said Morris, “It is an honor to be chosen by our country’s Coast Guard to build these craft. These vessels are the foundation of leadership training at the Coast Guard Academy.”
“We look at the partnership of designer and builder for our Leadership 44 program as a huge win/win for everybody involved. We have in David Pedrick one of the most acclaimed yacht designers in the world and in our builder, Morris Yachts, we have arguably the finest builder in the country and a firm that will be our partner long after our last boat is launched," said Bob Hallock Leadership 44 Procurement Chair
Download Leadership 44 Brochure: Click Here
Eight is the magic number as there are 8 companies in the Coast Guard Academy. If each company has their own boat they can truly take responsibility and pride of ownership in the vessel while at the Academy - a sentiment that can be appreciated by the Coast Guard’s constituents.
After the contract was secured the next 10 months were filled with working with David Pedrick to engineer the vessel for maximum durability and functionality. Bob Hallock, Procurement Chair for the Coast Guard Academy constantly reminded the parties that these boats were going to be in the hands of young people who might be on a boat for the first time and need to built with those types of learning curves in mind.
“It’s been designed very robustly,” Morris said. “There’s a lot more material in this boat than even Morris Yachts uses, and we build our boats to last a lifetime. It’s being built to have a long service life.”
According to Hallock, the Coast Guard Academy made significant modifications to that design to adapt it to its training program. The boats are designed to be rugged, Hallock said.
“Frankly, our boats take a beating,” he said. “We’ve got cadets on there who have never sailed before.”
The boat also needed to be fast and stable, so it could be raced, and it had to be safe, he said.
The Academy is involved in a large capital campaign to fund the project. They believe firmly that putting Cadets under sail is the best way to teach future maritime officers the ways of the sea, and acquire a love for its lore. Under sail, the future officer gains a greater appreciation and respect for the wind, waves, and tides.
The on-the-water program also provides Cadets a valuable leadership experience – often their first experience at command and control at sea. A ship under sail tests the true character and mettle of a young officer, and provides invaluable lessons on the importance of teamwork.
Other Key Aspects and Benefits of the Program:
• Designed to be a floating leadership platform, providing Cadets a maritime experience that is difficult to recreate with large cutters
• Primary platform for the 2/c Coastal Sail Training Program; considered by most Cadets to be their seminal leadership experience while at the Academy
• Provide all Cadets with small craft command and control, navigation, and seamanship experiences
• Will be used as an extension of the Cadet barracks, with each Cadet Company having access to, and responsibility for, its own boat
• Extends the waterfront season, providing Cadets more time underway and the standardization of the off-shore sailing program
• Showcases the Academy as one of the premier waterfront facilities in the country
As Bob Papp, Commandant of the US Coast Guard recently wrote,"There is no other agency that has the multi-mission authority, competency and capability to simultaneously rescue those in peril from the sea, protect our maritime borders and ports, enforce maritime and environmental laws and remain always ready to defend our Nation."
Morris Yachts is proud to have been selected to be the training platform for the future men and women of the Coast Guard.
For more information on the program go to: www.cgaleadership44.org.
On November 18th Bob Hallock paid a visit to Morris Yachts to watch the infusion of the centerline of hull 1. He also brought with him the contract for Hull 6. The final two contracts could be signed by the end of 2010.
In the video below, Peter Smith Morris' Chief Engineer describes the centerline infusion process.
Hull 1 will be launched late spring 2011.
