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Owners Sue After Crash of Classic Yachts
The owners of a 103-year-old sailing yacht that sunk during the Museum of Yachting’s Robert Tiedemann Classic Regatta last summer are suing the owners of the 94-foot yacht Sumurun for more than $1 million.

The lawsuit, filed against A. Robert Towbin of New York City and Armin Fischer of Camden, Maine, was submitted to U.S. District Court in Portland March 5 by Jed Pearsall and William Doyle, both of Newport.

The suit stems from a dramatic collision during a July 7 charity race for the Museum of Yachting in which Sumurun struck and sank Msres. Pearsall and Doyle’s classic sloop Amorita.

Named by Sail Magazine in January 1994 as one of the “100 Greatest Yachts in America,” Amorita met a quick demise in approximately 55 feet of water just south of Beavertail.

Sumurun, designed by William Fife and built in 1914, was originally commissioned for Lord Sackville of Kent. Amorita, originally designed by H.R. Herreshoff in 1904, was one of two New York 30s involved in the July crash. Also involved was the Alera, based out of Booth Harbor, Maine.

Following two appeals by Mr. Towbin, the U.S. Sailing Appeals Committee found that Sumurun caused all the collisions and broke at least four rules, including one of them twice.

According to the appeals committee, “Sumurun was properly found at fault for the subject collision through private resolution of disputes in an agreed-upon forum akin to arbitration which met the requirements for due process and Sumurun is therefore responsible for the collision.”

In all, Amorita sustained damages, losses and expenses estimated at $1 million. In order to compensate their loss, the plaintiffs are asking that Sumurun be “arrested,” condemned and sold. In addition, Mr. Pearsall and Mr. Doyle are also seeking unspecified “consequential” and punitive damages. — Tom Shevlin www.eastbayri.com/story/329745500488987.php

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