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  • Status of Restoration GoFundMe

    More Progress! (October 13, 2024) See below for progress updates.Replacing and refitting a 92-year-old, one-of-a-kind sailboat with a new engine is a costly endeavor. The estimated outlay is around $45,000, of which about half is the cost of the engine alone. The remaining expenses are refit work including engine removal and disposal, reconfiguring the auxiliary’s…

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  • A Stranger, A Gift, and Some Magic

    On a summer sailing trip in early July 2015, we anchored in the deeper areas of Liberty Bay outside Poulsbo, Washington. As we sat on the edge of the cabin house enjoying the sun and peaceful magic Circe brings, a fellow in a dinghy motored up alongside with a friendly greeting. “Ahoy! Is this Circe?…

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Circe, Lake Union Duck Dodge, 2024-06-25. picture by Tanya Edden
Circe, Lake Union Duck Dodge, 2024-06-25. picture by Tanya Edden
Circe in Poulsbo 2023-07
Circe in Poulsbo 2023-07

Circe is a locally beloved racing yacht designed by Ben Seaborn, built in 1932 at Lake Union Drydocks in Seattle, Washington. She is Ben’s first design, completed when he was only seventeen years old and is a testament to his true genius and legacy in ship design. In her heyday, she competed in the Transpacific race from Santa Monica to Honolulu seven times.

Currently owned by Michael and Cornelia Gifford, Michael partnered with Stan Keck as Circe’s Captain and Shipwright since 1995, looking after all of her maintenance and repair needs. As of June 2021, Michael became the proud owner of this phenomenal yacht. Michael believes more importantly than owning Circe he is her steward and joyfully takes on this responsibility.

This site is a harbor for the maritime community who have shared in Circe’s long history, to those who wish to support her unique value, and as a digital archive to maintain her inspiring story.

Length Overall67 ft / 20.4 m
Beam14 ft / 4.3 m
LWL50 ft / 15.25 m
Draft10.5 ft / 3 m
Design or ClassBen Seaborn Racing Yacht
Boat TypeSail
RigCutter/sloop
Gross Displacement35 tons
Sail Area (working)1700 ft2 / 158 m2
Sail Number2 AA
Number of Engines1
Engine ModelNew Engine in Work!
MD21A Volvo Penta
Total Engine Horsepower70 hp
Fuel TypeDiesel
Builder NameLake Union Dry Dock
Location BuiltSeattle, WA, USA
Year Built1932, April 14
DesignerBen Seaborn
Hull or Design No.1
Documentation or State Reg. No.WN251354
Owner NameMichael and Cornelia Gifford
Owner CountryUSA/Canada
Home PortSeattle, WA
Specifications
Circe under full sail
Circe under full sail
Circe Down Wind in Puget Sound, 2024-08-22