Westward was famous because of her prize-winning record and her dramatic end. She was designed and built for racing and launched on March 31, 1910. Herreshoff was given the commission by Mr Alexander S. Cochran, a wealthy and successful bachelor from New York.

The hull was built of riveted steel, the keel lead weighed around 80 tons, the solid masts made of Oregon pine weighed some 7 tons with rigging and ironwork and a complete set of ten sails were ordered from Ratsey & Lapthorn in England. The displacement was 323 tons. The deck was clear of obstructions and there were no winches. Cochran engaged the services of America’s Cup skipper Charlie Barr as captain and a crew of thirty-one strong young men were needed to handle the yacht efficiently.

At the end of April, 1910, Westward crossed the Atlantic to take part in the Kiel Regatta. She won three out of four races, leaving a frustrated Kaiser Wilhelm II behind on his Meteor IV. Under the prevailing A class rule Westward’s first season saw a record of eleven firsts in eleven starts.

She was sold in 1912, and became part of the German fleet. After World War I, she was bought by Englishman Clarence Hatry, a well known London financier who later sold Westward to her last owner, Thomas Benjamin (T.B.) Davis from Jersey.

Davis was a professional seaman himself and all the work on the yacht was carried out by him and his crew. He even made his own sails and spars.

Until 1936 Westward participated in most major regatta’s in Britain, France and in Norway. Britannia, owned by King George V, was one of her regular opponents and when the King died in 1936, Westward hauled down her racing flag forever out of respect.

In his will Davis bequeathed the schooner to his family on condition that she was to be properly maintained and not allowed to fall into ill-repair. If the conditions could not be fulfilled Westward was to be destroyed. The family offered her to three separate training establishments, but in post-war Britain no one was interested. The final clause of the will was carried out... three different charges of explosives were placed in the bilges near the keel. Westward was sunk in the Hurd Deep off Casquets at 12.45 p.m. on July 15, 1947.

This beautiful classic gaff-rigged schooner is a magnificent new yacht, inspired by the legendary Westward, designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff and launched in 1910. Built of steel at the Van der Graff shipyard in Holland, Eleonora is 162ft long including bowsprit, and incorporates all of today's safety standards and building regulations.

Eleonora's owner is 53 year old Dutchman Ed Kastelein who has owned the schooner Borkumriff, Aile Blanche, the maxi-racer Ondine and the 1936 Alfred Mylne designed Thendara, and a replica of Erol Flyn's Zaca.

Although it has been equipped with modern equipment (an engine, generators, air conditioning etc), Eleonora's design is faithful to the original. Westward was built of riveted-steel, with spars of solid tapered staves of spruce. She had heavy cotton sails and no engine was installed, the new design has welded hulls, lighter rigs and Dacron sails and an engine.

The revised design resulted in a ballast saving of 30 tons, which will be largely offset by the fuel and water tanks of 25,000 litres and the engine. The tanks, engine and other components like generators, air-conditioning, freezers and water makers change the centre of gravity, a factor which the designers had to address in order to keep Eleonora on her "original" waterline.

The yacht is powered by a 460hp Baudouin engine, which gives her a range of 2,000 miles with 10 tons of fuel. The fresh water tanks hold 10,000 litres, the holding tank has a volume of 5,000 litres. Two 28KVA generators will provide power for the winches, the heating and air-conditioning and all the other energy required for today’s luxuries

Below deck Eleonora has all modern comforts and is designed for the charter market (after her initial racing appearances). The interior is "classical" -- mahogany and light cream colours predominate.

Accommodations provide for eight guests with a full-width master stateroom with private head and shower aft. The captain’s cabin is amidships on starboard and crew quarters for six are located in the forepeak with separate deck access.