Sweet Melissa was built between July 2015 and August 2017 using traditional methods, materials, and hardware. She is a replica of a 1932 Los Angeles Olympics Monotype Class catboat, popularly known and sailed in Southern California as the “Snowbird”. This 2/3 decked, V-bottom, hard chine, 12’, centerboard racing dinghy was selected by the US Olympic Sailing Committee for competition in the Single-handed Sail Racing category. Following the Olympics, and for 30-years-plus afterwards, Snowbirds sailed in competition in the annual Newport Harbor (Southern California) “Flight of the Snowbirds”, in which fleets of up to 200 Snowbirds took part.
Stem, stem-knee, forefoot, keel, keelson battens, centerboards logs, transom, transom-knee, head ledges, CB cap, fore and aft trim pieces, and bilge and side chine strakes are of Sapele (African Mahogany). Chine logs, sheer clamps and centerboard case sides are of Douglas Fir. Sawn frames, steam bent frames, floors, stanchions, deck beams, carlines, coaming, sheer strakes and rub rails are of Eastern White Oak. Remaining bilge, side and deck planks and floor boards are of Western Red Cedar. Mast and boom are of laminated Douglas Fir. All fasteners are bronze or copper, including carriage bolts, screws and rivets and roves. Seams for all planking are payed with cotton caulking and puttied. The deck is covered with stretched, cotton canvas. Many of the brass and bronze fittings have been hand-fashioned.
