International 10-Metre yacht Rita IV

Just like cats, boats have more than one life but rarely are these successive lives as interesting as with Rita IV. Back in 1925 His Majesty King Christian X of Denmark commissioned William Fife III from Scotland to design him a new International 10-Metre yacht. Mr. Fife was among the successful and admired naval architects of his time, his designs were never anything but exquisitely beautiful and the craftsmanship at his yard at Fairlie was simply unmatched.

After her racing career in Denmark she started her second life under the Californian sun, racing and cruising along the coast finally ending up in Seattle where she slowly degraded and fell out of her former glory. Despite her pedigree few were  ready to take over a large yacht in such desperate state. But Rita found her new custodian and her remains where shipped to Absolute Restorations in Setubal where David Vieira assembled his dream team. The goal was to have Rita IV running down the slipway as she did in Copenhagen in 1925.

Touchwood was chosen as the supplier of all timber for the hull planking, framing, deck and spars. In 1925 she was built for a King and when Rita IV left the yard in 2012, she was born again, as good as new and, ready for her next life as The Queen of Lake Geneva.