Charles MacCulloch, the incoming Commodore of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron of Halifax, had Sparkman and Stephens design FAIRWYN to be his flagship. She was built by McGruers of Clynder, Scotland under the close supervision of Rod Stephens himself. She is essentially a larger version of FINISTERRE, three-time winner of the Newport to Bermuda race in the 1950s.

FAIRWYN’S 65 years could almost be described as a game of two halves; her first in youth as a successful racer, fondly remembered by many former crew members - and then in maturity as a comfortable, safe and versatile cruiser; ever displaying the style and qualities for which her designers and builder are so highly regarded.

FAIRWYN gave good account of herself in her early years, racing extensively and notably winning the Prince of Wales Cup in 1959, for which the presentation was made by HM Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. On acquiring her in 1982, the second owners took her to the West Coast and for the next 25 years or so cruised her over 50,000 miles in the waters of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In 200 she embarked for the North Cone and Central American coastal waters, cruising therein over some 8 years before returning to Halifax to celebrate her 50th birthday.  She then sailed across the Atlantic to visit the Mediterranean and returned in 2014.

Her current owners cruised the Pacific Northwest for a few years and brought her to San Francisco Bay for a visit extended by Covid.