NEW! Midnight Oil: an Obituary (reprinted with kind permission from the Sept./Oct. 1996 issue of Multihulls Magazine) On September 6, 1996, hurricane Fran tore Midnight Oil off her mooring, and drove her up into the trees several miles upriver. Written by her one and only owner John D. Williams, with heart-wrenching photos. NOTE: each of the 3 pages is a LARGE file (1.5 mb), because the text was unclear when scanned at lower resolution (working on a smaller file size). Can be downloaded with dialup, just plan on having a cup of coffee. TO DOWNLOAD, right-click each page and choose "save target as." Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Also, read What is Delivery Captain to do on Someone Else's Honeymoon? an earlier article about Midnight Oil during happier times.

The New Condor 30 Trimaran (22k in Word format) written in December 1988 by Michael "Mick" Price (Condor Limited co-founder and principal designer). A must-read article! Mick talks about the thought process that went into the Condor 30, how it differs from the Condor 30, and what brought about the design changes.

High Speed Trimaran Just The Ticket For Fast Lane Cruising (28k in Word format) (reprinted with kind permission from the March 1989 issue of Sailing World magazine's Boat Reviews section). Short promotional article about the new Condor 30 (which won Sailing World's 1989 Multihull of The Year Award -- see next article).

CONDOR ROOSTS Boat building is back in downtown (36k in Word Format) By Debra Viadero (reprinted with kind per-mission from the July 9, 1985, Annapolis newspaper "The Capital"). In addition to talking with Mick Price and Phil Herting about the soon-to-be-built Condor 40, the recent history of boatbuilding in Annapolis is touched on.

Coming-out party set for high-speed trimaran (31k in Word Format) By Karina Paape (reprinted with kind permission from the November 7, 1985, Annapolis newspaper "The Capital"). Short article with quotes from Phil Herting and Mick Price as they scrambled to make the November 16, christening of Hull #1 "Endangered Species."

* Annapolis-Made Yachts Fit Race (23k in Word Format) By Karina Paape (reprinted with kind permission from the Dec. 27, 1987 Annapolis newspaper "The Capital"). A nicely-written article about the (then) upcoming '88 CSTAR, the three Condors that had entered the race, and Condor Ltd's commitment to getting the boats prepared (Note: only "Man-o-War" actually started the race -- and only after superb emergency repairs made to Man-o-War after she played tag with a freighter [read the below article "Man-o-War and the Freighter"])

Condors Run in the '88 CSTAR (22k in Word Format) (reprinted with kind permission from the Dec. 10, 1987 Annapolis newspaper "The Capital"). A short article that talks about the upcoming CSTAR, Condor Ltd's future plans, and the "Flight of the Condor" race.

Condor Launch Party (20k in Word format) (reprinted with kind permission from November, 2nd half issue, of the The Publick Enterprise) This article is mainly comments and observations about the Condor 40 Launch Party -- November 16, 1985. The comments are both witty and insightful, and make for an interesting read.

Built For Speed (30k in Word format) By Karina Paape (reprinted with kind permission from the Aug. 1, 1985 Annapolis newspaper "The Capital"). One of the earliest Condor articles. Phil Herting is interviewed about the soon-to-be-completed Condor 40 (Christening Day for Hull #1 "Endangered Species" was November 15, 1985).

* A Trimaran Against 290 Monohulls in the Governor's Cup (36k in Word format) By Charles Heller (from the Sept/Oct. 1990 issue of Multihulls Magazine, reprinted with their kind permission) The Governor's Cup was/is the largest sailing race on the east coast. In 1990, Heller crewed on Tom Linton's Condor #6 "Alcyone" and the collective goal was to stay ahead of the three other Condors, AND pass ALL 290 monoslugs ahead of them -- even though the biggest, fastest mono's started an 1-1/2 hours before them, and it was only a 70 mile race. Did the do it?! Click to find out! (A side note: an example of the full-circles that Condors seem to inspire, Scott McDiarmid is mentioned in the article as regular crew on Alcyone. Well, in early 2004 Scott became the proud owner of "Endangered Species" -- the first Condor ever built).

The Making of The Condor 40 (35k in Word format) By Fred S. Miller (from the July/Aug 1986 issue of Multihulls Magazine, reprinted with their kind permission) Miller interviews both Phil Herting and Mick Price about how they came up with the idea for the Condor, and also talks with them about the design and construction process.

What is Delivery Captain to do on Someone Else's Honeymoon? (40k in Word format) By Steven C. Wann (from the Nov/Dec. 1988 issue of Multihulls Magazine, reprinted with their kind permission) A nicely-written article by a veteran offshore monoslug sailor who helps his honeymooning friends deliver "Midnight Oil" from Long Island to Jamestown, Va -- with a broken daggerboard! Of, course, he's in love with the Condor by the trip's end.

* Condor 40 Brochure [From the original Condor Limited Business Plan] (40k in Word format) By Phil Herting and Mick Price: the co-founders of Condor Limited. Definitely a piece of history! This brochure was a part of the original business plan -- conceived and written in late '84-early '85 -- which helped convice the original 10 investors to take a chance on Condor Limited. It provides insight into the co-founder's vision, and confidence, "...Condor 40 presents an enviable silhouette to the rest of the fleet -- from behind."

Condor Leaves the Nest (27k in Word format) By Jim Brown (from Feb. 1986 issue of now-defunct Sailor magazine) One of the first reviews/articles of the Condor 40 written by the legendary and well-respected multihull builder/sailor/writer Jim Brown.

Galveston to Progreso (28k in Word format) By Frank Tuma (from the Summer 1990 issue of the Condor Limited Newsletter) A great article on how Tuma's Aiki (Condor #6) trounced the field to finish first (both overall and corrected) in the 1990 Galveston to Progreso (Mexico) Offshore 500-mile Race. And, that was 500 miles TO WINDWARD!!

The Condor 40 -- Another Opinion (35k in Word format) By Jack Hunt (reprinted with kind permission from Multihulls Magazine, January/February 1988 issue) An honest, no B.S. story where Jack Hunt (first owner of Condor #3 "Crystal Catfish IV") details his "500 mile solo sail" in the Gulf of Mexico -- in December no less, to qualify for the 1988 OSTAR/CSTAR (singlehanded Trans-Atlantic race which Condors were designed to compete in). Among many gems, Jack memorably describes what it sounds like inside a Condor, offshore, in big seas.

The First Condor Limited Newsletter (27k in Word Format) (Originally published Spring 1988) A look back into history. The newsletter describes what the boats were up to, mentions the Condor 30 planning; and also lists the owners/boat descriptions for the first 12 Condor 40's.

Man O' War and the Freighter (26k in Word format) by Rebecca Martin (reprinted with kind permission from Multihulls Magazine, Septmeber/October 1988 issue) describes "Man O' War's" May 12, 1988, crunching collision with a Russian freighter 400 miles off the English coast and how -- minus 10 ft. of the starboard ama and with a crumpled bow, she then SAILED, I repeat SAILED!! 400 miles to England!

Condor's Flying Repairmen (24k in Word format) by Michael 'Mick' Price (reprinted with kind permission from Multihulls Magazine, September/October 1988 issue) tells how "Man O' War" was fully repaired within a week after arriving in England; and then became the FIRST production multihull to finish the OSTAR!

Offshore in a Multihull -- A Baptism (33k in Word format) by David Berson (reprinted with kind permission from SAILING Magazine, June 1988). Intrigued by the new breed of racing multi's, Berson volunteered to crew on Roy Church's Condor 40 "C Plath Shooter" for The Legend Cup (New York to Bermuda). Not only was it Berson's first trip offshore in a multi, but the race took place in April. On the third day offshore, Berson writes "By nightfall I am beginning to think we have stumbled into the middle of hell." Read on.

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