The keepers of Viola
A shining example of how a wooden vessel launched at the start of the 20th century continues to captivate, the gaff-rigged tender Viola, built in 1908 by William Fife & Son in Fairlie, was the 557th project of William Fife III. The legendary Scottish naval architect, whose heraldic dragons adorned the bows of the most elegant and fastest yachts, designed vessels destined to transcend time.
Viola's hull is characterized by a long keel, low freeboard, and an elegant stern. Despite its modest dimensions, it is a light and fast boat.
The first owner of Viola was Thomas M. Hunter of Cove, located in Dunbartonshire. For 26 years, he considered himself not her owner but her caretaker, as Viola always seemed to choose her people. During this time, the yacht remained in Glasgow. In 1926, an engine was installed, and a decade later, a new owner replaced her gaff rig with a Bermuda rig.
By the mid-20th century, the boat had endured much: two world wars, changes of ownership, and relocations to different ports. In 1976, another owner, Peter Graves, replaced the old engine with a new Ducati—a decision that proved pivotal. Until then, Viola had led a quiet existence as a leisure yacht for coastal cruising. At times, it seemed she was fading into obscurity, but there was always someone ready to breathe new life into her.
In the 1980s, the widow of her last owner, Mrs. Eliette Owen, decided to fulfill her late husband's dream. Accompanied by her daughter and a captain, she embarked on a year-long voyage to Gibraltar, then to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and back to the English coast. Writing to friends from the journey, she noted, "Viola performed beautifully and inspired admiration in every port."
When the yacht arrived in France in 1993, she was designated a historic monument and found new caretakers in the organizers of the Paimpol Sea Shanty Festival: "The moment we saw this dragon by Fife, it was love at first sight."
However, efforts to revive regattas in Paimpol were unsuccessful, and in 1996, the yacht was acquired by businessman and aesthete Yvon Rotureau. He, too, did not consider himself her owner: "I am the caretaker of the boat, her guardian." For nearly 20 years, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to her.
Rotureau initially entrusted her restoration to the craftsmen at the Labbé shipyard in Saint-Malo, followed by Bruno Barbara and the Candela shipyard in La Rochelle. The teak deck was completely redone, and the cockpit was updated, while great care was taken to preserve the original frames and beams—elements that define her authenticity.
Bruno Barbara recalled, "We work with wood as it was done in the old days. A fiberglass boat may be more practical, but a wooden one is alive. It can be healed, tuned, and will repay you with speed and grace."
Since the 2000s, Viola has been a regular participant in regattas. Her record includes dozens of victories, from Monaco Classic Week and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez to Argentario Sailing Week and British Classic Week. In 2015, after a mast failure during Monaco Classic Week, she was fitted with a new 14-meter spruce mast. The boom and bowsprit were shortened, and a new set of sails was made. With a sail area of 118 square meters upwind and 218 square meters downwind, the refit took eight months. The new rigging made the yacht faster and more responsive. In 2017 and 2018, Viola was named "Yacht of the Year" by the French magazine Yachting Classique. For a vessel with such a long history, this title is not just an accolade but a testament to her timeless vitality.
Perhaps Viola's greatest achievement, however, is not her trophies but the people she brings together, the friendships forged on her deck, and the cherished moments where history, beauty, and the human spirit converge.
"The story of Viola is defined by two things—love and craftsmanship," says her current caretaker, Kostya Belkin. "Cherished yachts remain beautiful forever. But without the skill of shipwrights, this boat would not shine as she does today."
He fell in love with her instantly. "I remember our first sail out of La Rochelle. A light breeze was blowing, I held an oyster in one hand and a glass of white wine in the other. And suddenly, I realized I had never seen anything more beautiful created by human hands. It was a revelation."
True to tradition, he sees himself not as an owner but as another link in the chain of caretakers. "My role is to give her another 20 years of life and pass her on to the next generation—perhaps even to my own children. For them, it would be a special legacy."
The Viola crew brings together people from all walks of life. "For us, it’s a joy to be together, and Kostya has blended perfectly into the group," say his crewmates. Continuity is felt in every aspect: Yvon Rotureau’s old crew remains active, while newcomers gradually find their place. There is no generational divide—only friendship and respect. Onshore, they may be anything, but on deck, everyone knows their role and responsibilities. "She is alive. She has moods. Sometimes she’s happy, sometimes she grumbles. But the most important thing is that she brings us together, and we are her family," say the crew members, who call themselves Viola lovers.
His dream is for Viola to reach her 150th anniversary, preserving her authenticity and the spirit of William Fife. "It will be a celebration for her and for everyone who loves her," explains Belkin.
Only a small fraction of William Fife III’s extensive legacy has survived to this day. His yachts are not only a feast for the eyes but also ambassadors of a bygone era. Thanks to generations of devoted enthusiasts, they have been saved from the ravages of time.
