Moonspray was custom designed and built to order for Mrs P Lee-Duncan, who was at the time, the owner and General Manager of the Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth. Mrs Lee-Duncan was the granddaughter of Sir Merton Russell-Cotes who had owned the hotel since 1876 and whose former elegant home is now the Russell-Cotes museum.
The yacht was designed by Naval architect Arthur Robb, MBE and built by R & W Clarke, E Cowes, Isle of Wight. She was awarded Lloyd's Cross 100A1 classification when launched in July 1962.
Mrs Lee-Duncan had become an avid sailor following her purchase of a home in Sandbanks, Poole in 1947. At the time she undertook to have Moonspray designed and built, she owned a sloop bearing the same name. Because she did not want a 'Moonspray II', she apparently changed the sloop's name to Snow Pearl just before selling it so as to retain the name she loved - Moonspray - for her new yawl.
Manned by a professional captain, Leo Toms, and an 'amateur' crew of family and friends, Mrs Lee-Duncan actively sailed Moonspray for more than a decade. The yacht was a familiar sight in the waters of Southern England where she participated in many regattas and RORC races, including several to Cherbourg. She made cruises to Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Kiel Canal, Holland, Belgium, the Bay of Biscay and the West and North Coasts of France.
By 1976, Moonspray had been sold to a resident of Salzburg, Austria, named Herbert Schneeweiss who converted the forepeak to a V-berth and changed the name to Hasardeur. Not much is known about Hasardeur's use or movements during this time except that the Lloyd's classification was maintained throughout 1978 and she lay at Porto Ferraio, Elba, for a time. By 1981 she was in Fort de France, Martinique and it is believed Mr Schneeweiss eventually sailed her to the USA where, in 1983, he sold her to an American couple named James and Linda Hunt.
The Hunts obtained US Coast Guard Documentation for the yacht after reinstating her original name. Although the registered hailing port was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Hunts lived on board with their son in West Palm Beach, Florida. While they owned her they divided their cruising/sailing activities between Florida and the Bahamas, spending several months at a time in the Islands.
Moonspray changed owner in 1989. She continued to carry US Coast Guard Documentation, but her hailing port was changed to Norfolk, Virginia.
In 1991, she moved north on the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway to Maryland in the Upper Chesapeake Bay.
With one other man as crew, she was 41 days at sea from Maryland to Ireland via Bermuda and the Azores. Not surprisingly, Moonspray is a very sea kindly boat capable of a good turn of speed in Force 3 and above. With her light wind sails, she is also very impressive off the wind below Force 3.
She was bought in 2004 by her current owner, who continues to upgrade and improve.
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