Tips Sail

Palawan III was the third S&S yacht designed and built for Thomas Watson, Jr. of IBM. She was constructed of aluminum by Robert E. Derecktor of Mamaroneck, NY and launched in the spring of 1966. At the time, the separate keel (with trim tab) and rudder was a feature of this design. The hull was based on tank model testing.

The boat is about to come on the brokerage market. Please contact us for information.

Here are the plans.


Here is a brief article from Yachting Quarterly magazine, circa 2004, in Olin's own words. Please double click for zoom.

We've previously posted articles about two other yachts for this same owner, Al Nair II and Al Nair IV, designs #1386-C2 and #1906, respectively. Here's Al Nair III. Like the other Al Nairs, she was built by Cantiere Carlini of Rimini, Italy and launched in 1964. Construction is of Iroko for backbone, Acacia for frames and she is single planked in mahogany. Fasteners are of Everdur.

Al Nair III is beautifully laid out as a cruising boat, yet she was used as a racing yacht, winning for example the Italian Points Championship of 1964 and placing 4th in the Fastnet Race of 1965 as but two examples of her racing success.

Note her fantastic interior arrangement, with the galley split amidships, the small seat for the chart table doing double duty as a galley counter on starboard, and the little passageway to the aft cabin. To my eyes, this is an ideal cabin plan and one of the nicest I've seen in a yacht of this size, for any purpose.

Also note the extended but low bridge deck which allows not only headroom in the aft cabin, but portlights for light and air. This doesn't detract from her pretty profile in the slightest. And just look at the number of Dorade ventilators; I count 8 plus 13 portlights to ensure good light and proper ventilation.

Here are the plans.