Classic Yacht Interiors
March 2002

Gleam was designed by Clinton Crane for his own personal use. She has always been owned by past commodores of the Sewanaka Corinthian and New York Yacht Clubs.

Gleam is presently owned by a young Newport, Rhode Island couple, Bob and Lisa Tiedeman. They race her, cruise her, sometimes charter her, but mostly enjoy her. Gleam represents a special tradition of 12 meter that was designed with a cruising interior. Post Gleam, racing vessels became less and less suitable for civilized cruising. The original interior is beautifully handcrafted out of an assortment of woods. The main saloon is paneled in western red cedar. There are four berths (two folding berths), dining table, and leaded glass cabinets. A large skylight overhead adds light and air to the main cabin.

The forward galley, recently renovated by the Tiedemans, incorporates two kinds of woods: Albino mahogany, and a lightweight wood called obeche. Currently it boasts a large refrigerator/freezer, a Shipmate stove, and an overhead hatch - altogether a fine culinary environment.

The aft cabin has two large berths with settees, plenty of drawers, two hanging lockers, and bookshelves above the bunks. One of the hanging lockers has a rack that pulls out athwartships to make it easier to hang clothes and is kept in place by a pin.

The common head is a real classic. It is large, because at the time the 12 meter specifications required it. A shiny copper sink and a natural maple toilet seat are distinctive.

We encountered Gleam at the 1980 Classic Boat Race in Newport, where she was the overall winner of the race.