Jfk's First Boat: A Name And Its Story

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was a lifelong sailor and owned several boats throughout his life. One of his first boats was a 17-foot wooden speedboat named RESTOFUS, which he acquired from his brother Robert F. Kennedy. JFK's favourite boat, however, was a 25-foot Wianno Senior named Victura, which his father, Joseph Kennedy, gifted him on his 15th birthday. Victura captured JFK's imagination and heart, and he often told friends that he was never happier than when he was at her helm.

John F. Kennedy's first boat was a gift from his father, Joseph P. Kennedy

Kennedy began sailing at a young age with his family and went on to win several racing events, including the Nantucket Sound Star Class Championship Cup in 1936, and the MacMillan Cup and East Coast Collegiate Championships in 1938. As a keen sailor, it was only natural that he would pass on his passion to his wife, Jackie, and their children, Caroline and John Jr., all of whom he taught to sail on Victura.

Kennedy enjoyed sailing Victura for her simplicity, ease of handling, and performance. Friends said he often told them he was never happier than when at the helm of the boat. Even as president, sailing and Victura were never far from his thoughts. He famously doodled pictures of sailboats during cabinet discussions of the Cuban missile crisis, and once, a simple pencil drawing of a sailboat was found in the trash of a hotel suite where he and Jackie had stayed—the day before his assassination.

The Kennedy family kept Victura for almost 50 years, sailing her until 1984 when Senator Edward M. Kennedy sold her to the Bilezikian family, the founders of the Christmas Tree Shops. Today, Victura stands on the lawn of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, with her bow facing out to sea—a moving and fitting tribute to the sailing president.

The boat was named Restofus

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was a sailing enthusiast from a young age. He owned several boats throughout his life, but one of his first was a wooden speedboat named "Restofus". The boat was originally won by Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., in a church raffle, but it soon became JFK's personal boat. The name "Restofus" was a playful reference to an earlier boat owned by the Kennedy family called "Tenovus", which alluded to the 10 members that made up the family at the time. As the Kennedy family expanded, so did the boat's name, with "Restofus" meaning "the rest of us".

JFK had a deep passion for sailing, which began during his childhood when he would sail with his family. This passion continued into his adult life, as he owned and raced several boats. One of his most notable boats was the "Victura", a 25-foot Wianno Senior wooden gaff-rigged sloop that was given to him by his father on his 15th birthday. JFK was a skilled sailor and racer, winning several events throughout his life, including the Nantucket Sound Star Class Championship Cup in 1936 and the MacMillan Cup and East Coast Collegiate Championships in 1938.

In addition to his personal boats, JFK also had access to presidential yachts during his time in office. One such yacht was the "Honey Fitz", a 92-foot power yacht that served as the presidential yacht before JFK's election. However, as a keen sailor, JFK sought out a sailing yacht that could accommodate the equipment needed to keep in touch with the White House and the Kremlin. This led him to acquire the "Manitou", a 62-foot cutter-rigged bermudan yawl built in 1937. The "Manitou" became known as the "Floating White House" and played host to a bevy of stars and starlets during JFK's presidency, including Marilyn Monroe.

While JFK's love for sailing and boats is well-documented, his first boat, "Restofus", holds a special place in his history. It represents the beginning of a lifelong passion for sailing and serves as a reminder of his close-knit family, who were always by his side, whether on the water or in the White House.

It was a 17-foot wooden speedboat

John F. Kennedy's first boat was a 17-foot wooden speedboat named "Restofus". The boat was won by Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., in a church raffle and later passed down to JFK as his personal boat. The name "Restofus" was a sly reference to an earlier boat owned by the Kennedy family called "Tenovus", which alluded to the 10 members that made up the family at the time.

JFK had a deep passion for sailing, which began at a young age with his family. He went on to own several boats throughout his life, but one boat, in particular, remained his favorite – the 25-foot Wianno Senior sloop named "Victura" that his father gifted him on his 15th birthday. JFK loved the simplicity, ease of handling, and performance of "Victura", and it was on this boat that he taught his wife, Jackie, and their children, Caroline and John Jr., how to sail. Even as president, sailing was never far from his thoughts, as evidenced by his doodles of sailboats during cabinet discussions of the Cuban missile crisis.

"Restofus" was later sold by JFK's brother, Robert F. Kennedy, and passed through several owners before being auctioned off in 2017 for an estimated price of $100,000 to $200,000. The boat's rich history and connection to the Kennedy family make it a coveted item for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Kennedy's father won the boat in a church raffle

John F. Kennedy's first boat was a gift from his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. The 17-foot wooden speedboat was named "Restofus", a playful reference to the previous boat owned by the Kennedy family, "Tenovus", which alluded to the 10 members that made up the Kennedy family at the time. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. won the boat in a church raffle, and it became JFK's personal boat as his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, already had a boat of his own.

JFK's love for sailing began at a young age, and it was a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. He started sailing with his family and went on to win several racing events, including the Nantucket Sound Star Class Championship Cup in 1936 and the MacMillan Cup and East Coast Collegiate Championships in 1938. JFK's father gifted him a 25-foot Wianno Senior on his 15th birthday, and he named her "Victura", which means "about to conquer" in Latin. This boat captured his heart and remained his favourite throughout his life. JFK enjoyed the simplicity, ease of handling, and performance of "Victura", and it was on this boat that he taught his wife, Jackie, and their children, Caroline and John Jr., how to sail.

JFK's love for the sea and sailing was a constant in his life, providing him with respite and a way to temporarily escape the burdens of his office during his presidency. He owned several boats, including the famous "Honey Fitz", the presidential motor yacht, and the S/Y "Manitou", but it was "Victura" that always held a special place in his heart. Today, "Victura" stands on the lawn of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, with her bow facing out to sea—a fitting tribute to the sailing President.

Kennedy's brother already had a speedboat

John F. Kennedy's first boat was called "RESTOFUS", a 17-foot wooden speedboat. The name was a sly reference to an earlier boat owned by Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, called "TENOVUS", which alluded to the 10 members that made up the Kennedy family at the time. "RESTOFUS" was named as the Kennedy family expanded.

Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. won the boat in a church raffle, and it became JFK's personal boat as his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, already had a 1962 Century Coronado 21. JFK's boat was put up for auction in 2017, with an estimated selling price of $100,000 to $200,000.

"RESTOFUS" was passed on to Senator Edward M. Kennedy after JFK's death in 1963, and it changed hands a few times before ending up with its current owners, Phil Jordan, Pat Tierney, Claes Goran Nilsson, and Melinda Kilkenny.

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