Fleet Star III was built in 1932 by Joseph and Tom Parkman at their Brooklyn, NY boat factory. (Tom Parkman would later become Superintendent of the boat building firm known as Elderlee, Inc. of Oaks Corners, NY.) The Parkman’s had developed an excellent reputation for building high performance yachts, based on numerous victories in national and international competitions. Fleet Star III was built for Timothy Parkman, Joe Parkman’s son, who sailed it in the 1932 Star Class International races held on Central Long Island Sound (placing 4th). An avid Star sailor, Tim Parkman competed in six of the seven annual International Star Class races held between 1926 and 1932, as well as numerous other competitions. Fleet Star III was the third of four boats sailed by Parkman that carried the Fleet Star name.

Tim Parkman sold Fleet Star III in 1934. The boat passed through a succession of owners, taking it from fleets on Long Island Sound to the Detroit River, Gull Lake Michigan, eastern Lake Michigan, and eventually into Wisconsin. In August, 2005, the boat appeared for sale on eBay. It was purchased and subsequently donated to the Museum. Fleet Star III is an interesting looking boat in that it appears to have twin cockpits (quite unusual for Stars). This results from the presence of a mid-cockpit traveler, a device that enjoyed some favor during the 1930s. (The traveler controls the position of the boom and mainsail, and is usually placed aft of the cockpit.) The boat has been placed in storage awaiting a time when the Museum can support an extensive restoration. (See Elderlee, Inc. in Area Boat Builders section.)

Bill Oben