As nearly as can be determined, the original owner was Kevin T. Doyle and the boat was named "Midwatch."   The next known owner was James Dillon of Brookline, MA, an attorney, who named her "Macedonian."   Records indicate he kept the boat at Concordia in South Dartmouth, MA beginning in the fall of 1996.

The boat was purchased in December, 1998 by David C. Bland of Hebron, CT.   He and his wife, Dale, named the boat "Gracie" and kept her at a mooring at the Pine Island Marina in Groton, CT.   From there they sailed Eastern Long Island Sound extensively including frequent trips to Block Island, Newport, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.   Antique dealers, they made a new saloon table from an 18th century antique cherry wood chest that was beyond restoration.   They also re-rigged the mainsheet to an "end-of-boom" system that uses the original traveler in the cockpit and facilitates control by the helmsman.

The boat was purchased in October, 2002 by Jack Waddell and Carol Cassidy of Berkeley Heights,NJ. and re-christened "Vixen."   The boat is berthed at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, NJ, just north of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

As of this writing, the boat is largely unaltered from its original configuration. It still has the original Westerbeke Four-60 15 h.p. diesel engine.   Very well maintained over the years — meticulously so by the Blands — there have been few modifications other than those noted previously and the standard replacement of weathered and worn items like sails, interior cushions, lifelines and canvas dodger and sailcover.   Full cushioned backrests were made for the saloon setees.   Based on the lack of spinnaker rigging, vang or backstay tensioner, it doesn't appear as though the boat was ever seriously raced.

Projects completed include new canvas; installation of a teak and holly plywood cabin sole; new interior cushions, Simrad autopilot; new VHF; Strong Track luff sysem; EZJax lazy jacks and new main and genoa from North.   Planned future projects include installation of a Newport solid fuel heater; new 12 volt panel and wiring; 30 amp shore power system and battery charger; replacing four forward ports with opening ports; bimini; replacing fuel tank; hot, pressure water system; mid-cabin overhead hatch; replacing rudder bearing; and painting deck, cockpit and cabin trunk.

Vixen is used for daysailing in New York Harbor and weekending in Staten Island, Sandy Hook and Western Long Island Sound.   As time permits, more extended trips will be taken towards Block Island, down the Jersey Shore and beyond.

An excellent article by George H. Colligan details the history and development of the Tartan 34C and includes excerpts from his interview with Olin Stephens, the boat's designer and the dean of American yacht design in the 20th century.  Another interesting reference is an early review with commentary by Charlie Britton, the president of what would become Tartan Yachts.