Corsair History
The Donoratico Pedigree
The Donoratico boatyard in Italy was legendary for its radical hull designs and uncompromising wood craftsmanship. In a stroke of immense rowing fortune, Northeastern was able to acquire the Corsair—a shell that would not only define the program's competitive edge but also become a symbol of an era where Husky oarsmen dominated the Charles River and beyond.
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Lido Filippi, was the lead designer and boat racing shell builder for Donoratico in the 1960's and 1970's and went on to start Filippi Boats in 1980.
Corsair History at a Glance
Pre-1967
Unknown Origins: The boat's early history remains undocumented.
1967
BU Acquisition: Boston University acquires the Corsair racing shell.
1969
Discovery: BU Coach Frank Barrett notices impressive times but low usage due to a radical hull design. In the fall, he returns to NU and recommends the boat to head coach Ernie Arlett.
1970 – 1971
The Transfer: NU purchases the Corsair from BU (exact transition date disputed between Spring 1970 and Jan 1971).
1972
Championship Glory: NU varsity crew uses the Corsair to break a Charles River record, win the Eastern Sprints Championship, and place 2nd at the Henley Royal Regatta in the Grand Challenge Cup.
1973
Repeating History: A modified NU varsity lineup using the Corsair all season, goes undefeated and repeats as Eastern Sprints champions, Bronze at the IRA, later taking 2nd at the Nottingham International Regatta and 2nd in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.
1974
Final Race: The NU 2V crew takes over the Corsair, rowing it to an IRA Bronze medal in its last recorded competitive race.
1975 – 1979
Practice Era: The boat is retired from racing but remains in active training use at Riverside as composite shells are introduced.
1980 – 1989
The Departure: The Corsair stays stored at Riverside until NU parts ways with it just before moving to Henderson Boathouse in 1989.
1990 – 1996
Lost & Found: With what appears to be a short ownership stint at the Lincoln Park Boat Club in Chicago, the boat's location is largely unknown until it is found at the Occoquan Boat Club in Virginia; NU arranges to reacquire it.
1997 – 2026
Storage: The reacquired Corsair sits safely on a storage rack at the Henderson Boathouse for nearly three decades.
2026
Restoration:Â Some 1970's era alumni realize the importance of the Corsair to NU Rowing history, the Corsair is acquired by alumni and is transported to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum (FLBM) to be fully restored.
If you have any information to improve or add to the Corsair History, please contact Tom Gates - LINK
Original Donoratico Blueprints - 1970 archival documentation highlighting the anatomical precision of the Corsair hull.
Championship Dawn - The 1974 Freshman Crew embarking for their first victory in the Corsair.
Mechanical Legacy - Archival details of the hardware that powered the Corsair.
The Registry of Victory - Hand-documented race logs from the 1970s, chronicling every mile rowed.
Artisanal Heritage - The craft of maintaining wooden shells, a practice passed through generations of Huskies.
