Classic Boat June 2013 by The Chelsea Magazine Company

Classic Boat

JUNE 2013

5 017558 231003

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

T H E W O R L D’ S M O S T B E A U T I F U L B O A T S

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

300 TH ISSUE ˜ SPECIAL SOUVENIR EDITION

300 HALL OF FAME

BEST BOATS IN THE WORLD

Griff Rhys Jones sinks at Goolwa

CLASSIC BOA T SURVEY

EXTRA PAGES

ROUND BRITAIN CHALLENGE

RADICAL RACING BOAT

Old Gaffers get going Fabulous Fixitor

THE APPRENTICE

Building a Shannon

The complete sailing set

Rustler 24 and Rustler 33 Modern Classics by Rustler

The Very Best of British Beautiful yachts, beautifully built

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Contents

CRAFTSMANSHIP

JUNE 2013 Nº300

ISSUE

TIM WRIGHT

300 T H

Tuiga: is she the world’s best classic?

16 . OGA ARE OFF! We join Witch, Bonify and Mary Ritchie at the start line 24 . SCOTLAND AWAITS Famous Fifes return to their birthplace on the Clyde COVER STORY

32 . CB’S HALL OF FAME Welcome to the 300 best boats in the world COVER STORY

56 . GRIFF RHYS JONES At the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival

62 62 . REPLICAS How authentic can they be? And where do you find one? 72 . FAST FIXITOR Is this the oldest speedboat in the world? We find out 78 . SHANNON ONE-DESIGN Olympic sailor Cathy McAleavey builds her own boat

JO RHYS JONES

EMILY HARRIS

COVER PHOTO: ROLEX/KURT ARRIGO

COVER STORY

REGULARS 18 . NEWS 23 . OVERSEAS NEWS 27 . LOOKING AHEAD 29 . SALEROOM 30 . OBJECTS OF DESIRE ONBOARD 78 . SHANNON ONE-DESIGN 82 . LAZARETTE 85 . CLASSNOTES 87 . GETTING AFLOAT CRAFTSMANSHIP 96 . JIMMY FUREY 100 . YARD NEWS 103 . COCKWELLS 104 . BOATBUILDER’S NOTES 107 . ADRIAN MORGAN 112 . LETTERS 114 . UNDER THE VARNISH CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

R a i n B Ow 1 8 9 8

BluE BiRd 1938

100m schOOnER

s T. paT R i c k 1 9 1 9

O U T S TA N D I N G D E S I G N S & P R O J E C T S

s . y. n a h l i n 1 9 3 0 R E s TO R aT i O n

w E a c T E d a s O w n E R ’s R E p R E s E n T a T i v E s , d E s i g n a u T h O R i T y , E x T E R i O R d E s i g n E R , ya c h T m a n a g E R a n d i n T E R i O R d E s i g n E R O f c R E w a n d s E Rv i c E a R E a s .

Owne r’s r e p r e s e ntatiOn | D esign | Yach t ManageMent p rO j e c t M a nag e M ent | tech nical suppOrt | ar c hive TEl: +44 (151) 601 8080

c l a s s i c s @ g lwaT s O n . c O m

w w w. g lwaT s O n . c O m

HISPANIA 15-M BY NICO MARTENEZ

300 T H

ISSUE

FROM DAN HOUSTON, EDITOR

www.classicboat.co.uk Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ EDITORIAL Editor Dan Houston +44 (0)207 349 3755 cb@classicboat.co.uk Senior Art Editor Peter Smith +44 (0)207 349 3756 peter.smith@classicboat.co.uk News/Features Editor Steffan Meyric Hughes +44 (0)207 349 3758 steffan.meyric-hughes@classicboat.co.uk Production Editor Andrew Gillingwater +44 (0)207 349 3757 andrew.gillingwater@classicboat.co.uk Editorial Assistant Holly Thacker +44 (0)207 349 3700 holly.thacker@chelseamagazines.com Contributing Editor Peter Willis peter.willis@classicboat.co.uk Consultant Editor John Perryman FRINA Publishing Consultant Martin Nott Proofing Vanessa Bird ADVERTISING Advertisement Manager Edward Mannering +44 (0)207 349 3747 edward.mannering@chelseamagazines.com Senior Sales Executive Patricia Hubbard +44 (0)207 349 3748 patricia.hubbard@chelseamagazines.com Advertisement Production Allpointsmedia +44 (0)1202 472781 www.allpointsmedia.co.uk Published Monthly ISSN: 0950 3315 USA US$12.50 Canada C$11.95 Australia A$11.95 Subscribe now: +44 (0)1795 419840 classicboat@servicehelpline.co.uk http://classicboat.subscribeonline.co.uk Subscriptions manager William Delmont YACHTS +44 (0)207 349 3710 will.delmont@chelseamagazines.com CHELSEA Subscriptions CHELSEA Department MAAG ARZ II NN EES MARINE 800 Guillat Avenue, MKent Science Park,M A G A Z I N E S Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross Commercial Director Vicki Gavin Publisher Simon Temlett Digital Manager Oliver Morley-Norris YACHTING

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Hall of fame, but no, er, hall We found out that we didn’t need planning permission for a hall of fame... in fact, we don’t even need a hall. So here we are, 300 publishing deadlines down the years from CB’s inception in 1987 and we are marking the moment with 300 of the world’s finest boats. It’s become a bit of a tradition to do this. The magazine did it in issue 100 and when I took over the helm, in issue 147, I carried it on, with our Big One at 200, where we put a huge and disparate fleet on these pages with a photo and details of every boat. That was quite successful. And the National Maritime Museum Cornwall told us that they used it as a springboard for their own (free) register of classic boats – which has now become a very useful resource, along with their other research data online. So we added 50 more at issue 258 and another 50 now. The 200 were in order of popularity from a well subscribed-to vote. Bluenose II won hands down when half the town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, jammed our inbox. But for the subsequent 100 boats we have relied on an editorial committee. Our hope is that this Hall of Fame, let’s give it capitals, will grow to become an archive in its own right, celebrating the huge number of designs of “They used it as beautiful boats out there. Many are one-offs but we a springboard for have included classes too. In the past we have singled out named boats from these classes, but it will make their register...” sense to give the class the honour, since recognition is mostly about design – though undoubtedly some boats, like Lively Lady for instance, are there because of the historical achievements of their crew and skippers. And there are omissions, lots of them we know: Mariska, Hispania... the list will grow. And so it seems very likely that this will become more than 400 boats by the time we reach our 400th issue. We’ll think of ways of making it even more relevant as we go on. And we’re sure to revisit our entry criteria too. I hope the absence of bricks and mortar for such an institution won’t feel like a let-down to any reader keen to make a pilgrimage to such a place; of course the best place to see these boats is on the water when they gather together in numbers and sail at a special event. There seem to be more and more of those. Fair winds! CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

300 T H

U IS S E

IS THIS THE FINEST BOAT OF ALL TIME? It’s a slightly bizarre question but after much deliberation and quite a bit of arguing, the decision was only going to go one way… STORY DAN HOUSTON

GIlES MARTIn-RAGET PREVIOUS PAGE: TIM WRIGHT.

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

e’re sat around a table after lunch, small black coffee to hand, and the idea comes to mind that for our 300th issue we should feature the ultimate classic boat. And of course the idea is a bit mad – ah, I admit it was mine; how can you take one boat, one design, from out of the pantheon of so much beauty and floating grace and say she’s the best? To those who love working boats it will be different to those whose predilection is for a small steamboat... But while this issue celebrates the diversity of classic boats of all sizes and provenance we are going to say that for us, at this point in time, the 1909 Fife design Tuiga – well she’s got to be the all-time classic. The 15-M gaff cutter exudes a grace under sail that can take your breath away and her lines in harbour perform some kind of massage to the eyes; her lofty rig is all about the transference of power into speed; her deck furniture and

Kathy maNSFiEld

TUIGA

BEKEN OF COWES

the simplicity of fittings there – no winches – speak of the seamanship of a bygone era. In fact it’s the very simplicity of her look that draws you in. It seems to have a narrative quality as you stare and begin to work out how it would be to sail such a boat. Of course many boats have these attributes; an Essex Smack will create similar feelings. But Tuiga is here not just for her superlative looks. She was one of the first boats to be restored to sail at a time when plastic yachting had all but taken over. She has stood, both sailing and in-harbour, as a bastion of living history that says it doesn’t all have to be of the modern age; she helped to create the breadth of the classic boating movement. There was a kind of collective gasp that went around the world when she came out of the yard at Fairlie Restorations on the Hamble in 1993. How could so much beauty be resurrected? She was perfect, she was strong and to prove it she soon had Eric Tabarly, scion of both the old and new worlds of sailing, attentively holding her tiller in

places like Cannes and Monaco, racing her like a thoroughbred till metaphorically the veins were standing out… on pretty much everyone involved.

GracinG the nioularGue I was a reader then and I kept that June ’93 issue, number 60 – it’s on the desk now 20 years later. She appeared in magazines from Yokohama to the Costa Brava, proclaiming to a wider audience of would-be aesthetes that something was afoot at places like those races around the Nioulargue Buoy of St Tropez. And of course soon photos of her were zinging brightly through the soft optic cables of the newly established internet and it all became a bit more democratic. It’s also that very accessibility that brings Tuiga to the fore. After all she is one of four 15-Metres, along with The Lady Anne, Hispania and Mariska. Tuiga was restored by the visionary classic car and yacht enthusiast Albert Obrist. She was the first boat to be restored by the

Above: Tuiga’s been around since 1909 but was laid up in a derelict state before Fairlie Restorations worked on her. Far left: Tabarly on the helm

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

TUIGA

LEFT AND RIGHT: FRANCO PACE

Left: the Monagasques celebrated Tuiga’s centenary with a stamp. Below: master cabin

TUIGA LOA

76ft (23.1m) 92ft LOS LWL

49ft (14.9m) BEAM

13ft 6in (4.1m) DRAUGHT

9ft 5in (2.9m) DISPLACEMENT

38 tons

SAIL AREA

4,380sqft (407m2) 10

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

newly-founded Fairlie Restorations – but Obrist passed her to the Yacht Club de Monaco after two years and since 1995 she has been sailed by club members. This means that technically there has been easier access to her than other boats of her like and it’s hard to think of any boat which has been run like that and has had so much impact over such a long period. But of course we’ll run your letters – we welcome them! Tuiga celebrated her centenary in 2009 with celebrations and felicitations, which included some paintings by Jack Vettriano and a lavish square book by Drs Daniel Charles, Wm Collier, John Leather (posthumously), and Ian Nicolson. In it Albert Obrist relates how he appreciates craftsmanship: “I still don’t know anything about sailing, but what I like is the beauty of an object,” says the Swiss bottle cap billionaire who sold his collection of 65 restored Ferraris to Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1990s. Obrist had already restored Altair, the Wm Fife schooner credited as starting the classic yachting renaissance in the late 1980s, when he came across Tuiga, then advertised in Yachting World for a ‘quick’ sale, in Cyprus in 1989. By then she had a bermudan rig with a furling headsail; she had belonged to a Greek couple whose planned circumnavigation had stalled. The boat was tired. She already had a very long history, including time being owned by the yacht fittings designer JS Highfield in the 1920s, renamed as Dorina. Highfield used her to perfect his famous lever, for setting running

Above: Tuiga’s spartan saloon. Far left: her lines and lofty sail plan

backstays correctly, equipping just one side to compare its advantages on the older block-and-tackle system. William Collier recalls meeting Albert Obrist after he had bought Tuiga. “He wanted me to meet Duncan Walker (now heading the newly founded Fairlie Restorations) but at that stage he was stormbound on the Portuguese coast!”

ExtrEmE CuttEr Tuiga was rebuilt at the newly-founded Fairlie Restorations by craftsmen from the Southampton Yacht Services team which had restored Altair. She is a “desperately important” boat according to Collier, who now runs GL Watson in Liverpool. “Albert Obrist thought she was the only 15 left in existence but we knew about Hispania and The Lady Anne – so that started the dream, which recently came true of reestablishing the 15-Metre class (CB283). For years she was the only big cutter around apart from Moonbeam III. “And she’s an extreme cutter. We had to learn to sail her without winches [it takes the whole crew – often 16 people – to hoist her 2,066sqft (192m²) 397lb (180kg) mainsail] and people were astonished when they saw that; it really did have a huge impact. Then I think Eric Tabarly said she was his favourite boat and it went on. “Another important aspect of Tuiga’s restoration is that she is semi-composite and no-one was proposing restoring boats like that back then. She has a steel frame for every two out of American red elm. People thought

we were mad, and suggested laminating in wooden frames but Obrist was a purist and so she had all new steel frames. And 20 years on she’s proved that it could be done and it was worth doing,” Collier adds. Tuiga was the star of the 1993 Nioulargue race where she slid past the fine-lined Moonbeam III. And later with the YCM she has taken her message of classic purism further afield. “She’s been a wonderful ambassador for us,” says Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM’s manager, who often helms Tuiga in races. “She combines a conservative image with something more dynamic and sporting which makes her a good choice for the club. And she’s not as expensive as a modern boat to run. We don’t change the sails every year, as with a modern boat – she doesn’t need new experimental keels… For maintenance she comes out of the water for a month every spring. And then we sail her every week from the end of April until after the St Tropez regatta in October. “She has a permanent paid captain (Nicolas Rouit) and is sailed by members of the club who can commit some time, but she’s a dayboat for us – we don’t use her offshore or for cruising. But we can take her anywhere; four years ago she went to Rouen and Cowes; last year we shipped her out to Antigua Classics, just for the week of racing and then back, and of course we took her to Cowes for the America’s Cup Jubilee in 2001. That was one of my favourite experiences with her. To be among so many (208) fine classic boats was an incredible thing.” CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

TUIGA

NIGEL PERT

jamEs RobINsoN-TayLoR

ycm

“It’s the most vital ingredient and it makes her look organic”

Above top: ready for restoration. Above: bronze medallion on the end of her boom. Above right: in harbour Tuiga’s an ambassador for the YCM

The sheer, sheer beauTy Unfortunately Tuiga is not going to the Clyde for the fourth quinquennial Fife Regatta this June. But organiser Alastair Houston, marine artist, and very likely a distant relation, has known her since her relaunch: “I think she has the most beautiful sheerline of any boat afloat,” he says, adding: “White Heather II had that same look which is a sheerline with just that right amount of curve. Most Fife boats have it and it’s what makes them so special but Tuiga’s is just a little more accentuated. Also it’s allowed to hit you because she has just a toerail, there’s no bulwark in place to detract from the line of the deck meeting the hull planks. It’s the most vital ingredient and it makes her look almost organic. It’s what makes people stop and stare. “They don’t know why the boat is having that effect, but I do and it’s all because of the perfect clean sheerline – that carries everything. And then you have the details, like the beautifully proportioned deckhouses on top of that and it creates the effect.” Being lucky enough to helm The Lady Anne at one of the Fife Regattas I think the memory will go with me into my box. The boat felt alive with energy, her deck seemed to carry a small hum, as though some fabulous propulsive machinery were at work down below, and she surged forward to any increase in wind pressure. One could sense the water sluicing past the rudder, deep below in the darkness of the Clyde and how a nuance of touch would send her head easily up to, or off, the wind. And Tuiga, from what people say, feels the same. For Bernard d’Alessandri the fact that she can now race with other 15-Ms has made a huge difference: “It’s like match racing and we don’t know who will be the winner because tactics are so important now,” he says. “For me racing the four 15s together at the Monaco Classics in 2011 was just an incredible situation. It was the first time anyone had seen anything like that in more than 100 years.

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

With the relaunching of Hispania in 2010 and Mariska earlier there were four to race at Monaco Classics in 2011. For while The Lady Anne was restored in 1998/9 she was quickly banned from racing (in the Med) because she had carbon fibre laminated inside her hollow wooden mast (CB170). The Lady Anne’s carbon was blamed for giving her too much power, evidenced by how she sailed away from Tuiga in some races and she had to cut her rig down and reduce somewhat before she was allowed back into the fold, 10 years after cruising in the wilderness or racing at the Fife Regattas in 2003 and 2008. Most experts agree that of the three 15s Mariska is the least original: “She’s re-engineered into a Third Rule shape to be three tons lighter,” dismisses Duncan Walker. The Lady Anne is very original in terms of her lines but she is basically an all new boat; Hispania had a new hull but her interior is probably the most original. And Tuiga is probably somewhere in between with some of her original interior but the layout being modified in her restoration. Issue 60 describes Tuiga’s restoration and history from when she was built in six months by Fife’s Fairlie yard, number 569, for the Duque de Medinaceli of Santander to race against the King of Spain’s Hispania, and we’ll put some scans of that on our website for interest. One aspect of the 15-Ms that seems to gain everyone’s respect is how few crew – typically eight – crewed the yachts in their heyday. Even today with upwards of 16 experienced hands on deck, things can get pretty hairy once the wind is up. Dr Patrice Clerc makes this point in the book, citing how a gybe with Eric Tabarly at the helm led to the mainsheet trimmer crewman, none other than Prince Albert, Monaco’s monarch, losing the skin off his palms as the mainsheet broke free and tore out off his hands while sailing at the Cannes Film Festival. “Tuiga is a wild bronco who can’t be fooled,” he quips. Yes and she’s fabulous, utterly fabulous.

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W W W. H O L L A N D J A C H T B O U W. C O M

THEY’RE OFF! The day dawned bright on 21 April for three gaff-rigged boats to leave the Blackwater bound around Britain STORY DAN HOUSTON PHOTOGRAPH EMILY HARRIS

he Old Gaffers’ fitting-out supper at Maldon’s Little Ship Club had more than an air of expectancy to it, on 20 April. Attending were the adventurous crews of three brave boats, which are spearheading the OGA’s 50 Years commemorative Round Britain Challenge. Alistair Randall with his 1898 Dickies of Tarbert Witch (far left) was joined by Sue Lewis and Howard Wheelton in their 1993 ferro-cement Bonify (far right) – designed in 1924 by John Hanna. Sue is writing an informative weblog on www.classicboat.co.uk during the journey, which culminates in a large celebration at Cowes in August. Third, and not intending to complete a circumnavigation, was Mary Ritchie (middle), a 1992 Roger Dongray design (big sister to the Golant Gaffer) with lines influenced by Falmouth Quay Punts. Don and Pauline Garman, her owners, are moving to Cornwall and taking her from her old home on the Crouch to her new home on the Helford River. She’s one of the so-called relay boats, taking, in her case, a Maldon hamper with sea salt and the like as far as the Hamble in the OGA’s epic trip. While there was not much wind the sun shone bright for the start and CB was there to photograph the trio as they made their way down the Blackwater and past Osea Island. They made port at Ramsgate that evening and are expecting to pick up company, including Dutch OGA boats. We will be reporting on their progress!

News

classic boat’s address: Jubilee house, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ For phone numbers, please see page 5

EAST COAST ONE-DESIGN

race weeks on the Blackwater and neighbouring Crouch. Centrepiece of the centenary is a race on the Blackwater on 6 July, followed by a parade of sail up to Maldon, then prize-giving and a party at the Maldon Little Ship Club. ECOD racing captain Iain Stubbs said: “The ECODs are entwined in the mythology of East Coast sailing. It’s remarkable enough that all 10 survive; to have them home for the centenary is even better. To be able to share that by chartering Chittabob is the icing on our cake.”

c/o oGA

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Iain warns that anyone who sails Chittabob may become enchanted by the slim beauties with their powerful rigs. She is for sale, although the ECOD Association is retaining a 1/64 share to ensure she stays on the East Coast. To charter Chittabob, call Catherine Dines on +44 (0)1621 859373, email: info@heritage-marine.com. If you have any favourite ECOD memories, secretary Julie George (juliegeorge1000@gmail.com) would love to hear from you. Visit www. eastcoastonedesign.com to learn more.

Star of the OGA book cover

Beeleigh 1913

Above: the East Coast One-Design Gigi (foreground) and Chittabob are part of a 10-strong fleet

The Fred Shepherd-designed 36ft 4in (11.1m) beeleigh was built by b Stone of brightlingsea in 1913 for a bernard Durkin. by the 1990s she had been changed to bermudan rig and was in poor repair when she was extensively restored at Staniland Marina in Yorkshire. in 2001 she came to the Solent and returned to gaff. She was bought by the current owners, a syndicate of three, in 2011. They were responsible for the large new topsail. beeleigh expects a full centenary season in 2013 including the big cowes regatta in August for 50 years of the oGA. This photo will be on the cover of the oGA50 book being launched later this year.

cb Archive

This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime chance; it’s rarer than that. A unique opportunity to sail a 100-year-old yacht in the centenary celebrations of a historic class has come about after the oldest ECOD keelboat was saved from going abroad, writes Dave Selby. When word got out that a German enthusiast was interested in buying the 1913 Chittabob, the first of 10 East Coast One-Designs, the association clubbed together to buy her and bring her home from exile on the South Coast, where she had been. Not only do all 10 ECODs survive, but now all 10 lie within 10 miles of one another on the Essex rivers. As the GU Laws-designed 30ft (9.1m) boats celebrate their centenary, the ECOD Association is offering the gaff-rigged Chittabob for charter for the season with the opportunity to take part in the classic regattas and

cb ArchiveS

100 years and none missing

New mini Jester race eighteen small yachts, including a 28ft (8.5m) Twister (above) and a 27ft (8.2m) Albin vega, will leave Plymouth, Devon, for baltimore on ireland’s southern coast on 16 June, in the first ever Jester baltimore challenge. The 250-mile challenge is the baby of a trio that includes the quadrennial Jester challenge (Plymouth to Newport, ri) and the Jester Azores challenge, again quadrennial and from Plymouth to the Azores. The new challenge, like the others, is for solo skippers in craft under 30ft (9.1m) long, and encourages the gentlemanly ethos of smallboat sailing inspired by the first oSTAr of 1960. That race was won by Francis chichester on Gispy Moth iii.

C/O SCOTTISH COASTAL ROWING PROJECT

ST AYLES

First worlds for the St Ayles Skiffs In classic boat terms, the rise of the St Ayles Skiffs has been nothing short of meteoric. Since 2009, more than 50 have been built – that’s more than one a month – and close to the same again are in build as we write. On 8-13 July, the traditional 22ft (6.7m) Iain Oughtred-designed clinker

plywood rowing skiffs will hold their first world championships in Ullapool. Boats have been built (or are in build) not just in Scotland, the class’s home, but in the rest of Britain, the Netherlands, Australia and America. Alec Jordan, who supplies the

CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Above: St Baldred (foreground) leads at the start

Picture of the Month This photo is av ai

boats as pre-cut kits, explains their popularity: “The St Ayles Skiff is affordable [£3,000 or less], light [155kg] and has great performance, and the boats have been reviving the coastal rowing regattas of old since their launch. For more details, visit www.scottishcoastalrowing.org.

lable to buy from our we bsite, www.classicboat .co.uk

PPL MEDIA

The greatest solo sailor of all? Seventy years ago, Argentinian sailor Vito Dumas sailed home to Buenos Aires to a hero’s welcome, having become the first person to sail solo around the world south of the three great capes, writes Barry Pickthall. He left in June 1942 aboard his 31ft (9.5m) Colin Archer-type Lehg II. With the world at war, he purposely sailed without a radio, fearing that he might be seen as a spy. His other gear was makeshift, including old newspapers to pad out his clothes for extra warmth. Of Cape Horn, he wrote: “How full of meaning and menace is the sound of those two words. What a vast and terrible cemetery of seamen lies under this eternally boiling sea!” During his 15-month voyage, Dumas survived a near terminal case of septicaemia, tremendous storms, a collision with two whales, and a broken nose. In 1957, he was awarded the Slocum Prize for solo sailing. His book Alone through the Roaring Forties charted what he called “the impossible route” and was translated into English in 1960. He died on 28 March 1965 but his single-handed accomplishments still have great significance for the generations of sailors who have followed in his wake.

Hall of Fame pennant To celebrate opening the doors on our Hall of Fame (see page 32), we are producing a special pennant to be flown from the mast of all boats on the list. The above is the first sample we’ve received back. Watch this space! CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Yacht Brokerage

SALES, CHARTER & MANAGEMENT

258ft Steam Ship “SS DELPHINE” DELPHINE is an exceptional ship built in 1921 and totally rebuilt between 1997 and 2003, thanks to her passionate owners, into a modern super yacht keeping her unique classic character.

DELPHINE has some incredible history having been placed into US naval service during World War II, then used as a training ship for 18 years until 1997 when she was bought by her current owner who spent nearly six years rebuilding her. She was re-christened in September of 2003. DELPHINE is now one of the most unique and exceptional private yachts in the Mediterranean fleet and worldwide. In 2004 she received the annual showboats award for best refit. Although she has kept her 2 incredible steam engines, she is now equipped with all the modern technology equipment and boasts a very luxurious and comfortable interior. She can accommodate up to 26 guests.

102ft “MOONBEAM OF FIFE III” 1903. The story of the Moonbeams began in 1858 with Moonbeam I &II. In 1902 Charles Plumtree Johnson, an eminent London lawyer, decided to go back to William Fife for the creation of his 3rd yacht taking into account his navigation projects as he wanted to race under the new RORC tonnage which included sailing ships with fitted-out interiors. Moonbeam III was launched in 1903, hull n° 491 to leave the Fife yard. The result was a magnificent yacht which has now become one of the most successful classic yachts in the world. Her streamlined shape and large sail surface area both make for an extremely elegant and unique yacht.

Commuter 50 “ALLEGIANCE” 2004. Inspired by Camper and Nicholson plans from 1925 and updated by builder, she is a very nice classic true gentleman’s yacht in the style of power boats from the beginning of the last century and constructed with quality materials and modern techniques – the spirit of tradition.

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NEWS CLASSIC CHANNEL REGATTA

Record turnout

Guy L’HOSTIS

It’s 75 yachts and counting for this year’s Classic Channel Regatta, which would far exceed past attendances of 50+. Some 21 boats are French, with three from Belgium and one from Holland making up the international fleet that will leave Dartmouth for Paimpol and St Peter Port on 6 July. This painting (right), by Breton marine artist Guy L’Hostis, has been commissioned for the ‘Spirit of the Regatta’ award. For up-to-date details, go to www. classic-channel-regatta.eu.

CEMAES BAY, NORTH WALES, LIFEBOAT

RNLI lugger to sail

aDRIaN DON

The volunteer owners of a wooden, engineless RNLI boat are planning a trip this summer to raise money for upkeep. The £110,000 restoration of the 38ft (11.6m) GL Watsondesigned Charles Henry Ashley, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was finished in 2009 for the owners, residents of Cemaes Bay in North Wales. But the £2,000-a-year

running costs for the double-diagonal boat, built in 1907 at Thames Ironworks, mean that fundraising is an ongoing process. To that end, a group of volunteers will spend two days rowing and sailing the boat from Cemaes Bay to Conwy to join the Conwy River Festival from 20-28 July. To donate, or enlist as crew, go to www.cemaesclassiclifeboat.co.uk.

TYNESIDE

The North Sea will boom to the haunting, mechanical cry of the Souter Lighthouse foghorn in a unique musical recital on 22 June. The piece, written in recognition of the many lives saved by Britain’s coastal foghorns over the years, is part of this year’s Festival of the North East. Titled ‘Foghorn Requiem’, it was written by British composer Orlando Gough, who wrote music for last year’s Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. The foghorn of Souter Lighthouse – surely the loudest F-sharp in the world – will lead a symphony with three land-based brass bands backed by a fleet of vessels at anchor and at sea. The performance, which will be ‘conducted’ from land, will account for the speed of sound in order for the horns of some ships, which will be up to 15 miles away, to be in time with the music. Opened in 1871, Souter was the world’s first lighthouse powered by electricity. It was decommissioned in 1988 but has been kept in working condition by a team of volunteers since then. To attend the event – either by land or sea – check the latest updates at www.foghornrequiem.org.

maC OzaNNE/CHa

Live foghorn recital

WORD OF THE MONTH

Pedro-a-pied

Pedro-a-pied [‘pedro-pee’]: To balance on one leg when walking a plank as a proof of sobriety. A man placed one foot on a seam and flourished the other before and behind, singing: “How can a man be drunk when he can dance the pedro-pee,” at which point he placed one foot precisely before the other on the seam, until he proved at least he had not lost his equilibrium. This was an old custom. Sailor’s Word Book of 1867.

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

8 metre â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christinaâ&#x20AC;? designed by Christian Jensen of Norway, NOK 750,000

The yacht is extremely robust, designed for cruising but fast! In very good condition. Length 45 ft., breadth 3 metres. Pine on oak, with lead keel. Sail area ca. 70 sq. metres For more information visit www.goclassic.no or email Peter Ennals at peter@goclassic.no

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Overseas news

TIM WRIGhT

ANTIGUA

High winds cause damage during racing It was one of the windier Antigua Classics this year. On 20 April, 25-30 knots of wind (more when katabatic gusts came down the island’s steep hills) hit a number of boats hard, most seriously the 1930 Mylne cutter The Blue Peter, which we have been following recently as she crossed the Atlantic from her usual home in the

South of France, victualled with help from our gear master Guy Venables. The Blue Peter lost her mast after a chainplate reportedly pulled out of her deck. Elsewhere during that windy day, damage included a broken topmast, two broken mizzens and sails blown to shreds. Thankfully there were no injuries reported.

Above: Sumurun was the overall winner at the recent Antigua Classic

The Fife ketch Sumurun, herself no stranger to regatta mishap after her collision with Amorita in 2007, emerged as the biggest winner at this year’s event, with best overall The end 12 hellish days corrected time bringing a of slew of a sextant silverware – not tofollowing mention a new course theBob Southern Panerai watch foracross owner TobinOcean and Captain Armin Fischer.

C/O MOY/IYRS

ttttttttttt

NEWPORT, RI, USA

Graduation and Launch Day at the world-famous International Yacht Restoration School (or just ‘IYRS’) is always a big occasion, with a fleet of student-restored Beetle Cats and other craft slipping into the water. But this year, the event on 1 June will welcome the associated Museum of Yachting (MoY) to the campus. From this date the museum (library pictured above), previously based there and at an out-of-town campus called Fort Adams State Park, will call the IYRS its sole and permanent home – more specifically the IYRS/MoY Library of 4,000 maritime titles, including CB of course. To celebrate, the MoY is staging an exhibition of Newport coastal and yachting images from the 19th century to the present day.

OMAN

New Tall Ship in build for Navy

C/O DYkSTRA NAvAL ARChITeCTS

Major move for MoY

Work has started on a new Tall Ship for the Royal Navy of Oman. The 282ft (86m) ship is the third from the Dutch firm Dykstra Naval Architects, who also designed the Stad Amsterdam and Cisne Branco, both now familiar sights on the Tall Ships circuit. The new ship has a similar, traditional appearance to those other two, although she is 26ft 3in (8m) longer in length. The build, in steel, has started at Damen Shipyards and she will be delivered to her new owners next summer. CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

NEWS

SCOTLAND

A gathering of Fifes for the fourth time

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

the King’s course – out and across the Clyde and back giving good views to anyone on Largs seafront. Some 23 yachts have registered, including the large ketch Kentra and the schooner Adventuress. Others include Tringa (pictured below), and Pen Duick with a good range of sizes and ages from Fife’s 50 years designing fast and bonnie boats, in the family tradition.

Above: Alastair Houston, marine artist and organiser, painted this souvenir print after the railway posters of Norman Wilkinson. Below: Tringa

When and where The regatta runs from 28 June to 5 July. For more details on the races, itinerary and the list of 23 yachts taking part, go to www.fiferegatta.com.

Spectator information small ‘chartlets’ under spectator information on the regatta website show the races and where best to see them.

Lady of Avenel Jim Dines is intending to take the 12-berth brigantine Lady of Avenel to the regatta, prices from £675 per person (self catered): info@tsrigging.co.uk

Caribbean challenger

Cb ArChives

It’s one of the most amazing regattas in the world, comprising a gathering of yachts, all Fife designs, on the waters of the Clyde, where many began and where the Fife dynasty of Wms I, II and III had their yacht- building yard. This year is the fourth such regatta, which has been run every five years since 1998, and it all starts with the official registration on Friday, 28 June at Largs Yacht Haven, near the village of Fairlie, which was home to the Fife Yard from the late 1700s. The first race on Saturday is around the Cumbraes, while the race on Sunday is to Rothesay. After that there there is a planned cruise to Tighnabruaich, while Tuesday’s race is into Loch Fyne and Portavadie. Wednesday is a lay day, or challenge (between individual yachts) day and then boats race back to Largs on Thursday. Friday sees yachts racing

Adventuress, the Fife design that won our restoration of the Year award in January, will be travelling farthest, from Antigua, West indies, to attend the regatta – on her own keel.

A stylish performance cruiser

This gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day sailer cruises in style. However, looks can be deceiving. During every stage of design and production the focus has been to create a yacht that is not only good looking, but also extremeley fast and easy to sail single handed. The Essence 33 embodies performance, elegance and style For more details visit our web site or call.

Hondsdijk 5

2396 HG

Koudekerk aan den Rijn

+31 71 342 10 10

www.essenceyachts.com

info@yagt.nl

When you know the sea, you know the boot Helping to keep Irish sailing heritage alive: Micheal ‘Staff ’ MacDonnacha, Galway Hooker and Irish Currach Craftsman, An Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe

Ultima by Dubarry Created in Galway on Ireland’s rugged and beautiful West Coast, Ultima is Dubarry’s unique all-leather sailing boot. Built to perform and built to last, Ultima utilises Dubarry’s special DryFast - DrySoftTM leathers and our award-winning non-slip sole, combined with a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX® lining. The combination of traditional skills, technology and Irish flair is the reason Ultima has been trusted and used for years by sailors and those who love and work on the sea.

Looking ahead Things to do in the next few weeks EXHIBITION

Next month in Classic Boat

5-14 JUNE Paul Maze James Harvey British Art, London SW10 Tel: +44 (0)20 7352 0015 www.jamesharveybritishart.com An exhibition of work by Paul Maze, including paintings of regattas off Cowes, IoW (pictured left). The Anglo-French artist, 1887-1979, is often called ‘the last of the Impressionists and taught Winston Churchill to develop his drawing and painting skills.

ON THE WATER 25-27 MAY 22 SQM Championships and Classic Keelboat Regatta Plymouth Sound, Tel: +44 (0)1752 869000, www.cremyll-keelboats. org.uk. A year on from its launch, the entry list is extended to all classic keelboats.

BOUNTY We look at beauteous Bounty, restored in America for a Frenchman and now in the West Indies, where she just came third in class at the Antigua Classics

29 MAY – 2 JUNE Les Voiles d’Antibes France, www.voilesdantibes.com Season opener for the CIM series in the Mediterranean.

29 MAY – 2 JUNE Coniston Regatta Lake District, Tel: +44 (0)1229 861001, www.coniston-regatta. co.uk. Boats on ‘Ransome’s’ lake

31 MAY – 2 JUNE Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival IoW, Tel: +44 (0)1983 761704, www.yarmoutholdgaffersfestival.co.uk. The flagship event of the OGA – for those not on the round-Britain cruise.

1-2 JUNE Three Rivers Race Norfolk Broads, Tel: +44 (0)1692 630507, www.horningsc.org.uk. Day/night race in which you choose which order to tackle the rivers.

1 JUNE Round the Island Race Cowes, IoW, Tel: +44 (0)1983 296621, www.roundtheisland.org. uk. Biggest event of its kind in the world with 1,600 boats or more.

7-9 JUNE Beale Park Boat Show Nr Reading, Tel: +44 (0)118 976 7498, www.bealepark.co.uk. Grass underfoot, summer days, sailing on the lake.

WITCH Onboard this working gaffer, which is one of the oldest boats taking part in the OGA’s Round Britain Challenge

From the publishers of Classic Boat NEW LOOK, NEW CONTENT SAILING TODAY

IN THE LATEST ISSUE

JUNE 2013 sailingtoday.co.uk £4.20

Reef

Antarctica

hopping Get in among the rocks with our eyeball navigation guide

INTERVIEW

Rocketman

The fastest sailor in the world on cold toes and pizza

BOAT ON TEST

Easy rider

 On test:: Jeanneau’s nippy new 41 Deck Saloon yacht

YACHTS YACHTING

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

Jeanneau’s nippy new 41DS is designed to be fun for two

GULL’S EYE

Pull-out guide to Pwllheli, in Snowdon’s shadow

 Reef hopping: Top tips on eyeball navigation

BANE OR BOON?

Paul & Rachel Chandler love new technology

BATTERY POWER

Wet cell, AGM and gel – on the test bench

DIESEL ELECTRIC

Could hybrid power be the answer for you?

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

YACHTS YACHTING CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk | Issue #1662

ANTARCTICA • FIRST CRUISE • JEANNEAU 41DS • PWLLHELI • BATTERIES

Exploring the last great wilderness in a GRP boat

YACHTS YACHTING

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

Fastnet Race guide | Round the Island tips | Singlehander technique | Test: Elan 400 | Sailing boots reviewed

JUNE 2013 – ISSUE No 194

NOW

BIGGER BRIGHTER BETTER

 Exploring the last wilderness: Cruising in Antarctica

June 2013

GO FURTHER I SAIL BETTER I BE INSPIRED

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

Sail the

FASTNET The ultimate guide to an iconic race

Go Solo

Top tips from dinghy champion Andy Davis

Race faster

We explain the new rules

ON TEST

Elan 400 + Sailing boots

Round the Island Past champions reveal how to win

1662 Cover (1).indd 1

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

YACHTS YACHTING

£4.30 ISSUE N°1662 JUNE 2013

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

IN THE LATEST ISSUE  Sail the Fastnet: Ultimate guide to an iconic race

CHARLIE BARR World’s finest yachtsman

 Go solo: Top tips from dinghy champ Andy Davis

The first in a new three-part series on the character who dominated yachting at the turn of the 20th century

 Round the Island: Past champions on how to win

PLUS, PLUS

9 770044 000205

www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk

23/04/2013 12:27

Available at all good newsagents or order now post-free from www.chelseamagazines.com/shop

Classic cruising in the Med, a review of safety knives at sea, and much more!

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

the unique classic regatta.

ver recent years, Suffolk Yacht Harbour has emerged as the centre of excellence for all aspects of classic yachting. We have the best shipwrights and joiners on the east coast - many of them real ‘classics’ in their own right - with reputations for their work that bring owners to Levington from far and wide. They are backed up by on-site sailmakers, riggers, stainless steel fabicators and marine engineers who are specialists in all aspects of traditional skills and materials. This is the home of the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta, on 15/16th June celebrating its 12th anniversary, where over 60 of the UK’s finest classic yachts meet each year for some epic yacht racing and socialising. If you’re a classic yacht owner needing meticulous craftsmanship, some really sound advice or for entry details to enter the classic regatta email: jonathan@syharbour.co.uk Suffolk Yacht Harbour Levington Ipswich Suffolk IP10 0LN Tel: 01473 659465 Fax: 01473 659632 info@syharbour.co.uk www.syharbour.co.uk

The wooden boatyard for classic yachts

We are honored by Classic Boat’s induction of our Gil Smith replica, KID II, into the Hall of Fame. In the same exceptional tradition, we are pleased to offer Smith’s 22’ shoal-draft Moonbeam in glassfibre or in wood.

www.woodenboatworks.com • Tel: 001-631-477-6507 • Greenport, NY, USA 28

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Saleroom

BY DAVE SELBY While luxury liners spearheaded the Art Deco design revolution of the 1920s and 1930s, poster art also scaled new heights as the leading graphic artists sought to capture the streamlined elegance of this golden age of ocean travel. Among the most revered is AM Cassandre, whose iconic poster for the French liner Normandie (pictured top right) is much pastiched in modern cruise ads in Sunday supplements. A 1935 original is one of the stars of Christie’s next London Vintage Posters auction on 23 May,

www.clas sicbo salero at.co.uk/ for more om stories CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD, 2013

Artistic impressions

See Salermooorme online

where it’s expected to command £8,000 to £12,000. Italian Giovanni Patrone is also highly collectible and his 1932 lithograph for the Italian Line is pitched at £2,000 to £3,000. Meanwhile, many of those who couldn’t afford first-class ocean travel were for the first time enjoying paid holidays in Britain, with railway companies and coastal resorts vying for their custom. Surely Dover has never been more glamorous than in George Ayling’s 1927 lithograph (pictured right), pitched at £2,000 to £3,000. The auction also includes a selection of British resort posters for collectors with more modest pockets.

Left: Ayling’s lithograph could fetch up to £3,000. Above: the iconic poster for French liner Normandie CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD, 2013

CHRISTIE’S LONDON

MECUM KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA

Collector grabs classic craft

COMING UP RM AUCTIONS

Rare Riva rocket speeds to auction

As 75,000 American classic car collectors converged on Kissimmee, Florida, USA, for Mecum’s 10-day mega auction worth $75 million, one canny buyer made off with a boating bargain. One of a handful of watercraft among 2,600 cars, this 1958 17ft (5.2m) mahogany Cavalier Utility powered by a Chris-Craft KFL 131hp inboard was snapped up for £7,923 ($12,306). Recent restoration had included new top-sides, deck and floors, plus a complete interior refit. The engine had just one hour on the clock since the 2012 rebuild and the trailer was custom-made in 2011. As with classic cars, well-bought classic boats can be had for less than the cost of their restoration.

Mere money alone was not enough to induce Carlo Riva to build you a really special boat, as the patron stoutly refused to indulge the whims of his jet-set clientele for bespoke special orders. However, in the case of Como industrialist Achille Roncoroni he made an exception. Roncoroni was not only a regular customer, he had represented Italy in sailing in the 1948 Olympics, and the boat that emerged from the works in 1960 was the Tritone ‘Speciale’ Cadillac Ribot III, measuring 27ft 2in (8.3m) long and powered by a brace of Cadillac marine V8s, each producing 325hp. In tests the 650hp craft duly delivered, notching up 59.5mph (96kph). Ribot III, with her custom lettering and bespoke interior, was a regular sight on Lake Como until the early 1970s, when the unique Riva passed on to her current owner. Now restored to exceptional condition, Ribot III is coming up at RM Auction’s Lake Como classic car sale on 25 May, where she’s expected to fetch between £470,000 and £650,000 (€558,000 to €772,000). The sale also includes a 1956 Riva Ariston Cadillac guide-priced at £150,000 to £190,000 (€180,000 to €226,000). CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Objects of desire Decadent dining During the early 19th centuries, ships used clinker-style jolly boats to ferry passengers and cargo to and from the shore. At the time, silversmiths took this design and modelled it into exquisite wine-coasters. This rare silver-plated example is available through the Nicholas Brawer Gallery in New York and features two wells for a pair of bottles and stoppers. £3,936 www.nicholasbrawer.com, Tel: +1 212 772 2664

Style statement Beautifully crafted from sterling silver with a 24-carat gold detail (it’s also available with black ruthenium metal or crystal), this stylish Hoggit decanter cradle is part of the Silver by Aston Martin range, launched this year to celebrate the car maker’s centenary. Manufactured by London-based silversmiths Grant Macdonald, it comes with a crystal glass decanter, complete with a curved base to prevent guests from ‘hogging’ the bottle. £4,950 inc VAT www.grantmacdonald.com Tel: +44 (0)207 633 0278

A cut above With a French sennit handle, knotted by internationally renowned rigger Patrick Moreau and a leather sheath, which drains water out from the tip, this hand-forged Pen Skoulm Custom knife by Neptunia is the one you want when you’re out on the bowsprit getting a fresh soaking. The blade is made with 12C27 stainless steel, it has an anti-oxidation treatment and the steel hardness is 58HRC, which produces a good, durable sharp edge. Although lovely to look at it’s only once you handle this knife and you really get to feel its balance, weight and sheer quality, that you realise why Neptunia is famed in France for its innovative designs and quality of workmanship. £500 plus P&P www.neptunia.fr, Tel: +33 25 40 68 10

Bright idea The LED LENSER X21 is possibly the best torch on the market. It has a light output of up to 1,000 lumens, which can be adjusted from a wide circular beam capable of lighting up a cliff face, to a sharp focus searchlight beam, which almost hums with concentrated light. Coming into harbour on a dark night, the X21 can supersede a mounted 12v searchlight and with the strap across your chest it points where you do. All this comes from seven ultra-bright, high-performance chips and seven terminator lenses, which use four D batteries giving it an impressive 240 hours of life. Finally, it’s all wrapped up in a tough, aircraft-grade aluminium casing. £239.75 inc VAT www.thetorchsite.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1686 670407 30

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Antigua Classics Regatta 2013

st=

Points

SoT Class

Single-handed Race

Concours d’Elegance

The New Spirit 60 Classic

Spirit 60DH ‘RANI’ Antigua Classics

the ultimate modern classic

www.spirityachts.com

SPIRIT

YAC H T S

TH 0 0 3

U S E S I

To celebrate our 300th issue, we have added another 50 boats to the Top 250 list to create the new Classic Boat Hall of Fame â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the 300 best boats in the world STORY STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES 32

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

CB 250

Adventuress

LOA: 82ft 2in (25.1m), Beam 17ft (5.2m), Draught 9ft 8in (3m), Displacement 55.8T, CB293

ALISON LANGLEY

Adventuress, the 1924 Fife III schooner restored in 2012 by Rockport Marine in Maine, embodies most things most people want out of a big-yacht restoration these days – some original wood left in situ, all mod cons (hidden away of course), and a stunning, vintage interior. She won our Restoration of the Year (over 40ft, non-EU) prize in our 2013 Awards.

Acrospire 50ft (15.2m) Charlie Peel design, 1923 Adela 131ft 10in (40.2m) replica of a Shepherd schooner, G Dykstra, 1995 Agnes 46ft (14m) Working Sail Scillonian Pilot Cutter replica yacht, 2003 Albacore 15ft (4.6m) Uffa Fox/Fairey Marine racing dinghy, 1954 Alpha 51ft (11.5m) Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, William Stoba, 1904 Altair 107ft 8in (32.9m) William Fife III, 1931. Benchmark restoration in 1987 Amazon 102ft (31m) Dixon Kemp-designed steam yacht, 1885 Amorevita 46ft 11in (14.3m) Tore Holm 8-Metre, 1939 Araminta 33ft (10.1m) ketch L Francis Herreshoff, 1954 Argo 28ft (8.5m) Dr Harrison Butler, 1914 Argyll Griff Rhys Jones’s 57ft 4in (17.5m) S&S inboard yawl, 1948/2009 Ariki 54ft (16.5m) d Arch Logan, 1904 Ark Royal 24ft (7.3m) Percy Mitchell, 1932 Artemis 18ft 9in (5.7m) Roger Dongray, wooden Golant Gaffer, 1998 Atlantic Challenge Gigs 38ft (11.6m) replicas of a 1796 Bantry Bay Gig Avel 60ft (18.3m) Charles E Nicholson, 1896 BB11 Skipjack 20ft (6.1m), 1939 Belle Aventure 84ft 7in (25.8m) William Fife III, 1924 Bessie Ellen 84ft (25.6m), West Country Trading Ketch, 1904-6 Bluenose II 143ft (43.6m) fishing schooner replica, William Roué, 1963 Boadicea 30ft (9.1m) Maldon Smack, Williamson & Durden, 1808 Bolero 73ft 6in (22.4m) Olin Stephens, 1949 Bona Fide 29ft (8.8m) Charles Sibbick rater and Olympic winner, 1899 Bounty 57ft 6in (17.6m) L Francis Herreshoff ketch, 1931 Boy Leslie 79ft (24m) Sanders & Co Brixham Sailing Trawler, 1911 Brilliant 61ft 6in (18.8m) Olin Stephens, 1932

Mischief

LOA 26ft (7.9m), Beam 8ft 7in (2.6m), Draught 4ft 6in (1.4m), Disp 6.8T, CB279

TOM BENN

It’s too early to say for sure, but it seems as though small boats are waxing in direct relation to the wane of larger ones. This one, a Harrison Butler-designed yacht built in 1935, was given the same sort of restoration by her owner, Roy Aldworth, that you might imagine lavished on some big Fife – just like the one above! But who can blame him when offered the prospect of a yacht that looks this pretty? Quality touches include a mast of Sitka spruce and proper swept decks. And, like the yacht above, she won a CB Restoration of the Year in 2011.

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Alva Alva, built by Cornish boatbuilder Ben Harris to a design by Paul Gartside, is based on the famous Falmouth Quay Punt Curlew, of Tim and Pauline Carr fame. She’s pretty, traditional and very powerful, as we discovered on a wild winter’s sail off Falmouth in 2012. She’s not a true Falmouth Quay Punt, but evokes many of the qualities of a West Country ‘work yacht’. LOA 30ft (9.1m), Beam 9ft 9in (3m), Draught 5ft 9in (1.8m), CB286

MARK LLOYD

C/O BARNEY SANDEMAN

Britannia 125ft (38.1m), GL Watson, modern replica of the royal racing yacht Brown Boats 24ft (7.4m) Linton Hope Broads One-Design class, 1900 Bull and Bear Sandbaggers 28ft 9in (8.8m) Pat McGiehan, 1997 Butcher Boy 29ft (8.8m) gaff cutter, unknown design, 1902 Cambria 111ft (33.8m) William Fife III, 1928 Candida 117ft 2in (35.7m) Charles E Nicholson, 1929 Cariad 106ft (32.3m) AE Payne ketch, 1896/2008 Carrina 54ft (16.5m) Fred Shepherd-designed schooner, 1929 Cautious Clara 30ft 4in (9.3m) Itchen Ferry cutter class, 1910 Cholita 46ft (14m) California 32 class yacht, Nick Potter, 1937 Coble 20ft-30ft (7m-9m) British beach boat Cockleshell 21ft 6in (6.6m), d Arthur Barber, one-off keelboat, 1926 Collinette 29ft (8.8m) Stockham & Pickett design, 1885 Concord 36ft (11m) Sidney Bellchambersdesigned yawl, 1937/2009 Contessa 32, 32ft (9.8m) David Sadler, 1971 Cormorant 30ft (9.1m) Lukes of Hamble yawl restored over 14 years, 1911 Cornish Rowing Gig 32ft (9.7m) Cotton Blossom II 49ft (14.9m) Dennis Conner’s Q-Class, Anker, 1925/2004 Crystal II 30ft 6in (9.3m) Fred Shepherd, 1927 Curlew 28ft (8.5m) Falmouth Quay Punt of Tim and Pauline Carr, 1898 Dainty 26ft 8in (7.9m) Alfred Westmacott Solent Sunbeam No 1, 1923

TOM BENN

CB 250

Salana

Spirit of Mystery

We’ve never done a feature on Salana, but we loved the cut of her jib (and her crew!) at the first Spetses Classic Yacht Race in Greece where she sailed straight past us. She was designed by Swede Erik Salander and built in 1959. Salander was a notable designer of skerry cruisers and square-metre yachts in the first half of the 20th century. Salana carries that look on with the long, slim counter stern with a distinctly 1950s-looking cabin trunk shape. The result is surprisingly beautiful.

Pete Goss MBE and Cornish boatbuilder Chris Rees built this Mounts Bay Lugger to retrace an 1854 voyage, in which seven Cornishmen sailed from Newlyn to Melbourne to make their fortunes. The boat was built as a community project with telegraph poles for masts and the crew included his 14-year-old son Elliot. A near-pitchpole off the Australian coast caused the broken leg of a crewman but, just as it did when Goss rescued fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli in the 1996-7 Vendée Globe, all ended well.

LOA 33ft 7in (10.3m), Beam 7ft 10in (2.4m), Draught 5ft 4in (1.6m), Disp 4.3T, CB256

LOA 37ft (11.3m), Beam 11ft 10in (3.6m), Draught 6ft (1.8m), Disp 15T, CB245 & CB252

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

HALL OF FAME FACT

47ft DAN HOUSTON

is the average LOA

VANESSA BIRD

THE SAILS

Ocean Pearl The broad beam and heavy build of this former fishing boat Ocean Pearl give her a wonderfully powerful look. Key features include the high bulwarks that nearly hide the two low cabin trunks and that wonderful lug rig, both of which combine to make her a rare sight at regattas where she performs well. So it might come as a surprise to learn that she was built as a motorboat in 1933 at Nobles of Fraserburgh. Her 10-year, on-and-off restoration and conversion to a sailing vessel with a lug rig, by boatbuilder Nick Gates, must, therefore, count as a resounding success.

Sailmakers seem to be as long-standing and venerable as the boats they make sails for. Often, the proud owner of a newlyrestored yacht will approach a sailmaker like Ratsey & Lapthorn, over 200 years old or Jeckells of Wroxham, over 180 years old, for a new suit and the sailmaker will scratch his head for a moment then bring out the sailplan they drew for the same boat in the 1950s. Sails for classic yachts are in modern materials like Dacron and Terylene but in traditional colours like white, tan or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Altair creamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (developed for the benchmark schooner restoration in the late 1980s) and sometimes in panels to replicate the look of a bygone era.

H20MARK

WATERLINE MEDIA

LOA 41ft (12.5m), Beam 14ft 2in (4.3m), 5ft 6in (1.7m), 17T, CB261

St Patrick

Chris-Craft runabout

This design was spotted by William Collier and Jack Gifford of GL Watson in the Watson archive a few years ago. A little legwork from Jack turned up an example, in surprisingly good condition, under a cherry tree in Scotland. St Patrick, one of the first yachts to be ordered at the end of World War I, is a Boat Racing Association 18ft (5.5m) Class design built by William Fife III. She was built in 1919 as a sort of alternative 6-Metre in the wilderness years between the First and Second International Rules. Today, restored by GL Watson, she is a unique survivor of the rule and the era.

In 1910, decades before the first Riva kissed the water, the Smith Ryan Boat Company was building wooden runabouts in great numbers. By 1950, Chris-Craft offered 139 different models in suitably high volumes enough to warrant its own railway line to take them to an American market and on to customers around the world. By 1955, the first GRP boat had arrived, just as Riva was in its stride building woodies. Pictured above are a 1947 Sportsman (top) and a 1929 Runabout (bottom).

LOA 24ft 6in (7.5m), Beam 5ft 11in (1.8m), Draught (c/board up) 2ft 6in (0.8m)/(c/board down) 5ft (1.5m), CB281

LOA 22ft 3in (6.8m), Beam 7ft 3in (2.2m), Draught 1ft 8in (0.5m), Disp 2.8T (all stats refer to the Chris-Craft Sportsman), CB268 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

HALL OF FAME FACT

95% Bloodhound

Vagabundo II

It was a case of ‘one careful lady owner’ when Tony McGrail bought Bloodhound in 2001. That owner was the Queen and Prince Philip who, between 1962 and 1969, covered 45,000 miles in the 1936 Camper & Nicholsons yawl. She was found in a pretty sorry state but now she’s back to her best and permanently berthed next to that other royal yacht – Britannia, no less – in Leith, Scotland.

Lots of time or lots of money, or preferably both, are good things to have when doing up old boats. Vagabundo II’s 23-year-old boatbuilding student owner, Robbie Fabre, and friends had youthful energy instead – and big bags of Haribo. And that seems to have done the job just as well. The German Frers bermudan yawl looks stunning and was a deserving winner of a CB Restoration of the Year award in 2011.

LOA 63ft 5in (19.3m), Beam 12ft 6in (3.8m), Draught 9ft 1in (2.8m), Sail area 1,595 sqft (148m2), CB231

LOA 42ft 4in (12.9m), Beam 10ft 6in (3.2m), Draught (plate up) 5ft 7in (1.7m)/(plate down) 8ft (2.4m), CB284

EMILY HARRIS

GARY BLAKE

are wooden

NIGEL PERT

Atlantic The original Atlantic set a transatlantic speed record under Charlie Barr in 1905 (New York to Lizard in 12d 4h) that stood for an amazing 75 years. In 2009, Dutchman Ed Kastelein launched the replica of the William Gardner-designed masterpiece. LOA 185ft (56.4m), Beam 29ft (8.8m), Draught 16ft 6in (5.1m), Sail area 18,500 sqft (1,719m2), Disp 303T

Eilean You have to take a sponsor seriously when it goes this far. Panerai, the luxury Italian watchmaker, found this 1936 Fife ketch in Antigua, brought her back to Italy and restored her to act as the company’s floating, racing, sailing ambassador. Eilean was relaunched at La Spezia in 2009 and was the very yacht used by Duran Duran in the video for their 1982 hit single Rio. We sailed her transatlantic in 2012. LOA 72ft 6in (22.1m), Beam 15ft 3in (4.7m), Draught 10ft 6in (3.2m), CB264 & CB268, Classic Superyacht supp, Summer 2012

C/O SHACKLETON EPIC

CB 250

NIGEL PERT

Ayrshire Lass

Alexandra Shackleton

When folk wax lyrical about the headlinegrabbing creations of William Fife, they are talking about Fife III. A Fife II boat like this 1887 dayboat is a much, much rarer beast. Ayrshire Lass is owned and restored (from being a cabin boat) by Paul Goss, project manager behind the famous Altair restoration and skipper of The Lady Anne (Fife III 15-Metre) and the schooner Adix.

Named after the granddaughter of Ernest Shackleton, this James Caird replica was built by the International Boatbuilding Training College with unerring attention to historical accuracy and launched in 2012. In January 2013 she sailed from Elephant Island to South Georgia with a crew of six to recreate Shackleton’s great escape from the ice in 1916.

LOA 24ft 7in (7.5m), Beam 7ft (2.1m), Draught 3ft 4in (1m), Disp 2.6T, CB244

LOA 23ft 1in (7m), Beam 6ft 8in (2.1m), Draught 2ft 2in (0.7m), Sail area 113sqft (10.5m2), CB299

CORY SILKEN

Daring Class 33ft (10.1m) 5.5-M derivative class, Arthur Robb, 1960 Dark Harbor 20 Class 30ft (9.1m) Olin Stephens, 1934/2005 (GRP) Dilkusha 34ft 6in (10.6m) West Solent Restricted Class, May/Jacobs, 1931 Dolphin 20ft (6.1m) Percy Mitchell, c1920 Dorade 52ft (15.9m) Olin Stephens, legendary racing yawl, 1930 Dragon Class 29ft 2in (8.9m) Johan Anker, 1928 Driac II 32ft 3in (9.8m) Sidney Graham-design Duet Linton Hope designed 1912 gaff yawl 50ft (15.2) CB292 Dusmarie 45ft (13.7m) Aldous yacht once owned by Dixon Kemp, 1884 Dyarchy II 46ft 6in (14.2m) Laurent Giles, 1939 East Coast One-Design 30ft (9.1m) GU Laws design, built by W King & Sons, 1913 Edme 80ft (24.4m) wooden Thames Sailing Barge, 1898 Eleanor Mary 51ft (15.5m) Nigel Irens/John Steele, 1998 Eleonora 136ft (41.4m) schooner, Gaastmeer Design, 2002 Endeavour 128ft (39m) J-Class yacht, CE Nicholson, 1934 Endeavour 26ft (7.9m) Leigh Cockler and Dunkirk Little Ship, 1924/2005 Eva 57ft 5in (17.5m) William Fife III, 1906 Excelsior 71ft 6in (21.8m) sailing trawler built by John Chambers in 1921 Fairey Huntress 28ft (8.5m) Fairey Marine, From Russia With Love, 1959 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Deben Cherub EMILLY HARRIS

The Deben Cherub dates from 1924 when Alfred Everson of Woodbridge built the first, for a Commander Turner. The half-decked, gaff-rigged dayboat inspired another of the same lines, but with a cabin this time, for Mr A Curjel who established the pocketcruising class, leading to 17 being built.

VANESSSA BIRD

LOA 21ft 3in (6.5m), Beam 7ft (2.1m), Draught 2ft 9in (0.9m)

HALL OF FAME FACT st The smalle ); is Heron (11ft the largest is SS Delphine (258ft)

Firefly 12ft (3.7m) Uffa Fox dinghy raced in the 1948 Olympics, 1946 Firefly 34ft 6in (10.5m) Strange/Butler 1922 Flica II 67ft 1in (20.5m) J Laurent Giles, 1939 Fly MN17 36ft (11m) Essex Smack, 1875 Flying 15 20ft (6.1m) Uffa Fox, 1948 Folly 37ft 8in (11.5m) CE Nicholson’s own yacht, 1909 Foxhound 63ft 3in (19.3m) CE Nicholson, sistership to Bloodhound, 1935 Gipsy Moth III 39ft 7in (12.1m) 1959 Robert Clark sloop, won first OSTAR Gipsy Moth IV 53ft (16m) d Illingworth/ Primrose, Chichester’s ketch, 1966 Good Intent 38ft (11.6m) Kentish Bawley, circa 1860 Greenfly Nicholson 36, 36ft (11m) Camper & Nicholsons, 1963 Guide Me 40ft (12.2m) engineless Looe lugger P Ferris, 1911 H-28, 28ft (8.5m) world-girdling LF Herreshoff ketch design, 1942 Halcyon 80ft (24.4m) Thorneycroft ketch, 1929/2006 Hallowe’en 71ft 4in (21.8m) Wm Fife III, 1926 Halvorsen 26, 26ft (7.9m) Harold Halvorsen classic Aussie motor yachts Hardy 49ft (14.9m) Summers and Payne cruising yacht, 1910 Harriet Blanche 36ft (11m) Aldous smack, 1909/2005 Heron 11ft 3in (3.4m), d Jack Holt, 1951 Ierne 41ft 7in (12.7m) Wm Fife III-designed 8-Metre yacht, 1914/2008 Ilex 51ft (15.5m) CE Nicholson, 1899 International 12-Foot, 12ft (3.7m) racing dinghy, d George Cockshott, 1913

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Yachts build in the ‘spirit of tradition’ are new yachts, usually in GRP though sometimes in modern wood construction or metal, that have some of the appearance of yachts of old – counter stern and a nice sheerline – with all the benefits of new boats, like a fast underwater shape, easy rig and plenty of automation. What they lack in authenticity to a old, restored wooden yacht, they make up for in convenience. They are particularly popular in the USA where there is a ‘SoT’ class at many regattas. Builders include Spirit Yachts (UK), Fairlie Yachts (UK)(above), Morris, W Boats and others in the USA, and many yards in the Netherlands. This seems to be a rapidly-growing area.

EMILLY HARRIS

CB 250

SPIRIT OF TRADITION

C/O OCC

Wairakei II

Wanderer III

Some Dunkirk Little Ships... we hardly dare say it... are a bit dumpy and down at heels. This one, though, appeals to all the senses: the beautiful ship-like lines; the clinker dinghy you just have to stroke; and what seems like acre upon acre of glinting varnished upperworks. She’s a Brown Owl class cruiser built in 1932 by James Silver to a design by John Bain, two great names in vintage gentleman’s motor yachts.

Wanderer III, designed by Jack Laurent Giles and built in 1952 for Eric and Sue Hiscock, took the brave couple on their first circumnavigation. Today, Wanderer III is owned by another cruising couple, who have lived aboard her for 30 years: Thies Matzen and Kicki Ericson, who won the first OCC Award of Merit in 2011, commending their desire to maintain her virtually unchanged.

LOA 52ft (15.8m), Beam 11ft (3.4m), Draught 6ft (1.8m), Disp 26.4T, CB283

LOA 30ft (9.1m), Beam 8ft 6in (2.6m), Draught 5ft (1.5m), Disp 9T

REPRESENTING YACHTS OF CHARACTER SINCE 1979

www.cppyacht.com

12 Metre YEAR: 1928/2001 LOCATION: Rhode Island, USA HULL MATERIAL: Wood PRICE: $995,000 US ONAWA is a 1928 70 foot 12 meter designed by W. Starling Burgess and Built by Abeking & Rasmussen. She has accommodations for 7 guests, 3 in crew. Built in 1928, her restoration was completed in the summer of 2001. Trumpy Hull (Number 442) YEAR: 1971/2012 LOCATION: Maine, USA HULL MATERIAL: Wood PRICE: $2,500,000 US SOMERSET has been completely rebuilt from the ground up, which includes a completely new bottom, keel, frames and floors, rebuilt engines, new generators and systems and after much consideration, an almost entirely new interior. This restoration pays homage to the quality and style synonymous with the Trumpy name. 58’ Ditchburn YEAR: 1929/2004 LOCATION: Rhode Island, USA HULL MATERIAL: Wood PRICE: $595,000 US HIGH TEA is an absolutely stunning example of a “Gatsby” era yacht from a by-gone time. She has been beautifully maintained without regard to cost by her present owner. Represented in show condition, she will surely not disappoint upon inspection. She is a useable and practical well-built classic in turn-key condition. Highly recommended. Herreshoff Fishers Island 31 YEAR: 1927/1944/1997 LOCATION: Rhode Island, USA HULL MATERIAL: Wood PRICE: $125,000 US KESTREL is the fifth of eighteen Fishers Island 31 racing sloops built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. between 1926 and 1946. She underwent a major repair, rebuilding and refit. She is found to be in overall very good condition for her age. Cosmetically, she is considered to be excellent. Previous owners have sensitively conducted consistent maintenance and refits. Modern upgrades lend well with the intent of her original designers and builder to achieve a fast and graceful yacht.

WINNER

Powerboat

Style and class of a bygone era Built today: Bristol 27

www.staryachts.co.uk +44 (0)7866-705181

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Gary Blake Photomarine

SPONSORED BY

HALL OF FAME FACT

CHRISTAIN TOPF

were built as workboats

The classic boat restoration scene is growing – and changing. As the stock of big yachts by the famous names of Fife and Herreshoff dwindle, we see yachts by their contemporaries like Alfred Mylne or Albert Strange being snapped up for restoration. In Britain, there has been a dramatic increase in restoring vintage racing dinghies in recent years – driven on not just by economic doom and gloom but by popular events like the annual Bosham Classic Boat Revival. The other area of significant growth is in ‘spirit of tradition’ boats (see panel on the left) and also traditional new builds – boats built new to old designs the traditional way, see p62. This will be an important area to watch over the coming years.

MICHAEL ENGLISH

THE FUTURE

Gillian Built in 1908, this Thames double skiff was restored by Colin Henwood in the 1990s. She is almost entirely original and has won a number of awards. This summer, she achieved fame as the front cover of Head, Heart, Hand – A Boatbuilder’s Story about Colin Henwood’s 30 years building and restoring boats – and took part in the Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June 2012. LOA 24ft (7.3m), Beam 3.9ft (1.2m), Draught 8in (0.2m), CB295

CB ARCHIVES

BEKEN OF COWES

CB 250

Vixen

Danegeld

There have been a few high-profile re-enactment voyages over the years – most recently the Shackleton Expedition (CB299). In May 2011, three men sailed the 1,200 miles from Cowes to the Baltic in the 15-Square Metre Vixen. A wetter trip is hard to imagine, but this was firmly in the wake of a similar voyage made by Uffa Fox in 1930 in the 22Square Metre Vigilant.

The 1958 Cheverton-designed Danegeld is a yacht that seems to offer all things to all men. At 35ft 5in (10.8m) she is sensibly sized for cruising with a serious turn of speed – in her first full racing season in 1959, she took 15 first places, two seconds and four thirds – including the prestigious Gold Roman Bowl as the outright winner in the Round the Island Race and Class 3 in that year’s Fastnet. Beautiful lines and a rig that everybody understands completes this impressive package.

LOA 33ft 6in (10.2m), Beam 6ft 4in (1.8m), Draught 4ft (1.2m), Disp 1.3T, CB275

LOA 35ft 5in (10.8m), Beam 9ft 7in (3m), Draught 5ft 6in (1.7m), Disp 6.7T, CB299

International 14, 14ft (4.3m) development class racing dinghy International One-Design 33ft 3in (10.1m) Bjarne Aas, 1940 Iolaire 44ft 6in (13.6m) Harris Bros yawl owned by Don Street, 1905 Iona 38ft 4in (11.7m) William Fife III, 1899 Irene 85ft (25.9m) FJ Carver West Country Trading Ketch, 1907/2009 Irina VII 55ft (16.8m) Mylne-designed, Fife-built yacht, 1934 Iskra 30ft (9.1m) David Hillyard yacht, 1930 Jap 30ft (9.1m) William Fife III, 1897 Java 39ft (11.9m) Concordia Yawl, C Raymond Hunt/Howland, 1933 Jester 26ft (7.9m), junk-rigged Folkboat, d Tord Sunden 1953 Jolie Brise 56ft (17m) Le Havre Pilot Cutter and Fastnet legend, 1913 Joyant 58ft (17.8m) P-Class yacht, NG Herreshoff, 1911 Jumbo 20ft 6in (6.3m) St Ives lugger built by Jonny Nance in St Ives, 2007 Kate 14ft (4.3m) Jack Holt prototype for the Merlin Rocket, 1944 Kathleen and May 98ft (30m) Ferguson & Baird three-masted schooner, 1900 Kelpie 60ft (18.3m), d Alfred Mylne, Solent 38 reclassed as a 12-M, 1904 Kelpie II 26ft (7.9m) canoe yacht, d Pain Clark. Always in commission, 1902 Knight Errant 50ft (15.2m) cabined slipper launch, J&G Meakes, 1931 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Davey & Company Est.

1885

Bronze Raked Bollard Beautifully crafted in the UK in 3 sizes

www.davey.co.uk 01206 500945

Generous rake Broad base Large caps Six fastenings

International Boatbuilding Training College Fashion follows function, so gear up for summer! Now at your favorite shop. Fashion follows function, so gear

up for summer! at your favorite shop. ws function, so function, gear up Now for ashion follows so summer! gear up for summer! Gaastra Flagship Store w at your favorite shop. Now at your favorite shop. 16 Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Island, ashion follows function, so Rhode gear up USA for Fashion follows function, sosummer! gear up for summer! Gaastra Flagship Store Tel: 401-846-8700 | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net Now function, atso your shop. ashion so for gear up for summer! Now at your favorite shop. ollows follows function, gearfavorite up summer! 16Flagship Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, USA Gaastra Flagship Gaastra Storewww.gaastra.eu Storeshop. your favorite Now at Now your at favorite shop. Tel: 401-846-8700 | Email: nister’s Wharf, Newport, Gaastra Rhode Island, USA Store 16 Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island,NewportGaastra@verizon.net USA Flagship join us @ Gaastra Flagship Store 6-8700Tel: | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net www.gaastra.eu 401-846-8700 | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net 16 Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, USA Rhode Island, USA 16 Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Gaastra Flagship Store Gaastra Flagship Store Tel: 401-846-8700 | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net www.gaastra.eu www.gaastra.eu Tel: 401-846-8700 | us Email: 16 Wharf, Bannister’s Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, USA Practical training from a day to a year, wide 16 Bannister’s Newport, Rhode Island, USA join @ NewportGaastra@verizon.net range of projects, new build & restoration Tel: 401-846-8700 www.gaastra.eu | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net 01-846-8700 www.gaastra.eu join us @ | Email: NewportGaastra@verizon.net join us @ Visitors welcome www.gaastra.eu www.gaastra.eu join us @ join us @ 01502 569 663 info@ibtc.co.uk join us @ join us @

www.ibtc.co.uk llows function, so gear up for summer! Shipshape East Anglia Hub Now at your favorite shop. 42

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

HALL OF FAME FACT

’s Lord St Levan e om Barge, built s time between , 1740 and 1790 is the oldest

Patna Throughout the 1980s and early 90s, Greg Powlesland was busy with a restoration of rare quality in the shape of the 59ft (18m) 1892 Nicholson cutter Marigold. Then he did it all again with Patna, another Nicholson yacht, but this time a yawl built in 1920. This restoration took just six years. LOA 56ft (17.1m), Beam 11ft 9in (3.6m), Draught 7ft 9in (2.4m), CB285-289

As any serious boat restorer will tell you, the devil is in the detail and if you get that right, your boat will be all the more authentic and pleasing for it. The brightly coloured rope and black-plastic deckware from the local chandler’s isn’t going to cut it then. Thankfully, an industry that sprung up to cater for big yacht restorations now caters to all sizes of restoration or build. Traditional Boat Supplies in Suffolk offers materials like red lead putty and caulking and a lot more. The venerable Davey & Co London Ltd in Colchester has everything that glitters: portlights, deck prisms, clocks, stoves, and more. Classic Marine in Suffolk sells everything from deck gear to boat plans and, overseas, the German firm Toplicht sells just about everything for the classic yacht.

RICHARD JOHNSTONE_BRYDEN

TOM BENN

CHANDLER

Hurrica V

JACK MURPHY

If you’re a keen CB reader you’ll have seen Hurrica V already: she was the cover star on our last issue. And you might see a lot more of her over the summer, as the trailers start coming out for a new film, The Great Gatsby (UK release on 16 May) in which she stars. She’s a Camper & Nicholsons doghouse ketch built in 1923, recently restored in Australia at a cost of nearly £3 million for owner Steve Gunns. LOA 59ft 3in (18m), Beam 14ft 2in (4.3m), Draught 7ft 6in (2.3m), CB299

Krysser 12.5KVM 24ft 8in (7.6m) La Granvillaise 106ft (32.3m), French fishing bisquine, 1990 Lady Belle 28ft (8.5m) Harley Mead Quay Punt yacht, 1909/2009 Larry 44ft (13.4m) Camper & Nicholsons design, 1907 Latifa 70ft (21.3m) William Fife III, 1936 Leila 36ft 9in (11.2m) N Dallimore, 1934 Les Ailes 23ft 4in (7.1m) Jarl Lindblom, 1935 Lillibullero 32ft (9.8m) AM Gostelow traditional smack yacht, 1932d Linnet 46ft (14m) New York 30-class yacht, NG Herreshoff, 1905 Little Apple 24ft 7in (7.5m) Paynter oyster dredger, now yacht, 1905 Little Windflower 41ft (12.5m) Wm Ferris cutter yacht, 1890 Lively Lady 36ft (11m) d Fred Shepherd, Alec Rose’s famous yawl, 1948 Lizzie May 42ft (12.8m) Luke Powell, 2001 Loch Long One-Design 21ft (6.4m), 1937 Lona II 32ft (9.7m) J Pain Clark, 1905 Lone Gull II 28ft (8.5m), designed by Maurice Griffiths, 1961 Lord St Levan’s Barge 27ft 4in (8.3m), world’s oldest sailing boat, c1740 Louie Wills 28ft (8.5m) Falmouth Quay Punt WE Thomas, 1900 Lulworth 121ft (36.9m) White Brothers cutter, mega-classic, 1920/2006 M-Series M36 36ft (11m) S&S, 2004

DEN PHILLIPS

CB 250

BILLY BLACK

Kate

Amorita

Replica builds, or new builds to old designs, are on the up these days (see p62), but when Antigua boatbuilder Philip Walwyn built Kate in 2006, a First Rule 12-Metre to a century-old Mylne design, it was unusual. The build, with a few local craftsmen, took 18,000 man hours but when it was finished she was a sight, even with her questionable yellow paint job. These days, she’s dark blue, yawl rigged and looking all the better for it.

This 43ft 6in (13.3m) Herreshoff NY30 was involved in one of the most dramatic crashes in yacht-racing history when she was T-boned by the 94ft (28.7m) Fife ketch Sumurun at the 2007 Tiedemann Classic off Rhode Island, USA. Amorita, cut in two, sank immediately. Four years later, salvaged and rebuilt, she was racing again. See CB232 or to see footage, search for Amorita at www.classicboat.co.uk.

LOA 60ft (18.3m), Beam 11ft 4in (3.5m), Draught 7ft (2.1m), Disp 15T, CB229

LOA 43ft 6in (13.3m), Beam 8ft 10in (2.7m), Draught 6ft 3in (1.9m), CB232 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

HALL OF FAME FACT

138 CATHY MCALEAVEY

C/O MORRIS YACHTS

are gaff rigged

M-Series M36

TIMBER

We wondered if the GRP M36 is ‘the world’s nicest daysailer’ back in 2004. The pretty American-style oval cockpit and low cabin were dictated by an aesthetic simplicity that extends into practicality with the self-tacking jib and the under-deck rigging. She was Tom Morris’s answer to the demand for downsizing.

Most classic boats – 95 per cent of this list in fact – are wooden. There was a time when boats in Britain were built from local wood: English oak for the timbers and frames perhaps, with a hull of Scottish larch, although there has long been a demand for teak from Burma and pitch pine from North America. These days, wood for boatbuilding comes in many species and from all around the world, and timber suppliers are becoming ever-more wedded to the idea of renewable timbers as certified by the likes of the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) that operates worldwide. Tristan Stone, who supplies many boatbuilders in Britain and around the world, sources timber from Canada through his father, and government-sanctioned teak direct from a sawmill in Myanmar (Burma). He is happy to guide customers through the maze!

LOA 42ft (12.8m), Beam 12ft 7in (3.9m), Draught 5ft 3in (1.6m), Disp 8.8T, CB197

Cambria C/O CAMBRIA

The Thames Sailing Barge is one of the most iconic workboat designs to have plied the British coast. Cambria, built in 1906, retired in 1970, and she’s now back on the water after a £1 million restoration. LOA 91ft (27.7m), Beam 22ft (6.7m), Draught 7ft 9in (2.4m), Disp 109T

SMH

CB 250

GARY BLAKE

Bristol 27 At least one of us in the CB office secretly wanted to give up sailing when photographs of the Bristol 27 came in. She’s from the pen of renowned designer Andrew Wolstenholme and built by Win Cnoops of Star Yachts in Bristol in gorgeous strip-planked red cedar. We swooned over the stepped sheer and admired the quality of the detailing work. We phoned our bank managers and quickly realised we should have worked harder at school! LOA 27ft 4in (8.3m), Beam 7ft 10in (2.4m), Draught 2ft 4in (0.7m), Disp 2.5T, CB292 44

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

The Norfolk Oyster These traditional GRP dayboats have more claim to kudos than most, forming as they do a local fleet in North Norfolk’s Blakeney Harbour, near where Nelson learned to sail. The class was designed by the late John Leather and their heavy weight means they don’t just look like a wooden boat, but they sail like one too. They are out in all sorts of weathers when lesser boats stay at their moorings. LOA 16ft 10in (5.1m), Beam 6ft (1.8m), Draught (plate up) 10in (0.3m), Disp 1,488lb (675kg), CB27

Madrigal 48ft 8in (14.9m) Fife III, 1939 Magda IV 53ft (16.1m) William Fife III, 1904 Magnolia 51ft (15.5m) William Fife III, 1909 Maidie 43ft (13m) FH Chambers Broads racer, 1904 Malabar X 58ft (17.7m) John G Alden, 1930 Maria 47ft (14.3m) Harris Bros ‘fast smack’, 1866/2007 Marianna 44ft (13.4m) Max Oertz-designed yacht, 1925 Mariette 108ft (33m) NG Herreshoff, 1916 Marigold 60ft (18.3m) Charles E Nicholson design, 1892 Marilee 59ft (18m) NG Herreshoff NY40-class yacht, 1926 Marion, 108ft (33m) AH Landseer Murray River steamer Mariquita 95ft 4in (29m) William Fife III 15-Metre, 1911 Marshall catboats 15ft-22ft (4.6m-6.7m) Breck Marshall Mary Helen 26ft 5in (8m) d John Tew, 1937 Maud Wherry 66ft (20.1m) Chas Hall of Reedham, 1900 Mercury 52ft (16m) Sam Crocker Mermerus 23ft 3in (7.1m) J Laurent Giles L-Class, 1933 Merrymaid 98ft 3in (30m) CE Nicholson, 1904 Mikado 42ft (12.8m) Fife III Clyde Linear 30, 1904 Mirelle 37ft (11.3m) W Maxwell Blake, 1937 Mirosa 75ft (22.9m) Thames Sailing Barge, John Howard, 1892

W i nifr ed

at a l a n t a

Historic cruising yacHt in near original appearance

large and powerful a&r ocean racer

loa: 16.50 m

M a sQu er a de

t i n to o V i

stepHens design replica endorsed by s&s

superb sparKman & stepHens sloop

loa: 14.75 m

a r ie t t a

sou t her n C ross

olle enderlein gentleman麓s coastal cruiser from 1963

1930 g.l. watson auxiliary KetcH

loa: 9.42 m

|Beam: 2.72 m |draft: 1.60 m |Price: EUR 68,000 |

|loa: 17.45 m |Beam: 4.09 m |dr aft: 2.30 m |Price: EUR 275,000

Member of t he Robbe & B erk i ng fa m i ly

YA C H T S

+49 (0)461 31 80 30 65 路 baum+koenig@classic-yachts.de 路 w w w.classic-yachts.de

HALL OF FAME FACT

123

are bermudan rigged

MIKE GARLICK

ONNE VAN DER WAL

DAN HOUSTON

Lone Fox

Maybird

Nika L6

This spring, when we thought winter would never end, our March issue had Lone Fox on its cover with a story by the great-great-grandson of the man whose yard built her in 1957, Alexander Robertson. The bermudan ketch was built for Colonel Whitbread who founded the Whitbread Round-the-World Yacht Race – and look what that started. Today, she’s a firm favourite in the Caribbean.

This is a classic ‘man meets boat’ story. Security consultant Darryl Hughes knew Maybird as a family boat sailing Australian waters in the 1990s and bought her and restored her on England’s South Coast. It was an exemplary job and today she looks great – curvy and husky and back sailing in Irish waters (she was built at Tyrells of Arklow).

Nika is a Russian Baltic offshore cruiser-racer designed by A Kiselev in St Petersburg (then Leningrad) in 1958. Between 1963 and 1978 110 of the 40ft 4in (12.3m) boats were built – mostly of pine on oak – and Nika, built in 1975, is one of the best examples. She is now owned by Vadim Manukhin, a professor at the Naval College in St Petersburg.

LOA 64ft (19.5m), Beam 13ft (4m), Draught 7ft 9in (2.4m), Disp 42T, CB297

LOA 43ft 7in (13.3m), Beam 10ft (3.1m), Draught 7ft (2.1m), Disp 16T, CB274

LOA 40ft 4in (12.3m), Beam 8ft 10in (2.7m), Draught 6ft (1.8m), CB274

CB 250 Miss Winifred 23ft 10in (7.3m), NG Herreshoff design, 1999 Mistelle 26ft (7.9m) Burnham Yacht Company, 1936 Moonbeam 95ft 4in (29m) Wm Fife III, 1920 Moonbeam of Fife 68ft (20.7m) William Fife III, 1903 My Alice 47ft (14.3m) Colne Smack, 1907 Myrtle 18ft (5.5m) Alfred Mylne, 1901 Mystery II 39ft (11.9m) Robert Clark, 1936 Naiad Errant 32ft (9.7m) d W Osborne, 1939 Nancy Blackett 28ft 3in (8.6m) David Hillyard 8-tonner, ex-Ransome, 1931 Nancy Grey 30ft (9.1m) barge yacht, d JW Shuttlewood of Paglesham, 1939 National Redwing 14ft (4.3m) d Uffa Fox, 1938 Nicholson 55 55ft (16.8m), Raymond Wall (C&N), 1970 Nordic Folkboat 25ft 2in (7.7m) Tord Sunden, 1942 Opera Class 16ft (4.9m) Hoylake SC (Wirral) flat-bottom class, 1902 Outlaw 48ft 5in (14.8m) Illingworth and Primrose, 1963 Partridge 49ft (14.9m) J Beavor Webb, 1885, restored over 20 years Peggy Bawn 36ft (11m) GL Watson-designed cutter, 1894/2005 Pen Duick 49ft 6in (15.1m) William Fife III gaff cutter, 1898 Penobscot Canoe 17ft 4in (5.3m), 1998, d Jerry Stelmok

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

NIGEL PERT

HENRI THIBAULT

RùM

Delphine

For as long as anyone can remember, classic yachts in the Med have raced to the CIM rule. It was only in 2012 though, that this radical, ‘flat-packed’ boat designed to travel from race to race in a container, burst onto the scene specially designed to race under CIM. She has no interior and her foam-sandwich build makes her very light. Straight out of the box, she was slaying Js.

If you wanted to ‘go big’ it would be hard to beat Delphine. She was built for car maker Horace Dodge in 1921 and during World War II, she was renamed USS Dauntless and hosted high-ranking officials and it’s thought the Yalta Treaty was written in one of her staterooms. Her two 1,500hp steam engines power her to 10 knots to this day.

LOA 43ft (13m), Beam 7ft 5in (2.3m), Draught 8ft 6in (2.6m), Disp 9,612lb (4,360kg), CB297

LOA 258ft (78.6m), Beam 36ft (11m), Draught 14ft 6in (4.4m), Disp 1,950T. Classic Superyacht supp, Summer 2011

www.eagle44.com Leonardo Yachts ďż˝e ďż˝etherlands +31 515 230 003 info@leonardoyachts.com Eagle 36 and Eagle 44 daysailers

Discover more at www.tnielsen.co.uk +44 (0)1452 301117

dare to dream. 92 MAIN STREET | BELFAST, ME | 04915 | 207-338-6636 | stephenswaring.com 48

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Rawhiti Rawhiti represents a superlative. Her designer was Arch Logan, New Zealand’s William Fife III if you like, and this 1905 gaff cutter, relaunched in 2012 after an exemplary restoration, is the pride of the NZ fleet. Her name, pronounced ‘ra-fit-tee’ is Maori for ‘sunrise’. LOA 54ft (16.5m), LWL 37ft 6in (11.5m), Beam 9ft 8in (3m), Draught 7ft 4in (2.2m), CB284

Buying a classic boat – particularly if it is your first – is a minefield of potential pitfalls. Thankfully, boat brokers are a pole apart from secondhand car salesmen – or at least the popular perception of them! We have yet to meet one who is not a sailor and boat owner in his or her own right. In Britain, Barney Sandeman (Sandeman Yacht Company), Peter and Richard Gregson (Wooden Ships) and Jim Dines (MJ Lewis) are among the brokers who have been matching customers to boats for as long as we can remember, while Gillian Nahum (above, Henley Sales and Charter) specialises in river boats new and old. The top end of the market is also catered for by international brokerages like YCO, Bernard Gallay and Edmiston.

CB ARCHIVES

GILLIAN CALVER

BROKERS

Gralian

EMILLY HARRIS

The epitome of the gentleman’s motor yacht, Gralian was bought by Jonathan and Helen Lewis to live aboard. A five-week tidy-up stretched to nine months of deep restoration (welcome to classic boats!), right down to the rotted hog, caused largely by rainwater ingress. The result, by Harbour Marine Services of Southwold, is an immaculate Saunders Roe Medina-class boat, replete with period features. LOA 45ft (13.7m), Beam 11ft (3.4m), Draught 4ft 6in (1.4m), CB280

CB 250 Pesa 51ft 6in (15.7m) Max Oertz 10-Metre yacht, 1911 Peter Duck 28ft (8.5m) d Laurent Giles and Partners, 1946 Pinuccia 46ft 8in (14.3m) Vincenzo Vittorio Baglietto, 1938 Pioneer 70ft (21.3m) only First Class Essex Smack, Harris of Rowhedge, 1864 Pride of Baltimore II 108ft (32.9m) Thomas C Gillmer, 1988 Providence 38ft 4in (11.7m) N Warrington Smyth, 1934 Provident 95ft (29m) Brixham Trawler, 1924 Pukka Belle 12-Ton Gauntlet, 36ft 9in (11.2m) Rodney Paul, 1937 Ragna R 53ft 3in (16.2m) Knud Reimers, 1937 Reaper 70ft (21.3m) J&G Forbes, 1902 Rebecca of Vineyard Haven 60ft (18m) Gannon & Benjamin schooner, 2001 Ripple 20ft (6.1m) Albert Strange-designed canoe yawl, 1937 Riva 38ft (11.6m) Charles Sibbick-designed cutter, 1892/1997 Riva Aquarama 28ft (8.5m), Carlo Riva’s most famous runabout, 1962 Rosina of Beaulieu Contessa 26, 26ft (7.9m) D Sadler/J Rogers Rowdy 59ft (18m) NG Herreshoff NY40 yacht very active at Med races, 1916 RS1 Colin Archer 45ft 9in (14m), Larvik Sabrina 26ft (7.9m) Harrison Butler, 1935 Sauntress 28ft (8.5m) Wright and Harris gaff cutter, 1913

DAN HOUSTON

BENJAMIN MENDLOWYTZ

Gondola

Kid II

Some things are so obvious you miss them. Nowhere in our top 250 list (see left) is the most instantly recognisable classic boat type in the world – the gondola! The photo above was taken on the lake at Beale Park near Reading in 2012. Building of these extreme craft has changed little in their millennium of existence and singular touches include building them deliberately lopsided to facilitate rowing by a single oarsman, as we discovered in CB296.

Kid II is a new wooden boat, launched in April 2009, but built to a design from 1907 by Gilbert Monroe Smith. She’s a P-Class design for the Long Island Sound Yacht Racing Association, built specially for the Great South Bay in New York State. This new boat was built by Donn Costanzo of Wooden Boatworks. She’s now a family dayboat in the very waters she was designed for – Great South Bay.

LOA 35ft 6in (10.8m), Beam 4ft 6in (1.4m), Disp 1,320lb (600kg). CB296

LOA 36ft 9in (11.2m), Beam 9ft 9in (3m), Draught 2ft 2in (0.7m) CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Galway School of Boat Building

‘traditional wooden boat builders and musicians’

New 28’ Whaleboat and 14’ Catboat

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Traditional wooden building and restoration Traditional wooden boatboat building and restoration from to 50' power and sailboats. fromskiffs skiffs to 50ft power and sailboats.

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Beetle Cat — Celebrating 92 Years

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3 Thatcher 3 Thatcher LaneLane WE OFFER Wareham, MA MA 02571 Wareham, 02571 New Boats • Used Boats • Storage • Parts TelTel: 508.295.8585 508.295.8585 • Repairs • Maintenance FaxFax: 508.295.8949 508.295.8949 BEETLE, INC. www.beetlecat.com www.beetlecat.com 3 Thatcher Lane

www.galwayschoolofboatbuilding.com (353) 861234701 Furbo, Spiddal, Co. Galway wwww.classicboat.co.uk or find us on facebook

Wareham, MA 02571 Tel 508.295.8585 Fax 508.295.8949 www.beetlecat.com

Harbour Marine Services Ltd incorporating Southwold Boat Yard

SPECIALISTS IN IN RESTORATION CRAFT SPECIALISTS RESTORATIONAND ANDREPAIR REPAIROF OFTRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL CRAFT Tel: 01 01502 Tel: 502 724721 724721Email: mail:info@harbourmarine.co.uk info@harbourmarine.co.ukwww.harbourmarine.co.uk www.harbourmarine.co.uk Blackshore Southwold IP18 Blackshore Southwold Harbour HarbourSouthwold SouthwoldSuffolk Suffolk IP16TA 8 6TA 50

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Saxonia Bawley 34ft 6in (10.5m), 1934 Scaffie 30-60ft (9-18m) Sea View One-Design 12ft (3.7m), 190-strong clinker OD fleet, 1931 Seabird 27ft 4in (7.5m) William Fife III, 2000 Selina King 35ft 10in (10.9m) Fred Shepherd, ex Arthur Ransome, 1938 Seraffyn 24ft (7.3m) Lin and Larry Pardey’s Lyle Hess cutter, 1968 Sharpie 19ft 8in, d Kroeger Brothers, 1931 Sif 19ft (5.8m) Memory Class, d Tony Robinson/RN Stone, 1979 Siris 48ft 5in (14.8m) Frank Morgan Giles 8-M, 1925 Slipper launch 25-30ft (7.6-9.1m) Andrews, Bourne End et al, 1930s-1950s Snippet (Humber Yawl) 28ft (8.5m) d George F Holmes, 1913 Truelight 35ft (10.4m) Sean Reney, 1922/1999 SMY Atlantide 115ft (35m), design Alfred Mylne, 1935 Solent Sunbeam 26ft 5in (8.1m) keelboat class, Alfred Westmacott, 1923 Solway Maid 52ft 7in (19.8m) William Fife III, 1940 Sopranino 19ft 8in (5.9m) Laurent Giles transat tabloid yacht, 1950 Sorella 27ft (5.8m), Dan Hatcher Itchen Ferry, world’s oldest yacht, 1858 South Coast One-Design 25ft 11in (7.9m), CA Nicholson, 1955 Spirit 46, 46ft 3in (14.2m) Sean McMillan and Mick Newman, 1996 Star Class 22ft 7in (6.9m) Francis Sweisguth Olympic keelboat, 1911 Stella 25ft 10in (7.9m) Kim Holman, 1959-1972

PETER MUMFORD, BEKEN OF COWES

CB 250

RAY LITTLE

Chough

Grayling

More and more people are realising how much fun you can have with a little yacht like this 1927 Albert Lukedesigned gaff sloop Chough. Her restoration, by owners David and Christine Hopkins, included some lovely touches like a paddle for a boom crutch, pebbles for ballast, and a cosy interior. Chough is a proper little yacht – old-timers would call her a ‘little big-un’!

The sun-scorched, Ballardian hell of new Valencia in 2008 is the last place you would expect to find something as beautiful as this hiding among ranks of white GRP motorboats. But Spanish marine fitter Rafa Carrio did just that when he found this Stones of Brightlingsea gaff cutter. Built in 1900 to a JF Clyne design, it’s now been restored and she sails without any electronics.

LOA 18ft 3in (5.6m), Beam 6ft 5in (2m), Draught 3ft 9in (1.2m), Disp 2.6T, CB296

LOA 37ft (11.3m), Beam 8ft 10in (2.7m), Draught 6ft 7in (2m), Disp 10T, CB243

KATHY MANSFIELD

NIC COMPTON

JEAN-CLAUDE ROSSO

Gloriana

Shannon OD

Biche

Lord Sterling’s project for a royal row barge for last year’s Thames Pageant nearly didn’t take off. Early plans in GRP by Norman Foster and BAE Systems proved unworkable. Enter Thames boatbuilder Mark Edwards and a pile of wood and, 22 weeks later, Gloriana was reality. On 3 June she led the show, testament to the oldest, and still the best, boatbuilding material on the planet.

This photo of a Shannon One-Design streaking across Ireland’s Lough Derg at double-figure speeds during the Irish Raid must count as one of our favourite images of classic sailing in 2012. The story, of how ex-Olympic sailor Cathy McAleavey forcibly apprenticed herself to grandmaster Jimmy Furey, a retired, octogenarian boatbuilder, to build the boat to a 1920 design by Morgan Giles, is even better. Read the story on page 78 – and about Jimmy Furey on page 96.

She’s the only so-called Dundee tunnyboat to have survived beyond the end of her French Atlantic tuna-fishing career (1957). She was saved in 2004 by the Friends of Biche, who raised £1 million to have her replanked, redecked, reframed and rerigged at Chantier du Guip in Brittany. Then she won two 2013 CB Awards for the boat and the yard. We hope to bring you more soon.

LOA 87ft 7in (26.7m), Beam 12ft 6in (3.8m), Draught 3ft (0.9m), Disp 11.1 T. CB290

LOA 18ft (5.5m), Beam 4ft 11in (1.5m), Draught 4ft (1.2m), Sail area 140sqft (13m2)

LOA 69ft 3in (21.1m), Beam 21ft 9in (6.7m), Draught 9ft 7in (3m), Disp 63T CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

NIC COMPTON

CB 250

Integrity What do you do when the stock of lovely Victorian yachts runs out? The answer came from Will Stirling in 2012 when he built Integrity. The larch-on-oak cutter won readers’ votes for the New Build (over 40ft) category in our 2013 Awards, not just for what she is (a thing of beauty) but for what she isn’t – another Pilot Cutter – though to be fair, we love them too. LOA 42ft (12.8m), Beam 11ft (3.4m), Draught 7ft 6in (2.3m), Disp 12T, CB292

PETER WILLIS

BOB GRIESER

Storm 26ft (7.9m) Bundock Brothers, 1910 Stormvogel, 73ft (22m) Van de Stadt/Giles/ Illingworth & Primrose, 1961 Stormy Petrel 40ft (12.2m) R & C Perkins Whitstable Oyster Smack, 1890 Stormy Weather 53ft 11in (16.5m) Olin Stephens inboard yawl, 1934 Suhaili 32ft (9.7m), d William Atkin, RKJ’s world-girdling yacht, 1964 Summer Cloud 39ft (12m) Cariacou Sloop, 1995 Sumurun 94ft (28.6m) William Fife III, 1914 Tahilla 60ft (18.3m) JI Thornycroft and Co Dunkirk Little Ship, 1922 Talisman 43ft (13m) Henry Rasmussen, 1919 Tamara IX 51ft (15.5m) Christian Jensen, 1933 Tar Baby 30ft (9.1m) Charles Nicholson, 1939 Tarifa 24ft 9in (7.5m) GU Laws, 1909 Tern IV 62ft (18.9m) Claud Worth, 1924 Thalia 44ft 9in (13.6m) GF Wanhill, 1889 The Blue Peter 64ft 6in (19.7m) Alfred Mylne, 1930 The Lady Anne 72ft (23m) William Fife III, 1912 Thelma 59ft (18m) Arch Logan, almost entirely original, 1898 Thendara 105ft 7in (32m) gaff-rigged ketch, Alfred Mylne and Co, 1937 Ticonderoga 72ft (21.9m) L Francis Herreshoff, 1936 Tom Tit 25ft (7.6m) Itchen Ferry yacht, AE Cave, 1894 Toy 37ft (11.3m) 6-Metre classic yacht, Gösta Kyntzell, 1938 Trivia 70ft 1in (21.4m) CE Nicholson, 1937 Tuiga 76ft (23m) 15-M William Fife III yacht belonging to Monaco Yacht Club, 1909 (see p6)

EMILY HARRIS

Fame

Damsel

Winnie Marie

So what does Mr America’s Cup like to sail in his own time? This delightful Crowninshield schooner is not Dennis Conner’s first classic yacht – that was the Q-Class Cotton Blossom II featured in CB201. Dennis restored Fame at breakneck speed in just four months to have her ready to celebrate her centenary in style in 2010. Soon after that she earned another accolade with our ‘Restoration of the Year’ award.

Like Greg Powlesland and Katie Fontana (the Nicholson yacht Patna, p41), Andy and Gina Hamilton did it all again as Damsel is the follow-up restoration to Zoe (CB289). At the time we described this labour of love as a project that was starting to look “dangerously like an addiction”. Peeling off the GRP that covered every exterior inch of the boat was like opening a can of worms. But the result is a beautiful butterfly.

“This is the sort of boat we should all have” is how broker/guru Peter Gregson of Wooden Ships Yacht Brokers in Dartmouth describes the West Solent One-Design or W Boat – the 1924 design by HG May. There have been many restorations over the years, but never a new boat to the class – until 2010 that is, when a new one was built by Peter Nash for Rev Mike Palmer and his wife Nettie.

LOA 40ft 6in (12.4m), Beam 8ft 1in (2.5m), Draught 5ft 8in (1.8m), Disp 5.8T, CB268

LOD 28ft (8.5m), Beam 8ft (2.4m), Draught 3ft (0.9m), CB293

LOA 34ft 6in (10.6m), Beam 7ft 6in (2.3m), Draught 5ft 1in (1.6m), Disp 4.4T, CB270

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

NeilThompsonBoats NeilThompsonBoats www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk NeilThompsonBoats

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www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk

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The Norfolk Oyster The Norfolk Oyster The Norfolk Oyster

The Norfolk Oyster is a 17’ gunter rigged centreboard dayboat, with simulated clinker hull, spruce and tan sails. Hercentreboard simple efficient rig ensures excellent The Norfolk Oyster spars is a 17’ gunter rigged dayboat, with simulated performance under sail in light or strong winds whilst her deep bow and ample clinker hull, spruce spars and tan sails. Her simple efficient rig ensures excellent freeboard make her immensely seaworthy. Both mainsail and jib have fixed reefing performance under is sail or strong whilst her deep bow ample The Norfolk Oyster a in 17’light gunter riggedwinds centreboard dayboat, withand simulated points (2 positions inimmensely mainsail, 1seaworthy. in jib) so that reducing sail is easily accomplished. freeboard make her Both mainsail and jib have fixed reefing clinker hull, spruce spars and tan sails. Her simple efficient rig ensures excellent A small(2cut-out in the transom1enables outboard motoristoeasily be fitted with ease. points positions insail mainsail, soan that reducing accomplished. performance under in light in orjib) strong winds whilstsail her deep bow and ample When not in use, this can be stowed in chocks in the large forward locker. A small cut-out the transom seaworthy. enables an Both outboard motor behave fitted withreefing ease. freeboard make in her immensely mainsail andtojib fixed The Norfolk Oyster is a perfect dayboat, combining the needs of small children When not in use, this can be stowed in chocks in the large forward locker. points (2 positions in mainsail, 1 in jib) so that reducing sail is easily accomplished. with those ofOyster keen sailing parents. A small cut-out in the enables ancombining outboard motor to beof fitted with ease. The Norfolk is transom a perfect dayboat, the needs small children We currently have two Norfolk Oysters for sale,inboth year’s warranty. When not inofuse, this can be stowed in chocks the with large1forward locker. with those keen sailing parents.

Dimensions Dimensions �� Dimensions ��

The Norfolk Oyster is aNorfolk perfectOysters dayboat, needs of small children We currently have two forcombining sale, boththe with 1 year’s warranty. with those of keen sailing parents. We currently have two Norfolk Oysters for sale, both with 1 year’s warranty.

Norfolk Urchin

Norfolk Oyster

Norfolk Gypsy

Norfolk Smuggler 25

Norfolk Trader 45 & 65

ANDREW CARTER

CB 250

HALL OF FAME FACT

Saunterer The restoration of this 1901 Sibbick-designed yawl by boatbuilder Guy Savage was achieved not by bucket loads of cash, but by resourcefulness, imagination and the good taste and help of his wife Chloe. And that’s a very good thing, because not only is she a stunning sight to behold with flush decks, overhangs and skylights, she’s also important, belonging as she did, to Captain Oates.

have no sails at all

LOA 47ft 8in (14.6m), Beam 10ft 8in (3.3m), Draught 7ft 6in (2.3m), Disp 20T, CB277

RICHARD JOHNSTONE-BRYDEN

EMILY HARRIS

Tumlare One-Design 27ft 3in (8.3m) Knud Reimers, 1933 Twister 27ft 8in (8.5m) d Kim Holman, 1963 Ulva Thames A-Rater 27ft (8.2m), 1893/2004 Undina 45ft (13.7m) Philip Rhodes, 1956 Vagabond 28ft 3in (8.6m) Linton Hopedesigned Thames A-Rater, 1907 Vanadis 67ft (20.4m) Kai Agerskov, oldest schooner yacht? 1868/2003 Vashti 37ft 3in (11.4m) Alan Buchanan, 1958 Venture 29ft 6in (9m) Albert Strangedesigned yawl, 1920/2007 Vertue XXXV 25ft 3in (7.7m) Jack Laurent Giles, 1950 Victory 28ft (8.5m) Falmouth Working Boat, 1884 Victory Class 20ft 9in (6.4m) CE Nicholson/ Sidney Graham, 1934 Viking ‘superyacht’ 100ft (30m), built 2004 Vim 69ft 7in (21.1m) Olin Stephens, 1939/2004 W-Class 76ft (23.2m) Joel White SoT sparring partners, 1998 White Moth 32ft (9.8m) J Pain Clark, 1903 Whooper 38ft 6in (11.8m) Jack Laurent Giles design, 1939 Wind Song 28ft (8.5m) Maurice Griffiths design, 1929 X One-Design 20ft 8in (6.3m) Alfred Westmacott, 1909 Zinnia 30ft (9.1m) Nigel Irens and Ed Burnett, 1998 Ziska 38ft 6in (11.8m) Crossfield Brothers, Morecambe Bay Prawner, 1903 Zoe 27ft (8.2m) Broads yacht, 1897

Rainbow

Lydia Eva

Jeløen

One hundred years ago, the East Anglian herring industry was at its peak, when 1,776 vessels landed 1.4 billion fish. Lydia Eva, though built in 1930, is our last tangible reminder of that amazing era. Her £1.2 million restoration means that her original Crabtree & Co engine is in steam once again.

Here is a spectacularly singular boat, certainly not made for mass appeal. Built in 1915 to a Copenhagen 5.5-Metre rule and designed by Wilhelm Schulze, a German living in Norway who was heavily influenced by Colin Archer, she was built by a wheelwright and has accommodation for four – but her ‘saloon’ is open! She was found by her owner Gabriel Lund in 1990 and he spent four years restoring her.

At the risk of sounding misty-eyed, it was a privilege to know Peter Freebody, who died in 2010. A fond memory is of him explaining the difference between bustle, beaver and cruiser sterns. Rainbow is a beaver-sterned launch built at Chertsey on the upper Thames in 1919 or 1920. Peter restored Rainbow over 10 months in 2007, down to her original Gardner petrol engine. The boat – and his yard – are still going strong.

LOA 21ft 7in (6.6m), CB267

LOA 35ft (10.7m). CB140

LOA 95ft (29m), Beam 20ft 6in (6.3m), Draught 9ft 8in (3m), CB289

Photographs of the 300 boats in our Hall of Fame are available at www.classicboat.co.uk 54

C/O PETER FREEBODY

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Peggy Bawn

36 ft GL Watson Gaff Cutter 1894

E300,000 Lying Denmark

PEGGY BAWN’s 2 year restoration, widely regarded as exceptionally authentic, is recognised in the almost unrivalled “Coefficient of Authenticity” in her CIM rating. Cruised and raced in the seven years following, she is noted for her perfect balance and good manners. Moreover easily rigged and sailed by two, this perfect Victorian cruiser racer offers a competent owner the opportunity to step back in time, into the shoes of her illustrious designer, who created her at the very peak of his career - the year after designing BRITANNIA for the Prince of Wales. Apart from her delightful clipper bow, her hull shape displays her as a miniature “Britannia”. .

Ierne

45 ft William Fife III International 8 Metre 1914

£310,000 Lying UK

Designed by William Fife III and built by the Fife yard in 1914 IERNE could be the ultimate First Rule International 8 Metre. Her rig is close to the 1914 original and an early example of a large Bermudan. Regardless of the International Rule and its complexity, there is a purity to this boat both in the treatment of her rebuild and her breathtakingly good looks. Since the completion of her restoration, she has been mainly in storage - and is a truly exciting prospect.

email: info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

33 High Street, Poole BH15 1AB, England. Tel: + 44 (0)1202 330077 www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

300 T H

GRIFF IN GOOLWA

ISSUE

SURVIVAL INSTINCT

Griff Rhys Jones was this year’s guest of honour at the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Sounds simple, but first he had to get there on board a paddle steamer. Here he recalls the extraordinary journey PHOTOGRAPHS JO RHYS-JONES

teve was direct: “You had better know this, Griff. We’ve won this thing twice in a row.” He gripped me by the shoulder with a meaty paw. “How handy are you exactly?” There is a moment when bravado slides like custard off the plate. “Exactly?” I paused. This was that moment. “Not at all.” I replied. “No, but you can handle a screwdriver and nails and that?” Not for the first time on my visit to Goolwa, South Australia, I found that television seemed to have exaggerated my maritime accomplishments. “No.” “No?” “No, I am afraid I’m not really capable at all.” I gulped. “If you want to win the Rough and Ready Build a Boat in Two Hours Using Nothing But Some Cable Ties and Sikaflex, I would recommend that you phone around your mates.” Steve’s bulk was a shadow against the overly bright Australian night starscape, but I sensed he was absorbing the information steadily, as only big men can. “Ha, ha, ha! Very funny. But we have to win this, you and me.” He clapped me on the back. “And we will.” He led me away, legs quivering, to discuss tactics with Dave, on his motorboat moored further up the wharf. It was the night before the grand South Australian Wooden Boat Festival. I was there as honoured guest. Three Men in a Boat the television series (not the better book of the same name) features me, Dara O Briain and the tireless Rory McGrath. The last two know nothing about boats. They hold warps like expired invertebrates. They stand idly by during imminent collisions. You know the type. As a result, even I come across as an authority. It’s an illusion of the plasma age. But it got me to Goolwa. Goolwa is aboriginal for elbow. Or maybe bend. Or perhaps wind. I heard several versions during my stay; though not from aboriginals. But Goolwa is not in Adelaide. This is an important consideration. “Have you seen our county town?” I was asked, at the pre-launch cocktail party. And to be honest, though I had flown in there, and though I had been

efficiently shaken down for dodgy fruit or processed foodstuffs, I had seen nothing of the town. It was dark and humid, a few buildings flitted by and Adelaide was left way behind as we sped on the road to Goolwa. I hadn’t read the instructions. It’s a flaw. Middle-aged men (and I am teetering on the far edge of that one) like to work our toys straight out of the box. And it was the same with this festival. I had assumed that Goolwa was a suburb of Adelaide. I had assumed that they wanted me to wave a ceremonial boathook by a couple of palm trees on the Adelaide beach. I had also assumed there was probably not much more to South Australia than Adelaide anyway. Yes, I am lucky to be alive to write this account, but then I never voiced that thought. Adelaide is the big, noisy city. “You don’t want that, Griff.” Goolwa is, according to several of its forcefully opinionated citizens, the toppermost place in the whole of Australia. “You want this, Griff.” They may be right. It is way across the Fleurieu Peninsula (named to remind the English that the French did a little bit of exploring around the southern coast of Australia too). Set amongst yellow hills and shaded trees, it is small, but it is exquisite and it is a boating paradise. I woke in a cottage in the heritage area of a small river port at the mouth of the Murray River. And I woke early. The first birds began whistling like steam pistons outside my window at 4am. These were magpies. When the galahs joined in, I got up and went for a run. I was in a green, tidy, watery place. Here was the settled collection of decent houses – architect-designed curvilinear abodes taking over from the tin-roofed bungalows. There was a great expanse of calm water, with the odd small marina, and a fetching green tin shed called the Armfield Slipway, and all around me these pale grey cockatoos, flashing their pink tummies were croaking and whistling and flapping. Ahh. The Murray River is a natural phenomenon but a modest one. It happens to be more than 3,750 miles (6,035km) long all in (with the Darling too), putting it

“It is small, but it is exquisite and it is a boating paradise”

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CAption se hse hserh werag ae gaw4t awe gawt sdfaersh xcvbsdfb dfg zdvzsd g

Griff travelled to the festival in true style on board the imperious three-storey paddle steamer Marion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of our top 300 classics

GRIFF IN GOOLWA

Above, clockwise from top left: wide open expanses of the Murray River; the Lower Murray River pennant; Marion at her mooring; the festival attracts boats of all shapes and sizes

up there to rival the Nile and the Amazon and the Mississippi, but it reaches the Southern Ocean in a series of heroic, shallow 50-mile-wide puddles and one gigantic sand dune. They built a port in 1853 but, after 12 shipwrecks in as many years, they decided that they had better build another one, in a more sheltered spot, further up the coast. That was Victor Harbour. They linked it by railway, and all the river traffic carrying Australia’s cotton and wool from way up-country disembarked at Goolwa, to make a final, short land crossing for getting back to Blighty and other markets. But the railway doomed the river; all gone now, as has so much river traffic all over the world. Here though, enthusiasts have kept the place open, restored the steam train and provided something for the visitor to see. Every two years they gather all the wooden craft on the lower Murray River in Goolwa and run up the Lower Murray River pennant – a beguiling mix of blue stripes, white stars and navy jack – and that’s the basis for the festival. I got to know this old man river quite well during my journey. We drove up to Mannum and boarded a paddle steamer for a three-day journey between the levees, chugging past parakeets and galloping cows. Marion had been built to carry wool, with a shallow-steel hull, side paddles and a teetering cake of a superstructure, which had been amended over the intervening years to carry passengers. You can go on her yourself if you get down that way. There are well-appointed hutches masquerading as cabins. Marion had lain in the dry dock as a museum exhibit, once her working life had ended, and then the locals decided they had to get her back on the river. It meant a ground-up restoration, once they got

her off the ground that is. Some of them were with us now as volunteer crew. We waltzed out into the muddy river, turned in a graceful arc and powered off in a haze of wood smoke. Despite her tall stacks she kept a comforting bonfirenight smell hanging about the passenger decks throughout the entire journey: past low, willow-clad banks, past the occasional settlement high on the cliffs to avoid the flood waters, and past dozens of raft-like floating houseboats moored up against landing points. Marion’s engine is a monstrous beast, sitting low on the hull but exposed to the air and flanked by the wheels, enclosed in separate bulkheads. She gobbles up wood at the rate of half a ton an hour. Heavy stuff too. “Have you got asbestos hands,” asks the engineer. “Er… no.” “Then you’ll need gloves.” The latch is tiny: the round door swings open and inside is the inferno of light and flame, which flickers and dances about like a captured spirit. The logs are plain enough in serried rows. That’s the trick: to lay them squarely one above the other in a stack of chips, so I naturally lob in mine, over-excitedly and inexpertly, so it sits across, instead of on, the pile, and I have to reach for the poking stick and poke it into place. It sits placidly alongside the others, not crunching up and banking down like coals, but seemingly indifferent and holding its shape, while this will-o’-the-wisp blast of flame cavorts around the boiler interior. And of course it’s so bright you can see every rivet and bump, the whole cavernous interior glowing with light. Though why I imagined it would be dark in there, God alone knows. The towns are quiet. Murray Bridge was little more than that – a long iron bridge and a few shops and a

“She gobbles up wood at the rate of half a ton an hour”

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massive new shopping centre, but mostly a bridge. Further up the river, we made the mistake in Wellington of asking for the high street. “Well, there’s a service station just up the road that way,” replied the startled woman in the café. When we returned to our boat we had been joined by other paddle steamers, smaller ones, rounder ones, more like shallow plates with stern paddles. Amphibious, a new build with a fine dining room and sweet stainedglass-windowed accommodation, had been keeping station all the way. Early on our final morning, as we chugged off to cross Lake Alexandrina, we were a flotilla of paddle-powered magnificence. So now we were signed on as volunteer crew for insurance purposes, standing by to man the bilge pumps if the teetering construct should start to ship water, but the skipper had timed his passage well. The fearful lake was a millpond. “People exaggerate,” the engineer told me as another ton or so of Australian gum tree came off the log piles and into the boiler. “In the old days these ships would simply moor up by the bank and cut their own fuel. But the council owns her now so we never lack the stuff.” The town council of Mannum has to chop down overhanging branches and clear garden waste for its citizens and now it is all recycled and sent down to the wharf to fuel their floating pride and joy. We were joined for the final push by Oscar W, another large passenger paddler, and the pride of Goolwa itself. She was similarly hungry for timber. Part of the deal that got Marion to the festival at all, was that she would be provided with 12 tons of the wood to get her back. I feared for some of the other vessels. Luckily, Goolwa has avenues to clear as well. As we navigated the shallow creeks round the back of Hindmarsh Island, we were now in the lower reaches of

Clockwise from above: PS Oscar W navigates her way down the Murray River; fuelling Marion’s massive wood-fired boiler; Amphibious shows off her glorious wooden decks

GRIFF IN GOOLWA

the Murray. We were now six paddle steamers: Marion, James Maiden, William Randall (modern and built by a carpentry teacher), Flender Himnel (after the name on the gearbox), Oscar W (1908 and river workhorse) and the Kilawarra (aboriginal for black swan). Each blew very impressive steam whistles. If we’d tooted in sequence we might even have been able to formulate a tune, but otherwise this was magnificence. And I observed that the rest of the festival had now pretty well assembled in our absence, as Marion cautiously sat waiting and calculating her approach to the shallow waters by the dock. In one way we were fortunate there was any water at all. Three years ago the drought got so severe that the lake and the creeks receded. Australia is a federation so there is surprising rivalry amongst the states, nowhere more so in river management, apparently: “What falls in Queensland stays in Queensland,” the locals cried, 2,000 miles (3,200km) upriver. The levels of extraction, always high, had effectively drained the flow, especially to grow rice apparently. Nothing reached Goolwa in South Australia. It all went over to the cotton and into the cows in another state altogether, and Canberra was powerless to intervene. The dock where dozens of wooden cruisers were now mooring up had been but dry sand. With the return of water the festival organisers had restored the entire place. Two hundred wooden vessels had been summoned to display their brightwork; and this in a climate where varnish gives up after a couple of months’ feeble protest. I hurried down to perform my official duties. A thunderous roar from rattling cups of macchiato in the harbourside café indicated that a wooden planing powerboat, driven by some sort of truck engine and built in the late Sixties to break speed records, was charging up and down the harbour. I never saw the thing. But I heard it. I talked about my boats in the theatre. I bought raffle tickets for a wooden dinghy built at the Armfield Slipway and then gave them away. (I once won a pig at a Suffolk fête, by bowling recklessly. It was a Wicker Man moment and best not repeated.) I admired the model

launches made with real silver dorades and planked decks. And then I entered the boatbuilding competition. We had a transom. We even had a bulkhead. I did my bit with the drill. I clamped cable ties around our length of ply. We manufactured paddles and a sturdy mast. I even fashioned a lug rig. All this, and I slipped in an interview with Adelaide local radio. It seemed a sturdy enough vessel to me. We launched her off the beach the following day and strictly adhered to the rules, unlike some of our fellow contestants. There was supposed to be a sailing leg, so I persuaded Steve to sail out. With Steve in control we caught a wind. I thought we were going slowly and then I discovered that we were towing the Goolwa firemen. But when my sail filled we bounded away, though not in the direction that we should have been bounding. She was not an easy boat to steer or put about. And then she sank. There is a moment in every sailor’s life when he has to recognise that the vessel he is in is more water than vessel. It is particularly disconcerting to be paddling a totally submerged plywood barque in the very water in which you are sitting. Steve was undoubtedly right. Had we paddled out and sailed back we might have been in better control of our fate. But I had probably made too many holes and tied too many cable ties for that to happen. We stepped ashore to warm congratulations and cold beer. Luckily another Brit won (Alec Jordan, there to sell Iain Oughtred boat kits). And there’s always next year. Well, not exactly. The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival is a biennial event. They’re hoping to get Rory McGrath over for the next one. God help them.

“We were a flotilla of paddle-powered magnificence”

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Above: the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival at Goolwa always draws a sizeable and appreciative crowd. Below: Griff and Steve’s self-made boat breaks up, bringing their efforts to an unfortunate end

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original thinking From racing schooners to cool cutter yachts, the market for replicas is on the up. Here, we look at the key players and the naval architects best placed to create the classic of your dreams

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300 T H

t is inevitable that anyone with an interest in classic yachts will eventually contemplate replicas. It’s clearly not for everyone, but even if the idea holds no appeal to you personally, there are quite a few already in existence, and rumours abound of new ones in build. Joshua Slocum’s Spray may be the yacht that has been recreated most often and with the greatest variations in authenticity. The fact that Slocum only took her because she was all he could afford, and not because of any intrinsic fitness for the journey, doesn’t seem to deter generation after generation charmed by his laconic style and courageous spirit. That he and Spray were eventually lost at sea doesn’t seem to get mentioned much, either. Fortunately, there are numerous examples of yachts that are better fit for purpose and perhaps more worthy of replicating to sail again. Britannia, a replica of the 1893 GL Watson racing cutter, is now in Cowes since her extraordinary creation by Sigurd Coates in Archangel, Russia. Coates employed an Oslo-based yacht designer to do some preliminary drawings, who appears to have redrawn the lines plan published by Uffa Fox, and the shipyard did the rest. Numerous Britannia replicas have been mooted over the years, but so far this is the only hull actually constructed. Coates doggedly pursued his dream for years; now sold to American owners it remains to be seen if his creation will ever sail, but it will be spectacular if she does.

Main image: Peter Wood’s majestic gaff schooner Sunshine, faithfully recreated from a 1901 design by William Fife III

BEKEN OF COWES

PEOPLE WITH PASSION Peter Wood was another man with a dream; but he executed it rather differently. His passion was for Sunshine, a 1901 design by William Fife III (left). He did the necessary research and went out to Burma where he and his team faithfully recreated the graceful gaff schooner. Launched in 2004, he sailed her back from the Far East to the Mediterranean without incident, and such was his approach to authenticity that she is now accepted at the most prestigious classic regattas. Another man with dreams is Ed Kastelein, who is in a league of his own when it comes to building replicas. After building his homage to Errol Flynn’s Zaca, he took on a replica of Westward, the great Herreshoff schooner. He called his version Eleonora and she has been a prominent feature of the classic-yacht scene under her current owner, Zbynek Zak. Having sold Eleonora, Ed then built a highly authentic replica of the 1903 three-masted Gardner schooner Atlantic, a truly iconic yacht for many; he’s also finding time to have the hull of another Herreshoff schooner, Ingomar, built in Holland (see Yard News on page 100). Eleonora must also have been a factor in the decision to build a replica of her near-sistership Elena, which was launched in northern Spain in 2009 and is now kindling CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

left: tIM WRIGHt; RIGHt and top RIGHt: c/0 bRItannIa

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a new rivalry between the two Herreshoff masterpieces. Germania Nova, a replica of the 1908 Max Oertz schooner Germania, was also completed in the same yard for a German owner, although she has been coy about joining any racing to date. So a few passionate people, with means to follow their dreams, have allowed the rest of us to appreciate these large and beautiful yachts beyond the sepia images of Beken and Rosenfeld. With less emphasis on authenticity, over the past few years there has also been a slew of replica and recreated J-Class yachts. Having long since abandoned the original Universal Rule, the modern versions are arguably more Kardashian than Hepburn, but they obviously appeal to some of the mega-wealthy and provide the rest of us with some spectacular racing. Hanuman, based on Endeavour II, joins the three ‘survivors’ (Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock V, all heavily restored), modern replicas of Ranger and Rainbow, and Lionheart, a new boat based on one of the models developed for Ranger; and there are three others rumoured to be in the pipeline. Five of the class met recently in what was heralded as an historic meeting. Modern Js typically have bigger rigs, 64

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more displacement, and are longer and more powerful than the original yachts. It hardly matters to the megamillionaires and their professional crews playing in the St Barths Bucket Regatta, but to many the relegation of the authentic in the quest for performance is a sadness, which risks making a mockery of the notion that there is really anything historic about it. With the large gaff-rigged replicas though, the approach is quite different because the emphasis is on the aesthetic – not performance per se. Most of this group of yachts were recreated with reasonable attention to authenticity. Some changes are inevitable when trying to integrate modern systems and accommodate guests and crew, but the overall impression is usually pretty good. CIM, the committee that wrote the rule controlling much of the classic racing in the Mediterranean, has played an important part in determining what constitutes an acceptable replica. The English version of the rule is perplexing in places, but the rule regarding replicas requires “the hull must respect the lines (including waterlines), type of construction and structure of the original project”, and that the whole yacht conforms closely to the original plans, which must be available.

Above left: J-Class boats in action at St Barths in April. Clockwise from above: Britannia, viewed stern to bow; plans for the luxurious interior; the original racing cutter at sea

BEKEN OF COWES

The resulting “authenticity coefficient” can match that of a vintage or classic yacht, which has been heavily but sympathetically restored; which is also ironic, given that many of the yachts heralded as authentic restorations appear practically speaking to be replicas. So there are several yachts on the circuit that are complete rebuilds with new materials; it was only the presence of the original yacht at the outset of the project that made it a ‘restoration’ rather than a replication. A restoration is superior to a replica in these terms because a restored boat is still eligible for an age allowance under the CIM rule, regardless of the proportion of original material in her hull; whereas a replica takes the year of launch (regardless of the design year). The age parameter is a powerful factor in the rule: the coefficient varies from -0.175 (1880) to +0.045 (1975), with corrections for older or younger boats if needed. So, for example, if someone decided they wanted to build a replica of the 19-Metre Norada or Octavia to race against Mariquita under CIM rules, their replica would carry an immediate penalty, despite the fact that Mariquita’s hull, keel, deck and rig were all renewed in 2004. Mariquita’s age parameter is -0.128 (launched 1911) giving her an

Left: sail plan of GL Watson’s famous Vril. She would be an obvious design to recreate

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Red 1886 Designer

GL Watson Length

19ft (5.8m) LWL

18ft 1in (5.5m) beam

6ft (1.8m) saiL area

C/0 gL Watson

313sqft (29.1m2)

Above: Red, an 1886 19ft (5.8m) Clyde Class, is a replica currently being built by the pioneer of such craft, Hubert Stagnol in Brittany, who is best known for his replicas of the Fife 1889 Seagull, which he calls Seabirds

allowance of 43.3 seconds per mile; if the replica was launched for the 2014 season, say, the parameter would be 0.084; if every other rating element were exactly the same, that would mean a 20-second-per-mile handicap against the replica. It may not be entirely a coincidence that Mariquita is still the only 19-Metre on the circuit. That’s not the only reason that large-scale replicas are still rare; most people seem to prefer the idea of a yacht with genuine historical provenance. Replicas are an acquired taste, evidently; and usually the result of one person’s dream and a lot of money. Nobody actually needs a yacht; and that is even more true of a large replica, and not just because of the crew wage bill. Replicas of smaller classic dayboats and more modest yachts are, however, very common in the US, especially on the East Coast; but notably less so in Europe. One reason may be in the treatment of their yachting archives. Take the MIT Museum’s Hart Nautical Collections as an example. This includes the HaffenrefferHerreshoff archive of more than 14,000 plans; one of the largest and most significant archives of yacht designs. For a few dollars anyone can buy copies of the drawings

for fixed and published fees. Not only that, but the terms of access positively encourage people to build a yacht from any of the designs; the cost is a modest $20 per foot of waterline length up to 20ft (6.1m) LWL, and $50 per foot over 20ft LWL. There are plenty of other sources of information, too; the Herreshoff legacy is alive and very much kicking, it seems, and design lists and notes on most of the commoner classes are easily available online. Leafing through any copy of WoodenBoat magazine, it’s clear that professionals and amateurs alike are turning out dozens of replica dayboats and small yachts every year; the March/April edition alone featured replicas of Buzzard Bay 14, 18 and 25s, a Watch Hill 15, a Gil Smith catboat, plus many others in the classified adverts. The standard of most of the builds looks very high; and the general level of wooden boatbuilding interest and education looks very buoyant. The popularity of Herreshoff designs is complemented by others, too, including Crowninshield, Alden, Luders and the like. There is even one American yard offering replicas of William Fife’s 15ft (4.6m) LWL Belfast Lough OneCLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

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Panope

Designer

Alfred Mylne nAvAl Architect

Design from 1897. These types of dayboats are often stepping stones from dinghies to larger yachts, provide a great sailing experience in their own right, and give employment for several small boatyards and dozens of boatbuilders. It’s assisted by a more inclusive and informal approach to rating for racing too; replicas are very rarely penalised. The Oyster Bay Summer Classic series is pretty typical: any yacht designed or constructed before 1980, including replicas, are welcome, and their pursuit races are handicapped in light of performance. Sparkman & Stephens are another good example of how the American approach is different. S&S has an awe-inspiring back catalogue, and an ongoing design studio. They have been happy to publish plans of some of the most significant yachts that Olin Stephens and others drew, plus drawings, photographs and histories. There doesn’t seem to have been a rash of dodgy GRP versions of Stormy Weather as a result; if anything, the studio and Olin’s already stellar reputation have been enhanced by the sheer volume and quality of the work, and in turn the design office offers services to owners and would-be owners drawn to their site. The drawings are housed at the Mystic Seaport Museum, with access terms for the S&S drawings and their many other important collections much like the MIT. What is clear is that the majority of the American archives are easily accessible and treated as an historic resource to be used; and much of the very best is available to boatbuilders and dreamers alike. Archives in the UK vary. The National Maritime Museum (NMM) does an excellent job administering its huge collection of ship and yacht plans, but there is a mass of historically more important material that understandably takes priority, so there is little searchable online content. William Fife III’s peerless design archive is split; Fairlie Yachts in Hamble holds the bulk of the lines plans,

Mylne Yacht Design interior Design

Malcolm Duffin Design length

97ft 7in (29.8m) beAm

19ft (5.8m) DrAught

12ft (3.7m) sAil AreA

3,767sqft (350m2) DisPlAcement

91 tonnes

general arrangement drawings and sail plans, and the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine also has a good collection. Sadly, funding for the SMM has always been tight and the staff, mostly volunteers, do what they can, but neither collection is easily accessible. Fairlie Yachts’ current website concentrates on their new range of ‘Spirit of Tradition’ designs. There is no catalogue of designs or plans list, no images of the original plans, and no guidance on how to access plans or costs; just some small black-and-white photographs and a few lines of rather discouraging text, for the most part, of large yachts. It is clear the company expects to be commissioned to build your chosen design and the emphasis is more

Below: Rainbow, one of GL Watson’s famous schooners, which could be built to sail again

c/0 gl WAtson

Panope was a successful racing and cruising schooner designed by Alfred mylne and built by camper & nicholsons in gosport in 1927. lost in the 1970s, her lines represent a very attractive recreation opportunity and a very useful size. With dimensions that allow her to operate under the mcA scv charter code rather than lY2, if you want to operate this yacht commercially then you will not find a finer example of original beauty. lines from mylne, but also at the nmm.

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ANMM/GL WATSON

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Above left: Spray’s lines have been copied several times. Above right: the Buzzards Bay 18 design is easily available in America

towards new designs – at the top is a houseboat. There are, however, new renderings of four older Fife designs: one 1930s cruising yacht with a modern rig, two 1890s Raters and a 65ft 6in (20m) 1911 motor yacht. Fairlie is also just promoting a 15-M design, Maudrey, to sail with the other 15s like Tuiga (see p6). But the brochure does not mention her LOA or draught. It’s a shame to have an archive of that quality effectively sitting idle and unknown; there must be plenty of lovely wee designs that could be rebuilt to delight again? It may be that the company needs to concentrate on the larger yachts, which are obviously more profitable; however, there are several companies in the US that manage to do both the large and the small; and the benefits in terms of balancing workload and raising the general profile of the yard seem to work. Even if Fairlie has no interest in building smaller boats, they could perhaps offer study plans for others to do so. Enthusiasm for classic boats, antique or replica, is hardly so commonplace that it makes sense to ignore the smaller boats or more modest customer; anyone selling cars knows if they like their first supermini, one day they may well end up in your executive limo. Brand loyalty and trading up works in yachting too, but it’s not a concept we seem to extend to classics for some reason.

buried in the archives GL Watson & Co, who are mainly a design studio and therefore have different priorities to Fairlie, showcase five yachts (one of them is the 15-M Istria designed by CE Nicholson), and there are some downloadable brochures and description of the extensive archive. But again there’s no direct access, design list or catalogue of plans; it’s not easy to find inspiration unless you are interested in one of the yachts they have on show. “We are sitting on 1,048 plans at the moment so we do have a lot of old paper,” says William Collier, MD of GLW. “And we would lose control if we put it all up on the website. But people are welcome to come and talk to us and we’d be more than happy to help. We can also QA [quality assure] designs, so for instance with Vril we have lined up a builder willing to build her for about £250,000.” 70

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A GL Watson project currently in build is the 1886 design Red (described as the first one-design yacht), scheduled for launch at the end of June 2013. Red, which is for sale, is being built by Hubert Stagnol, who has built strip-plank versions of two William Fife designs from the 1880s, Seabird and Fyne. The third part of the trio of great Scottish designers, Mylne & Co, has a similar approach, but here you do get a copy of the Mylne design list, with the main dimensions and a brief description of each yacht. Toying with the idea of a 30ft (9.1m) gaff cutter? Then take a look and see what they have to tempt you. Sadly, thumbnail images of every drawing in the archive seem to have been taken down. At least amongst their suggestions for replication there are some period drawings and good details; but nothing on costs. They are all pretty large yachts (the smallest is the longest 12-Metre ever built, apparently), so if you have to ask, then you probably can’t afford it. However, for a company that is willing to sell plan copies of more modest designs, it’s not obvious enough. Laurent Giles’ archive site takes the plaudits though. This site has a list of 650 designs, with thumbnail images and basic information, and clicking on a yacht that tickles your fancy will tell you what information is available, and what it costs. Stock plan sets, study plans, plus fees to permit a replica to be built – it’s all there. When you see Laurent Giles’ approach though it is even more baffling why some companies make it so hard to find out about what information they actually hold. The market for replicas in Europe is still tiny, but the American model shows what can happen with the right approach. We do, after all, have a great variety of fine, reasonably sheltered waters tailor-made for dayboats: the Clyde, Falmouth, Poole, the Solent… There is some stigma attached to replicas in Europe, and it might best be challenged by encouraging smaller boats to be built. Nobody falls in love with a design if it’s left collecting dust locked up in a plans chest. In a digital age archives can, and should be, more accessible than ever; then it would be much easier to introduce a new generation to the charms of sailing a classic yacht.

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Photo: Sue Kent

The classic racing keelboat

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Ask about boats for sale, join a syndicate or crewing. Come for a trial sail. Enjoy the Sunbeam experience www.solentsunbeam.co.uk Tel: 07836 768225 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

S Above: Fixitor carves through the water with grace and speed. Right: Fixitor, alongside Knight Errant, at last year’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant 72

o what has the hull of a yacht, the back of a turtle and a link to the 1908 Olympics powerboat class? Oh, and Art Nouveau design cues, together with a very shiny engine. The answer is Fixitor. Except that this is less of an answer than a label attached to a resilient enigma. Fixitor, not her original name, came out of retirement at the Thames Traditional Boat Rally in 2009, where she was up for auction as little more than an engineless hulk, with a starting price of £400. She was spotted by Stephen Messer, who now knows more about her than anyone else. Stephen is a partner in Classic Restoration Services, the Thames-based business started 17 years ago by his better-known brother Colin, owner (until very recently, but that’s another story) of the Dunkirk Little Ship Mimosa. One of their major customers is international industrialist and collector of boats, as well as cars and buses, Wint Taylor, who owns the cabined slipper launch Knight Errant. On seeing Fixitor, Stephen’s first thought was to call Wint to come down and have a look. They were struck by a number of things, as Wint explains: “All of the

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

fastenings on the hull planks under what was left of the paint were very carefully doubled-up and in line – not a regular feature unless the boat is of very high quality. She had a very lightweight construction and so we fancied she was built for speed. There was not a straight plane anywhere on the deck and she had this very special organic Art Nouveau design style and would have been difficult to design, not to mention build. All the fittings were custom cast bronze and of irregular shape, some of which puzzled us, and of incredibly high quality.” There being no other bids, Wint bought Fixitor for the £400 asking price and sent her off to Colin and Stephen’s yard at Windsor, where she rested for a few years before being restored in time for last year’s (cancelled) Thames Trad, and to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. In the meantime, Stephen set to work to uncover more about her identity. He quickly found out that, despite her sleek dimensions, at some stage she had been converted to a cabin cruiser. Stephen’s research included going back through every issue of Motor Boat & Yachting to 1904, as well as other titles, initially at the

SPEED SENSATION Welcome to the fabulous Fixitor – thought to be the world’s oldest speedboat, brought back to life with a concours-condition rebuild

Motorboat Museum in Basildon and then, after it closed, at the Classic Boat Museum on the Isle of Wight, checking every picture and news item for clues. With the dimensions of Fixitor – 25ft 7in (7.8m) long and 5ft 10in (1.8m) wide, he also went through the Lloyd’s Register for boats that matched. “I shortlisted 30 boats. There are seven I’ve never traced, but I identified and eliminated all the others,” says Stephen. He has also received suggestions that she might be an airborne lifeboat, which she clearly isn’t. In fact, he’s become quite an expert on the type of boats Fixitor definitely is not. So what is she then? “We think she’s the oldest speedboat in the world,” says Stephen. Older than Jazz, the 1912 speedboat in the Cowes museum, and older even than Seaport, Maine’s 1905 French example, currently kept in “deep storage” awaiting the funds for a full restoration. He is certain that Fixitor was a reliability trials boat from around 1900-1902, built prior to the first Harmsworth Trophy of 1903. “There are loads of reliability trials photos from this time, and it’s clear that she’s one of this type,” adds Stephen.

CAPTURE THE EVENT

STORY PETER WILLIS PHOTOGRAPHS CLASSIC RESTORATION SERVICES

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

FIXITOR

Above, clockwise from top left: it might look bad but 90 per cent of the hull has been retained; don’t be fooled – not one straight line here; the finished hull in all its British Racing Green glory; varnishing the turtleback decks. Right: powered deck hatches open up to reveal the stunning engine

Distinguishing features include the underwater hull shape, “basically a sailing-boat shape, minus the deep keel – that was what designers were used to drawing”, and a cast, faired rudder “like an aeroplane wing”. Then there are the turtleback decks, fore and aft when the boat was found. They may have covered the centre section originally and been cut away for the cabin to be inserted; equally, Stephen believes there may have been an opening for the engine. “The early trials boats had tall engines, with long strokes, protected with a canopy or a removable hardtop. One or two had a fully covered deck, as we’ve given Fixitor.” One of the most puzzling details eventually proved to be one of the most positive identifiers: a bronze hole right at the stem, leading down to a fixing on the keel. “It was a towing point. All the reliability trials boats had them, since the engines were not in fact all that reliable.” Stephen, who now knows a lot about “little signature details that build up into a stronger picture”, now believes that the builder was Thornycroft, or possibly Maynards of Chiswick, which was next door to Thornycroft on the Thames, and that the designer was more than likely to be James A Smith. But the most exciting find was when they removed the brass rubbing strip. Beneath it were remnants of dark green paint, a methanol enamel used around the turn of the century. The significance of this is quite considerable. The 1908 Olympics included powerboat races – the only Games to do so – and Thornycroft supplied three boats, all called Gyrinus (named appropriately after a genus of

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

small aquatic beetle) and a driver, Isaac Thomas Thornycroft, who won gold in two classes. The colour chosen for the British boats was a distinctive dark green, that went on to become known in motor racing as British Racing Green. Could Fixitor have been an Olympic Gold Medal winner? It’s highly possible. When the restoration commenced, the hull, mahogany on oak, was found to be “not too bad”. They replaced all the timbers through the middle section, but only 30ft to 40ft (9.1m to 12.2m) of the planking needed replacing. In fact, 90 per cent of the hull is still original. The decks, however, did need replacing and presented Stephen and Colin with a major challenge thanks to their tight curves, as did the hull planking into the canoe stern.” A long process – two days per plank – and one I don’t think anyone on the Thames has done in ages. For the hull finish, they went to the American paint manufacturer Pettit. “It’s the best enamel paint we’ve used. It’s brushed on but it looks like spray.” Naturally they’ve chosen a shade close to British Racing Green. The engine – well, there wasn’t one, so some choices had to be made. “We looked at getting an appropriate turn of the century engine,” says Stephen, “but they are very dangerous and liable to blow up. People have got killed. Wint wanted it to be petrol and, as it happened, we had a couple of 30hp Morris Vedettes in the yard, so we handed one over to Wint’s car restorer, Tim Walker Restorations. It’s fabulous with stove-enamelled blocks and stainless-steel washers polished to a mirror finish – it must have taken them hundreds of hours.

FIXITOR

Fixitor Length

25ft 7in (7.8m) beam

5ft 10in (1.8m) draught

2ft 10in (0.9m) engine

1960 1500cc Morris Vedette producing 30hp at 4,000rpm speed

max 15 knots

Two deck hatches now enable the engine to be displayed in all its glory and Stephen has added a couple of “flash” features – the covers lift hydraulically and there is an LED lighting system for maximum impact. As for the cost of the restoration, he admits he doesn’t know. He and Colin normally work to a quote on restorations – “and we’ve never ever exceeded it”. But Wint is a perfectionist “who wants everything done to the highest level”. Stephen’s guess is around £100,000, with half of that going on the engine. Fixitor’s original speed would have been around 12-14 knots, but Stephen and Colin have tested her on the water up to 15 knots. Her debut was the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant last year – not her first such event; she took part in the Coronation Pageant in 1953 and again in the 1977 Silver Jubilee Pageant. So four weeks before the event was not the best time for problems to show up in the hull finish. “We came down one morning and it had started to blister. Horrible – it looked like acne,” says Colin. It meant they had to strip the hull back to bare wood and adopt a more traditional method using primer, filler and sanding. “It’s long-winded but it allows the hull to move a bit, makes it much more usable,” says Colin. Fixitor finally went in the water just three or four days before the Pageant. “Her sea trials were basically going downriver to the marshalling area at Headington,” says Stephen. For the Pageant itself, she had to, and did, maintain the required 4mph on the river, and the only problem – apart from the rain – was a pin in the steering, which sheered during the event, and was fixed en route. Another went, and was dealt with, on the return journey upriver after the Pageant. Her next outing is scheduled to be this year’s Thames Traditional Boat Rally at Henley, 20-21 July. The plan is to display Fixitor ashore and on the water. Either way, she should be quite a sight. 76

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Cruiser chronicles Fixitor spent more than half her life as a small cabin cruiser. she was discovered as such in 1946 in a garden in Fleet, hampshire, where she’d been lying for 10 years, by ann hawkins’ late husband michael. the conversion appears to have been of some considerable quality – 3/8in plate-glass windows that wound right down into the hull. the hawkins fitted a 4hp stuart turner marine engine and a generator from a Fairmile launch to save on still-rationed petrol. they also installed hotchkiss Cone weed-resistant internal propellers. “We used to go to rallies and decorate her with animated fairy lights,” says ann, now in her eighties. “at the silver Jubilee pageant in 1977 we made [bbC commentator] brian Johnston lose his script when we passed under maidenhead bridge.” Fixitor is the only boat to have plaques from all three pageants: Coronation, silver Jubilee and diamond Jubilee. they sold her in about 1996 to a man from richmond, and then Fixitor ended up, without cabin, in dennett’s yard at Laleham. ann helped the new owners identify what was left of her. “You can’t spend 45 years painting the bottom of a boat without recognising her,” she says.

Above, clockwise from top left: vintage Morris Vedette engine restored to concours condition; cabin fitted out and awaiting instruments; freshly painted hull; single screw propeller

Left: Fixitor in her early days complete with the cabin conversion

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CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Onboard PROJECT SOD

300 T H

CRUISING . SEAMANSHIP . EQUIPMENT U IS S E

IN AT THE DEEP END Former Olympic sailor Cathy McAleavey swaps the helm for a boatbuilding apprenticeship. Recipe for disaster? Find out here STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS NIC COMPTON

Right: Cathy with her daughter Claudine during the first Irish Raid last year

cathy mcaleavey

t will come as no surprise to learn that the lady on board this Shannon One-Design dinghy is no stranger to water. Her name is Cathy McAleavey and she competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as one half of Ireland’s entry in the 470 class – the first-ever women’s sailing event in the history of the Games. Since then she has continued to race competitively, both in Lasers and her own Water Wag, Mollie, number 41. “One of the really nice things about the Water Wag class is that we race on a Wednesday evening with an average of 22 boats on the water,” says Cathy. “The main classes race on Thursday and Saturday so quite a few people sail other classes, hence we have some really good sailors in the fleet. It is also nearly a 50/50 gender mix, which is pretty cool as we are the oldest one-design class in the world.” After many years of serious racing and social sailing Mollie needed a repair, so Cathy decided to contact the boat’s original builder Jimmy Furey (see full story on page 94). The once-legendary craftsman from County Roscommon in Ireland was by then in his mid-eighties and had retired from work, but agreed to have a look at Cathy’s boat. It was a meeting that would transform both their lives. “Jimmy took it as a personal insult that the boat had a problem,” says Cathy. “As he says, you spend so much time building these boats, they become like your children, and he hates seeing them being treated badly.” After observing Jimmy’s impeccable craftsmanship and the natural ease with which he carried out the repair, Cathy had a brainwave. She would ask him to build a boat and take her on as his apprentice. The boat she had in mind was the local Shannon One-Design, a lean and fast-running 18ft (5.5m) dinghy

designed by Morgan Giles in 1920 and regularly raced up and down the River Shannon ever since. “We have been going to the Lough Derg Regatta in Dromineer for years and sailing Alf Delany’s Shannon One-Design Kiwi, No 37. When I went to see Jimmy with my Wag, he told me it was about time I owned my own boat as I had been borrowing Shannons for the past 15 years!” says Cathy. Brave? Certainly. Foolish? Maybe – not least because there’s a world of difference between handling a sailing boat at speed and wielding a razor-sharp chisel in a boatbuilder’s yard. Question is, would Jimmy accept such an unconventional proposition? From the start, Cathy made the rules of engagement absolutely clear, writing in her original proposal in October 2010: 1. To build a Shannon One-Design or a 12-footer or whatever you suggest; Me, Cathy, to work as your apprentice; Me, Cathy, to source and provide all the timber; I will come down to your home and stay in my camper van; I will go home at weekends; If you get fed up with me, I will leave; I am happy to work to your time frame. She concluded her letter saying: “Your skills and knowledge are so important that I would love to get a glimpse of what can be done.” Although Cathy was delighted when Jimmy finally accepted her proposal, not all her family were thrilled by the prospect. To get the boat built in reasonable time, Cathy would have to be away from home for three to four days a week. “My son Finn was 18 at the time and just studying for his Leaving Certificate, so he thought I was a bit irresponsible. But I reckoned as long as I left plenty of food in the fridge it would make no difference. Luckily I have an understanding husband!”

“Cathy made the rules of engagement absolutely clear”

Main image: Cathy and her crew brace themselves as they race across Lough Ree

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

ONBOARD PROJECT SOD

“I was so happy down there. Maybe it was escapism; maybe I was being a bit selfish” Although Cathy had never built a boat before, she is an experienced weaver and also dabbled in sculpture at art school, so the essential ‘craft’ approach was familiar. “With weaving, you decide what you want to make, then you make the warp, thread the loom and decide on the pattern. You start with bare materials and end up with a finished product. With boatbuilding, it’s different materials but the process is the same. They’re both quite mathematical and you have to be quite precise.” The pair’s roles were clearly laid out from the start: Jimmy was the master craftsman and Cathy was the junior apprentice. She spent three months just learning how to sharpen chisels. Even when work started on the boat, Cathy was very much the helper, assisting Jimmy with lofting, measuring, cutting and fitting all the various elements and observing how the boat came together. “We decided to go back to the original Morgan Giles drawings and build the boat exactly as he designed it. Some of the later boats have changed small details but we’ve stuck with the original. The only change we made was with the transom pintle. The original is attached to the keel, which is a design flaw, so we added a brass piece to attach it to the transom. “I learned a lot about plumb lines and lofting a boat from scale drawings. To start with, I had no idea how a boat was put together, so it was only later I appreciated the importance of those early stages, particularly in terms of accuracy.

Like all apprentice dinghy builders, Cathy spent a lot of time watching and waiting. “There was a bad moment when we were fitting the gunwales. We’d got the starboard side on, and the port side was a fraction too long. Jimmy decided to go for it anyway, and there was an almighty crack as the transom split for a fraction of a second. It went straight back, and you couldn’t see anything afterwards, but at the time I really thought we might have to take it off and start over again. All Jimmy said was: ‘We could have done without that.’ The best moment was when we took her out of stock, turned her over and saw the shape of the hull for the first time. She turned into a real boat at that moment. “I was so happy down there. Maybe it was escapism; maybe I was being a bit selfish. It’s not just boatbuilding; I like meeting new people and it’s a privilege to work with Jimmy – he’s such a wonderful craftsman.” Cathy’s SOD, sail No 178 (the class started from number 32, so Cathy’s is in fact hull number 146), was launched in September 2012 and entered the first Lakeland and Inland Waterways Ireland Sailing Raid (aka the Irish Raid) on the River Shannon (see CB295, p76) a few weeks later. “It was during the Raid where we really got to see how she performed. We won the leg from Enniskillen to Crom and also the leg from Dromineer to Killaloe. We probably would have won the leg from Lanesborough to Lough Ree YC, but I was having trouble getting the right

connor murphy

cathy mcaleavey

dan houston

Above: Cathy in control during the Irish Raid. Left, clockwise from top left: Cathy and Jimmy; accuracy during the build is key to optimum sailing performance on the water; the official launch of SOD178 at Lough Derg Regatta in August 2012; at work on the centreboard

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

ONBOARD PROJECT SOD

NIC COMPTON

position on the yard for the main halyard and we started about 20 minutes after everyone else but nearly caught the leader as we arrived at the club. “I think the photograph that Nic took of us blasting across Lough Ree in gusts of up to 25 knots (see main image on p78) says it all; she was so balanced and she just flew. I think it was the most exhilarating sail I’ve had since we were at the SB3 Worlds in 2010.” Although Cathy didn’t win anything at the Irish Raid, she performed better at the Wolf Regatta a few weeks later, with two firsts and a second place on the second day of racing. “That was reassuring. When you build a new boat, you hope you’re not building a dog, but you don’t really know until after she’s launched,” says Cathy. “We sailed her over the October bank holiday last year at the Wolf Regatta in Terryglass. This was quite a windy event and it was the first time we had sailed her over a standard racecourse. But we were really pleased with her upwind and downwind performance. Considering we have not really tuned her we were really delighted. We also won a big cup! “At the moment the boat is safely tucked up in winter storage and her first outing this season will be in Cong, on Lough Corrib, with Ashford Castle looking down on us. This will be over the May bank holiday, so we’re hopeing for good weather. The next big event for us will be one I’m helping organise, which is called ‘Round Ireland on the Inside’, or RIOT for short. We are

planning to cruise around Lough Ree and visit all of the islands over the week of Midsummer.” The story of Jimmy’s latest apprentice has inevitably caught people’s imagination and the pair have featured in numerous newspaper articles as well as national TV. Far from settling down to a lonely retirement, then, Jimmy has become something of a cult celebrity and his legacy, as one of Ireland’s finest craftsmen, now seems assured. That should mean ‘mission accomplished’ for Cathy, but she’s not going to stop there. Within a week of SOD178 being launched Cathy was plotting her next build, and what better than a legendary Irish Water Wag, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and of which Cathy is the class captain? “We have the stempost and transom made and I’m thinking of putting the whole build on Twitter as there have been some really interesting things happening already, like finding the right timber. “And, yes, I’m working with Jimmy,” says Cathy. It will be Jimmy’s fourth Wag and probably his last, so the project is imbued with significance. Cathy’s all too aware of what often happens to working people when they stop working, so she will be recording every step of the process right from the start. “I managed to convince him that I had not finished my apprenticeship!” jokes Cathy. “But I actually think he is really delighted.” And we’ve no doubt he’s also enormously proud.

SHANNON ONE-DESIGN LOA

18ft (5.5m) LWL

17ft (5.2m) BeAM

4ft 10½in (1.5m) DrAughT

4ft (1.2m) sAIL AreA

140sqft (13m²)

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

ONBOARD

Lazarette Compiled by Guy Venables

Galley gear What better place to test these products than at sea, with The Blue Peter in last year’s Panerai Transat Classique? Full results below

1 Mr D’s 4.5l Cooking pot

This is a fuel-saving vacuum cooker with an internal pot that, once brought to the boil, is put in the locking outer vacuum pot and has no more need for power or gas for the next eight hours, and yet it still keeps cooking. This enabled us to make pot-based meals we’ve normally only dreamed of without using up all our gas. It also acts as a normal vacuum flask and kept ice for three days. We also had a Mr D’s bread tin (sold separately for just £5) and being able to make fresh bread at sea after only 10 minutes on the hob was a new pleasure. Our pot had a padded jacket with a handle, which was used for hanging it up whilst it was cooking away in rough seas and for passing ice from one boat to another. Inexpensive too. Kits start from £69.95

3 staCking glasses These came in too late for the BP run but while some will only drink from a glass at sea we do like the idea of something that won’t break when dropped. These polycarbonate glasses, which are claimed as ‘virtually unbreakable’ are certainly very strong, withstanding flying out of an unclipped cupboard after a sharp tack. Dishwasher safe, microwave proof and fairly wallet friendly. £15.95 for a set of six

www.mrdscookware.com, Tel: +44 (0)23 8084 7834 www.virtually-glass.com, Tel: +44 (0)1252 616161

2 Collapsible pot Although The Blue Peter is a fairly large boat, freeing up the space normally taken up by a 3.5-litre cooking pot allowed for noticeably more cupboard space. It has a stainless steel bottom and lid (or optional glass lid) and the floppy bit is made from tasteless food-grade silicone and squashes down to just 2in (55mm). This means it doesn’t take up unnecessary space in the washing up if there’s no time to get chores done, and it’s also less likely to damage anything else when it flies out of a cupboard. £39.99 www.wackypracticals.com, Tel: +44 (0)800 599 9458

4 gas ring If it had worked it would have revolutionised the way we use gas hobs and would be fitted as standard to every single one of them. Sadly it doesn’t. The claim made by the manufacturers is that the special catalytic alloy disc fits neatly over your hob, heats to more than 1000°C, and burns the unburnt gas that escapes from your ring. Unfortunately, what actually happens is that it acts as a diffuser, making the heat less than without it. In short, it’s useless and some users on the internet have also reported that it set off their carbon monoxide alarms! One to be avoided. £14 www.vistore.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0)191 209 4161

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

VISIT Sailing Equipm classicbo ent a

ONBOARD

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o.uk For many m o r e product r eviews

Musto drysuit One-piece surface immersion suits like this are often seen as superfluously extreme by many yacht sailors, although their value to dinghy sailors has always been known. This one, the breathable Dinghy Drysuit from Musto, has been around in one guise or another since 2001 – and the one we tested was the latest design from the 2013 spring/summer collection. They have come on quite a bit in recent years, in terms of comfort and weight, and this one feels very light to wear. It’s not the top-spec £600 MPX suit, but has certain advantages over it, not least in the 2mm neoprene ‘glideskin’ cuffs and neck, infinitely more comfortable than the latex cuffs of the MPX and other suits. The look, all black with a chunky zip, is a cross between diver and government assassin. It is fairly easy to don and remove singlehanded, and the internal braces (as well as that light weight) mean that it does not sag down while wearing. I tested it out with a full immersion on the Upper Thames on a chilly day this April, floating for about five minutes in water of 2°C. There was no cold-water shock and I was completely dry and warm! Many people have told me that a drysuit changed their life. Now I know what they are talking about. Getting back to the car park or changing room and not needing to tease off cold clothes, is a novel feeling. I will be using the suit in July when sailing from Land’s End to the Scilly Isles and will report back then. SHMH. £370 plus p&p www.musto.com, Tel: +44 (0)1268 495 824

Collapsible hose

Hoses, although handy to have on board, are heavy and take up a lot of room, so we hope there’s one that reaches our mooring on the quayside rather than always storing one. That’s before we heard about the Xhose. It’s very light and its length expands by three times when filled with water, so dry storage is not a problem. It doesn’t kink and rolls up into a shoebox. Sizes of 25, 50, 75 and 100ft are available. From £29.99 for 25ft

SUNDOWNERS WITH GUY VENABLES

Sherry dear! Booze, like most things nowadays, comes and goes in fads. Last year it was all about small batch gin. Right now the word on everybody’s lips is sherry. It’s being poured as appetisers in frighteningly expensive restaurants and matched with food in shiny magazines. Sherry used to be considered the drink of choice of the old. My parents have a glass of sherry every day before lunch. Amontillado for her, Fino for him. When I join them, I realise just how civilised they are, presumably due to all those years of diligent practise. One of the advantages sherry has over wine, is that you can open it, drink some and close it and it won’t go off. Perfect for the sporadic drinking one often encounters on a boat when bottles can be put away for as long as a whole winter. Encouraged by my ‘Spirit Guide’ Andy Redman, I went to my first sherry tasting at the Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana in Sanlúcar de Barrameda near Cadiz. If you ever get a chance to go to a tasting, any tasting, just go. On a solely financial basis you’ll usually end up drinking more than you paid for the ticket (this one was £12) but engrossing yourself in a subject, introduced by someone who knows his beans and sharing the experience with other enthusiasts, is a real pleasure. The offshoot is, when someone starts groaning on about 20-year-old Palo Cortado having a dryness like a newly cut stick, you might feel confident enough to counter his piles of guff with something about bacteria in Palomino grapes. Alternatively, you could go the mischievous way of Kingsley Amis and Stephen Potter by insisting he imparts everything he knows about wine whilst loudly telling everyone in the room to gather round and “learn something from an expert for once”. We tried everything from the rocky-dry Manzanilla la Gitana, through to a rare PX Triana VORS that looked like engine oil but tasted like figs grown in the Garden of Eden. But I’m getting bogged down in fancy talk. Basically, sherry no longer has a pipe-smoking stigma and seems to be taking its rightful place as a rich and diverse drink of noble heritage, too long wrongly associated with bewildered cat owners and roaring leathery generals.

www.officialxhose.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0)800 883 0314 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

All sizes catered for!

Custom designs, traditional construction, repair, restoration, custom bronze hardware

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2013 catalogue now online

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Out and about with Tilley All our Hats are guaranteed for life. They provide UPF50+ sun protection, tie on in the wind, float, and are water resistant, keeping you covered wherever your adventures take you www.tilley.com T: 01326 574402 Made in Canada for men and women worldwide Made in Canada for men and women worldwide 84 CLASSIC Tilley13_CB_99x129.indd 1 BOAT JUNE 2013

27/03/2013 12:26

ONBOARD

Classnotes 15-Metre BY VANESSA BIRD

DARING DESIGN The most prolific year for the class proved to be 1909, with six being launched: three on the Clyde, two in Northern Spain and one in France. Of the two Spanish boats, Hispania, designed by Fife, was built for King Alfonso XIII of Spain, for him to compete in against his friend, the Duke of Medinaceli, who had commissioned Fife to design and build Tuiga (p6) the same year. Fife’s designs dominated the class until 1912 when the Charles Nicholson-designed Istria was launched. With her long overhangs, and wide beam at the waterline, Istria was described in Yachting Monthly as having “a fine tail and a useful snout… she would not have

VANESSA BIRD

hese are exciting times for the 15-Metre class. One of the biggest classes conceived within the International Rule, it’s been over 90 years since these elegant thoroughbreds enjoyed competitive racing within each other’s company, but now the 15-Metres are in the midst of a great revival. Two years ago, in September 2011, four 15-Metres met at the Monaco Classic Week for the first time since the early 1900s, and last year enjoyed a series of events with their own starts. Although it is not particularly unusual to see a 15-Metre racing at Mediterranean events – Tuiga having been a participant since 1993 – it was a rare sight to have so many racing together. Unlike many classes of their generation, all of the yachts present were original, and three were more than 100 years old. The first 15-Metre was launched in 1907 following the development of the International Rule by the IYRU. Only 20 were ever built, and of these, eight were designed by William Fife III, four by Alfred Mylne, three by Charles Nicholson and two by Johan Anker. The remaining three were designed by Max Oertz, Joseph Guédon and C Maurice Chevreux.

been a pretty vessel had she not proved clever”. And clever she certainly was. The 14th 15-Metre to be built, she featured a revolutionary Marconi gaff rig – the first yacht ever to do so – which, combined with her hull design, resulted in 72 wins out of 81 starts. She dominated the class until she was broken up in 1924. Interest in the 15-Metres dwindled in the 1920s, and many were re-rigged as cruisers. Eventually many were lost, but four of the original boats – Mariska, Hispania, Tuiga and The Lady Anne – survived. Of these, Tuiga was the first to be saved, after being discovered in Cyprus by Duncan Walker of Fairlie Restorations in 1989. He sailed her back to Southampton, where in 1990 she was joined by The Lady Anne and, in 1997, by Hispania. Tuiga was the first to be restored by Fairlie’s, and was relaunched in 1993, followed by The Lady Anne in 1999. Ten years later, Mariska, built in 1908, was restored by Charpentiers Réunis Méditerranée, and two years later Hispania joined the quartet, her hull having been restored by Fairlie’s, before work was taken over by Astilleros de Mallorca. With four of the original Fife designs now in commission and the class revived, the question is when will a replica Istria be built? GL Watson & Co has all the archival information, and now all that is needed is an investor. It’s an exciting prospect – watch this space.

Above: The Lady Anne, one of only four 15-Metres now sailing

OLYMPIC CAREER The 15-Metre class was chosen to compete at the 1908 Olympics, but no boats entered and so racing was cancelled. Unlike other Metre classes, such as the 6-Metres, 8-Metres and 12-Metres, which took part in several Olympics, this was the only year in which the 15-Metre yachts were to feature – at least in name only.

IN THE CLASSIFIEDS SPECIFICATIONS (HISPANIA)

LOA

63ft 5in (19.3m) LWL

49ft 2in (14.9m) BEAM

12ft (3.6m) DRAUGHT

8ft 4in (2.5m)

SAIL AREA

4,300sqft (399m2) DESIGNER

William Fife III 1909

Mariska was discovered by William Collier in the classified ad pages of Classic Boat. The 15-Metre was based in Delfzijl in the north-east Netherlands, on the border with Germany, and was the fourth of the original fleet to be discovered.

INNOVATIVE 15-METRE The Nicholson-designed Istria was the most innovative of the 15-Metres. In addition to her Marconi rig, her rowing dinghy was countersunk into the deck to reduce windage. Forming a ‘cockpit’ in the deck, the location of the dinghy initially caused some controversy, but was accepted after officials were convinced that it could be launched within seconds. Vanessa’s book, Classic Classes, is out now. For more details, go to www.classicboat.co.uk CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

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CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Wyndeham Group would like to congratulate Classic Boat on their 300th Issue Sales Enquiries Tel: 01621 877 779 Sale Email: enquiries@wyndeham.co.uk

ONBOARD

Getting afloat REVLIS

Charity cruiser

he owner of this boat has generously agreed to give sale proceeds to the charity Sail 4 Cancer, which raises funds for terminally-ill cancer patients to go sailing with families and carers. It’s a good excuse to buy what is a rather tasty motor-cruiser. Revlis was designed by John Bain of the reputed Silver company, which built these gentlemen’s motor yachts for most of the 20th century in Rosneath near Glasgow. Revlis (‘Silver’ backwards) was built in 1939 and used by the Royal Navy during WWII. Her construction is pitch pine on oak with teak-raised topsides and upperworks. She’s a Rosneath 45 with an extra 6in (15cm) of beam

making her 11ft (3.3m) wide and 43ft 6in (13.3m) long. Her stout shape and build, comfortable six-berth layout and wheelhouse galley should give credence to the opinion of an article in a 1939 issue of Yachting World that described her as “an

Above: a classic pre-war Silver-built motor yacht designed for the seven seas

exceptionally able sea boat.” The Gardner 4LW with direct drive, new in 1969, gives 8+ knots and still starts first time. Lying Scotland, asking £60,000. Email: ahayward@sail4cancer.org

INTERNATIONAL 12-FOOT

Centenary celebrations This would be a timely buy, what with 2013 being the centenary year of the International 12-Foot. We’ve featured a few new-builds but this one is “as new”, built in Vietnam in 1998 in mahogany by a Dutch boatbuilder and shipped to Britain by a coffee importer in a container full of bean sacks. Sails and rigging are new. Ben Harris, who is offering the boat, is also happy to build customers one from new, in larch or mahogany, for around the £10,000 mark. Asking £5,600, lying Cornwall, optional trailer £380. www.harriswoodenboats.co.uk

PROJECT BOAT

Hillyard with Ransome link Here’s a Hillyard with a bit of history attached. Barnacle Goose, a 1939 5-tonner, was sailed by Arthur Ransome. He chartered her from George Jones, owner of the East Coast Yacht Agency, and of Peter Duck, who also launched the Peter Duck class. Ransome had her for a week in 1951, shortly before ordering his own Hillyard, Lottie Blossom, in 1952. She’s currently ashore at Islington Wharf in Penryn, Cornwall, and despite having been abandoned for a few seasons, she looks pretty sound, though the interior is in need of some TLC. Yard owner John Shaw has a folder of her history, including her Blue Book. He inherited her with the yard, which he took over in January, and says, “she certainly deserves a second chance”. He’d like to get “about £3,000” for her but is very open to offers. LOA: 24ft 2in (7.3m), Beam: 7ft 10in (2.4m). Lying Cornwall. Tel: +44 (0)1326 378700, mob: +44 (0)7788 557758

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

BOATS FOR SALE

Boats for sale Looking to sell your boat? Reach over 50,000 readers each month

PEGASUS

To advertise call Edward Mannering +44 (0) 20 7349 3747 Edward.Mannering@chelseamagazines.com

Classic 20 foot motor boat c1960. Inboard 21 hp diesel, VHF radio, electric windlass & chain counter, Garmin chart plotter, depth finder, plus many extras. Location Brentford. £4,500 o.n.o. Contact Steve 020 8994 0567

Copy Deadline for next issue is 22/05/2013

I will call to make payment shortly.

16’-6’ Fishing/ Camping Boat

38’ PERCY MITCHELL

1957 Ketch rigged motor sailer. Tan sails, 6 berth, radar etc, ideal liveaboard. Project, needs replanking work starboardside above waterline, front teak deck needs replacing also parts of wheelhouse, hence price £6,500. Lying Essex contact 07724077285

Larch on oak, teak, thwarts, teak fore deck, walnut transom. Snipe trailer with spare wheel. Mariner 4 outboard, anchor, boat cover. Built by professional boatbuilder for own use on retirement. (2006). £7500 ono. Tel: 01253 592348

ClassiC Clinker 16’ launCh ‘Give ChanCe iv’ by Mike Atfield (Salcombe, Devon) circa 1988 Mahogany on English Oak ribs and copper fastened Mahogany floorboards & Afromosia decks Beta 13.5hp new in 1995, re-furbished 2013 Ashore in Totnes, Devon. Price £16,750 07850 794 367 nickwjwilson@gmail.com

Janet

ClassiC Gaff KetCh

Lovely 12’ clinker mahogany/ oak framed motor launch. Built by L.H. Walker of Lee-on-Solent Circa 1950. Ex steam launch converted to Stuart Turner petrol engine and restored by Henwood & Dean 2003/4. Comes with trailer, cover, nav. lights, fenders. Ready to launch. Full documentation. £8,950 ono. London Tel: Jonathan 07793 850034

Hillyard 1929

‘Josefine’ is 66’ overall (50’ OD) a first class Small Ship suitable for commercial charter MCA Code 2 Registered or private use, an extremely sea-worthy well maintained Gaffrigged Ketch, built in 1931, 40 tonnes, Oak on Oak, re-built 2002, sleeps 9, all original ship’s papers from 1931, Ford 140HP. Mooring available at £2k pa, lying Plymouth UK. £129,000. Tel: 07971 376 172 or Email: sailjosefine@gmail.com

Pitch pine on oak. Shipwright owner for 20 years. Completely restored and in excellent condition & extremely spacious interior. Lying St Tropez. Contact: waif@theevans.co.uk or phone 00 3364 0566 950

AuxiliAry Sloop

MCA Code BFS APR13.indd 1

Auxiliary Sloop (designed by Holman & Pye) 40ft O/A fast offshore cruiser cutter rig West system hull, interior Mahogany and Ash, coated in A/C Lacquer, long Keel. Unfinished project.

25/02/2013 09:36

FOR SALE

Price: £70,000 o.n.o Contact Neil for more information on: 0113 2179172 or email kevinwardman2@gmail.com

A rare opportunity to purchase this beautiful 40 square meter classic boat, due to the owner’s advancing years. Built in Soon slip Norway in 1919, she was imported to Blyth back in 1937. Since then she has had two loving owners, both of whom have restored and kept her in perfect order. We will be very sad to lose her. Price: negotiable. Please phone 01628 821031 or email mvwaterhouse@googlemail.com

Looking to sell your boat? Reach over 50,000 readers each month

There are two styles of Boats SAMPLE STYLE A SAMPLE STYLE B for Sales ad to choose from GoLAnT GAffEr and with our special Spring No. 8. Excellent 2 berth coastal cruiser, built 1999. Length 18’ offer, if you buy two months, 9” Beam 7’ Draft 2’ 9” long keel, designed by Roger your third month will be free. Dongray. Yanmar GM 10 regularly serviced. Very Pick the style which suits attractive boat lovingly maintained, your requirements and Lying Fowey. £12,000 ono. email: Edward.Mannering@ CuTTEr Email: name@classicboat.co.uk Built 1991, mahogany & epoxy hull similar to GRP, 1930’s spars & chelseamagazines.com with 0000 11111111 fittings, beautifully maintained. Visit www.idclark.force9.co.uk for photos and specification. your text and image or call £25,750 Contact 00000 111111 +44 (0) 20 7349 3747. The STYLE B. 5cm x 1 colums. Either 55 deadline for the next issue STYLE A. 5cm x 2 columns. Either 160 words or 80 words plus colour photograph. £275 inc VAT and Internet words or 30 words plus colour is 22/05/2013

photograph. £155 inc VAT and Internet

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

35FT IOR 7MTR ClassIC slOOp

A rare opportunity to acquire an elegant and much admired yacht. Built in Germany in 1967. Beautifully fair hull. Strip planked in excellent mahogany on oak. Extensive refit 2002. Solid teak decks. Alloy mast. Wheel Steering. New Hood Vektram sails 2008. Easily sailed single handed. Fast, easily driven, sea kindly motion. Kept in outstanding condition. Must be seen to be appreciated. An enthusiasts yacht. Lying Solent. £45,000. Tel: Chris 07774 928418 • Email: christopher.cavanagh@btinternet.com

BROKERAGE

Brokerage

To advertise Call Patricia Hubbard +44 (0) 207 349 3748 Patricia.hubbard@chelseamagazines.com Copy Deadline for next issue is 22/05/2013

33 High Street, Poole BH15 1AB, England. Tel: + 44 (0)1202 330077

62 ft J M Soper, Philip & Son Cutter 1929 Soper is best remembered for the legendary fast cutter SATANITA and a “fair turn of speed” is noted by the yachting press of 1929 for this creation by Philip and Son from another of his designs. As an able sea going cruiser and 62 foot on deck ZEPHYR is the perfect size for a family yacht of this vintage. In impressive condition and a real beauty, her forte is in the sheer practicality of her layout, rig and accommodation – to which her ownership by the same family for more than 40 years is testament enough. €950,000 Lying Italy

72 ft Albert Luke Yawl 1928 Designed by AR Luke as GLADORIS II she was built at the Luke Brothers yard on the Hamble. A very beautiful vintage yacht MOON FLEET has enough modern updates to make her extremely easy to manage as a large family classic yacht or with a minimal crew. Keenly priced she is a very interesting option.

William Fife III International 8 Metre 1929 Notable not only for her royal commissioning, OSBORNE is practically the same design as Fife’s SIRENA built at Cannes in the same year for General Sir Arthur Paget. That yacht was claimed to have been the most successful Second International Rule 8 M in the Mediterranean, especially in light and moderate winds. OSBORNE is in good condition structurally and cosmetically - stored ashore and inside for the last 2 years, it would take very little to have her ready for the season. €230,000 Lying Spain

52 ft William Fife III Cutter 1902 In her current ownership since the mid eighties, when SIBYL was lovingly restored to her current fine condition and rig configuration, she has enjoyed many seasons of cruising and Classic regattas; always sailing with just a husband and wife crew and proving not only her pedigree but that in her current guise she is a well mannered and easily sailed vessel. SIBYL’s lines are quite breathtaking – She could only be a Fife.

46 ft Nicholas Potter California 32 Sloop 1951 The California 32s were formidable racers and comfortable cruisers - designed by Nicholas S. Potter, AKA the “Herreshoff of the West”. ANDALE was the penultimate of eight built between the mid 1930s and 60s. They were often cover girls in the US West Coast yachting press winning 14 “Sir Thomas Lipton Cups” from 1948 to 1964 and dominating most other West Coast races. ANDALE herself won the trophy four times.

40 ft Freeman Attrill TSDY 1966 To a design by Reg Freeman DOLPHIN OF RHU is an extremely capable and versatile family motor yacht - lovingly and professionally rebuilt on the Clyde over 3 years and re-launched in virtually as new condition in April 2007. Although significantly brought up to date with the comforts, reliability, practicality and safety features expected of a modern vessel, her owner has been careful to retain her classic appeal. More recently she has undergone a professional refitting including full re-paint and re-varnish.

€125,000

Lying France

€600,000

£225,000

£80,000

email: info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

Lying Spain

Lying UK

54 ft McGruer Ketch 1973 TALISKER MHOR was designed by James’s son George, a graduate in naval architecture who ran the business from 1969. From this time it seems McGruer’s hallmark yachts were of another aesthetic dimension, reflecting George’s own artistic qualities. Indeed more than one commentator has remarked that three ketches of that era TALISKER MHOR - as she now is, CUILAUN OF KINSALE and GLORY BE IV are among the finest yachts of their size – anywhere. A superb cruising yacht she has moreover been set up carefully with the aim of sailing shorthanded; her owners sailing à deux with considerable ease – her condition is impressive. £275,000 Lying UK

42 ft Sparkman & Stephens Yawl 1957 FAIRWYN was built by McGruer & Co with no expense spared under the close supervision of Rod Stephens himself. She is essentially a larger version of FINISTERRE three-time winner of the Newport – Bermuda Race. FAIRWYN’s 50 years could be considered a game of two halves; as a successful racer, fondly remembered by many former crews and then as a comfortable, safe and versatile cruiser; ever displaying the style and qualities for which her designer and builder are so highly regarded. £125,000 Lying Italy

34 ft John Alden Malabar Snr 1960 For over 90 years, the name Malabar has symbolised the utmost in seagoing ability and cruising comfort as well as an impressive racing record. Chosen by John Alden as the name for his own personal yachts - this very popular design is fast but with much more spacious interiors than UK designs of the same era. A generous beam gives plenty of space for sensible accommodation and a comfortable boat at sea; coastal and blue water cruising - a wholesome classic mast head sloop with normal overhangs and the characteristic Alden sheer. All original, WILL O THE WISP is testament also to the quality of her build and maintenance by fastidious owners. £55,000 Lying UK

www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

BROKERAGE

CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE ELECTRON BLUE 36ft Belmore Sloop Illingworth & Primrose design, Burnes of Bosham 1960. Mahogany planked, sheathed decks, teak brightwork. Five berths, 30hp Yanmar diesel, Blake heads. Successful racing career with Royal Navy. Good updated example. £28,000 Cornwall

EBB TIDE 65ft Classic Custom Motor-Yacht Howard Wheeler design, Wheelers of Brooklyn, USA 1937. Carvel teak, swept teak decks, mahogany superstructure. Eight guests plus crew in five cabins. Twin 250hp GM diesels. Sunshine holidays or cruise the Med. Mooring to 2017. £240,000 Belgian Flag Spain / France

MERLE ROSE 31ft Viking Class Sloop Buchanan design, Shuttlewood of Paglesham 1968 to Lloyds 100A1 Carvel Mahogany, teak laid decks, mahogany brightwork. Original interior with four berths, 24hp Volvo diesel, Musto heads. Recent sails. Excellent racing condition. £27,500 North Italy

MARY GRAY 21ft Z Four-Tonner Sloop Dr. T Harrison Butler design, Lockharts Marine, Brentford 1939. Carvel Larch, sheathed decks, teak brightwork. Two berths, 9hp Yanmar diesel, Blake heads. Cruising inventory. Much recent expenditure, possibly the best Z4 available. £7,950 South Coast

SPHINX 24ft Lymington L Class Sloop Laurent Giles design, Souters of Cowes 1958. Pitch-pine / Mahogany hull, sheathed decks, mahogany brightwork. Four berths, 8hp Yanmar diesel, Jabsco heads. Long ownership, through re-fit. £9,000 Cornwall

FLYING CLOUD 22ft Clyst Class Sloop John Bickford design, Bickfords of Topsham 1965. Carvel mahogany, sheathed decks, mahogany brightwork. Two / Three berths, extensive inventory. Much upgraded in careful ownership. Good value. £4,950 Devon

JORVIK 42ft Twin-Screw Motor-Yacht James McGruer design, McGruers of Clynder 1950. Carvel Mahogany (re-planked topsides) teak laid decks, teak brightwork. Six berths in three cabins. Twin 42hp Thornycroft diesels. Blake heads. Quality motor-yacht, rare opportunity. £29,950 North-East

ALVINA 30ft Mustang Class CB Sloop Eric Elkins design, Elkins of Christchurch 1967. Carvel iroko / mahogany, sheathed decks, mahogany brightwork. Quality interior with four berths, 35hp Perkins diesel. Well built shoal-draught yacht, cruised many thousands of miles. £19,500 North Devon

JULIAN 30ft Swallow Class Motor-Yacht William Osborne design, Osbornes of Littlehampton 1936. Carvel pitch-pine, sheathed decks, mahogany brightwork. Fore and aft cabins, twin 14hp Beta diesels. Boat Safety Cert. 2015. River Avon mooring (Stratford) £80 pcm. Interior refit to complete £8,000 Worcs

www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1905-356482 / 07949-095075 • info@classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk

STANLEY & THOMAS BROKERAGE

NOMAD for sale

SPECIALISTS IN RESTORATION & REPAIR OF CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS

THELMARIE: 31’ Motor Launch by The Bute Slip Dock Co., Scotland. 1949. BMC 1.5 ltr. diesel. Sleeps 5.

SWEET MOLLY: Exceptional 31’ Twin Cabin Motor Launch, designed by Knut Ljungberg, 1938. Volvo 180 PK.

SIRIUS STAR: 32’ Gaff Rigged Motor Yacht built 1930 by Elkins of Christchurch. Perkins 3.152 diesel, 2.5 ltr.

Mobile:07799-654113 Tel: 01753-833166 sarah.woolley@stanleyandthomas.co.uk www.stanleyandthomas.co.uk Tom Jones Boatyard, Romney Lock, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 6HU

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

For further details email:

binkhorst@medischaspect.nl

Lady Beatrice - Dating from the early 1900’s and having recently been comprehensively overhauled by Colin Henwood’s team of perfectionists, Lady B is a deceptively large and delightful launch with perfect proportions. With a galley, loo, book shelves and seating for up to 8 in the forward cockpit - £59,500

Amoreena - Stunning 45’ Bates Starcraft, beautifully maintained to an extremely high specification. Seating for 8 around the flying bridge, with a saloon area perfect for gatherings and sold with copius navionics and a tender - POA

Estel - Elegant and immaculate electric 36’ launch, perfect for entertaining up to 12 comfortably. Built to an extremely high spec by Creative Marine in the late ‘90’s, her fibreglass hull offers a low maintenance alternative to the traditional gentleman’s launch, without losing any of the charm. With two cockpits, a useful galley, spacious loo, sound system and many period features - £115,000

Carenda - An opportunity to own a true Broads classic built in 1938 by EC Landamore with a delightful interior maintained right down to the bilges by a perfectionist owner. She was adapted for sea going use in the late sixties so now sports a steadying mast and a tender. Full covers, Viewing afloat in East Anglia - £44,950

Lillie Langtry - a smart electric Frolic 31 with clerestory and unique internal fit out - £69,000

Sprite - A pretty Revelry Classic cabin launch from 1961, uniquely constructed with a centre cockpit. With 2 cabins, 4 berths and a seating area, she is happy both as a day boat and at sea. Sold with navionics and an extra pair of props £28,500

Carician - One of the last teak Starcraft to be built in 1970 with a flying bridge and many modifications introduced to enable owners to cruise for long periods abroad. The inventory includes a generator, large fridge, twin Volvo TMD 41s. The flying bridge has direct access from the saloon. Offers invited around £70,000

See us at Beale Park Boat Show in June

Tillingbourne - An Ex Thames Conservancy launch built in 1965 and recently refurbished to include a new wheelhouse. With an original cocktail cabinet behind the starboard passenger seat and a full set cushions and covers for all seasons, this is a true Thames classic - £39,500

Carefree - The 20ft mini Starcraft built in 1958 makes such a fantastic dayboat with a large cockpit and a cosy forward cabin for occasional overnighting, escaping the breeze, using the loo etc. Fitted with a Beta diesel, full covers £24,950

Clover - Replica motor launch built by graduates of the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy to a 1920s design by William Hand. Powered by a Ford Watermota and stable on river or sea, the entire cockpit is of teak with mahogany decks laid on marine ply. Sold with trailer, cover and cushions £32,500

Amelia Anne - Cute and easily transportable, this Swedish classic is great for rallies in the UK and across Europe. Dating from the 1950’s and rebuilt in 2011, she comes with new cushions, a canopy, an engine with few running hours and the original period engine too - £12,500

Waterlady - 25’ Andrews Dayboat. Recently released from the care of Colin Henwood, she is in excellent condition. Dating from 1959, she includes 2 berths and a toilet with tank making her a perfect weekender too. Sold with winter cover, canopy, cushions, galley equipment and BSS to 2016 - £38,000

Jobelle - Classic Andrews slipper No. 337 built in 1951. Mahogany on oak with a ford 100E petrol engine and a full inventory including a new folding frame hood and cushions, all over cover and searchlight. Restored in 2006, including an engine overhaul, with further work carried out in 2012, she is in excellent condition and ready for sale - £25,000

Hero (nee Avondale) stole the show at Goodwood Revival fresh from a full renovation by Classic Boatworks of Woodbastwick. Originally electric when built in 1898 she is once again capable of silent cruising with 8 passengers in great comfort - £105,000

Arabella - Pretty 32’ gentleman’s launch built in 1932 and restored in recent years by Peter Freebody and later Rupert Latham. Powered by a hybrid diesel/electric engine, she is a regular vistor to Henley Regatta and can be seen at the Beale Park Boat Show in June this year - £97,500

For more information about any of these boats call 01491 578870 mobile 07813 917730 email sales@hscboats.co.uk www.hscboats.co.uk For model boats, dockside clothing and lifejackets visit www.boatique.co.uk

BROKERAGE

M.J.LEWIS & SON (Boat Sales) LTD DOWNS ROAD BOATYARD, MALDON, ESSEX. CM9 5HG

E-Mail: info@mjlewisboatsales.com

Tel: 01621 840982 / 859373 • Mob: 07885 859373 Specialists in the brokerage of Classic Vessels, Traditional Yachts and Working Boats

10m Albert Strange Gaff Yawl, 1922 Fastidiously restored, new sails & spars. North Essex £48,000

32ft Percy Dalton Gaff Cutter, 1980 Ferro cement with teak superstructure. Lister eng. Long keel. Roomy accom. Devon £29,950

45ft Gill’s of Rochester Sailing Barge, 1887 Half sized. Wooden hull total restoration ‘07, extra headroom, sleeps 6. 12ft beam. Suffolk £75,000

12m Bawley Yacht, 1922 Restored 2003.Yanmar. Good hdrm. Pitch pine. Essex £26,500

44ft Sailing Smack, 1912 Much rebuilt, new decks, rig & spars. Mainsail 2012. Engineless. 5 berths, h’drm 5ft 9ins. Essex £47,500

36ft Essex Sailing Smack, 1850’s Engineless, pole masted, gaff cutter. New decks. Essex £35,000

40ft GU Laws Gaff Yawl, 1905 Pitch pine on Oak. Rebuilt. Volvo MD2. Devon £47,500

7.32m Sean McMillan Gaff Cutter, 1991 Cold moulded, Teak decks. Bulb fin keel. Dutch styling S.W Ireland £24,950

7m Laurent Giles Peter Duck, 1963 Professionally maintained, Refit March2013 Bermudan ketch. Volvo. Hampshire £22,500

8.5m East Anglian Sloop, 1970 Buchanan design long shallow keel. 18hp Volvo eng. Viewing recommended. N.Essex £14,950

31ft Holman 31 Sloop, 1962 Tucker Brown’s.Yanmar eng. Restored & in good order. Lincolnshire £22,500

RE DU

CE D

12m No:1Mystery Class, 1936 Robert Clark Bermudan Cutter. Restored. Accolade winner. Suffolk £45,000

29ft Maurice Griffiths,”Kylix”, 1986 Iroko on Oak, Yanmar. 6ft h’drm. Centreboard. Suffolk £23,500

37ft Belmore Sloop, 1960 Built for RN, RORC rating, an Accolade winner. Classic Bermudan Cruiser. 6ft 6ins hdrm. Cornwall £28,000

RE DU CE

22ft Clinker Gunter Rig, 1982. Elton Boatbuilding Co., Kircudbright. Complete & barely used. 2 berths. Trailer. W.Scotland £16,500

24ft Mk II Cornish Crabber, 1984 GRP gaffer & road trailer “As new” C’board. Stove. Rigged for single handed. N.Norfolk £18,500

26ft Maurice Griffiths Thames Bawley, 1960 26ft Maurice Griffiths Thames Bawley, 1965 Carvel Sloop. Bukh eng. Long keel. Johnson & Jago. Bermudan Cutter. Saab 10hp In good order. Isle of Wight. £12,500 Complete Inventory. Essex £9,500

19ft Gaff Cutter, 1937 Stone’s of Brightlingsea. New spars, sails & rig 2011.Outboard. Essex £9,950

18ft Johnson and Jago 2.5t, 1937 Bermudan cutter. Long keel. Yanmar 10hp Essex £2,950

DU CE RE

DU CE

7.5m Folkboat 25, 1964 Carvel wooden with dog house. Yanmar. Refurbished. Yard trailer. Hants £7,950 D

27ft Buchanan Sea Spray, 1957 Professionally restored over 20years. Long keel, Volvo eng. Two berths. N.Essex £11,950

26ft Dell Quay Sloop, 1956 Carvel wooden. Classic Bermudan rig. Moderate fin. Buhk eng. 5ft 8ins h’drm. Suffolk £6,495

23ft Feltham’s Gaff Cutter, u/k Long keel. Shipwright’s own restoration. Albin eng. Ashore Torquay. £10,500

www.heritage-marine.com 92

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

BROKERAGE

Anglia Yacht Brokerage New 12’ Dinghy available with either larch or Mahogany planking. Class celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. Prices from £8,500 Inc VAT

New 18’ Deben Lugger day/ camping dayboat. Prices from £13,500 Inc VAT

New 10’ GRP clinker lug sail dinghy. Prices from £2,950 Inc VAT.

Come and see the above boats at the Beale Park Boat Show 7th-9th June

2008 Deben Lugger with carbon masts/spars, sprayhood, cockpit cover, Yamaha 4HP 4-stroke outboard and Easy-launch road trailer. £9,250.

1994 Winklebrig Dayboat with cover, 2011 Parsun 4HP 4-strok outboard and Easy-launch road trailer. £4,350.

1978 Drascombe Longboat Cruiser Mk2 in good condition with recently varnished wood work and painted hull. New R&J sails 4 years ago. Comes complete with 2008 Mariner 4HP 4-strokeand Break-back road trailer. £4,750

See full listings at www.anglia-yacht.co.uk Tel. +44 (0)1359 27 17 47 www.anglia-yacht.co.uk Email. sales@anglia-yacht.co.uk

www.TallShipsforSale.co.uk

24.7m (81ft) (on deck) Brigantine Sail Training Ship.

www.ClassicYachtsforSale.com

25m (82ft) Steel Twin Screw Gentleman’s Schooner part-finished restoration project.

11.5m (38ft) Modern Classic Yawl, hull by Spirit Yachts, 2000.

17.5m, 57ft on deck, Wishbone Ketch, built Oak on Oak in 1928.

Built Oak on Oak in 1957. Up to 20 berths, Excellent galley - bar. Scania diesel, Survey available. £375,000 - Location Edinburgh

Hull and decks restored, Twin Gardner diesels. Drop Dead Gorgeous! 2010 Survey please ask for a copy. £195,000 - Offers invited - Location - Dorset UK

6 berths in three cabins, Lister 30hp diesel, absolutely beautiful! Survey available - Please ask for a copy. £145,000 - Location - Chichester Harbour UK

She offers accommodation for up to 17 in 5 cabins. Engine is 121kw (162hp) 6-cylinder diesel (1979) Recently chartering. Euro 89,500 z- Location Gdynia, Poland

10m (33ft) Fairey Marine Swordsman, fast cruiser.

8m Kattegat 26, 1997, designed by John Leather/Jim Spencer.

10m Nicholson 32, built Halmatic/Burnes Shipyard in 1969.

9.1m (30ft) Classic Long keel Morgan Giles Sloop built Honduras Mahogany on CRE frames, Teak decks, 1955.

Up to six berths, two heads, excellent galley, Twin Volvo Penta TAMPD41P-A 200bhp diesels installed 2000. Superbly maintained. 2010 Survey- Please ask! £59,500 Offers Invited! Location River Colne, Essex

Colin Archer style Gaff Cutter. 4 berths, Yanmar 18hp Diesel, Windpilot Pacific Self Steering. £23,750 - location Faro, Portugal

Classic long-legged Craft. Standing Rigging replaced 2010, 4 berths, Perkins 30hp diesel, Diesel heater, Monitor Windvane self-steering, Diesel heater, radar, etc. £19,850 - Location Essex

Substantially restored, shower, heating, radar etc. A real classy lady! 2011 Survey - please ask. £19,500 - Location - Scotland

www.EasternYachts.com See Website for Photos, Specifications & Surveys 19 Colne Road, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0DL • Tel: +44 (0) 1206 305996. Planning to sell: Please call Adrian Espin for details.

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

2 Southford Road, Dartmouth, South Devon TQ6 9QS Tel/Fax: (01803) 833899 – info@woodenships.co.uk – www.woodenships.co.uk

A very exciting NEW BUILD 43’ KIM HOLMAN YACHT. The hull built by Cornish craftsmen, the rig by Devon’s Ed Burnett. This innovative yacht gives the best of the last generation of wood construction when yachts still looked like proper yachts combined with the grace and power of a refined and up to date gaff rig. £Ask for full details and plans

30’ +bowsprit Macmillan Yachts (now Spirit Yachts) 1991. Gaff cutter. Immensely strong cold moulded hull, teak deck. Wonderful deep cock-pit, huge cabin volume with 5 berths. 2nd only ownership, regularly updated, almost as new condition. £38,500 Scotland

Photo by Roger Sanders, Wirral RECENT RESTORATION. Gaff yawl by Stow 1895. 48’ on deck + bowsprit. Now completing yard rebuild. Pitch-pine hull, all new frames, new deck, new rig and sails. A stunning yacht, genuine classic and a very manageable size. £175,000 ex engine and interior. UK

43’ All teak Bermudian cutter. Built in France 1936. In superb condition after UK refits now with new mast, rig, sails, floors, engine, deck, system and much more. Yanmar diesel. 6 berths in original panelled interior. Radar, plotter, auto-pilot etc. An absolute show-stopper. £98,000 UK

34’ 10 ton Hillyard. 1971. A late example of the famous Hillyard centre-cockpit, aft cabin yacht. Cutter rigged. Recent Perkins diesel. 6 berths. 40 years ownership, trans-Atlantic. All the kit. Nice condition, ready to sail. They don’t come much better. Dorset £26,750

30’ Camper and Nicholson 1939. One of 7 built to this design, a very sweet yacht, stoutly built, 25 years ownership. Mahogany hull, very heavy oak frames, lead keel, oak floors. Alloy mast. Yanmar dsiesel. 4 berths. Full headroom. Suffolk £22,500

16TM Hillyard, 1973. One of the last from the yard, a big volume yacht with useful bilge keels and moderate draft. Iroko hull, varnished masts, Perkins diesel rebuilt 2009. 6 berths in forward and aft cabins + saloon. Major refit 2009. Tidy boat. Devon £38,000

30’ Laurent Giles Wanderer, built by Colne Marine in 1965. Iroko hull, solid teak deck, varnished teak coamings, lead keel, bronze fittings. Alloy mast. 2005 Bukh diesel. 4 berths. Separate heads. A nice example of this famous design. Sussex £

41’6” Gaff yawl. Built Ashton and Kilner in 1909. Pitch-pine hull and deck, lead keel, bonze fastened. Very traditional rig on varnished masts and spars. Yanmar 60hp. 6 berths. Standing headroom, separate heads. History afloat. 50 years present ownership. IoW £49,000

25’ Vertue, built Elkins 1946. Teak hull below wl, mahogany above. Sheathed deck. Varnished teak super structure. Varnished mast. New Yanmar diesel. 2 berths + cot forward. Blakes head. A realistic price, must sell. Essex £14,500

50’ Arthur Robb motor sailer. Built in UK 1959. Major refits 1969 and 1979. All hardwoods construction, teak deck. Big ketch rig. 50hp Lister diesel. 6 berths in all teak interior. Performance of the average sailing yacht, more sea-kindly than a motor yacht and all the home comforts. Exceptional value at £65,000. EXECUTOR SALE.

Craftsmanship JIMMY FUREY

Leading by example Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no substitute for experience, especially when it comes to building a Shannon One-Design. Meet the best builder in the business, Jimmy Furey story guy venables PHotoGrAPHs cathy mcaleavey 96

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Main picture: Cathyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shannon One-Design starts to take shape. Right: Jimmy Furey is a lively character who demanded perfection at every stage

dan houston

f you get completely lost in Ireland driving down a track through a forest on the Roscommon side of Lough Ree around Mount Plunkett, walk through a field and then jump over a wall with a hedge on it, and you just might find yourself at Jimmy Fureyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house. It is an area of supreme Irish tranquillity where moss-softened stones protrude out of the ground like knees from a bath. There are few places as gentle on the eye. Jimmy has lived here all his life after inheriting a 40-acre division of an old estate and the house that was built for his grandfather. Jimmy has been a farmer and an eel fisherman, but mostly Jimmy is a boatbuilder. When we arrived through the hedge to the constant alarm of crows and the wriggling welcome of several Labradors, Jimmy was in the process of steaming some ribs with a peat-fired steamer for a Shannon One-Design (SOD) dinghy with Doughal McMahon and his unlikely new apprentice, former Irish Olympic sailor Cathy McAleavey (read her story on page 78). Much like the master-and-apprentice relationship you see so often in the films, Cathy had only just been let loose with a plane that very week, despite the fact she had been there for two months building her own boat. In the lean-to where the Shannon One-Design was being made, we busied ourselves with poking around. On a shelf we were proud to notice a huge pile of Classic Boat magazines going way back to issue number seven from 1988. Whilst the steamer was heating up Jimmy showed us some of his model boats, the quality of which are outstanding and for which he won a Duke of Edinburgh model-makers Gold Award many years ago. These, he admitted, took three times as long to build as CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

CRAFTSMANSHIP JIMMY FUREY

“Before the ribs can be used they are placed in the lough to take up water, held down by rocks that had been sunk a few days earlier”

building an actual Shannon One-Design. This isn’t surprising as, on close inspection of the miniature SOD, it appeared he’d actually riveted copper wire to emulate the 4,000 rivets in the full-sized boat. As Shannon One-Designs are so often raced, they are built to very strict design regulations in which the discrepancy of an extra rib, or two inches in length, would cause foul play cries from the Shannon OneDesign Association (SODA) governing body. To counter this some of the measurements are carefully marked out on the roof of the shed above where the boats have always been built, and Jimmy still uses the 11 original ply patterns. This speeds up the process, enabling him (when full time) to build two boats in a winter.

master craftsman In 1920, designer Morgan Giles came up with an 18ft (5.5m) dinghy, which was just the right length for the steep waves of the loughs of the Shannon, with a gunter rig. A trial boat was commissioned from boatbuilder Walter Levinge and by 1922 about nine of these craft had been built at a cost of £37 each – four times the average price of a lake boat at the time. Amazingly, some of these boats are still sailing today. For Jimmy it all started in 1972 when two Englishmen, Pierce and Goodwin, asked him to build them a SOD. Up until then he’d been employed by them to fix and build rowing boats. “I was conceited enough to think that I could do it,” said Jimmy. But with the help of Walter, who also gave him the chainplates, and another SOD master craftsman called Peter Quigley, he built number 107 and he rather liked it so built another, number 108, for himself. His eyesight affected his skill at the tiller but he soon became an expert sheet hand and lacking funds for a manufactured one, he made himself a lifejacket out of inner tubes. Quite a few things have changed since Jimmy temporarily retired from the boatbuilding business. Now the timber boards come in metric measurements and his trusty old habit of splitting a 98

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

7/8in plank down the middle so that each side has mirrored grain proved to be impossible. Jimmy and Cathy’s passion, perfectionism and keenness to build the best boat was inspiring, just as much as this odd partnership was touching. This exercise was also about so much more than a dream to build their own boat. This is a thin strand; there are a few others who build SODs (Doughal McMahon is one of them) but the art could easily die out and Cathy is taking important steps to ensure that it doesn’t. In an old television programme Jimmy said: “The hills are getting that bit bigger, the boats are getting that bit heavier and the fellow with the long gown and the scythe under his arm is catching up.” Although, he said that nearly 20 years ago – he’s 87 years old now – and he doesn’t look like stopping. Indeed, when we saw him striding about his yard it looked like the fellow with the scythe was miles behind having tripped over his long gown in an attempt to keep up. Jimmy still digs up peat from his own bog to fire the timber steamer and before the ribs can be used they are placed in the lough to take up water, held down by rocks that have been sunk a few days earlier. This time, that job was done by Cathy, who nearly disappeared into the bog whilst Jimmy shouted instructions at her from higher ground. Once out, these ribs display a wonderful peaty umber, caused by the dark tannin in the water. Cathy sourced the running rig from a Weymouth chandlery whilst over there watching her daughter Annalise sailing in the 2012 Olympics. Cathy’s Shannon One-Design, No 178, was finally launched last summer to compete in the Lough Derg Regatta and the Raid on the Shannon. So has the process put her off another epic project? Not a bit: Cathy’s now planning to build a Water Wag and it doesn’t take a genius to guess who will oversee the build.

Above, left to right: Jimmy and friends hold the ribs while Cathy nails them down; the tubular peat-fired steamer; planing the timbers. Below: Jimmy with his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and the prize-winning model

& LAPT

Sailmakers

RAT S

Photo ÂŠ Beken Of Cowes

The Classic Sailmakers since 1790

42 Medina Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7BY Tel: (01983) 294051 Fax: (01983 294053 Email: ratseysails@ratsey.com

www.ratsey.com/ratseysails

Yard News Craftsmanship CRAFTSMANSHIP

edited by steffan Meyric hughes: +44 (0)207 349 3758 steffan@classicboat.co.uk

neTHerlAnds

The replica-building capital of the world “everyone was saying ‘if you’re going to build a replica now, this is the one to build’,” John Lammerts van Bueren told cB about the ongoing ingomar project. The 122ft (37m) schooner is in build at the graafship boatyard to a 1903 herreshoff design in steel (as was the original), and the hull is now finished and primed (pictured right). “she’s between Mariette and elena/eleonora in size and carries a lot of sail. she’s very extreme, drawn before the various ratings rules that prohibited yachts like this from racing and being built,” John added. The project is the third big build for John and ed kastelein, the team also behind the herreshoff schooner eleonora and the William gardner three-masted schooner Atlantic.

Alden scHooner

Above: the elegant Herreshoff hull and sheer scale of the Ingomar build are impressive. Below: Wolfhound hull takes shape. Below right: S&S yawl Avanti

wooden construction but she was never actually built, making Wolfhound not a replica build but the first and original. The hull is nearly complete.

cedar strip plank, is the personal project of Pieter van der Aa. Aside from the unusual build, everything else is traditional and van Bueren describes the project as “a faithful replica”. Pieter is building the boat alone, and the picture below shows the progress after 16 months of work. “Pieter and i go way back,” says John. “The shed is just five minutes from me so i can bother him as much as i like.”

s&s YAwl not far away, a project is well under way to bring back to life the 1935 s&s inboard yawl Avanti, 56ft (17.1m) on deck. she was built for Walter Rothschild and lost in a hurricane in 1954. The new Avanti, in

c/0 John LAMMeRTs vAn BueRen

At the same yard, and also in build in steel, is the schooner Wolfhound – design number 347 from John Alden – which is the same length as ingomar. Alden drew her lines for himself in 1927, with an option for steel or

c/0 John LAMMeRTs vAn BueRen

HerresHoff scHooner

NETHERLANDS/TURKEY

ASIA

here is Alexa (pictured right), the seventh of the semi-custom Truly classic 51 designs from dutch designer Andre hoek. Alexa was built at Metur Yacht in Turkey in coldmoulded wood. The largest one to date will soon be built at the claasen Jachtbouw shipyard in the netherlands, with the recent order for a Truly classic 126.

Japanese diesel giant Yanmar, maker of the most popular marine diesel of its generation, the 1GM10, has bought the dutch marine engineering company Vetus. The two companies will join forces and share nearly 150 years of knowledge and experience, with Vetus retaining its brand name.

Yanmar buys Vetus

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c/0 hoek design

Truly classic no 7

CRAFTSMANSHIP

C/0 FENTON BuRGIN

ISle oF wIGHT

Restoration of ‘Swedish Riva’ nears completion This striking launch has been the subject of an on-and-off restoration (winters in the yard, summers on the water) at the 146-year-old Clare Lallows boatyard on the Isle of Wight since 2010. The last job, to reinstate the two-berth cuddy cabin, is now nearing completion but she already looks a picture. Virgo is 25ft (7.6m) long and was originally designed and built by the Swedish motorboat yard of CG Pettersson in 1925. She’s designed for estuary and coastal cruising but her owner, Fenton Burgin, who also owns a classic 6-Metre yacht, says that her

natural home might have been as a rich man’s tender for a holiday house on the Swedish archipelago, coming as she does from ‘Sweden’s Riva’. Her upright stem, fine entry and broad shoulders make her ideally suited to the short, steep chop of the Solent, according to surveyor George Truckell. She’s now powered by a 56hp diesel, which gives her a top speed of 14 to 15 knots, with sensible cruising at 10 knots. Finally, that beautifully varnished hull is mahogany planks on oak-and-metal frames, the metal providing extra rigidity amidships.

loweSToFT

C/0 JONNy NANCE

CoRNwAll

CB winner in deep 6-Metre fever

St iVES: NEw puNt to tEaCh NEw SCullERS Since building his first St ives Jumbo lugger in 2007 (CB237), Jonny Nance has been on a mission to teach sculling (or ‘scullying’). his latest replica of a traditional punt was launched this spring and will be used for more lessons. She’s 13ft (4m) long and can carry eight souls. or Bristol’s ambling Band...

C/0 STANILAND

We consider ‘top boats’ lists, like the one in this issue, to be occasional fun, light pieces to celebrate magazine milestones. But they can cause trouble! Germaine, listed in the Top 100 in CB100, caught the eye of French conservator and boat collector Patrick Bigand, who bought her and started a ‘rebuild’ that took the form of a new replica, incorporating parts of the original where possible. She’s a 42ft (12.8m) Victorian gaff yawl, designed by Ben Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson in 1882. With her beam of just 9ft 8in (3m) and draught of 6ft 9in (2.1m), there’s a whiff of the plank-on-edge about this boat, as we reported in CB116, when the rebuild began at IBTC in Lowestoft. Patrick had hoped to launch her for the new millennium. The date – 28 May – has now been set for her launch at Oulton Broad.

C/0 TOM OWEN

Epic restoration for Victorian yawl

CONNOR MuRPHy

YoRkShiRE: MYStERY RuNaBout REStoREd this last winter, a mystery runabout was building a tough hide of beautiful varnish in the heated shed at the historic Staniland yard near doncaster. She’s a mahogany on mahogany 22ft (6.7m) triple-cockpit boat thought to be from the 1920s and abandoned 15 years ago after her late owner’s son learned that she was not a Riva! She’s probably a Chris-Craft Cadet, and she’ll debut at this year’s thames trad at henley-on-thames.

Tom Owen and team, winner of the 2013 CB restoration award for the 6-Metre yacht Valdai, has started on the restorations of two more 6-Metre boats. Marletta, a 1947 David Boyd Third-Rule boat built on the Clyde for the Olympics in 1948, needs a new deck and rudder, and strengthening work to the ring frames. She is similar in shape to her sister Thistle (recently planked by her owner Tom Richardson at the Elephant Boatyard in Hampshire) and Titia, an Olympic competitor from 1952 owned by another builder, Brian Pope, who races her internationally with co-owner Andy Postle. The other 6-Metre is Piccolo, a 1932 Fife III Second-Rule boat built at Fairlie. She will receive a new keelson and rig, and her engine is to be removed (for racing). Her home will be back at Fairlie where she belongs – although it’s touch and go as to whether she’ll make it for the Fife Regatta from 28 June to 5 July. CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

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FOR SALE

Freehold Apartment, Boatsheds, Commercial Units, Hardstanding and the Quay of Old Mill Boatyard an enchanted wooded location, within 30 minutes row of the centre of Dartmouth

TEL: 01803 835165

andy@butlers-wooden-boats.co.uk

THE MAYFLOWER CLASS Semi Custom Classic Yachts Built to suit the owners requirments Upto 140ft

GWEEK QUAY BOATYARD, GWEEK, HELSTON, TR12 6UF TEL: 01803 835165 andy@butlers-wooden-boats.co.uk www.butlers-wooden-boats.co.uk

CRAFTSMANSHIP

YARD VISIT

COCKWELLS AT MYLOR BRIDGE

Old and new From high-spec builds to century-old workboats, Cockwells has it covered STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS PETER WILLIS

Right: the America’s Cup challenger Sceptre undergoing her emergency structural refit

ver since Cockwells Modern and Classic Boatbuilding moved from its shed at Ponsharden to the spacious site at Mylor Bridge, it has expanded exponentially on both the new-build and the repair/restoration fronts. The site spreads out from a complex of green-painted shipping containers, interconnected and on two levels – and now surmounted by the mahogany bridge from an old tug, giving a commanding view of the yard and Mylor Creek. This is to be Dave Cockwell’s meeting room once a staircase is put in place. A visit in April found Sceptre, the 12-Metre America’s Cup challenger completing her emergency structural refit (see CB298 p88) inside the floating dock. Nearby, another classic, the 55ft (16.8m) Amokura, designed by Fred Shepherd and built by Moody’s in 1939, was being redecked. She’s famous for having been owned by writer George Millar and featuring in his book Oyster River. Both were due for relaunch before the end of April. Another, longer, project is the keel-up restoration of Letty, the 52ft 6in (16m) Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter built by Rowles of Pill in 1905. She’s now owned by Steve Cogdell (brother of Annabel J’s Phil) and is well on the way to being replanked. On the modern side, the gizmo-rich 39ft (11.9m) launch Ocean Fugue (fly-by-wire remote control, smart glass LCD windows that switch from clear to opaque), shortlisted for a 2013 Classic Boat Award, was in for some winter maintenance before heading off to September’s Monaco Yacht Show. Meanwhile, a 33ft (10m) version of the Andrew Wolstenholme strip-plank design is in build, named Impulsive in honour of the customer’s snap decision at last year’s Southampton Boat Show, and may well be ready for this year’s show.

Above, clockwise from top left: plenty of space for winter lay-ups; all new decking for Amokura; bow notch for the self-deploying anchor system

Impulsive occupies one of a series of workshops, which as we walked through also revealed another Duchy 27 and most intriguing of all, a 31ft (9.5m) tender being built for the 240ft (73m) Vitruvius motor yacht currently under construction at Perini Navi in Italy. The most striking detail at this stage is the huge notch cut into its bow, which will be for a self-deploying anchor system. A second 31ft tender is being built to be used as a VIP runabout at the Monaco show. Cockwells has recently appointed an in-house designer, Henry Ward, and his current work includes some new tender designs to be shown at Monaco, a new design with Nigel Irens for a 55ft (16.8m) sailing yawl, and some work on the Cockwells’ replica of the 55ft Rowles Pilot Cutter Pet. Meanwhile, in contrast to all the high-tech toys, is a modest, traditional white-and-blue boat. This is Mildred, Dave Cockwell’s own 27ft (8.2m) Falmouth Working Boat, and 100 years old this year. Cockwells Modern and Classic Boatbuilding Tel: +44 (0)1326 377 366; www.cockwells.co.uk

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CRAFTSMANSHIP

Boatbuilder’s Notes Step-bystep guide 1 Axe away the bark and sapwood

1 2

2 Round with the draw knife 3 Plane to finish 4 Saw to pot length 5 Plane the base and top

6 Bore out the centre

5 7

7 Enlarge hole with a chisel

8 Smooth rough edges with a hook knife

9 Round off the drinking lip with a piece of rolled sandpaper 10 Seal with walnut oil and beeswax

9 MAKE YOUR OWN...

Drinking vessels BY ROBIN GATES For over 1,000 years, through Viking and medieval times and into the Tudor age, mariners drank and ate out of wooden pots and bowls. So here is a simple step-by-step guide so you can make your own proper wooden drinking vessels. All you need is a small log and some simple hand tools. I am using wild cherry here, sealed with a mixture of walnut oil and beeswax, which is both food safe and insoluble in water and alcohol. Wooden drinking vessels are the antidote to nasty acrylic yachtie-style tumblers (see p82!) for people who wish to drink authentically on their boats. They have as many advantages today as they always had: good insulation, they are nicer to drink from than glass or ceramics, let alone plastic, and they don’t break, they don’t crack and they float! 104

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

10 11

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBIN GATES

11 Bottoms up! (filled with stout in this instance)

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Traditional Tool ROBIN GATES

Dovetail saw The diminutive dovetail saw, smaller sister to the tenon saw, is capable of far more than cutting the dovetail joint that named it. Because the teeth are shaped for ripping – cutting with the grain – this saw is equally handy for cutting tenons, tongues, bridles, short rebates and just about any other work requiring finesse. With its inviting long-horned open handle of English beech and gleaming back of folded brass, this mid-19th century saw made at the Beehive Works of Richard Groves & Sons in Snow Lane, Sheffield, represents the pinnacle of the species. In the 1990s it was copied by Independence Tools in the US, a company that was bought out by Lie-Nielsen and its likeness can be seen in LN’s dovetail saw today – albeit with some concessions to modern manufacturing. The secret of the saw’s precision lies in its fine teeth and thin plate – 0.022in (0.6mm) for this one, while some today are as thin as 0.01in (0.3mm). The finer the teeth the cleaner the cut, although this is at the expense of speed, which may be

significant with the hardwoods of yacht joinery because the longer you are sawing the more chance there is of straying from the line. At 18 teeth per inch (tpi) this saw is uncommonly fine; 14-15 tpi is the norm. Also significant is the hang of the saw – the angle between the cutting edge and the grip, which is designed to prioritise pushing forward over pushing down; the solid brass spine alone provides sufficient down force. Unlike today’s plastichandled disposable saws, the plate and handle of this old beauty are

Above: all the tools needed for cutting dovetails by hand. Below, left to right: if it hangs right, it is right; the beautifully shaped handle crafted from English beech

joined by a pair of lovely brass split nuts, which, if you have the appropriate forked bit, can be tightened or removed. Some of the so-called dovetail joinery from larger yards has never been near a dovetail saw, having been cut using a jig and router or even a table saw, but the old-school joiner will recognise here some other tools that are often used in cutting a dovetail by hand: a cutting gauge for marking baselines, dividers for spacing tails, sliding bevel and a protractor for setting gradients.

ROBIN GATES

BY ROBIN GATES

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

105

Character Boats

UNDERFALL U N D E R FA L L BOAT B O AT YARD YA R D

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B R I S TO L builds and repairs in at the western end of the • New The Underfall Yard, situated wood, harbour steel and in advanced ﬂoating Bristol, offers the following services: composites by Classic Boat

s New awardbuilds winnerand Star Yachts, repairs in wood, RB Boatbuilding, Tim Loftus and Independent Composites steel and advanced composites. • Rigging services by Denis Platten ofservices Traditional s Rigging of Rigging any size. Slipway up to 140 Tonnes, • includingup multi-hulls s Slipway to 140 Moorings and hard standing • Tonnes. s Moorings andelectrical • Navionics and hard standing. services by Motion Marine s Marine • On-site forge and blacksmith engineering and • RYA advanced level training electrical Blue Print Sailing. courses byservices.

17ft 6” Coastal Dayboat

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106

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Charlotte watters

Adrian Morgan expendable and unimportant in the scheme of things, so we should make the most of life while it lasts. “The highest goal of human life is the enhancement of pleasure and the reduction of pain,” to quote Stephen Greenblatt on Lucretius. And that, to those who love wooden boats, has special significance. Just as humans are unimportant in the whole scheme of things, so must be the boats we cherish and lavish so much attention on. They exist to be pleasurable, not a cause of pain. The only valid reason we may want to preserve their lives is to pass on their potential for enjoyment to the next generation. And even then, if they become too irksome, we should not prolong the agony. Like all material possessions, we should not become possessed by them. I am as guilty as anyone in that respect. There are times when I have to admit that Sally owns me, and not the other way round. The old cliché about “simply holding her in trust” just doesn’t wash. At times she causes me more pain, by which I mean worry, than pleasure. If I am her guardian for the future, what if she perishes in my care? No, I would like to attain that state of mind whereby nothing possesses me, the essence of freedom. To be enslaved to a collection of, albeit beautifully crafted bits of wood, is neither particularly healthy nor conducive to happiness. We fret and agonise about our boats, treating them like the precious objects to the detriment of use. Ask yourself: how much did you spend, and how many hours did it take? Divide one by the other, close your eyes, take a deep breath and take in the figure that appears on the calculator. Then go pour yourself a large whisky... I am not sure what a poet/philosopher from Roman times can tell us about sailing an old boat, or whether we should use hard antifouling or not, but from his book (loosely translated as ‘On the Nature of Things’) we can at least learn how to keep it all in perspective. All things turn to dust, and we should not be worried or a’feared. All things – man, beast or boat – are made from the same elements, which makes us essentially one. And just think, when we all eventually return to dust and our atoms decide to get together and make something new, maybe they’ll decide amongst themselves that it will be an improvement on the old collection, we might become a tree, and that tree might become a bit of a boat (or a violin). You can work out the rest for yourself.

Don’t worry, be happy Adrian reflects on the obsessive nature of boat owners

have been reading Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura, not in the original Latin (although I did win a Latin scholarship in my youth) but in translation via a book called The Swerve, in which the American Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stephen Greenblatt argues that the discovery of the manuscript in a monastery in 1417 triggered the Renaissance. The book, or rather poem, in 7,400 dactylic hexameters no less, suggests that all things are made up of an infinite number of atoms, there’s no afterlife, religions are mere superstitions designed to trick and torment us into obedience, we are no better than the birds (or fish and boats for that matter, as we are made of the same stuff), and that we should not fear extinction (being merely transitory and possibly just a nasty, selfish footnote in the history of the planet). It is remarkable for its modernity and subversiveness, to the extent that it was not exactly banned, but given a red warning triangle by religious authorities of the time. Explosive stuff. What this has to do with classic boats is, at first sight, obscure, unless we accept the fact, divined by Lucretius, long before modern physics and Darwinism and the rest, that we should not be too precious about our own mortality. We live, have a duty to enjoy ourselves and die, returning to dust and atoms to be reconstituted in whatever form nature dictates. We are entirely

“We fret and agonise about our boats”

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

107

MARINE DIRECTORY

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CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

111

Letters Letter of the month supported by oLd puLteney Whisky

Referring to the Classic Boat article on page 89 of the April 2013 issue, entitled: “Bring her back to former glory”… well, I know something of RAF HSL2552. I was in the RAF in Gibraltar in 1950 (just a mere lad) and that is where she was then. We had her for about a year and then she was taken away, presumably to the UK. We were then given HSL2554, which was identical. So 2552 may not have been the last one built. I have a funny feeling there is one (or was) in the RAF Museum in Hendon. Could it be 2554? These boats had three Napier Sea Lion 500hp engines, which were actually

c/0 pauL joLiffe

Searching for another RAF icon

Above: the HSL2552 Air Sea Rescue Boat at full chat

‘marinised’ aero engines. They were made of aluminium or magnesium and were cooled by distilled water, which was in turn cooled by seawater through a glass heat exchanger. The outer two engines were mounted conventionally but the centre engine was mounted backwards and the screw was driven through a ‘V’

gearbox. They were extremely noisy and hot. It used highperformance 100 octane fuel, 3,000 gallons of it in five flexible tanks amidships. The heads were right up in the bow in a little compartment and that was no place to sit when going at 50 knots! Reg Coker by email

Clever cleats On a previous classic wooden yacht we had brass jammers affixed to the internal port and starboard sides of the saloon. Their purpose was to jam the ropes fixed to the lee cloths. They were really useful, they looked classy and proved very practical. I am trying to buy more but cannot find any and I am not sure of their technical name. I wonder if you might be able to help me? Philippa Woon by email Ed – Try funnel/tube cleats at Classic Marine (www.classicmarine.co.uk) 112

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

I was recently in Cascavel in the south of Brazil where our hosts proudly showed us their city’s very large and beautiful lake – but not a boat in sight. I asked if the lake was used for sailing or watersports, only to be told that boating was not allowed at all. In the UK this large expanse of beautiful and placid water would be bright with the sails of Optimists, Lasers, Wayfarers et al. Mums and dads would be instructing the kids, a local club would run weekend and evening races, kayaks would be out, and maybe even the odd racing skiff in early practise for the Brazil Olympics might be seen! A stunning lake with nothing on it, just waiting to welcome the local people to the enjoyment to be had from the simple pleasure of messing about in boats. Or sadly, not. Maybe what we need is a world boating awareness day, month or year? Ken Hill by email

cathy mansfieLd

What! No boats

A bit more on Biche Back in the mid-50s I had been lent the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Hirta and on one trip we visited Zeebrugge and were invited aboard Biche. Roger was dead right in describing her as a floating dormitory (CB298, p96). I well recall Bluebelle and Biche turning up on the Orwell a year or so later, and hearing the story Roger recounts in his letter. The sinking is news to me but when I attended the 2004 Brest Festival, I found Biche again. In terrible condition, she was held together with cargo straps. At the 2008 Brest Festival, work was under way, and just after Brest 2012 I found her afloat behind the Eric Tabarly Museum in Lorient, totally rebuilt with a beautiful hull and rig. Mark Grimwade by email

Send your letters (and any replies please) to: Classic Boat, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ email: cb@classicboat.co.uk

Weathering the storm NIGEL PERT

I’m not sure who all these people are and am surprised by their response because she is far removed from being what we currently call a ‘classic’, due simply, to her date of build and her construction materials. The article also says the boat was designed to “cause a ripple in the sleepy classic-boat scene”. RùM may well have a rippling bow wave and this certainly proves the designer’s skills. However, I would argue that the way to keep the classic-yacht world from dozing off is to go on introducing accurately restored ‘classics’ and to carry on looking after the existing fleet to the best of our abilities, knowledge and patience. Alex Laird, La Ciotat, France

Time to trace some Tall Ships Dear Sirs: the two great pieces about the schooner Martha and BB Crowninshield in the April issue strike a nice chord with me. My father made a voyage in a five-masted schooner, and since childhood large sailing vessels have always had a special place in my heart. A look at the two largest pure sailing ships ever built might be in order. Preussen, the only five-masted, full-rigged ship ever built to carry cargo, was 407ft 8in (124.3m) long, with a 53ft 6in (16.3m)beam and a depth of 27ft 1in (8.3m). Her sail area was about 60,000sqft (5,574m²) and she could carry 8,000 tons. She was built in 1902 for the German House of Laeisz, primarily for the South American nitrate trade, though on at least one occasion she carried case oil from New York to Yokohama. The other ship is the Thomas W Lawson, the only seven-masted steel schooner

My new true love

ever built, measuring 375ft (114m) long, with a 50ft (15.2m) beam, depth of 32ft (9.8m) and a sail area of 43,000sqft (3,995m²). She was designed by BB Crowninshield for Captain John G Crowley, for use in the coastal coal trade. Unfortunately she was a failure due to her extreme depth, as projected dredging did not occur. Most of her short career was spent in the case-oil trade, towing between Texas and Philadelphia with her topmasts removed. Her masts were named Fore, Main, Mizzen, Jigger, Driver, Pusher and Spanker. Leonard C Smith by email

Here is a recent picture of my new love Tiarella – a McGruer eight tonner representative of the Romela class. This one was the first of 10 in the class built by Harry Feltham of Portsmouth in 1953 and she has an LOA of 33ft (10m), a beam of 8ft 6in (2.6m) and a draught of 5ft 6in (1.7m). Tiarella is built of mahogany on stone pine and, all told, approximately 14 Romelas were built. There are still a few left today, including (I believe) Romela, Sally of Kames and Nan of Kames. It would be really good to find out if any more Romelas are still sailing. Jim Newman by email

C/O JIM NEWMAN

In CB March 2013, Ron Valent states that “the classic scene is best served with growth and new exciting boats to stir the imagination of press and public.” I agree but disagree with the means by which he hints that this can be achieved. For starters, for “new exciting” read either “recently restored” or “never previously entered”. A composite boat (RùM) designed in 2012, with “a foam-cored sandwich hull, stainless-steel deck fittings and a plastic teak-look cockpit” is just not what we have come to call a ‘classic’ yacht, even if she does turn heads and go very quickly. Ron states that “a lot of people at the regattas felt that if RùM had been built in wood, strip-planked in Sitka and coated in epoxy, she would have been seen as a classic.”

Your March Sternpost about connections to Ransome stirred me to share this image of two piratical sisters that live with us on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Their names are Nancy and Peggy (for Amazonian reasons) and their stubbornness led them to refuse the stable during a recent blizzard. In case this story lacks obvious linkage to Classic Boat, perhaps the conveyance by which their hay arrives every autumn is more on topic (see image below left). Built by Allan Vaitses in 1962 in Mattapoisett, MA, her lines are taken off a pre-WW2 Jonesport, ME, lobster boat and she’s cedar on oak, caulked and sheathed with glassfibre (with monel staples) – perhaps one of the first composites. She has oak from waterline to turn of bilge and bronze stem sheathing, and breaks ice in the winter as needed. A keel cooler adds to the year-round utility in our New England climate, allthough we don’t see so much ice these days. Michael Moore

C/O MICHAEL MOORE

It’s a RùM deal

CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

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Under the varnish No 1: “The commodore” Guy Venables starts a new series of humorous insights into classic boating stereotypes

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CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2013

Super Yacht quality Burmese Teak from Stones Marine Timber We are pleased to announce that we have been appointed sole European distributor and stockist for NZM Teak of Burma. Having established a very good reputation for supplying other types of high quality timber to the marine industry worldwide, we are now able to offer this superb product direct from our Devon warehouse.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vertigoâ&#x20AC;? Teak supplied by NZM

stones marine timber

Introducing

Yalton / East Portlemouth / Salcombe / Devon / TQ8 8PA / England Tel: 44(0)1548844122 info@stonesmarinetimber.com www.stonesmarinetimber.com