Classic Boat - October 2013 by The Chelsea Magazine Company

Classic Boat 100 Club 10

OCTOBER 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

Celebrating sailing’s centenarians

Transpac How Dorade won Mighty Boesch Mahogany motorboats Highlands and islands To Scotland with the Gaffers BUILDING BIG TO OLD PLANS

New 1700s lugger

NEW SECTION: TODAY’S CLASSICS

FRANCOIS VIVIER’S SMALL CRAFT

Trailable Herreshoff Design genius

The complete sailing set

Boesch 620

Boesch 625

Boesch 710

Boesch 750

Boesch 970

Boesch 970 st. tropez VIsIt Us: Interboot 2013 Friedrichshafen: 21.09. - 29.09.2013 / boot D端sseldorf 2014: 18.01. - 26.01.2014

CRAFTSMANSHIP

FEATURES

7 . LOGBOOK From Mallorca to Russia, we report on the latest regattas

40 . MAGIC IN THE MED Exclusive preview of the biennial Monaco Classic Week 48 . LOVE AFFAIR Fancy building a 63ft lugger from scratch? These guys did…

24 48

COVER STORY

56 . LIVING LEGEND Join us for a sail with design genius François Vivier 64 . NEXT GENERATION Four new designs destined for future classic boat status

HENRI THIBAULT

COVER STORY

C/O JUERG KAUFMANN

Sit back and savour the sailing centenarians

LEFT: NIGEL SHARP; ABOVE: PETER WILLIS

34 . WOODEN WONDERS Meet the boys from Boesch – master motor boat innovators

OCTOBER 2013 Nº304

p20

COVER PHOTO: NIGEL PERT

COVER STORY

CRAFTSMANSHIP

COVER STORY 100 NOT OUT

24 . HIP, HIP, HOORAY We join the Old Gaffers for their 50th birthday bash 28 . GOLDEN OLDIE The fascinating life and times of the 1888 yawl Bonita

Contents

SHCBLoOAAw SIC T SUD RVo Er Yade won the Transpac

REGULARS 45 . SALEROOM 46 . OBJECTS OF DESIRE 64 . NEW CLASSICS 95 . LOOKING AHEAD 96 . LETTERS 98 . UNDER THE VARNISH ONBOARD 66 . OGA TO SCOTLAND 72 . BOOKS 73 . LAZARETTE 75 . CLASSNOTES 77 . GETTING AFLOAT

COVER STORY

66 . TARTAN TOUR Tantina II tours the Scottish coastline with the OGA

CRAFTSMANSHIP 84 . YARD NEWS 86 . BOATBUILDER’S NOTES 89 . ADRIAN MORGAN

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Loa: 10.97 m

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VoLon t É

di a n a

Very CoMpetitiVe s&s ClassiC raCer froM 1968

62ft bill dixon ClassiC Cutter

Loa: 11.28 m

a na Lí a

W hi t e L a dy

75 ft alfred Mylne yawl froM 1925

superbly restored square Meter sK 40

Loa: 22.88 m

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YA C H T S

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

NIGEL PERT

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 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 +44 (0)207 349 3710 will.delmont@chelseamagazines.com Subscriptions department YACHTS 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU CHELSEA CHELSEA A RZ II NN EES ARINE M M A G APaul MAGAZINES Managing director Dobson M deputy Managing director Steve Ross Commercial director Vicki Gavin Publisher Simon Temlett digital Manager Oliver Morley-Norris Events Manager Holly Thacker YACHTING

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When it’s 100, not out Eric Tabarly, the French hero sailor, had this sense when his beloved Fife design Pen Duick became 100 years old in 1998 that something special had been achieved. I remember speaking to him about it when he was planning a celebration regatta for her on the Odet in Brittany before embarking on his fateful passage to the inaugural Fife regatta. Tabarly’s view was basically that when a boat reached her 100th season some special status should automatically be conferred on her. Northern France at that time had seen many replica traditional workboats built using regional and central government grants. And I think that Tabarly, possibly with an eye on Pen Duick’s running costs, was hoping that some of this money could be made available for the original boats. In return they would be shown off at various festivals and maritime events where people could learn about them and marvel. That hasn’t exactly happened, but from this side of the Channel we have seen the effect of these community vessel programmes with the burgeoning festivals around the Brittany coast they create, and how that has helped to recreate and foster a year-round community spirit, keeping crafts alive and involving young And we do marvel! “In this country people. In this country we are a bit more sanguine we are a bit more about our historic small boat fleet: “Oh she’s more than 100 years old then, that’s nice – she sanguine about it” looks in jolly good condition.” Some small efforts have been made, by National Historic Ships say, to detail these old boats, but there’s nothing special for centenarians. And I suppose that begs the question whether there should be? After all there are more significant cut-off points in history, like pre-World War Two – after which modern design really did start to consign old boats to history. But there is something special about 100 years; it’s not just four generations or a matter of outliving her designer, builder and first owners. These boats can tangibly tell us so much about the past. They show us, as they sail smartly by, myriad differences between the new world and theirs, and yet also how good they were... are, at sailing. We have more than a few, a ton of centenarians if you will, in this issue. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

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Logbook

Out and about

Conde de

Barcelona Main image: spot the difference – Mariette with Carillion of Wight. Inset: committee member Jonathan Syrett (left) with Carillion’s Nick Gerard

ALL PICTURES BY NICO MARTINEZ

Kind of quiet Conde

Above: Charles Wroe, Mariette’s captain, receiving first prize from Mrs Ventayol

August in Alcúdia, Mallorca, saw this regatta, held again in the bay to the north-east of the island, giving different and exhilarating racing from the years in Palma Bay. Race manager Andreu Guasp and his team did brilliantly, writes Annie Smith. Searing heat, good winds and the sometimes choppy waters delighted racing teams, but on the land it was a different matter. Just 25 boats made it very quiet on the quays and many local boats were absent. Some new blood on the committee is needed so the regatta can once again look to a certain future. However, the prize-giving was a lovely affair presented by Mrs Ventayol, Mayoress of Alcúdia, with Jonathan Syrett and all concerned making it memorable. Mariette won overall and the crew said they enjoyed it so much they’ll be telling all their friends to bring their boats along, so hopefully this will happen. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

LOGBOOK

St Petersburg ClaSSiC YaCht week St PeterSburg YC/Nikita rubtSoV

Big fun in the Baltic Clockwise from top left: the L6 class racing; going into the city at 2.00am; celebrating the second annual Classic Week; the competitive Mirame of 1910

The stunning city of St Petersburg hosted its second Classic Yacht Week, part of the Baltic Classic Circuit series, from Hercules Yacht Club in the Gulf of Finland during the white nights of July, writes Guy Venables. Light and changeable winds gave racing crews and tacticians a challenge, with spinnakers being filled at the slightest chance and the predominantly L6 class of yachts managed occasionally to heel over with grace. The results were that Mirame, the oldest yacht in the fleet and the only one gaff-rigged, pushed last year’s winner L6 Nika into second place with Onega in third.

Next came the infamous night passage upriver to the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island opposite the Hermitage in the heart of the city, navigating at night under two of the 340 bridges that make St Petersburg’s waterways a veritable Venice of the north. As the event has been pushed back to fit better into the racing calendar, there are only about four hours of actual darkness! To top it all off the Wild Sailors’ Party lived up to expectations, with lashings of Russian white wine (aka vodka) and everyone ending up in the paddling pool or singing sea shanties. It’s not to be missed. ClaSSiC BOat OCTOBER 2013

100 Club

Thanks to Eric Tabarlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision and the efforts of the Gstaad Yacht Club, we can now all bask in the beauty of the sailing centenarians STORY KATHY MANSFIELD

CENTENARIANS

prEvIouS pAgE: NIgEL pErT; c/o JuErg KAuFMANN

Clockwise from top left: Mariska and Tuiga battle for start line honours; Avel on a charge; magnificent masts in the harbour at St Tropez; lifering on board Avel

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

KATHY MANSFIELD

n the weeks preceeding Pen Duick’s 100th birthday in 1998, her owner, Eric Tabarly, said he hoped that one day there would be a gathering of yachts of 100 years and more, to show the world the beauty and resilience of these magnificent yachts. Sadly, he fell from his beloved yacht on the way to the Fife Regatta in Scotland that same year, but he would have been immensely proud to see his wish come true thanks to the efforts of a tiny, relatively unknown yacht club in Gstaad… Despite being landlocked, Gstaad YC now boasts 400 members, including European royalty from 20 different countries. It has thrived and in October 2011, in cooperation with the Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, the club awarded its inaugural Centenary Trophy, created by Wakely & Wheeler of London in 1911, to the race winner of a prestigious gathering of these incredible centenarian yachts. But despite its success, a nagging question remains: why has it taken a yacht club buried in the mountains of Switzerland to make the rest of us take notice of our centenary yachts as a potent group? One reason is there are now more boats that have passed their 100th birthday than in 1998, so it’s easier to get a sizeable group together to race. Adding to the numbers, more have been restored. It’s also true to say that there are still not that many clusters of centenarians,

NICO MARTINEZ

though Gstaad Yacht Club has chosen a very suitable time and venue – Challenge Day at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, where many classic boats of impeccable pedigree gather at the end of the racing season. But that’s no excuse. I remember when a group of French classic boat enthusiasts came to Britain to visit some of our many boats and museums, and wondered whether we really appreciated what we have.

rich reserves And do we yet appreciate what we have? A bit more certainly, but why do we not have our own centenarians’ race in the Solent, or even classics events in historically important areas such as the Clyde and East Anglia? Maybe it would take losing our boats as the French did in the wars to really appreciate the number and variety of historic boats we have around our waterways. Britain has so much to fall back on and the nation got a brief glimpse during the Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, despite the BBC’s best efforts to withhold the compelling histories of these boats. We are very lucky. But do many people get to see them? Go to France and take a walk along the old harbour at Cannes during the Régates Royales regatta (part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge festival calendar) or at Les Voiles a week later and you’ll see many of the world’s most beautiful classic centenarians, but we all need to do more

to show the public that these are quite amazing boats that are still exciting to restore, watch and sail.

les voiles de saint-tropez Twenty boats were registered for the 2012 Special Centenarians race during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The 1897 cutter Lulu, similar to the yachts the Impressionist painter Gustave Caillebotte portrayed, set off first in a 10.7 mile-long pursuit race, followed 46 minutes later by the last one in the handicap series, the Fife 15-M Mariska. The start and finish were just off the harbour wall, which was crowded with spectators, and the breeze filled in from a 10-knot southwesterly to a robust 15 knots on this sparkling sunny day, giving a good challenge to both boats and crews. The race favoured the boats built for stronger conditions, as the winner by 15 minutes was the hefty 1892 Charles Nicholson gaff cutter Marigold, beating the lighter 1899 Bona Fide (who won the first regatta in 2011) into second, followed by the 1905 Herreshoff NY30 design Oriole close behind in third. They were followed in quick succession by two of the four Fife 15-Ms – The Lady Anne, who celebrated her 100th birthday in 2012, and the 1909 Hispania – who fought their own little battle with the other two, the 1909 Tuiga (see page 10) and the 1908 Mariska. Further excitement came in a near-photo finish between the 1885 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Flying the flag for the centenarians i

a handful have been dinghies like the International In the August 2004 issue of Classic Boat (CB194), 12-Foot and West Kirby Star. We’ve run motorboats, a tiny piece appeared in the news section, wishing a steam yachts, schooners and – most of all – venerable happy 100th birthday to the Fife III beauty Mikado. 300 ISSuE ˜ SPEcIAl SouvEnIR EdITIon hAll Of fAme old gaff cutters. The average length is 44ft (13.4m). She was preparing for her party at Northney We’ve had two bicentenarians – the 200-year-old Marina on Hayling Island. “She’ll be floodlit and Cornish gig Newquay (built 1812) and the 200-yearwe’ve got a band playing so there’ll be dancing and best bOAts in the wOrld general hi-jinks, as well as dinner,” said the owner old Essex Smack Boadicea (1808). We’ve even listed Michael Briggs. Since then, we’ve run a story on a The Cruising Association and Ratty from Wind in the Griff Rhys Jones sinks at Goolwa centenarian yacht nearly every month. Willows! We’ve also had a couple of accidental The aim is as simple as it is effective: to repeats. So, would you believe it – this is the EXTRA PAGES celebrate yachts of exactly 100 years old, much hundredth issue that has carried our centenarian like the Queen’s birthday letter to British citizens feature! Good thing we decided to go big this month. who reach that age. And much in the same way that the Queen’s The 100-year shadow of the First World War is fast approaching, message is to congratulate a long and continuing life, so our little and from next year we will not be able to feature 100-year-old award only goes to boats that are still alive – and by that we mean yachts, as few were built in those years. But just as the Queen in commission – and by that we mean still sailing, steaming, continues to write to the exceptionally old on subsequent birthdays, motoring or rowing, not up on blocks on land somewhere or we will, for the next five years at least, diversify to include yachts trapped behind glass. over a century old. And we are also considering a booby prize of a We were unsure at first if it would be possible to find 12 boats feathered helmet crest for the next reader who proudly informs us (mainly yachts) that have turned 100 every year. The fact that his yacht is a ‘centurion’. You have been warned… we’ve managed to do so for nine years has been a credit to the The complete list of centenarian boats featured in the boat owners who have poured everything they have into keeping ‘Centenarians’ panel in Classic Boat is now available online at these grand old girls afloat. Twenty five have been workboats; www.classicboat.co.uk. Steffan Meyric Hughes

Classic boat JUNe 2013

£4.50 Us$12.50

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300 CLASSIC BOAT SURVEY

round britain challenge

radical racing boat

Old Gaffers get going Fabulous Fixitor

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

the apprentice

Building a Shannon

9 770950 331134

YACHTS YACHTING

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CENTENARIANS

cLocKwISE FroM rIgHT: c/o JUErg KAUFMANN

“Britain has so much to fall back on… we are very lucky”

KATHY MANSFIELD

Clockwise from main image: 1907 Veronique; Marigold crew; Hispania glides past the rustic buildings of St Tropez; build plate on The Lady Anne; bowmen on board Partridge

NIgEL pErT

gaff cutter Partridge and Hispania. The bright yellow Falmouth Working Boat Victory built in 1883 was next, with Mariska and Tabarly’s iconic Pen Duick behind. Apart from the 15-Ms – probably the most elegant foursome in the classics world – these boats are intriguingly different. Marigold and Partridge were built to a Victorian working pilot boat design with plumb bows, overhanging counter sterns and long bowsprits. Both were built at Camper & Nicholsons near Southampton, though Marigold is slightly shorter and beamier. Both were recovered from salt water mud berths, which helped to preserve them, but it took the perseverance of their owners to recreate their finer days. They contrast markedly with Bona Fide, designed by Charles Sibbick and built at the Albert Yard in Cowes. She has thin timbers that are more like a canoe’s than a yacht’s and with a LOA of 44ft 6in (13.6m) and an incredible amount of overhang, she is light and fast – perfect for racing. Doug Peterson found her in Italy, abandoned since 1983 and without her mast, bowsprit and spars. She overtakes many yachts much longer than herself, and has done extremely well in the Mediterranean races. Oriole is a New York 30 One-Design, penned for the New York YC by Nat Herreshoff. Other boats in the fleet included Victory, built in 1883 as a Falmouth oyster dredging boat and with a jazzy bright yellow hull. The 1896 Nan of Fife,

discovered on the internet and traced to a shed in France with her counter stern lopped off and just her faint original name to confirm her identification, has been restored by the grandson of a previous owner.

Best of British It was magnificent to see such a strong contingent of home-grown heroes out on the water too. The four 15-Metres plus Moonbeam III and the 19-M Mariquita all came from the Fife drawing board and yard; in 1899 Alfred Mylne gave us Tigris, Owl was designed by Fred Shepherd in 1909, and Veronique was designed and built by Luke Brothers in 1907. But the grandfather of all the centenarians is Tabarly’s Pen Duick. Designed by Fife III and built in Ireland, she is a class act and regarded as a national icon in France, symbolising the resurgence of the country when she was raised from a mud berth after the war. Peter Erzberger, Commodore of Gstaad Yacht Club, commented: “It was a beautiful, very positive race. Today we proved that the formula is perfect and that with every successive edition we can gather more data to make the handicap system better and to have sailors enjoy the regatta more and more. By analysing the boats’ performances we will be able to sharpen the rating system and possibly create a specific “centenary rule” for the future editions. Also that is very good for the CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

CENTENARIANS

right and above: C/o JUerg KaUfmann

KathY manSfieLd

“Pen Duick is a class act and regarded as a national icon in France”

Clockwise from top left: the elegant Pen Duick; Victory with her yellow hull; the winning boat Marigold and The Lady Anne (foreground); the champion’s trophy

KathY manSfieLd

spectators, for whom it is easier to understand and even bet on who the winner will be, besides being able to admire the sheer beauty of these boats.” At the end of the regatta, the winner’s trophy was awarded to Marigold’s owner, Richard Allan, who said: “We are really happy. It’s great to race in an event with competitors of the same age. It’s the first time we’ve taken part in the trophy, so we’re even more satisfied. We’ll be back next year to defend our title, that’s for sure!” Perhaps one day we will see more gatherings of these centenarians, as Eric Tabarly hoped. There are a growing number in America and though they race within a classics venue, you need to search through the listings to pick out the oldest boats, then try and find them. Perhaps we could have a special mooring or berthing area for the boats over 100 years old, so people could come and see them for themselves, then recognise them when sailing? There could be a special sailpast at the end of the event, or a dedicated website highlighting their histories that could be updated – Classic Boat has worked hard to do this already (see panel on page 14), so much information is available and there is more to be discovered. There are, of course, individual celebrations for each centenary but let’s think of people outside the classics community, show what we have achieved and saved, and let them see for themselves the incredible beauty and strength of these magnificent boats. 16

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Above right: A rare moment with eight sails aloft pool, andAbove a roster left:of events atRockport’s its luxurious joinery clubhouse. oneoutshone of the is only village’s by social hubs, of the lustre the clubhouse hosts the varnish

The small club with big ideas nestled in one of the chicest corners of the world, at 3,445ft (1,050m) above sea level, gstaad Yacht Club appears more than a little incongruous amid the surrounding peaks, valleys and ski slopes. Celebrating its 15th anniversary earlier this year, the club has come a long way since its inception over dinner in 1998. initially considered something of a folly between close friends, the club is now thriving with an international membership. for a yacht club based in a landlocked country the gYC’s calendar is remarkably full, including ski races, car rallies, a unique race for radio-controlled yachts on gstaad’s semi-olympic

social and cultural events and sporting activities, and welcomes a growing number of junior members. do not write off this club as an eccentricity. Competing in the world’s most prestigious races, from St tropez to Sardinia and Cowes, the gYC was also represented on the Swiss olympic sailing team in 2004, 2008 and 2012. as patron, hm Constantine ii, King of the hellenes said: “our vision is to create a unique, global yacht club away from the waters, instead of another yacht club by the waters.” Looks like they have succeeded. Coco Strunck

GATSBY’S YACHT steve.gunns1@gmail.com 61 (0) 408 237 430 www.hurrica-v.com

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THE GSTAAD YACHT CLUB CENTENARY TROPHY DURING ‘LES VOILES DE SAINT-TROPEZ’ 3RD OCTOBER 2013

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Tell Tales

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

COWES

Biggest ever fleet of gaffers?

PETER MUMFoRD – BEkEn oF coWES

The amazing gathering of 94 racing gaffers at the big oGa festival in august was, we think, a world record. This picture shows Sophie chasing Velsia in F5 conditions. Full story on page 24…

THAMES

TUG CHALLENGE

Call to volunteers nationwide The steam tug challenge featured in last month’s issue (cB303) is looking for volunteers for part of her annual programme that will see her voyage from Southampton around the Uk and near continent, taking her unique heritage to the public. The Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust welcomes assistance from seamen, engineers, helpers and more. Interested? Then please contact: www.stchallenge.org or call +44 (0)7860 254706. 18

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

a bottle of water from the source of the Thames in Gloucestershire is en route for central London in a relay being carried out by a flotilla of vessels, many of them classics. The bottle was filled at the river’s source, Thames head in Gloucestershire, on 1 September by Stuart Dyer (pictured right) of the cirencester Ramblers, who walked with the bottle to cricklade, the first 12-mile leg, unnavigable by all craft. as we went to press, the outdoor Swimming Society was busy with the next 11-mile leg from cricklade to Lechlade (split into four sections). From Lechlade the journey will be by a wide array of rivercraft, including a classic rowing gig, a 1962 Broads cruiser, a gondola, a 1932 slipper launch, traditional skiffs and punts, the whaleboat Molly, the saloon launch Lady Genevieve and the Queen’s rowbarges Gloriana and jubilant. From Tower Bridge, the WWII boat MTB102 will be on hand to complete the journey from the source to the north Sea (Lowestoft in Suffolk). Upon completion, the bottle of water will become part of the collection of the Museum of Water, a collection of waters of the world by artist amy Sharrocks. It is the first year for the project, called Source to Sea River Relay, and is part of the Mayor’s Thames Festival, 6-15 September.

c/o jonaThan cookE

PETER WILLIS

Source to sea by classic boat

paul breach, c/o albatross marine

SUFFolk

Thousands cheer the Albatrosses oulton broad echoed to the sound of a fleet of racing albatross motor boats on the august bank holiday weekend (23-25 august). this seems to have become an annual event since the first successful outing in 2012, and this year the thousands of spectators who’d arrived for the village fête got a bit more than they bargained for. “i’ve never seen a reaction like it,” said organiser John Fildes. “i wouldn’t be surprised if we changed the face of circuit racing at that event.” the little albatross was built between 1949 and 1967 in three sizes, ranging from 12ft 6in to 15ft (3.8m to 4.6m) by albatross marine whose

founder, peter hives, was chairman of rolls-royce. Despite their lack of any obvious glamour, they turned out to be britain’s answer to the likes of riva and chris-craft. in the 1950s, albatrosses were owned by prince philip, prince rainier of monaco and Gianni agnelli of Fiat. in all, 1,300 were built and 850 are still thought to be in existence. the coventry climax-engined boats produce about 110hp at the prop, giving nearly 50mph, while the 100e Ford-engined have about two-thirds the power and speed. two albatross speedboats will be at this year’s monaco classic Week, along with ian pearce, eldest son of the boat’s co-designer archie peace.

MEDIA

niGel sharp

Mildred 1913

Falmouth Working Boats’ 10th centenarian built by rD pill in Gorran haven in 1913, mildred now joins the ranks of at least 10 other centenarian Falmouth Working boats still sailing, writes nigel sharp. she was named after the granddaughter of her original owner, William Johns of Flushing. in 1934, with a new bermudan rig, she was sold to the author howard spring. David stonehouse bought her in 1975 and about 10 years ago boatbuilder Dave cockwell joined him as part-owner – a highly appropriate move as Dave now runs the boatyard at the top of mylor creek, in which mildred has spent most of her life – and races her whenever the demands of a busy boatyard allow.

sir robin Knox-Johnston has attacked the bbc’s lack of coverage of sailing, claiming the corporation is obsessed with football and cricket and has forgotten we are a maritime nation. the country has developed “sea blindness” he said, bemoaning the lack of coverage dedicated to a pastime practised by millions and available to everyone – “whether a bricklayer or a duke”. as an example, he cited the start of the Fastnet – “spectacular and well received around the world with one major exception: the bbc.” this, he says, is in contrast to, for example, the great support given by australian media to the sydney-hobart Yacht race. the lack of coverage is damaging to the future of sailing, sir robin claims, as well as for young sailors struggling to gain sponsorship. his comments were supported by olympic gold medallist sir ben ainslie. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Dan houston

Knox-Johnston: “BBC is football mad”

USA

SHARON GREEN, ULTIMATE SAILING

How Dorade won the Transpac

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

when sailing downwind, when the temptation is to make frequent, vigorous corrections to prevent the feeling of the boat starting to broach. Old yachts with long keels will sail themselves, so the adage goes, and this was borne out in practice. “We kept the tiller in the centre. Constant, small corrections are enough.” This won’t come as news to experienced classic boat sailors. Weight distribution was also key. “We learned that keeping the weight low down in the middle of the boat worked better than sitting out high side,” Matt said. This is more than just conjecture. Matt went as far as to make polar charts sailing with crew high side, and crew deep and central in the cockpit. The proof is there. During Dorade’s recent Transpac victory, navigation was by sextant.

Above: Dorade racing hard. Below: Matt Brooks, and bottom , with his winning crew

“All our electronics broke on the first day out at sea”

SHARON GREEN, ULTIMATE SAILING

Dorade’s victory in this year’s Transpac (TTs, CB303) in 12d 5h 28m might be the greatest ever racing achievement by a classic yacht. It seems her owner, Californian sailor Matt Brooks wasn’t kidding, as they say stateside, when he announced his intention to campaign his Olin Stephens yacht Dorade in the major ocean races that she triumphed in during her heyday. The training Matt and crew underwent to achieve it was refreshingly historical and took as reference the way Olin sailed Dorade, both in the book by Douglas Adkins (Dorade: the History of an OceanRacing Yacht) and through videos of him sailing in the 1931 Transat. The conclusion? “You could say there are no new ideas,” Matt relates. This was a realisation that dawned over the space of 1,000 miles and more of training in open water off the Californian coast during the winter of 2012/13, after a respectable but disappointing placing in the 2012 Bermuda Race. “What we realised is that we had absorbed the modern way of sailing without realising it.” What might suit a Farr 40 – or, for that matter, a Laser – was not so effective on an 83-year-old oceanracing yawl. One thing they noticed from watching video footage was how little steering Olin did, even

“I suggested taking it on the Bermuda Race last year and was told ‘no need’ by everyone. Well, all our electronics broke on the first day at sea.” Now, sextant navigation is just for the sake of it – “out of respect, to close the historical circle,” as Matt puts it. Apart from Matt, the crew is all professional. “We really don’t have roles,” Matt says. “We’re on a three-hour watch system and everyone does anything. Everyone drives, everyone trims, everyone goes to the bow. Weather and nav are the only exceptions: that’s me and Matt [Wachowicz – tactician/navigator].” Any other vintage techniques? “Yes. Modern boats are worried about weight! We had salami, cheese and wine every night – a different wine and cheese every night in fact. And she’s very quiet below, unlike modern boats, where it’s like being in a drum and you feel that the boat’s going to come apart at any time. It’s a lot more civilised.” Matt is now looking forward to more successes in Dorade, including the 2015 Transat and Fastnet. His wife Pam, a mean regatta sailor, will doubtless be skippering the yacht to more silver with her all-female crew in the meantime. A short video about the crew’s training regime is now online at www.classicboat.co.uk

TELL TALES

MID-ATLANTIC

Vertue yacht sunk by UFO C/O MICHAeL CHAMBeRLAIN

British singlehander Michael Chamberlain was optimistic as he set sail from the Azorean port of Horta on a 1,200-mile passage to Falmouth on his 25ft (7.6m) Vertue Simo on 4 July. Two days later, while sailing north on “messy seas” to find westerlies, the boat was stopped dead by what Michael thought at the time to be a “really big slamming wave – it actually knocked me off my feet”. After dinner that night, he heard sloshing noises and lifted a sole board to find the butter tin and other food containers afloat in the bilges. It took an hour of pumping to empty the boat and by dawn the next day, the bilges were awash again. Initially, Michael was fairly unconcerned: but that changed when he found the leak coming from the chain locker area. “It was coming in

like a tap opened up. For the first time, I got a bit concerned.” Five days out of Horta, Falmouth was now 800 miles away – La Coruña in northern Spain was nearer at 606 miles, or eight days at 80 miles a day. Michael was keeping up with the ingress but starting to think about a daylight rescue in calm seas. “I got hold of the EPIRB and must have spent 10 minutes trying to get the top off it before forcing it off with a knife.” I stopped the boat and lay hove-to. An hour and 45 minutes

Above: the Vertue Simo and Michael shortly after his rescue

“It was coming in like a tap opened up”

after triggering the EPIRB, the 300-tonne Spanish fishing boat Siempre Juan Luis, homebound for Vigo after two months’ fishing on the Grand Banks, appeared eight miles off on AIS. Michael fired five flares: one “semi-backfired” and burned his hand – and two didn’t work. Four days later, Michael disembarked safely in Vigo. It is far from certain what sank Simo. Michael had seen whales for two days before the holing; but there are many other objects, like semisubmerged containers and other flotsam and jetsam ready to hole a yacht, all termed ‘unidentified floating object’ or ‘UFO’ by oceanographers. Lessons learned? The three flares that malfunctioned were five months out of date. And, Michael adds, if he were to sail oceans again, he would fit an AIS transponder.

NAVIGATION

MAX

Nab Tower, which has marked the eastern end of the Solent for close to a century, is being rebuilt to extend its life for another 50 years, reports Barry Pickthall. The deteriorated top sections of the outer steel tower have been removed to reduce the tower’s height – and with it, upkeep. The work should be completed by October. The 10,000-tonne Nab Tower was one of 12 planned to be floated out and sunk in a line from Dungeness to Calais during World War 1 to stop German U-boats entering the Channel. By 1918, only two towers had been completed. The first was named Nab Tower and floated out to act as a navigation mark off Selsey Bill. The other was demolished. The 100ft (30.5m) steel cylindrical tower stands on a concrete base designed to float and be scuppered in position. The Nab Tower settled on the bottom at an angle, and looks like a nautical Leaning Tower of Pisa. It has nonetheless survived countless storms.

C/O ACUBeNS

Grand design for Nab Tower

TALL SHIPS

Changing of the Guard for Tall Ships POLAND Omani Tall Ship Shabab Oman (above left) has completed her last race as a sail-training ship, reports Max Mudie. The wooden barquentine, built in Scotland in 1971, has been a regular competitor in Tall Ships Races and has just finished the Tall

Ships Race from Riga (Latvia) to Szczecin (Poland). Her replacement, a 282ft (86m) full-rigged ship, is in build at the Dutch Damen Shipyards and will be commissioned next year (TTs, CB300). Shabab Oman (‘Youth of Oman’) will now be kept as a museum vessel.

SPAIN Meanwhile an artist’s impression of the new Sea Cadets’ 105ft (32m) flagship (above) has been released. As reported last month, the £4.8million ship (to replace TS Royalist) will be built at Astilleros Gondan in Spain and enter service in 2015.

GEORGE STUBBS

Time is running out for a National Maritime Museum appeal to buy two George Stubbs (1724-1806) paintings of Captain Cook’s first Pacific Voyage of Discovery (1768-71). The museum has £1.5million left to raise of its £4.9million target by 5 November to save the two large oils – Kongouro from New Holland and Portrait of a Large Dog – from private foreign ownership. The bid is supported by Sir David Attenborough, who described the works as “of world importance”.

C/O NMM

PPL MeDIA

Appeal to save Cook paintings

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Yves Christian

William McBryde 56 ft Gaff Ketch 1952

£280,000 Lying UK

YVES CHRISTIAN is a proper little ship drawn at a time when this was appreciated – sea kindly and comfortable she has plenty of beam, which with her firm sections and snug ketch rig make her very stiff. Originally designed for long sea trips and Mediterranean cruising she has a 5 part sail plan so shortening sail is a simply a matter of lowering sail and not reefing! Her current owners have attended with great attention and dedication to the period and detail of the boat’s structure, meaning that her systems and interior are impressive. There’s little left to do but prepare a passage plan - very confident she will look after you.

Valerie

Stow & Son 47 ft Gaff Yawl 1895

£200,000 Lying UK

VALERIE has been beautifully and sympathetically rebuilt, commensurate with her vintage, which at nigh on 120 years makes her a genuine historical artefact. Thus an object of such rarity, beauty and desirability can be experienced and enjoyed as was intended by her maker so many tides ago. The simplicity of her finish and fit-out with the re-introduction of her original yawl rig makes her a handy craft capable of being easily sailed by a small crew. Partial completion of her interior enables a new owner to specify his own accommodation arrangements, for which an outline option exists.

email: info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

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

TELL TALES rOyAL nAvy rESCUE

c/o St iveS jumbo aSSociation

from the American-designed Sikorsky R4 to enter service with the RN. In the course of seven hours’ flying they rescued more than 840 people, and this operation signalled the birth of the RN’s helicopter search-andrescue unit that went on to fly Whirlwinds, Wessexes and (now) Sea Kings in famous incidents like the 1979 Fastnet and the 2004 Boscastle floods. In 2015, civilian search and rescue will be privatised, ending 70 years of history. Please email your story to navycu-771sar60@mod.uk.

c/o FReeman cRuiSeRS

The RN this year celebrates 60 years of helicopter search and rescue (SAR) and would like to hear from those who have worked for the service, or been rescued by it, to tell their stories. In 1953, a North Sea storm surge overwhelmed the English, Dutch and Belgian coasts, claiming more than 2,000 lives. Many will remember reports of the Canvey Island rescue effort, which featured 12 Westland Dragonfly HR1/HR3 helicopters of the Royal Navy (pictured right). This was the first British-built helicopter

c/o the Royal navy

Remembering the rescue helicopters

OBiTUAry

COrnWALL

british motor-cruiser doyen john Freeman has died at home in Devon, two days before his 96th birthday. his GRP Freeman 22 (above right), an affordable ‘off the peg’ 22ft (6.7m) river cruiser introduced in 1957, established the Freeman name. From then on until the early 1980s, more than 6,000 Freeman cruisers were built. john leaves behind a wife, two sons and three granddaughters.

A recent sculling race (or ‘scullying’ in local parlance), organised by the St ives Jumbo Association, pitted St ives boatmen against ‘all-comers’ (a few blokes from just down the coast!) in two identical punts. St ives won narrowly and received a case of beer from St ives Brewery – as indeed did the ‘runners-up’.

John Freeman 1917-2013

Two centuries for Squadron the Royal yacht Squadron will celebrate with a special regatta from 25-31 july 2015.

prESErving SkiLLS

HLF to pay for maritime skills national historic Ships has received initial support for a £261,100 bid from the heritage lottery Fund for its Skills for the Future programme. this will pay for 10 year-long training placements across britain. trainees will work with a variety of historic vessels, receiving specialist training

in their operation, care (at the international boatbuilding training college) and interpretation (at the Scottish Fisheries museum).

c/o centauR

COWES

St Ives wins sculling race

MyLnES AT riSk

Find a Mylne to restore a new website – the mylne at Risk Register – is listing mylne yachts in need of saviours. it is a good chance to snap up a restoration project and to save a bit of sailing history. the site is currently listing two boats: Senora – a 48ft (14.6m) 1908 motor-sailer for £6,500; and Petrel, a 31ft (9.5m) 1904 yawl for £995. Go to www. mylne.com/at-risk-register

HEriTAgE

£100k for barge HAMpSHirE

New moorings for Hamble clubs the Royal Southern and RaF yacht clubs on the River hamble have gained approval for redevelopment of their shared moorings. Work, to be carried out by marine Projects ltd, will include capital dredging to make moorings ‘all tides’, replacing a quay wall, building a slipway, replacing trots with walk-ashore pontoons, and a disabled berth complete with crew hoist available to members of the public.

the 1895-built thames Sailing barge centaur recently received £100,000 from the heritage lottery Fund for repairs to her wooden planking.

WOrd OF THE MOnTH

Javels

“An old term for dirty, idle fellows, wandering about quays and docks.” Sailor’s Word Book of 1867 Ed – an apt description for CB staffers on yard visits!

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

HIP, HIP HOORAY 50th birthdays should be a blast! And the Old Gaffersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; one went like a broadside with games in the harbour, racing at sea and beer in the tent STORY PETER WILLIS PHOTOGRAPHS NIC COMPTON

T The view of the north basin with gaffers a go-go. A good many made it from the East Coast as well as from the west, and there was a healthy contingent of dinghies too.

Top and above right: gaffers relaxed in harbour and Lady Belle racing at sea

he door code for the showers at Cowes Yacht Haven was appropriately set to 1963. But the timescale of the OGA 50th anniversary Jubilee Festival went back much further than that – Bonita, one of the Round Britain Challenge boats, was built in 1888, Fanny of Cowes in 1872 and Pioneer in 1864. It also came right up-to-date, with Andrew Wolstenholme’s 21ft trailer-sailer Kite, built in 2010, and accompanied by Kite 2, built last year. There had been doubts expressed about the suitability of Cowes for a Gaffer event, but its location was perfect – accessible from both the Continent and the East and West coasts – and the venue worked a treat. Almost 200 boats of, as might be imagined, all shapes, sizes, ages and originations crowded the pontoons. In the evenings the Events Centre was alive with Gaffers renewing old friendships and making new ones – along with some great music from the boat crews themselves, especially the fine-voiced Else Wagemaker of Dutch boat Windbreker, and including some traditional and new Gaffer songs (words on the CB website). Friday was East Coast day, with dinghy races and a harbour regatta including blindfold rowing and flubber races around the pontoons, plus the Dutch clog challenge – wooden shoes adapted into deep-keel model yachts, raced and then auctioned off in aid of the RNLI. There was also a ‘proper’ race – a bit exclusive though as it was limited to 20 boats, the first to sign up. It was laid on by David Aisher, owner of Thalia and Royal Yacht Squadron Rear Commodore, and thus had the honour of a start and finish on the Squadron line with prize-giving at the

OGA CELEBRATEs 50 YEARs

Clockwise from top left: James Palmer and Kestrel, which won our concours award; Grace and Aeolus off Cowes; Dutch clog racing; Rosenn takes a sea; the girls’ dinghy sculling race; and the magnificent Colin Archer Velsia

club later. The main race, though, was on the Saturday. The threat of Force 6s slimmed down the start line from the hoped-for 130 boats to a still respectable and possibly record-breaking 94 – though 34 boats retired as the wind gradually strengthened. There were several nasty moments at the marks, and a few boats came away with scars or potential yard bills to remember this Jubilee by. Once the number crunching was done and the multiple-class prize-giving got under way, there seemed to be nearly as many prizes as finishers. The Classic Boat Concours d’Elegance award went to the 28ft (8.5m) Kestrel, restored by James Palmer. James keeps her at Waldringfield on the Deben, but she was in fact built at Cowes, in 1981, by John White. Pioneer, with her dozen teenagers aboard, easily scooped the ‘youngest average age of crew’ award, and Sue Lewis, who blogged her way round Britain on Bonify with more than 5,000 followers on our CB website – while also fulfilling her duties as secretary and press officer – deservedly received the ‘OGA spirit’ trophy.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Sunday morning saw a large, if somewhat hungover, turnout for what proved to be an emotional and inspiring reunion-and-parting for the 20 boats – seven of them from the Dutch OGA – that had completed the Round Britain Challenge. Each skipper received a mounted print of Claudia Myatt’s Round-Britain map, originally commissioned by Classic Boat. The leatherbound journal presented by Dutch Gaffer Frank Zomerdijk for crews to record their reflections and experiences received its final entry from OGA president Mike Shaw, who had visited ports of call by plane, train or car, and was handed back to Frank who will turn it into a limited-edition book. There was a palpable sense of bonding and achievement among the crew members, with songs and hugs. It was a time for closure but there is already talk of doing both the festival and the roundBritain again in five years’ time. Meanwhile, the Dutch, who contributed so hugely to the Jubilee celebrations, are heading home to plan their own 10th anniversary events for 2014.

RACING WITH SOPHIE Sophie is an 1892 Falmouth Quay Punt, elegantly restored by owners Nick Harvey, boatbuilder, and Liz Saunders, a specialist in covers and soft furnishings for boats (her fez-like winch cosies are much admired). At 32ft (9.7m) she can be heavy to handle, so for racing more muscle is brought in, including Tris Nelson, fresh from the Fastnet, accompanied by a recalcitrant blogging mascot called T Bear, and Jock Wishart, adventurer. Nick’s place is on the foredeck, tweaking things and shouting at other boats (notably Anthony Wheaton’s Aeolus, with which a friendly rivalry seems to exist). Friday’s race began in rain and ended with a tricky upwind, uptide finish – we got a mid-table place, but had the pleasure of visiting the

Squadron to hear the results. Saturday was altogether different. More wind, more boats, less space. We were lucky to get away with a minor contact before the start but others fared less well. A tricky figure-ofeight in the course proved a challenge to some boats’ manoeuvrability, and Nick’s eloquence when shouting for water. We considered it an achievement to have slid across the line and indeed back into our berth before the rain set in, and collared a third in class, plus the Edgar March trophy for first working boat. But we were really happy just to have taken part in a historic race, and to have seen the Solent alive with traditional sails (few others were mad enough to be out) as it might have been 50 years ago.

OGA50 IN NUMBERS

185

Number of boats at the Cowes Jubilee Festival

Number of boats on the Jubilee Race start line

FANNY OF COWES

AMELIE ROSE

Sailing Fanny of Cowes was an experience with a bit of a learning curve, writes Dan Houston. The 1872 22ft (6.7m) diminutive gaff cutter is an Itchen Ferry type, built in Cowes and still with her Cowes smack fishing number. She is raced, regularly out of Ipswich, by Nigel Waller, her owner for the last 10 years. Helmed by yacht designer Jo Richards, she seemed very quick and took three first prizes in her class. More to come!

Amelie Rose is the other side of the spectrum compared to Fanny (left). The 44ft (13.4m) Luke Powell Scillonian Pilot Cutter was only launched in 2009. She has been cruised and chartered by Nick Beck since then, and CB joined her for the Saturday race where 94 gaffers were on the line. AR just romps through the sea and the 11-strong crew were still smiling some days later. A well deserved second in class!

Completed the Round Britain Challenge, of which 13 were British, 7 were Dutch; 19 went round clockwise, 1 (Dutch boat Snoopy) went anti-clockwise; 4 (Annabel J, Bonita, Minstrel and Windbreker) went round the top of Scotland, while 17 went through the Caledonian Canal

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

The

LOng wAy rOund The 125-year-old yawl Bonita was the oldest gaffer to sail around Britain in the OGA’s 50th anniversary challenge. And she’s never had a full restoration… story and photographs NIC COMPTON

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Then there’s all the period details, from the bronze sheet plates on the cockpit coamings to the downwardspointing tiller with its lumpen wooden handle, the weathered sampson posts, the round lazarette hatch – practically every fitting looks as if it has a story to tell. Below decks, the accommodation is spartan, and, despite her 35ft (10.7m) length, there’s barely standing headroom. But there’s a simple beauty to it, such as the paraffin lamp lighting up the cabin end and the curve of the coachroof, with its lines of narrow tongue-andgroove planks. It’s a timeless aesthetic that you know has been appreciated by countless people before, and is all the more moving for that. “My father and his brother bought Bonita in 1937 for £90,” says Mike. “They were probably planning to trade up, but she was clearly a strong boat. After the war, my uncle moved to Southampton and my father decided to keep the boat. She’s never had any major damage or been restored, so most of the structure is original. Even when the mainmast broke in the 1930s, the previous owner replaced it with a second-hand one, which might have been as old or older than the boat herself. Things happen slowly on Bonita; change is measured in decades rather than years.” Bonita was “always there” for Mike when he was a child, and some of his earliest memories are of taking the helm while his father reefed the sails. When his father

Right: with a new jib, running rigging and liferaft, Bonita was all set for her epic sea voyage

c/o mike beckett

wenty boats from England and Holland completed the Round Britain Challenge to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the OGA. Of those, only four sailed around the northern tip of Scotland, while the rest took a short-cut through the Caledonian Canal. The four that went north were a 1980s steel ‘cargo’ cutter from Holland, a 1990s strip-plank gaff cutter from Milford Haven, a 1990s steel pilot cutter from the Hamble and an 1888 yawl from the Swale. That makes Bonita (the 1888 yawl) the only vintage gaffer to sail around Britain, the hard way. That’s not to diminish the achievement of the others, who completed what would be a tough voyage on any yacht, but it does underline what a remarkable feat Mike Beckett and his old boat have pulled off. Climb aboard Bonita and you really feel like you are stepping into another century. First off there’s that clipper bow, which was all the rage in the UK until 1893 when the royal yacht Britannia was launched, and overnight the spoon bow became almost obligatory. Then there’s the round counter stern, typical of the Morecambe Bay Prawners on which she is based, and the elliptical cockpit that allowed the fishermen to lean over and work the catch on the long aft deck. Even the spars, under their countless layers of varnish, look as if they’ve been on the boat since she was launched – and most probably have.

BONITA BUILT

1888 LOA

35ft (10.7m) LWL

28ft (8.5m) BeAm

9ft (2.7m) DrAUghT

4ft 6in (1.4m) DISPLACemeNT

19,842lb (9 tonnes)

TOTAL SAIL AreA

c500sqft (46.5m2)

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Opposite, left to right: Mike wrestles with his sweater in Bonita’s confined space; Modern stove – not everything on board is 125 years old!

BONITA

“The old lady has stood up to the pressures pretty well, although at times the crew have shown signs of strain”

handed the boat over to him in 1983, he had to choose between her and his own, even older gaffer Young Alert. In truth, there was never any real contest, although he managed to keep Young Alert in the family by selling her to a cousin. He made a few changes to Bonita then, including fitting a new 15hp Yanmar diesel to replace the 1917 Glennifer paraffin/petrol engine (now in Mike’s garage) and resheathing the leaky decks with plywood and glassfibre. And he honoured one of the preconditions set out by his wife before they took custody of the boat: to fit a pump lavatory instead of the old ‘bucket and chuck it’. Wise move. The OGA’s Round Britain Challenge came at an opportune time for Bonita, coinciding as it did with the anniversary of her launching. And what better way to celebrate not only her 125th birthday, but also 75 years in the Beckett family and 30 years since Mike took the boat over from his father? “I’ve always wanted to take Bonita around the UK,” he says. “We’ve sailed extensively in home waters, to the Channel Islands, Brittany and Holland, but I always wanted to do something more with the old girl. With her low freeboard and open cockpit, she’s not suitable for long offshore voyages, so it would have to be coastal. She also has an offset prop, so handling her under engine through locks and canals is challenging. Sailing around Britain was the ideal voyage; we would have done it eventually, but the OGA Challenge gave us something to aim for and meant we couldn’t put it off any longer.”

Although Bonita was in good condition for her age, a few discreet upgrades were required for such a long voyage. First and foremost, the hull needed refastening. Bonita was built with caulkless planking (ie closeseamed) over alternate steamed and sawn timbers. After 125 years, a few of the fastenings had come loose, so Mike asked Faversham boatbuilder Alan Staley to double up the fastenings on the sawn frames with bronze screws. Other improvements included a new jib, new running rigging, a liferaft, a new set of flares, and an extra 18 fathoms of anchor chain. He also invested in a chartplotter, an automatic identification system (AIS) and an extra battery to power the new gizmos. Bonita set off from the Swale on 26 April 2013 into what would turn out to be the wettest British spring on record. It was a difficult start for the whole fleet, which faced violent headwinds in the Channel and then up the Irish Sea. Bonita was stormbound in Plymouth for 10 days and then, after a gruelling passage across the Irish Sea, she was anchored in Waterford for another four days. Most of the fleet was sailing up the Welsh coast, but Mike joined the small contingent travelling up the east coast of Ireland towards Dublin. It was an anxious time as the boats were behind schedule, and would soon be too far north to get back in time for the Cowes rendezvous. The delay also threatened Mike’s grand plan to sail round the northern tip of Scotland. So it was a huge relief when, on 2 June, Bonita crossed the Irish Sea to begin the next leg of her epic journey.

Clockwise from top left: original paraffin lighting; modern nav equipment; elegant curved coachroof; Mike’s daughter Emma crewed for the last leg of the trip; breakfast is served

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

BONITA

C/o MIke BeCkett

“Anyone could buy a ticket and go to any of these places, but taking your own boat there is something special”

Above: skipper Mike Beckett (checked shirt) and crew take a well-earned break

“Scotland was terribly pretty and welcoming, with lovely little harbours and spectacular scenery. Even the weather wasn’t as unpredictable as I’d heard it might be, though the whirlpools at Craignish Point were certainly awe-inspiring to a humble East Coast yachtsman. And it was amazing to sail past Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly part of the British mainland, which sounds so mystical when you hear it on the Shipping Forecast. Anyone could buy a ticket and go to any of these places, but taking your own boat there is something special.” After visiting Stornoway and the Orkneys, Bonita caught up with the rest of the Round Britain Challenge fleet at Eyemouth and sailed on to Newcastle, where the city centre marina up the Tyne was cleared to receive the 20 boats gathered for a festive knees-up. It was the first major gathering of OGA boats since Plymouth, and one of the highlights of the voyage. By then, the fleet was about two-thirds of the way around Britain, and Mike was finally able to relax and slow down, knowing that, unforeseen disasters notwithstanding, they should make it back to the Solent in time. And the passage down the east coast of England, which is not known as a prime sailing destination, seems to have been one of the pleasant surprises of the trip.

On 1 August, Bonita completed her monumental circumnavigation and picked up her mooring on the Swale for the first time in 97 days. Mike’s blog entry was typically understated: “The old lady has in general stood up to the pressures pretty well, although at times the crew have shown signs of strain.” When I joined Mike in Ramsgate a few days later his twin children, Emma and John, were crewing and, I’m please to report, showed no sign whatsoever of strain. Bonita too seemed in remarkably good order, and I struggled to find a single cracked seam in her topsides despite more than three months at sea – though Mike could see evidence of wear and tear. “It’s like 10 year’s worth of wear in one season,” he says. “The running rigging is chafing through in the usual places, and the varnish has suffered a few knocks. She barely made any water though, apart from a bit from the cockpit.” After a bouncy night on the outside pontoon at Ramsgate, we set off at first light down the Channel. We sailed most of the way to Dungeness, where we spotted one of the porpoises that seem to thrive in the warmer waters off the nuclear power station, and on to Beachy Head, before the wind gave up completely. As we passed under the lighthouse against a spectacular sunset, I was reminded of Mike’s words about sailing to extraordinary places in your own boat. Certainly, there was no better way to see Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters than from the deck that evening. After overnighting in Newhaven, Bonita set off for the Solent, and it occurred to me that Mike was effectively setting off on his second circumnavigation of Britain, having already passed this way at the start of his journey. Would he be tempted, like Moitessier in 1969, to just keep going? And would Bonita finally begin to crack at the seams? Happily for the old boat, it seems there’s little chance of that. “These things are best seen as a package,” Mike told me. “You do it, and then you move on. You can’t extrapolate and think this is good, let’s keep doing this. Voyages have beginnings, but they also have middles and ends.” But what a voyage…

Iris, as she was originally called, was built by the legendary Crossfield yard at Arnside in Cumbria. She was the first yacht to be registered by the yard, which specialised in building Morecambe Bay Prawners, and is the oldest surviving vessel built by them. Several Crossfield working boats survive, but none of them have Bonita’s distinctive clipper bow. In around 1907 (having already been renamed White Rose then Bonita) she was retired from racing, converted from cutter to yawl rig, and taken to the other side of the country to Bridlington in Yorkshire, probably via the Caledonian Canal. Her distinctive cabin, with its heavily cambered coachroof, was added at about this time. She went through several changes of ownership at Bridlington before moving to Heybridge Basin, where she was spotted by Mike’s father.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

C/0 MIke BeCkett

Survival of the fittest

Bonita laid up at Erith, next to the Thames, in 1938

ClassicBoatAug13 [cr] 02/09/2013 15:37 Page 1

C.G. Pettersson

1925

‘Virgo’ is a classic wooden launch designed by the renowned C.G. Pettersson of Sweden in 1925 and now fully restored to her former glory by the craftsmen at Clare Lallow’s boatyard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

For Sale £70,000

For more information please visit our website

w w w.v irgop ettersson.c om

Wessex Marine Salterns Marina, Salterns Way, Lilliput, Poole, Dorset BH14 8JR Tel: 01202 700702 Web: www.wessexmarine.co.uk Email: info@wessexmarine.co.uk

Aratinga

aratinga | 17.8m (58’) | derecktor | 1991/2010 | 995,000 usd Designed by John G. Alden NA and built by Derecktor Shipyard in New York. Aratinga has been constantly upgraded with equipment and she has always had top quality maintenance. Offered for sale to make room for a larger vessel.

penny parrot | +1 954 629 8363 | penny.parrot@fraseryachts.com jody o’brien | +1 954 646 4970 | jody.obrien@fraseryachts.com fraseryachts.com

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8/23/13 11:45 AM

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Better by design When the going gets tough, the tough get clever. That’s the philosophy that’s guided Boesch Motorboats through the last 90 years. Meet the team that turned a passion for boatbuilding into a thriving international business story Gerald Guetat PHotograPHs Henri tHibault

ilchberg is a quiet village located on the shores of Lake Zürich, and at the water’s edge are a few wooden buildings from a bygone age. The white Boesch signature contrasts with the bright red facade, but what really stands out is a gentle but persistent and instantly recognisable sweet scent, which floats in the air at certain times of the day. You don’t have to look far to find the explanation. Just across from the boatyard is the imposing straw-coloured building of the famous Lindt chocolate factory, and it is ironic that the two neighbours have been working for so long with two raw materials from Africa: mahogany and cocoa. Klaus Boesch, engineer, naval architect and co-owner of Boesch Motorboats, offers a different view: “I cannot eat chocolate any more because the aroma has enveloped me so much since my early childhood that I think I have been saturated for life.” In the 1970s, Klaus succeeded Walter Boesch, who himself had succeeded Jakob, the founder. Now his son

Previous page: Markus at the helm of a 750 Portofino De Luxe. This page, clockwise from top: rich mahogany finish; cutting a smooth trim; luxury upholstery; note the large rear-view mirror, which is specifically designed for waterskiing

Markus is taking over this unique business. Unique because, even in Switzerland, where stability is a national treasure, it is rare to find examples of such continuity, without some periods of inertia, over so many generations, but that’s certainly the case here.

Domestic bliss Each generation has contributed to the technical progress so well that a Boesch always remains a boat of its time. On the shores of the lake, the original buildings house the administrative centre, engineering and design office, restoration and mechanical workshops, showroom, marina and boat storage. In 1973, the series production was installed in large modern workshops in Sihlbrugg, less than an hour’s drive away towards the mountains. Production has remained stable over the past few years, varying between 25 and 35 units per year, half of which are sold to the domestic Swiss market and the other half for export to predominantly German-speaking markets. Since the

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

1970s, Boesch has created a network of dealers throughout Switzerland: one can be found on the other side of Lake Zürich, as well as in Rolle on Lake Geneva, another on Lake Lucerne, and further in the south at Tenero, on the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore. Abroad, there is a distributor for each of the European countries and representatives in all major countries of the world where luxury yachting has been long established.

new technology Several major hotels and upscale resorts still maintain a fleet of Boesch boats for waterskiing and excursions. Some establishments even use their Boesch vessels as a promotional tool, offering romantic champagne cruises to enchanting sites. There are five models in the range, each with different lengths, finishes and equipment, starting with the 620 Acapulco De Luxe (c€180,000) up to the top-spec 970 St Tropez (c€750,000). In recent years, Boesch has added three electric-powered versions and Klaus explains the switch: “Not so long ago it was

BOESCH

Generation game In the early 1900s, Jakob Bösch, a master carpenter, chose to convert to boatbuilding to avoid spending his working life on rooftops. His talents were noticed and he quickly earned a solid reputation with his employer, Treichler & Cie boatyard, which was established alongside a certain famous chocolate factory... In 1918, the boatyard went bankrupt. However, the directors of Lindt, who kept their boats at the yard, had a vested interest in keeping it alive, so they helped Jakob purchase it. After 1945, his son Walter gave a decisive boost to the business by focusing on speedboats bearing the family name Bösch. With his “Horizon Gliding” hull, Walter’s runabouts started to conquer markets throughout the world thanks to their superior performance, especially when used for waterskiing, which was so much in vogue at the time. The small Swiss manufacturer was rewarded with several championship victories over its formidable American and Italian rivals, Chris-Craft and Riva respectively. In the early 1960s, a surprising litigation found a happy ending when the famous German firm of electrical products, Bosch, opposed the use of their trademark name, fearing a possible confusion in customers’ minds. An agreement was reached thanks to a subtle use of the German language. The “ö” of Bösch was replaced with “oe” without changing the pronunciation, and the new name Boesch was born. Then Klaus and his brother Urs, trained at the highest level in naval architecture and mechanical

engineering in Germany, took over the business in the 1970s, opening up a new era. At the time, recreational powerboats had already started their mutation to moulded GRP, deep V-hulls, cabin-cruisers and ever-increasing lengths.

decisions, decisions… So, Boesch was confronted with a stark choice: continue with wooden construction or change, as had Riva and most competitors. When varnished wood became outdated, even Boesch thought of painting its hulls white to make them look more modern. But, against all odds, the production of the mahogany series was not only maintained but expanded, with technical and industrial innovations helping persuade clientele to choose wood and appreciate the value of manual labour and the durability of the products over time. By doing so, they bought a boat that was designed and manufactured by a family and destined for people who appreciate the benefits of handing down knowledge from generation to generation. Today, Markus (above, far left) has taken the helm, conscious that respect for the environment and high-quality products are now more important than ever if he is to secure the future success of the company. Boesch is a prestigious brand and no other functioning boatyard in the world is capable of producing archives and chronological construction records that have been passed down from father to son since its foundation. Clockwise from top left: (l-r) Markus, Urs and Klaus; the boatsheds; classic logo; waterskiing has been key to the brand’s success; a Boesch boat (right) is designed for speed and comfort

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

BOESCH

“Not so long ago it was unthinkable for our customers not to have a big V8”

Precision engineering A Boesch hull is constructed entirely in mahogany. The conventional construction, bordered on timbers, was replaced in 1964 by taking advantage of modern advances in plywood and laminated structures using resorcinol glue. Klaus Boesch was the architect of the research that has resulted in the current technique known as “Boesch Laminate Technology” – a combination of ultra-rigid rails and special plywood panels. Although it weighs the same as a plastic hull, the Boesch design has 25 per cent more rigidity. To produce at least 30 boats per year, with constant quality control, the design of each component has been optimised in order to prefabricate them and stock them in advance. To meet demand, the site must maintain a permanent stock of more than 4,000 parts. Boesch is proud to have the same wood supplier for more than 50 years, with its own trees that are specially selected and reserved

Clockwise from top left: hulls are built with self-supporting longitudinal stringers to boost rigidity; pieces of wood are laminated with resorcinol glue; the rudder has a curved profile to boost steering response, top speed and handling

directly at the plantation. This mahogany, sipo or kaya, which grows on the hills of the Ivory Coast, is the company’s first and only choice and is free of fungi and has exceptional resistance to rot, which enables a longer life. Apart from the sawing of the trunks that arrive from Africa, and the side and bottom panels of the hull planking, which are made especially for Boesch, according to its specifications, everything else is done in-house. We can see in every element that the choice of working with wood is uncompromising. Thus, during assembly, the screws only serve to maintain the pressure of bonding; once dry, they are removed and the holes are sealed. To ensure quality and the future of the company, Boesch has, for some years, taken on and trained a dozen young apprentices with a professional school. Just as his father had done before him, Klaus has taught for 18 years.

unthinkable for our customers not to have a big V8. Now, they are more interested in zero-emissions propulsion and low noise.” In fact, one third of Boesch’s turnover is now generated by electric boats, despite the fact they cost almost double the price of the V8 models. For such a small business, this option is borne out of a desire to stay ahead of the game. This is principally due to the rigorous and inventive spirit of the brothers Klaus and Urs. The latter, a mechanical engineer, developed his special rudder profile (see image above) during routine testing with a Plexiglas-bottomed boat to observe the turbulent flow of the propeller. With a subtle redesign, Boesch boats became much more stable. As Urs says: “A Boesch V8 doesn’t bark or growl; it has a reassuring murmur.” This is the result of a ‘cascade’ system of exhaust silencers – an invention that decreases the noise by mixing gas and water. The exhausts are covered by a rubber enclosure at the transom. On each exhaust there is a metal plaque with a scalloped edge – a bit like a bread knife – so as the boat speeds up, water and air mix

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

together. But here’s the trick: the mix is then ‘sprayed’ with exhaust gases and as it’s held in the chamber, the noise is cancelled out, and this positive effect increases with speed. With Boesch it’s very much quality rather than quantity. “We have a niche market but it obviously poses some problems,” admits Markus. “We have a very good reputation and a strong brand but our production is limited. We could try to reach out beyond Europe, into Asia for example, but our structure is not designed to support this. In the 1990s, we could have sold a lot of boats in the United States, but those dealers need a lot of stock because customers want the product immediately. We could not provide these quantities with our quality requirements. So we avoid short-term sales. We much prefer relationships that are pursued over time; we know personally most of the families who have a Boesch and we remain in contact with them.” With simplicity, humour and rigour, the trio at the head of Boesch show that pride in quality workmanship is still appreciated and here to stay.

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SALES, CHARTER & MANAGEMENT

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.

100ft Classic MY “SPREZZATURA” 1971. Extensive refit in 2013. A classical, yet freshly-styled gentleman’s motor yacht, with opulent woodwork and furnishings. She has unusually spacious staterooms and attached bathrooms, a very large main saloon, a superb forward main deck dining saloon, an enormous top sun-deck and top-deck dining area and much more. She has recently benefitted from a one-year refit costing considerably more than US$1-million.

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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MONA O MONAC MONACO

Preview

The stage is set for one of the most exciting regattas in the yachting calendar. Power and sail will take to the water to celebrate 60 years of the Yacht Club de Monaco STORY SAM HAMILTON

PREVIOUS PAGE: CARLO BORLENGHI

onaco might be the second smallest country in the world but it punches far above its weight in terms of glamour, sport and sailing. The famous casino was visited by James Bond in the film Casino Royale. The F1 race through the city streets of its Monte Carlo district is world-famous; and its bay is a place where the biggest gin palaces in the world gather. This year, the Yacht Club de Monaco celebrates the diamond anniversary of its founding in 1953. But yachting has been in the blood of this tiny nation since its existence. The first regattas were held in the bay in 1862 – just a year after Monaco became a sovereign state. Prince Albert I, the first head of state, founded the Société des Régates in 1888 and the Bay of Monaco quickly became one of the world’s yachting centres, particularly in motorboat racing when the internal combustion engine appeared on the water early in the 20th century; the world’s first international motor CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

MONACO YC

STEVE CROOK C/O INTERNATIONAL 12-FOOT CLASS

NIGEL PERT

BRUNO COCOZZA/YCM

MONACO CLASSICS PREVIEW

boat races were held here in 1904. When the Yacht Club de Monaco was founded by Prince Rainier II, Monégasque head of state, in 1953, it was with the mission to “develop, encourage and serve the promotion of the Principality in the yachting sector”, and that remains its ethos now. The current president (of club and nation) took over in 1984 – Prince Albert II. Under him, the club started its classic focus, with the first biennial Classic Week in 1994. The club is now looking to the future as well as the past, with its brand-new clubhouse in Port Hercule nearing the end of its build and scheduled for opening in 2014. The design, redolent of the transatlantic liners of the first half of the 20th century, is by Lord Norman Foster and Monégasque architect Alexandre Grimaldi. The streets of Monaco are famously filled with supercars, the glamorous, the rich and the beautiful. That will surely change this 11-15 September when the

Main image: Tuiga, club flagship and CB fave. Above left: Prince Albert II arrives at last year’s event; the International 12-Foot class. Above: artist’s impressions of the new clubhouse; YCM president Prince Albert II at Tuiga’s helm

MONACO PREVIEW

C/O VISIT MONACO

Classic Boat team rolls into town, but the bay will be lit up with sails as it has been since the 1860s. Some 66 classic yachts (12 of them Big Class), 40 classic runabouts (YC de M honours its motorboating history) and 10 classic motor-yachts will take to the water: among them will be, of course, the Fife III 15-M cutter Tuiga. She’s the club’s flagship – and our nominee for greatest all-time classic (CB300). She will race the other three Fife III 15-Ms still sailing, now competing together as a quartet at regattas: Mariska, Hispania and The Lady Anne. The French three-master Belem, at 157ft (47.8m), will contrast a fleet of 43 clinker-built International 12-Foot dinghies, celebrating 100 years of their design by George Cockshott and skimming across the bay like dragonflies. Come and say hello to CB. We will have a table at the regatta village by the harbourmaster’s office. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

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CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

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Saleroom CHARLES MILLER

Unsung sailor First World War, Halliday designed canvas and cane collapsible boats for the War Office and went on to pen hydroplanes, harbour launches and experimental craft. In 1935 The Motor Boat magazine made the appraisal: “There must be few people who are better known in yachting circles than Higley Halliday.” Yet, as auctioneer Charles Miller discovered when cataloguing his archive, which comes up for sale in London on 30 October,

Above: tea-sipping Higley Halliday in typically relaxed mode at the helm

C/O CHARLES MI

Never heard of Higley Halliday? To date, his name has never before appeared in the pages of Classic Boat, but judging by this picture he knew how to sail in comfort, seated on a cushion with a steaming cuppa. In his day, Edmund Walter Higley Halliday (1875-1962) was a prolific naval architect and marine motor engineer of considerable repute. After a short stint at Thornycroft he came to note when he designed a 30ft (9.1m) 24hp open motor launch and, to prove its worth against doubters, undertook a single-handed, non-stop passage from Southampton to London in 27½ hours. During the

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BY DAVE SELBY

he is a forgotten hero of naval architecture. Enthralled by the 650 photographs, notebooks, plans, designs and letters that have been passed down through his family, Charles Miller told CB: “I think we need to revive his name, poor chap.” The fascinating and historic archive of this founder member of The Little Ship Club is estimated to fetch £400-£600.

BONHAMS

SOTHEBY’S

Ransome’s inspiration to child writer

Nelson’s last sitting before his last stand

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While Arthur Ransome’s books enchanted generations of This may not be the most children, his letters proved an flattering portrait of Admiral inspiration to one young girl Nelson but it is considered to who went on to become a be the last ever painting of the successful children’s writer. naval hero drawn from life. Writing as “Captain of the The hair, once fair, as attested Nancy Blackett”, the Swallows by earlier portraits and the numerous locks he bestowed as and Amazons author penned souvenirs to favourites, is now a series of touching letters to grey. Depicted with more realism a sailing-mad girl he addressed than the countless idealised as “Captain Meriol Trevor of portraits produced both in life and the Albatross”. In them he after his death, it nevertheless seems the artist may have shown a delicate confides a self doubt: “My head is a vacuum. Not a glimmer of sensibility, portraying Britain’s greatest naval hero in left profile to avoid showing the next book and I ought to be hard at it now, ready for sailing his blinded right eye and amputated right arm. Wearing a vice-admiral’s undress next summer.” In another letter he asks Meriol to suggest “the uniform with the star of the Order of the Bath, the sitting took place barely a month name for a new boat… We are presently building one, a bit before Nelson’s heroic death. On the reverse the autograph label reads: “This Head bigger than Nancy, so as to give room for a yard-wide galley, was sketched from the Hero, during his short stay at Merton the beginning which the cook says is essential.” Perhaps most touching of September 1805 by me John Wichelo.” Barely a month later Nelson is a Christmas card embellished with sailing boats. lost his life aboard HMS Victory at Trafalgar on 21 October, having just All this before CRB checks and suspicions of “grooming” quashed a world of playful innocence! turned 47. The poignant timeliness of the portrait, which had been The charming letters, written from 1934 to 1937, estimated at £20,000-£30,000, boosted its market realisation to www.clas sicboat.co made £2,750 at a recent Bonhams auction in London. £64,900 when offered by Sotheby’s in London on 10 July. .u k/ salero for more om See more extracts in this month’s Saleroom online. stories

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CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Objects of desire Dawn of science Geoff Hunt’s exquisite oils of scenes from the Georgian Navy recreate events with such accuracy that one will usually find he has checked the weather for the day in question. This work, of Captain FitzRoy and a young Charles Darwin taking the evening air on the poop deck of HMS Beagle off Galapagos, shows the moment her signal gun is fired to recall the day’s surveying party. It’s like the start of a race in the dawn of science. The paper is 300gsm Hahnemuhle Harman matt, cotton textured, which feels and looks completely luxurious. The light from the giclée printing is high quality; the prints are limited to 550, each one £80. A £275 canvas edition, limited to 195, is also available. Use keyword classicboat for CB’s www.artmarine.co.uk/beagle.aspx 10% discount

Shine a light Believe it or not but there are more than 60 lighthouses throughout Maine, Massachussetts, and with good reason. The coastline is littered with jagged rocks, plunging cliffs and deep water – beautiful to the eye but a test of nerve for captain and crew ever since the early 19th century when many coastal towns were home to a thriving shipping and fishing industry. Perhaps this is the source of inspiration for the Ralph Lauren Rockport table lamp? Finished in natural brass, it stands up to 28in (71cm) tall and the detailing is exquisite, right down to the delicate guardrails and embossed staircase windows. £1,175 plus p&p www.ralphlaurenhome.com Tel: +44 (0)203 450 7750

Shaker style It’s not that we at Classic Boat are hardened drinkers (well, not all of us anyway!) but we have to admit there are few better ways to wind down after a hard day’s sail than with our feet up and our favourite tipple to hand. And if you have a penchant for spirits and cocktails, imagine how much better they would taste served in this cocktail shaker from British luxury goods company Asprey?! Modelled on an antique ship’s lantern, it’s made from Asprey’s hallmarked sterling silver and has either red (called Port) or green (Starboard) glass. £5,950 plus p&p www.asprey.com Tel: +44 (0)207 493 6767 46

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Lead weight This lovely 3½lb (1.6kg) spline weight (also called a lofting duck or whale) is made from solid cast brass with a rolled finish, felt underside, wide tailpiece and a moulded handle. These weights are used by boatbuilders to hold the drafting spline or lofting batten in place, thus enabling them to draw the curved lines of the boat. And when it’s not in use it doubles up as a useful paperweight. Available in singles or in sets of six. £60 plus p&p. www.toplicht.de Tel: +49 40 88 90 100

The Americas Cup. It created two enduring legends From Shamrock through to Shamrock V, Sir Thomas Lipton chased The America’s Cup for over thirty years claiming he was destined to “never get his hands on that auld mug.” But his legacy was to be just as great. In Shamrock V, he commissioned the very first J-Class Yacht: a sweeping design that has influenced the world’s finest boatyards. None more so, than here at Arkin Pruva where homage to the legendary J-Class is being reinterpreted and redefined by Rob Humphreys.

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Shamrock V - 1934

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GRAYHOUND

bon

vOyAge In just 18 months, Marcus Rowden and Freya Hart took their dream of building an ocean-going charter lugger from rough lines to reality. Meet the magnificent Grayhound storY and photographs NIGEL SHARP

n May 2010, Marcus Rowden and Freya Hart met up, almost by chance, in the Azores. They had both sailed there – he, singlehanded, in his 32ft (9.8m) lugger Veracity and she in her 33ft (10m) steel double-ender. Although they had first met six years earlier when they both worked for the Trinity Sailing training foundation in Devon, it was during that Azores encounter that they fell for each other, much to their surprise, and within what seems like an incredibly short time decided to build a boat and have a baby. During the course of subsequent discussions, they agreed that the boat would have to earn a living, and that they would take adventure sailors – “people who want to go on holiday but not lie on a beach” – on worldwide traditional sailing voyages. “It would basically be a week in the life of Marcus and Freya and we believe that our life at sea and our way of travelling is a good way, and we felt that people would enjoy that too,” explained Freya. “It would be completely pointless to build a boat without a purpose,” added Marcus. About 10 years earlier, Paul Greenwood – organiser of the Looe Lugger Regatta and the “ultimate lugger man” according to Freya – had planted the idea of building a replica of a 1776 revenue lugger called Grayhound in Marcus’s mind. The original boat was built by John F Parkin on the beach at Cawsand, in Cornwall, and her role called for speed to give her the best chance to catch smugglers, whose own boats needed the same qualities. In fact Parkin’s reputation for producing fast boats allowed him to attract orders from both parties: poacher and gamekeeper, you might say. As soon as Marcus and Freya got back to the UK, they met up with Chris Rees, who had built the lugger Spirit of Mystery for Pete Goss a few years earlier, CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Previous page: Grayhound cuts a fine sight on the sea with her sails up. Above: the build process extended to the on-deck tender, which is clinker-built

and who now had Paul Greenwood’s Grayhound drawings. Chris was keen to help Marcus and Freya build the boat, and there was a shed big enough at Southdown Quay in Millbrook, East Cornwall, close to Cawsand. The original Grayhound had a hull length of 73ft (22.3m) but at an early stage of discussions it was decided that a boat of that size would be too ambitious, mainly from the point of view of the manpower to build and sail her, but also bearing in mind the potential difficulties of complying with MCA Category Zero regulations. This would be required to allow them to cross oceans with paying guests on board – an essential part of their plan not to be restricted by the time constraints of the British summer. So it was decided to build a 5/6th-scale version, but with about 18in (0.45m) more freeboard to give decent headroom below decks. So Chris redrew the lines accordingly. Work began in earnest when, at the end of 2010, Marcus felled half a dozen oak trees in his mother’s field in the Teign Valley. “Cutting those trees down was epic for us so it was a nice start to our journey,” said Freya. All the other timber used came from various parts of the UK: around 30 other oak trees – mostly used for the frames – came from a forest near Launceston, in Cornwall; two 45ft (13.7m) lengths of greenheart, which had been part of a ferry slipway at the old Philip and Son

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

shipyard (now Noss Marina on the River Dart where Marcus used to work) were generously donated, and were used for the keel, deadwoods, rudder, rubbing strake and floors. More timber came from boatbuilder and CB friend Ashley Butler, who had acquired a hectare of larch from the Forest of Dean to replank the Brixham trawler Pilgrim but found that he had much more than he needed, and the excess proved to be just right for Grayhound; the opepe timber for the stem, pilot houses, decking, covering boards, bulwark stanchions and capping rail was transported down from Hull; Marcus went to Haldon Forest near Exeter to personally select the Douglas fir trees for the spars, and an additional 20 trees were used for the bulwarks, deck beams and bulkhead cladding. While Marcus was casting the 10-ton lead keel, Freya was heavily pregnant, but by August 2011 when the wooden keel was laid – parallel to the ground, which meant the boat would be built at an angle of five degrees – she had given birth to their son Malachi. Work on the boat then continued at an extraordinary pace, but it needed to as they had already decided she would be launched just a year later. By September the frames were up and the shipwrights began to fasten the planks to them with oak trenails. Marcus was keen to use this traditional process to “keep the skill alive”

GRAYHOUND

“Marcus felled half a dozen oak trees in his mother’s field” and because it “fitted with our ethos and our whole way of thinking”. He expects they will have a longer life expectancy than metal fastenings, which can so easily cause “nail sickness” in the surrounding timber. By February the planking was complete. Marcus managed the whole project along with Chris who was also the lead shipwright in a growing team, which included 12 others in the latter stages, plus three students from the Douarnenez boatbuilding school in France who did work placements on the project for a couple of months. Marcus also did a great deal of the engineering and metalwork himself, including fabricating the chainplates, for instance. The project was financed in a variety of ways. For instance, Freya sold her great-grandfather’s house, which had been passed down to her; 2,000 people paid £5 to sponsor a trenail and write their name or a message on them; money started coming in at a surprisingly early stage from voyage bookings, which are being handled by Classic Sailing – including one from a family of eight who, in May 2012, signed up for a trip to the Scillies 15 months later; and on three separate occasions – two open days and on the evening of the launch – hundreds of people, many of them locals who were clearly captivated by the project, enjoyed bands and licensed bars specially laid on for the events. In fact, an astonishing 2,500 people attended Grayhound’s launch, which took place, as planned, on Saturday, 4 August 2012. For a time it seemed as though

the tide might not make enough to float her, but the strenuous efforts of Marcus and others persuaded her that it was her time, and at last she was gently towed into the middle of the river in the evening sunshine. Although a great many people will remember that day as the “Super Saturday” when British Olympians excelled, those of us who were in Millbrook that evening had something extra to savour. But the boat still had to be finished and in many ways Marcus and Freya found those last few winter months the most difficult of the whole project, not least because they were living on board while completing the fit-out of the interior of the boat. Furthermore, although Grayhound’s MCA compliance had been planned right from the start – her theoretical stability (now proved in practice) was established before any timber was cut, for instance, and she has four separate compartments with watertight doors and bulkheads between them – towards the end the attention to the detail that was needed to get the certificate proved particularly time consuming. However, Marcus, Freya and Malachi eventually welcomed their first guests aboard, on schedule, on 3 May 2013. Rather poignantly, 237 years after the original revenue lugger was launched there, they chose Cawsand as the starting point for this maiden voyage.

time to test her on the water Later that month, I had the opportunity to sail on Grayhound myself. I joined her at Plymouth’s Mayflower

Clockwise from right: Marcus, Malachi and Freya; enjoying a sailing trip; the generously appointed galley; the beautifully finished oak table dressed for dinner

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

GRAYHOUND

“It would be pointless to build a boat without a purpose” Marina where she presented a sharp contrast to the rows of bright white and newly launched Princess motor yachts undergoing basin trials. Marcus, Freya and mate Matthew made the six guests (two of whom were small children who would provide good company for Malachi throughout our day’s sail) and myself feel welcome with coffee, biscuits and a friendly briefing, in which Marcus made it clear that we could all join in with the sailing processes “as much or as little as we wanted to”. As it turned out we all did so enthusiastically, although it would probably be unusual for anyone to sign up to sail on such a boat if they didn’t want to play an active part. When I had previously met Marcus during the course of Grayhound’s build, I asked him about the boat’s likely handling characteristics with her long keel and offset propeller. “She’ll do what she does and I’ll work that out and make that my advantage every time,” he told me. He also talked about his passion for traditional boat handling, and that he preferred not to use an engine whenever possible. “I use sails to manoeuvre, I use warps to manoeuvre, I use anchors to manoeuvre,” said Marcus. “The engine is for a flat calm, for getting into a harbour instead of sitting outside looking at it. I very much like traditional stuff. If there is a quay that needs warping out of, then that’s what we’ll do.” However, on this occasion, with a new crew on board, he chose to motor off so we could get going quickly, and we didn’t waste any time hoisting the sails,

doing so in the best order to encourage the boat to stay head to wind: mizzen, main and then the fore-lug. Six of us worked together to hoist the main and the fore-lug – three on each of the halyards. Whereas all lugsails have a halyard attached to the yard at its nearest point to the mast (known as the tackle, but pronounced ‘take all’), on a rig of this size a peak halyard is also needed to support the outboard end of the yard, whereas on a smaller boat the tension in the luff is enough to do this. We broad-reached in the northerly wind towards Drake’s Island and got ready for our first manoeuvre – a gybe around the eastern end of it. There wasn’t really much to it: although the two aft sails needed their sheets pulled in a bit, just as boomed sails would, the mizzen is mostly aft of the transom and so out of harm’s way, and besides, there wasn’t any great danger from the loose foot of the main. There was quite a bit more to do with the fore-lug, however, because the mainmast forestay is in its way. But by pulling on the brailing line, which is attached to the clew and goes to the top of the foremast and down again, the sail can easily pass forward of the stay, and then the sheet tackle can be connected and tensioned on the new leeward side while the old one is released. We sailed past the breakwater and headed towards Rame Head before coming onto a beam reach in the direction of Fowey. We then hoisted a jib and found ourselves easily reaching speeds of over eight knots in the building breeze. Marcus offered me the tiller, which has

Clockwise from top left: cabins and companionway stairs take shape; the view forward along the port sidedeck; chainplates for the mainmast; as the build process nears fruition, the true scale of the project comes to the fore

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

a four-to-one tackle connecting it to an eye on the windward side of the deck, but for most of the time her directional stability was so true and predictable that the fall of the tackle lay slack in my hand. Marcus is delighted with how well balanced she is, but thinks that the fact that no real tuning was needed to attain this is probably mostly down to luck. Grayhound’s rig is essentially a standing lug: that is to say that each sail’s yard, luff and tack are always on one side of its mast: it so happens that her mizzen and main are on the starboard side and the fore is to port. However, while we were sailing on the starboard tack, we took the opportunity to convert the fore-lug to give some of the characteristics of a dipping lug by unstowing a section of sailcloth in the luff to reveal a new tack, which we connected to a scud hook forward of the stem. We had to revert to the normal tack position just forward of the mast when we tacked on to port to sail back past Plymouth Sound towards the Yealm. However, the whole sail and yard can be moved to the starboard side immediately before any future voyage, which is expected to provide predominantly port tack sailing. Grayhound also has two topsails – we could have put them up that day but, as Marcus explained, we didn’t need to in that breeze – three other jibs and a staysail, and there is a mizzen staysail on order.

During the sail I chatted to Paul and Emma, the parents of the children being entertained by Malachi, who had recently bought Spirit of Mystery from Pete Goss. They have extensive sailing experience having worked on superyachts for many years but, by their own admission, they have done very little lugger sailing, and they were there to learn. They were in the process of refitting Spirit’s interior to suit their family needs before setting off on worldwide voyages of their own. At lunchtime Freya served up an excellent lasagne, salad and garlic bread, which we all enjoyed while sheltering from the cool wind in the light and airy pilot house that’s accessible from the deck through a wide companionway. At the forward end of the pilot house, steps lead down to the large, well-equipped galley and the rest of the accommodation. Opposite the galley is a pilot berth that Marcus uses at sea and also a settee, close to a wood-burning stove, which came from Freya’s uncle’s farmyard. Aft of here and either side of the engine room, Marcus and Freya’s small cabin is to starboard and Malachi’s is to port. Moving forward, there are berths for 10 people in various configurations in the saloon and forward cabin, although there are no plans to take any more than eight guests on overnight voyages. The forward cabin also has a heads and a separate shower, while the saloon has a

Above: Grayhound in build: once fully framed up in oak, she was planked in larch and fastened with oak trenails

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

GRAYHOUND

Clockwise from top left: top of the rudder stock with embossed heart motif – a design theme throughout the boat; launch day celebrations; stove chimney with heart-shaped mounting bracket; Grayhound feels the water beneath her keel for the first time

magnificent centrepiece in the shape of an oak table around which 17 people – the most they can take to sea on day trips – can all sit and dine together. The 90hp Beta diesel engine is, by Marcus’s admission, small for a boat of this size but he emphasises that Grayhound is first and foremost a sailing boat, and the engine is primarily needed to ensure that guests are picked up and dropped off as scheduled. There is no gas on board as the decision was made early on – for safety reasons and because of the difficulty of carrying enough of it for long ocean voyages – to have a mains electric cooker powered by a generator. There are two 800-litre, custom-made fuel tanks, one dedicated to the engine and the other to the generator. There is also a Penguin keel-cooled fridge and freezer in the galley. After we got back to the marina, Marcus and Freya told us about their future plans in more detail. Throughout the summer they will be sailing in the West Country and Brittany, with a combination of day sails, weekend trips and week-long voyages. In September they plan to go farther afield and will set off for the Cape Verde Islands via Spain, Portugal, Madeira and the Canary Islands; New Year’s Day will see them in the middle of the Atlantic on their way to Barbados, and from there they will explore other parts of the Caribbean; and at the end of April they will set off back to the UK via the Azores. “That itinerary will continue for a few years,” said Freya, “until we get our feet

GRAYHOUND LOD

63ft 6in (19.4m) LOS

108ft (32.9m) beam

19ft 5in (5.9m) Draught

10ft 9in (3.3m) DiSpLacement

49.5tons

grounded in the industry and get a reputation for being a great boat to come sailing on.” In the long term they hope to go to the west coast of Canada, probably via the Panama Canal or through the Northwest Passage. Freya is a passionate cook and is really keen to get the best out of whatever food is available wherever Grayhound goes. “We will eat culturally wherever we are,” she told me. “My kind of passion is cooking the local food, making the most out of every country’s produce and stocking the boat up so we have lots of nice things all around. That’s what I love about travelling and about sailing, that you can really live in these places.” Two more crew members are due to join Grayhound soon: a helper to assist Freya with domestic issues and looking after Malachi, and a trainee deckhand. From a very early stage of this project, Marcus was keen to use it to pass on his skills and knowledge in sailing traditional boats. He is now putting this into effect with plans to have one or two trainees on board at all times, each of them for around a year. This will give them the opportunity to sail around 15,000 miles, learn a variety of skills such as sailing in and out of anchorages and astronavigation, and gain a meaningful Yachtmaster qualification, rather than the “zero to hero in six weeks method practised elsewhere”. Marcus was also keen to try to introduce some sort of specialist formal qualification as part of the training, which he felt was particularly relevant considering the recent growth in traditional boat sailing, and he found welcome support for this from Tom Cunliffe who unexpectedly called into the shed during the course of Grayhound’s build. However, for the moment it would seem that Marcus’s initial enthusiasm for this has met with too many difficulties but he may well revisit the issue at a later date. Marcus and Freya’s enthusiasm for Grayhound’s future remains undimmed though, and there seems no doubt that this will be shared with many future voyage guests. “As a business venture we are trying to offer something different and fresh,” said Freya. “And we know what it’s like to finish a voyage where you’ve had fresh fish, sunshine, starry nights, sunsets, sunrises, good food, homemade bread, and a fresh, saltwater cold shower every day, and you get to the end and you feel like a million dollars.” We know the feeling.

SaiL area

3,500qft (325m2) 54

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

www.grayhoundluggersailing.com/ www.classic-sailing.co.uk/schedules/grayhound

Sail Grayhound

Come see us in Newport Booth NYC Land D9

Join Grayhound for a Sunshine Privateer Adventure Canary Islands

Forget any pre-conceived ideas you have of the Canary Islands. Island hopping on Grayhound in the Canary Islands is a unique experience. Explore more islands, watch for whales and dolphins, walks ashore on the green islands with fascinating plants and amazing vistas.

Cape Verde

These islands are largely unspoilt and Grayhound takes you to amazing islands like Santo Antao with its deep crater and craggy footpaths.

Caribbean and Antigua Classics

Explore the tropical islands of Grenada, St Lucia, Martinique, Antigua and best of all join the Antigua Classics on a tall ship destined to be a winner.

Ocean Passages

Lovely voyages between Lisbon and Madeira and onto the Canary Islands. Head south from the Canaries to the Cape Verde. Atlantic voyage Spring 2014, sail from Antigua to the Azores and carry on back to Cornwall.

Azores

Grayhound spring voyages in the Azores, the best time for whale watching and visit the colourful lakes and volcanic springs.

Full information

www.classic-sailing.co.uk 01872 580022

Bring a flash of historic spirit into Your Yacht with lindhyacht.com The marine leather specialist

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CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

VIVIER’S DESIGNS

MASTER

MInd

François Vivier is France’s leading designer of sail-and-oar boats and historic workboats. CB went sailing with him for the day at Morbihan story STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES photoGRaphS FRANçoIS vIvIER

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

VIVIER’S DESIGNS

ABER, 1985

out of all his designs, françois cites this as one of his favourites. he drew the lines in 1984, a derivation of his first sail-and-oar boat, the aven, of a few years previously. the centreboard pivots and the rudder slides vertically. françois describes this as an “excellent rowing boat” for one or two people, and a fast sailing boat. aber is the first boat françois designed to be home-built, in this case in strip-plank. a later redraw gives the option for clinker ply, which reduces the weight by 110lb (50kg). like others of his small lug-rigged, Breton-inspired small craft, aber is misainier-rigged after the fashion of the small workboats of the first half of the 20th century. this means that the high-peaked lug has no boom and the mainsheet must be unclipped and re-clipped to the other side of the stern every time the boat is tacked or gybed. loa 14ft 1in (4.3m) Beam 4ft 10in (1.5m) Disp 485lb (220kg) for clinker, 595lb (270kg) for strip sail area 102sqft (9.5m²) rcD cat c

top left: steffan meyric hughes

he usual wisdom of designing or building boats is to start small and work your way up. In 1975, the newly qualified naval architect François Vivier took his first job at the project department of Chantier de l’Atlantique, designing ro-ro ferries, gas and oil tankers and every other manner of large, commercial vessel. He already had an interest in sailing smaller boats, starting aged 10 in a Vaurien – a 1951 13ft (4m) bermudan dinghy designed by Jean-Jacques Herbulot, one of those cheap boats built of plywood and waterproof glue that got working people sailing in France after the war. Later, as a teenager, he spent years sailing with his father on the family’s Normandy Class Laurent Giles yacht. In 1981, he left the shipyard to co-found the French nautical magazine Chasse Marée with Bernard Cadoret, but stayed there just two years before returning to the business of big ships. “I was fed up of just writing. I’m an engineer!” he said, reliving his frustration as we sail

his little Pen-Hir (see last month’s CB) through a fleet of literally hundreds of his boats. It was during his time at Chasse Marée that he designed his first small boat, the Aven. “Aven was born from a long discussion I was having with Gérard d’Aboville [first man to row solo across both Atlantic and Pacific oceans] and Bernard Cadoret about an article I was writing.” That article was about an idea dear to both François and Bernard: the revival of ‘sail-and-oar’ boats. “Boats had become faster and more sophisticated,” remembers François as we sail past one of his Ebihen 18s. “But much less versatile. We wanted to revive the versatility of an old-style sail-and-oar boat, something you can sail on the sea and row on a river. Oars were always the old motor – even large ships would be rowed in port.” Two years after Avel, back in big ships again, François drew Aber for home-building in strip-plank. He still cites it as one of his favourite boats. After that, the creative floodgates were open and designs began to pour from

Above and left: Aber on paper and on the water

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

After completing my masts - Excess Sitka For Sale!

‘London oLympic’ previousLy ‘patrick coLqhoun’ ex thames poLice inspectors Launch

Carried HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on day of funeral for Winston Churchill. Length: 13 Metres approx., draught: 1.2 Metres. 2 x 300hp Volvo Pentas with less than 3000 hours – can reach speeds of up to 35 knots. Own a lovely piece of history. Vessel is lying in central London. Price: OIRO £45,000 poss p/x vehicle WHY? For more information please contact Colin Bullock on Tel: 01268 451216 / Mob: 07956 680316 alternatively email: colin@riverthamesboathire.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

5 pieces 1x 2x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 2x

4 1/2 x 2” x 22ft 4 x 2” x 21’8” 8 1/2 x 2” x 22ft 3 1/2 x 2 1/2” x 13ft. 4 x 6” x 10’ 2” 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 x14ft 4 1/2 x 5” x 14ft. 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 6’ 9” 5 3/4 x 2 1/4 x 20ft

1x 3 1/2 x 2” x 27’ 3” 13 x 2 x 1 1/2” x 15 ft.(approx) 4x 1 1/2 x 1” x 25ft. 9x 1 1/2 x 2” x 14ft 6x 2 1/4 x 2” x 22ft 2x 6 1/2 x 2” x 6’ 5” 1x 7 1/2 x 2” x 6’ 5” 3x 8 1/4 x 3 1/2” x 8’ 5”

Located in Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, S.Wales. Buyer collects Please contact Dave Denning on: 07961 708446 or email: dukeden@hotmail.com

VIVIER’S DESIGNS

MARIE CLAUDINE, 1991

This is a good example of the many historical workboat replicas and interpretations François has designed over the years. There are 18 workboat designs on his website, ranging from 18ft to 60ft (5.5m-18.3m) and from sardine and lobster boats to leather-covered medieval boats, in the manner of the Irish curraghs. Sailing at Morbihan, the fleet was filled with examples of living history that started on his drawing board. François describes Marie Claudine as “an exceptional boat informed by the Ozanne [18th-century naval architect from Breton] or Morel-Fatio [the French 19th-century marine painter] engravings of the maritime life of the Brest area in the 18th century. These Plougastel boats were used to transport people and goods inside the Bay of Brest. The rig is typical of the first evolution from the old square sail to the lugsail: masts are raked aft, yards are hung at one third of their length and just the sail foot has been cut out. Simultaneously, the boat is trimmed back in order to improve the lateral resistance and then the windward ability.” LOA 31ft 6in (9.6m) BEAM 8ft 11in (2.7m) DISP 13,448lb (6.1 tonnes) SAIL AREA 538sqft (50m2) RCD historic craft replica exemption

STIR VEN, 1997

Stir Ven is the subject of some controversy. She was the winner of a competition in Chasse Marée for “a boat to go to the islands”. She’s a very fast ‘raid boat’ with a high-peaked gaff rig of great sail area and very little wetted surface area, deriving stability from a 397lb (180kg) iron, hydrodynamically formed centreboard. This is a boat for someone who takes raids seriously. In CB140, John Leather reviewed it very favourably. John Perryman thought the design looked disastrous and was very robust in his dismissal of what he saw as a dangerously unstable boat, “for beefy crew on trapezes with wetsuits”. Since then, 50 have been built and François owned one for seven years. See our ‘Vivier encore’ feature online to read John Perryman’s original article and, 13 years after, François’ equally stout rebuttal! LOA 22ft (6.7m) BEAM 7ft 3in (2.2m) DISP 1,896lb (860kg) SAIL AREA 279sqft (26m2) RCD Cat C CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

VIVIER’S DESIGNS

BÉNIguet, 2005

Like Jewell (overleaf), Béniguet falls firmly into the ‘19ft gaff trailersailer’ market, which is so popular and diverse. The Béniguet formula is relatively low weight (thanks to a clinker-ply build), a centreboard that pivots below the sole for performance, plenty of cabin space and a sensible split in space that gives a 6ft 7in (2m)-long cockpit with enough cabin left over to offer three berths. There is proper provision for an outboard too; by this, we mean that there is space in the well for it to tip forward while under sail; and sufficient space in one of the cockpit lockers to stow it. There is also a lowered space each side of the motor for a bucket and other fishing kit. The discontinuation of the keel towards the last fifth of the boat makes launching easier. Quality touches include opening portlights and a recessed anchor locker on the foredeck. Béniguet is available built or as a CNC-cut plywood kit from Grand Largue boatbuilders (www.grand-largue.fr) or as a set of plans from Vivier (www.vivierboats.com). LOA 19ft 2in (5.8m) BEAM 6ft 11in (2.1m) DISP 1,874lb (850kg) SAIL AREA 219sqft (20.3m2) RCD Cat C

François’ pen including, around 1985, the Ilur, still his most popular boat to date and enthusiastically cruised by our friend, the Dinghy Cruising Association (DCA) stalwart, Roger Barnes. In fact, Roger was somewhere out there that day, among the hundreds of boats at Morbihan. The secrets to its success (1,000 sets of plans sold) are, according to François, a good length, a comfortable beam and seaworthiness. “A great sailing boat – not so good for rowing.” Throughout the early 1980s and 90s, François was learning that there is a big demand for versatile little sailing and rowing craft – and from the mid-80s, his boats were available for home-build, not that the French really go in for home boatbuilding with the same enthusiasm as Britons and Americans. Sail-and-oar has grown and grown since then – and continues to do so now, with many coming to realise that the 40-footer (12m) in the marina is impractical and increasingly unaffordable. “Besides, I like to sail and I like to 60

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

manoeuvre under sail.” François chuckles with the glee of one who has just mounted his favourite hobby horse. “With a 40-footer you are always motoring. You motor onto your mooring and off it. You motor because there’s too much wind. You motor because there is not enough. You motor because the wind is in the wrong direction.”

SAIL AND OAR What is a sail-and-oar boat, I ask François, already aware of a general sort of definition. “The mast has to lower” he replies. “I’ve carried out tests to show that the mast represents half the entire windage on a boat, so for a boat to row well, the mast has to lower easily.” That means building in convenient storage for the mast when one is rowing – and for the oars when one is sailing. Most Vivier boats come with tabernacle masts to this end. And all come with a pair of oars and a sculling notch. In the 1990s, the sail-and-oar boats were followed by a string of small, pretty cabin yachts – again for home or

Clockwise from top left: Marie Claudine plans and, on the water with those distinctive raked masts; two Béniguets sail in company off St-Jacut on the Breton coast; Stir Ven with its controversial gaff rig

NeilThompsonBoats

The Norfolk Smuggler Dimensions

The Norfolk Smuggler 25 has been carefully designed to ensure a single-handed sailing ability when required. The cockpit is large to allow comfortable sailing for up to six adults and to provide ample stowage space in the cockpit lockers. The cabin trunk provides standing headroom through the yacht without looking cumbersome, and ahead of this there is a safe foredeck to provide security for the foredeck hand. This vessel has been designed to be shoal draught with a centreboard increasing draught from 2’9” with plate up to 4’11” with plate down. The centreboard is raised and lowered with an easy to operate manual winch.

Norfolk Urchin

Norfolk Oyster

Norfolk Gypsy

Length Beam Draft Sail area Weight of boat

Norfolk Smuggler 25

25’ ( 7.69m) 8’9” (2.69m) 2’9”/4’11” (0.85m/1.51m) 404 sq ft (38.3 sq m) 4.25 tonnes (inc equipment)

Norfolk Trader 45 & 65

Home of the Norfolk Range Neil Thompson Boats, Manor Farm, Glandford, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7JP +44 (0) 1263 741172 • info@neilthompsonboats.co.uk • www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk

VIVIER’S DESIGNS

JEWELL, 2011

Yawls are often misunderstood in Britain but their charms have not been lost on Americans – or François for that matter, who has designed Jewell with an eye on that market. Easy reefing (just drop the main for a very quick, balanced reduction in sail area); a lower air draught and centre of effort; the ability to hold the boat pointing into the wind singlehanded by sheeting in; and lighter spars are among the advantages. Yawls are unbeatable for rigging cockpit tents – even for stringing a clothes line. “Jewell is like an improved Stir Ven,” François said. “Not as fast, but more comfortable.” She is clinker ply with a two-part cockpit: a normal cockpit aft and an open cockpit forward that enables children to sit out of the way. This also provides a transverse berth under the stars to add to the two below. She’s available as a kit (www.icarai.fr); or built from www. clintchaseboatbuilder. com. Plans from www.vivierboats.com LOA 20ft (6.1m) BEAM 7ft 3in (2.2m) DISP 1,430lb (649kg)

SA 206sqft (19.1m2)

MORBIC 12, 2008

Morbic 12 caught our eye on Adrian Donovan’s stand at Southampton in 2012. Adrian asked the editor and me to cast our eyes over it to see if we could see anything wrong. He was referring to the 1:2.4 beam/ length ratio – but Cadfael, as this example is called, belies her beaminess and looks great. Adrian customises his Morbic 12s with oar stowage, removable seats, buoyancy and waterproof stowage. He calls her a “Swallows and Amazons boat” but she’s much lighter. She stands lug-rigged. Adrian builds these finished (www.adriandonovan.co.uk) as does Ben Ullings in Holland (www.ullings.nl). Icarai (France) and Clint Chase (USA) offer the finished boat or a CNC kit. LOA 12ft 1in (3.7m) BEAM 5ft 1in (1.6m) DISP 176lb (80kg) SAIL AREA 82sqft (7.6m2) RCD Cat C

oat.co.uk

www.classicb

Vivier encore

professional build. Over 20ft (6.1m) or so, as many Vivier boats are built professionally as they are at home, and yards in France (one run by his son), America and Holland offer his boats built or in kit form. By this point, Francois’ ‘proper’ career had taken him all the way to MD of the French Shipbuilding Research Institute. Then in 2005, he retired from ships to concentrate on small-boat design full-time. So far, time seems to be proving François right. In 2011, 400 of the 1,200 boats at Morbihan were sailand-oar. This time, bad weather kept numbers down somewhat, but it’s not just in France that the downsizing story is so alive. After eating our lunch of ham sandwiches hove-to, we sailed past Chantier du Guip on the Île-aux-Moines, surely France’s most traditional yard, and spotted glimpses of it through the thick tree cover. Guip has been building boats to Vivier designs for more than 30 years. Towards the end of the day, Biche, the tunnyboat, bore down on us in a fast tidal channel.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

François was naval architect to this major project (CB302) and seeing the boat is a dramatic reminder of how pivotal he has been in bringing back to life the ghosts of the Breton working fleet. A more recent project for him has been as president of the ‘new’ French boatbuilding school for traditional construction – Skol ar Mor in Mesquer – just 20 miles or so south-east of us. It was set up in 2011 by Mike Newmeyer, formerly of the Apprenticeshop in Rockport, Maine, and the first students graduated this July after their two-year course. One might imagine a paternal position like this to be the pinnacle of a grand career, but if the likes of Pen-Hir are anything to go by, the best is yet to come. François is now seeking boatbuilding and import partners in Britain (email: francois@vivier.info). And do read our three ‘Vivier encore’ features online: Roger Barnes on the Ilur; John Perryman on the Stir Ven and François’ reply; and three more Vivier designs. Just search for ‘Vivier encore’ at www.classicboat.co.uk.

Traditional Wooden/Epoxy or GRP It's your choice

Solent Sunbeam The classic racing keelboat

Jamie Clay Boatbuilding

Restoration Specialist • 30 years experience Courtesy of G L Watson & Co

MULDONICH 30ft gaff yawl designed by G L Watson & Co, 1930 A lovely yawl, based on the highly successful Albert Strange yawl Venture, for one of her former owners. Now due for a major refit. SPARTAN 27ft. 4-ton cutter G L Watson design No.97, 1886 A unique opportunity to commission the restoration of G L Watson’s oldest extant design. “...Spartan now planked up to the top strake... She looked uncommonly well, both as to work and form...nice entrance, clean handsome stern and a powerful look about her mid section... she is being turned out strictly to Watson’s plan.” Wivenhoe, Dec. 28th 1885

Sail and Race a Sunbeam at Itchenor Great Racing - Great Company Ask about boats for sale, joining a syndicate or crewing Come for a trial sail. Enjoy the Sunbeam experience www.solentsunbeam.co.uk Tel: 07836 768225

“GLW steered Spartan all day...remarked on her beautiful trim...” Oulton Regatta, August 4th 1886. (Extracts from owner’s log)

To commission a restoration of either yacht will secure you a true classic of the highest quality, authenticity and pedigree

Further information at:

www.JamieClayBoatbuilding.co.uk

Maldon, Essex 0795 006 3642 daytime, or 01621 853804

MODERN CLASSIC YACHTS

NEW

www.fairlieyachts.com DESIGN · BUILD · RESTORATION +44(0) 2380 450 000

Sailing into the yachting scene nearly 20 years ago, Fairlie introduce their new 77 which defines the standard for modern classic yacht design and construction.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

New Classics KITE CLASS

We’ve been keeping an eye on the Kite class ever since we saw the first one sailing at the Solent Raid in 2010. And now she’s available to buy as a built boat. She’s not only one of the prettier traditional trailer-sailers out there but one of the quicker ones too, as we discovered to our chagrin trying to keep up with her back then. She’s designed by Andrew Wolstenholme, one of Britain’s leading yacht designers, and the first was built by Thames boatbuilder Colin Henwood, for himself and Andrew to share. Dick Phillips of Willow Bay Boats has now built one for a client and is offering new Kites. The Kite is a single-chined, gaff sloop-rigged centreboarder with a small two-berth cabin, a goodsized cockpit, light carbon spars and a weight that allows her to be trailed behind a 2-litre family car on a braked trailer. She’s built in

PeTeR CHeSWORTH

Delightful picnic boat for sailors

3/8in

(9mm) ply and has ballast in her centreboard and some internally. She’s Andrew’s answer to the riddle of what makes the perfect trailable family boat, and our first impression suggests he might have hit the nail on the head with this one. A production GRP boat from Demon Yachts is now in the pipeline too.

“She’s designed by Andrew Wolstenholme, one of Britain’s leading yacht designers”

SPECIFICATIONS LOA

21ft (6.4m) beAm

7ft (2.1m) DRAUGHT (mAX)

3ft 10in (1.2m) DISPLACemeNT

1,653lb (750kg)

Cost (for the ply boat) is around £30,000 (inc VAT) from Dick Phillips of Willow bay boats. Tel: +44 (0)1297 442884, www.willowbayboats.co.uk

SAIL AReA

212sqft (19.7m2)

PAINE 14

US small-boat devotee and yacht designer Chuck Paine’s new boat, the Paine 14, is a “trailable Herreshoff 12½ replica”. She’s slightly scaled down and with a shortened keel and separate rudder for better performance. Chuck himself has owned a Herreshoff 12½ for 31 years and considers it “the best yacht design ever”, largely because of its tolerance to wind conditions. It’ll sail well in light winds (a YouTube video shows the new 14 skimming along in just 5 knots) and, according to Chuck, it will get you home safely in 30 knots. An unstayed carbon-fibre mast makes launching and rigging easy, and her weight (half of which is ballast), means she’ll trail on an unbraked trailer, even behind a 1.1-litre hatchback. She’s available in GRP or cold-moulded wood. The first boat, Amelia, in wood, is available to buy ready to go (trailer is extra). Study plans and full plans are available for home-builders. New boat: US$69,500 (c£45,000), study plans: US$25 (c£16), full plans US$475 (c£310), www.chuckpaine.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

C/O CHUCk PAINe

Herreshoff reinterpreted SPECIFICATIONS LOA

14ft (4.3m) beAm

5ft 3in (1.6m) DRAUGHT

2ft 3in (0.7m) DISPLACemeNT

850lb (386kg) SAIL AReA

107sqft (9.9m2)

Artist’s impression of the new Tempus 90 C/O TeMPuS

SPECIFICATIONS LOA

90ft (27.4m) beAM

18ft 5in (5.6m) DRAughT

10ft 6in (3.2m) DISPLACeMenT

56 tonnes SAIL AReA

3,725sqft (346m2)

TEMPUS 90

new kid on the SOT block For many yachtsmen, the J-Class is the ultimate. But the cost is prohibitive, the authenticity questionable and the boats not particularly practical or fast. It’s a set of circumstances that has, over recent years, triggered a few big, fast, modern-classic bermudan yachts that are cheaper, more commodious and often faster. One such boat is the Tempus 90 – a wood epoxy, J-inspired sloop from British naval architect Rob Humphreys. She’s been in build in Turkey for the

last two years (CB290) at the Arkin Pruva yard and was launched this August. She’s the first in the Tempus range, which runs from 70ft to 170ft (21.3m-51.8m) and also comes in aluminium. This particular boat is headed for St Tropez this October so the world can get a good look at her. Cost depends on options but around €3.75M will get a very well-equipped boat on the water. Tel: +44 (0)1590 679344, www.tempusyachts.com

SPECIFICATIONS LOA

27ft (8.3m) beAM

C/O WeSSex MARIne

9ft (2.8m) DRAughT

2ft 8in (0.8m)

LEVI CORSAIR CLASSIC

Rocket speed, 1960s style We were taken by the Levi 27 Corsair in 1999, so were keen to hear about the new Levi Corsair. In one form or another, this boat has been built ever since her Cowes-Torquay debut in 1965. She’s changed very little over the years, and the design of every boat has been drawn by none other than deep-vee pioneer and legendary designer Renato ‘Sonni’ Levi. The Corsairs are hand built by a Venetian boatyard to order – they make two or three a year. The latest one has a mahogany four-berth interior and 530hp through outdrives, giving 48 knots.

DISPLACeMenT

5.4 tonnes POWeR

2 x 265bhp Cummins

Cost varies on options. This one would cost about €300,000 (c£260,000). Tel: +44 (0)1202 700702, www.wessexmarine.co.uk

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Onboard OGA IN SCOTLAND

CRUISING . SEAMANSHIP . EQUIPMENT

NORTHERN NAVIGATION Tantina II followed the Old Gaffers to sail round the remote Scottish coastline – the last big challenge on the OGA’s 50th Round Britain Relay. Here’s the skipper’s view STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS GORDON BUCHANAN

Clockwise from top: Bonita, Ammonite and Dutch OGA boat Windbreker; the Neolithic standing stones at Callanish; Tiumpan Head lighthouse, Lewis

he Scottish end of the OGA50 celebrations kicked off at the end of May with glorious weather for the inaugural event at Campbeltown. My boat Tantina II departed with the elegant Harrison Butler-penned Naiad and we enjoyed the unusually sunny passage to the Isle of Gigha (see map on page 70), where we joined up with the gaff yawl Bonita, the oldest boat in the fleet taking part in the Round Britain Challenge (p28). As the next planned stop was Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, some two weeks away, this gave us an opportunity to do some independent cruising, with stops at West Loch Tarbert, Gometra, Tobermory, Plockton, Loch Gairloch and Loch Shell, before the final run to Stornoway. When we arrived at Stornoway the weather had closed in – well, it had to happen at some point – but that didn’t stop the locals greeting us with unflinching enthusiasm. We sailed in to the tune of a piper on board the local Falmouth Working Boat Ammonite, and moored up alongside two more gaffers: Minstrel and Windbreker, the latter of which came all the way from the Dutch OGA. Much hilarity followed over the next few days as crews got to know each other while participating in the Stornoway welcome. Among other events, one of the highlights was a tour of the island,

taking in the 4,000-year-old Neolithic Callanish Stones, a visit to a traditional blackhouse, and the breathtaking views from the Tiumpan Head Lighthouse. The standing stones are a sight to match Stonehenge and are all the more interesting for their remoteness.

crossing the cape Sadly, the time came to move on, and with farewells duly made, sails were hoisted for the onward passage. In our case, a failing wind when crossing the Minch towards Cape Wrath dictated an overnight stop at Kinlochbervie. Although one of the busiest fishing ports on the west coast of Scotland, there is a pontoon for visiting yachts that offers complete shelter. After an overnight halt we caught an early tide the next morning and, with a brisk southwesterly wind pushing us along, we rounded the cliffs at Cape Wrath. Although visibility was not great the cameras of Cape Wrath first-timers were going into overdrive. At the same time another yacht, albeit somewhat larger, slowly passed us allowing yet another photo opportunity. It would be nice to say that our crew were suitably groomed for the occasion, but fortunately the distance between the boats negated the worst of the shortcomings that resulted from my all-male crew. The rest of the day was spent rolling downwind towards Orkney and an early evening arrival at Stromness. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

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CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

ONBOARD OGA IN SCOTLAND

“Small boats, longish sea passages and Scottish weather make a nonsense of prior plans” best-laid plans It will come as no surprise that small boats, longish sea passages and notorious Scottish weather often make a nonsense of prior plans. And so with an increasingly adverse tide, our arrival at the entrance to Hoy Sound, just south of Stromness, was several hours later than planned – and with the wind against the tide the possibility of serious overfalls in the channel dictated a cautious approach with lifejackets and harnesses to the fore. As the tide effectively slowed our approach to no more than a couple of knots, there was plenty of time to marvel at the cliffs on Hoy and, in particular, the Old Man of Hoy. We all agreed that climbing this rock pillar held no attraction, even for those who don’t cringe at the thought of climbing higher than a boat’s guardrail. On a positive note, this delay meant that the current was such that we could motor against it and into the marina at Stromness in time for a welcome dram before nightfall. The following day was spent in port, mainly occupying simple chores, although Barry did manage to contact the local lifeboat crew with a view to updating the OGA log of RNLI stations visited. One of the highlights of our stay in Stromness was the invitation to join the crew of RNLB Violet Dorothy and Kathleen for a short trip round the island of Graemsay, situated at the western entrance to Scapa Flow. If a reason was ever needed to admire the skill of lifeboat crews, this was it when the lifeboat was skilfully piloted past some of the sunken WWII blockships that restrict channels around the famous naval anchorage as a reminder of less happy times. It proved to be a short but fascinating experience of lifeboatmen at work and the skills they nonchalantly take for granted. My few pounds a month donation to the RNLI seems quite insignificant by comparison. As the weather forecast for the next day was somewhat mixed, a variable passage plan meant that a possible stop at Pierowall on Westray would feature, but if conditions proved reasonable we would merely keep going on our passage to Shetland. The early vicious rolling resulting from little wind and big beam seas had eased by the time Pierowall was close, so overnight watches were quickly assumed and a course for Scalloway on Shetland’s west coast was set.

A combination of sailing, motoring and motor-sailing saw us arrive at Scalloway Boating Club well before breakfast time, although there were no dissenters when an end of passage dram was suggested. It proved to be just the thing to help a tired crew get to sleep. Duly refreshed, a little exploring was in order but we only got as far as the club bar where we met up with Mike Shaw, President of the OGA, and his wife Marion, along with local sailor Eddie Knight. A pleasant hour or two passed before anybody had noticed the time, by which point we had been joined by the crew of Naiad. Shortly after, the crew of locally based Larry joined us and arranged to bring their boat to the same pontoon. All very sociable. The afternoon started with a bus trip in the rain to Lerwick, where we met up with the crews of both Windbreker and Minstrel. A wander around the main Shetland town and a visit to Lerwick Boating Club completed a pleasant, if damp, afternoon before the Scalloway crews caught the last bus back to their boats, but not before watching part of the midsummer celebrations that only the Shetlanders can do so well. It didn’t feel one bit like midsummer though, being unseasonably cold, wet and windy. The following day being a Sunday meant a lazy day for most, although a crew’s dinner was arranged for the evening in the nearby Scalloway Hotel – an event that proved just as good as gaffers events can be. After the meal, several other diners later joined the general chat amid an air of camaraderie. Since both Tantina ll and

Below: the author and owner of Tantina II, Gordon Buchanan

Clockwise from above: Upper Loch Torridon was one of the crew’s favourite anchorages; Emerald at sea; view down the Caledonian Canal from the locks at Fort Augustus

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

ONBOARD OGA IN SCOTLAND

Naiad were in need of fuel, departure the next morning was delayed until the fuel depot opened, and then both boats set sail heading south. Scalloway bay is a wellsheltered natural harbour and so hid the awkward seas that were running outside. Despite this, once sails had been trimmed, the motion, although definitely lively, proved quite comfortable with a good Force 6 blowing from just forward of the beam. The resultant passage to an evening anchorage off the island of Sanday (way off to the north-east) will remain in my memory for a long time. We covered nearly 75 miles in just under 10 hours; not bad for a heavy 31-footer. Having been in touch with Naiad on VHF at times during the day, we were later on glad to see her anchor drop not far from us. Calm seas and blue skies came with the dawn so a day spent on the motor took us as far as Wick, the main excitement coming from watching the tides off the Pentland Firth trying to suck us into their grip. That was despite being some 6 or 7 miles off; not a place I fancy in a big blow. Much more nonchalant were the dolphins that played around us on our final run into Wick. Early evening saw us approaching the entrance to Wick harbour with Naiad a mile or so astern. Our arrival coincided to the THE minute with Low Water SHETLANDS and it was right on Spring tides, so guess what? With Scalloway tantina ii’s a 6ft 6in (2m) draught we route ran aground right in the THE entrance to the harbour. ORKNEYS A sandy bottom and our low speed meant that apart Stromness from a call to Naiad to say the entrance was now Wick Kinlochbervie Stornoway blocked, the only thing damaged was my pride. Cromarty Harbour A few minutes of flood tide Gairloch Loch Inverness and we were soon tied up Torridon Plockton at the small marina inside caledonian canal the harbour and seeking SCOTLAND Tobermory advice on the local Gometra hostelries from the very Oban ULVA ILSE OF helpful harbourmaster. Craighouse MULL

Above, left to right: the lug-rigged Fifie Isabella Fortuna; street parade in Lerwick for the midsummer celebrations; Neal Hill’s pretty Harrison Butlerdesigned Naiad

Loch Tarbert

GLASGOW Port Bannatyne

JURA ILSE OF GIGHA

Campbeltown

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

EDINBURGH

cruising the canal A lazy day followed and it was with great fascination

that we all spent quite some time on board the fully restored Isabella Fortuna (see picture above). Originally built as a fishing lugger with two large lugsails, she was soon fitted with an engine and after a couple of replacements, she was equipped with a 66hp Kelvin in the 1930s. She still has this engine today, albeit much restored and in fine working order, although the starting sequence would frighten anyone used to modern key-start diesels. A little shopping, a few chores and we were ready for an evening meal ashore and some well-anticipated refreshments, all of which went down in good style while enthusiastic plans for the next day’s passage towards Inverness were discussed. As so often happens, the next morning dawned bright but without any wind and so began a whole day of motoring with clouds and a light rain falling towards evening. As motoring in our case is slower than sailing we were too late to lock into the Caledonian Canal, so plans were made to visit Cromarty harbour instead. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but the reality soon proved that to be a big mistake. Despite assurances that the yacht pontoon boasted sufficient water, we soon found differently and were forced to tie alongside a fishing boat in the slightly deeper part of the harbour, only to be wakened in the early hours by a vicious tide that was sufficiently strong enough for us to put out our extra warps. Definitely not a place I want to revisit, although there are some visitors’ moorings outside the harbour that apparently avoid these problems. The last few miles to Inverness and the canal entrance were made under engine, but typically with a good blow right on the nose. The wind was strong enough to make the manoeuvre of getting into the sea lock quite tricky, but not as much as the next lock was for a boat that locked in just ahead of us. A missed line and the fresh wind from aft broached the other boat broadside onto the forward lock gates, fortunately without significant damage, although the skipper did have a rather red face. Despite a gale from the south delaying progress through the canal by a day, the rest of the passage through was quite easy; all the locks being manned by friendly and helpful lock-keepers. A short hop to Oban for some supplies and a passage back round the Mull of Kintyre in bright sunshine and calm seas completed a trip of more than 1,100 miles, and left many many happy memories of the OGA50 Round Scotland cruise.

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 

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

   A FAST GAFF RIGGED DAY SAILER     WITH FAMILY CAMPING CAPABILITIY                       DATA                 LENGTH O.A 5.46M    LENGTH W.L 5.11M   BEAM 2.06M   DRAFT - PLATE UP 0.32M   DRAFT - PLATE DOWN 1.03M     SAIL AREA 17.9SqM       ASSYMMETRIC 12.7SqM      TRAILING WEIGHT 400KG                   BALLAST (Included) 130KG                                                                                                                                                                      With elegant good looks that you would expect from North Quay Marine the  new Spitfi re 18 is a true new tradition in boat building. Fast and responsive and  

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

BOESCH SPEED/SKI BOAT



510 special, Chevolet 5.7L 210, engine as new. Gearbox rebuilt. Boat fully restored. All paper work, original invoice. On old twin axle trailer rebuilt new steel Price: £20,000 ONO

Introducing the new Spiftire 18

incredibly light at only 400kg she is easy to trail and will quickly get up on the plane.  Her innovative main sail makes her easy to rig and stow.     See her being built on our Facebook page and see her    for  yourself at the Southampton Boat Show.  



“North Quay House”, Conyer, Nr. Sittingbourne, KENT ME9 9HL

Tel: 01636 822775 Mobile: 07843981303 Email: eunicefletch@hotmail.com

b ru s* sc r n me so to ea s -s cu id w M r ne fo

Affordable yacht moorings in tranquil Portsmouth Harbour setting

Telephone 01795 521711 info@northquaymarine.co.uk www.northquaymarine.co.uk

Anderson Ferdinandsen Gaff Ketch

Discover a convenient, cost effective alternative to modern marinas. With deepwater access, hardstanding yacht storage and boatyard services, we offer the perfect package for true sailors. • Deepwater, tidal swinging and pontoon moorings • Half an hour from mooring to the Solent • Close to M27, M3 and A3 • Ample free parking and dinghy storage • Liveaboards and visitors welcome • Fully stocked chandlery, workspace and free wi-fi Call for a quote today, or drop in for a tour of the yard... WicorMarine Ltd. Cranleigh Road, Portchester, Hampshire PO16 9DR

01329 237 112 *Minimum requirement is a summer mooring

inbox@wicormarine.co.uk www.wicormarine.co.uk

Built 1931 at the ‘Rolls-Royce’ yard in Gilleleje, Denmark: Josefine 66’ OA, 50’ OD, a first class small ship one of only 20 her size built, perfect for trans-world private use or commercial charter, currently MCA Code 2 registered. New paint, anti-foul 25.8.13. Extremely sea-worthy, well maintained, massive oak on oak construction, beautiful lines, can be sailed by 2 persons. Bare hull rebuild 2002, all original papers since 1931. Ford 140HP, low hours, mooring available. Ready for work, or ultimate pleasure. Plymouth, UK. £129,000 ono T: 07971 376 172 or sailjosefine@gmail.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

ONBOARD

Books The Art of Wooden Boat Repair

SUNDOWNERS WITH GUY VENABLES

by Allen Cody Taube This useful book updates and replaces Taube’s 1986 Boatwright’s Companion, which is now out of print. This is a practical book, though readers will surely warm to Taube’s easy and informative narrative style. The book starts with a guide on tools and materials and setting up the workspace, before describing the typical wooden boat with a chapter on surveying. From then on chapters are logically divided into specific topics, from framing to planking and then caulking. There are also chapters for the restorer. Throughout there are more than 100 excellent and clearly labelled drawings, although surprisingly, perhaps, there is not the Boys’ Own cutaway spread that might give the novice an instant appreciation of the anatomy of a wooden boat. Not to worry, there is plenty here to inspire and instruct and the tone is very much “you can do this for yourself”. It’s probably also going to serve the jobbing shipwright who may not have made templates for floor timbers for a while, or who needs an aide memoire on aspects of repair. This book is full of useful advice and we can see it being taken out of the bookshelf to be consulted again and again. DMH Granny Apple Publishing, 2013, 178x254mm paperback, 183pp, RRP £13

THE YACHTING YEAR From the publishers of CLASSIC BOAT the

Yachting Year NEW!

Full guide to events in 2014

A review of the year gone by – including the most noteworthy restorations and new builds, as well as the main regattas and events – brought to life in vivid detail through stunning photography and top class features. … also including a 2014 events guide and a FREE 2014 Yachting Year calendar!

Fastnet and America’s Cup Antarctica and the Bahamas Top yachts, must-have gear

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www.chelseamagazines.com/yachting-year +44 (0)1795 419 840 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5:30pm GMT) Published by Chelsea Marine Magazines. The Yachting Year will be published and mailed in November. *Add £2 postage for orders outside the UK.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Sorted on the Seven Seas During a cocktail party at a palace in St. Petersburg recently (I know, as a sentence, it’s starting terribly well but just wait) I looked across the room lined with grand paintings and stuffed heads and saw a beautiful woman in a low-cut dress holding two bottles of Cognac. Intrigued, and strangely attracted by the Cognac, I went over to talk to her. She guessed immediately that I was a drinks journalist because I was staring at her bottles. Embarrassed by my transparency I tried to act normal and stared at her cleavage instead. Kelt Cognac has the unique distinction to being the only Cognac to be deliberately sailed right around the world in Limousin oak barrels in order to mature it with more depth. You may be thinking what I first thought when I heard of this practice, but the more I look into it the more I think it might not be. It was possibly first noticed in 1805 when several barrels of aquavit were taken around the world in the Norwegian brig Trondheim Prove and was discovered to be remarkably improved. (The brand Aquavit Linie now adopts this method as a matter of course.) There are several logical reasons for this. Firstly, the liquid constantly sloshes about inside the barrels with the movement of the boat (Kelt only fills them to 70 per cent to allow this to happen) apparently increasing the age profile of the Cognac by approximately the equivalent of a decade in 90 days. Secondly, the fluctuation in temperature from 10 to 65°C speeds up the process and, finally, the changes in air pressure expands the oak and lets in fresh oxygen. After several trials, small barrels were sourced that must only have contained Grande Champagne and of a certain age and composition, depending on which quality of Kelt Cognac is used. On leaving Le Havre they head south into the Med, through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea and from there on to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and across the Pacific to the United States and Los Angeles. From LA, south through the Panama Canal and then north again following the east coast of the USA to New York, before the return across the Atlantic Ocean back to France and Le Havre. Both the VSOP and the XO are remarkably good Cognacs. How much better they are than the untravelled Cognac will depend on my impending invitation to a tasting session. She has my number. I sit and wait…

ONBOARD

Lazarette Compiled by Guy Venables

Serrated sea knife Rory Conner, a renowned Irish knife maker, has devised this Round the World Irish Patt Rigging Kit. The knife stands out because it incorporates a hefty Bowie-shaped blade and the edge is serrated all the way to the tip. What it might lose in ‘stab’ safety, it gains with a long blade that promises to cut through the widest of ropes in one slash. It has a tough ATS 34 hollow-ground blade, wood or laminate handle, and comes with a copperriveted leather sheath and marlinspike with whipping groove. £214 plus p&p

VISIT Sailing Equipm classicbo ent a t.co

.uk For many product re more views

www.roryconnerknives.com Tel: +353 (0)27 50032

Musto parka

Recycled sail bag Bags from recycled or ‘upcycled’ sails are nothing new – a trainee sailmaker might cut his teeth on such things before progressing to the real thing. But they don’t usually look this smart. This Cassiopi bag has lots of leather trim, both in the long handles that can be slung over a shoulder and in the end pieces, plus two external pockets and one inside for a phone. Its maker, Salty Bag, is the new venture of Stratis Andreadis, co-founder of the Spetses Classic Yacht Race and owner of the Fred Shepherd yacht Glaramara. £194 plus p&p

It’s hard to find one jacket that works in cold and warm weather, but this men’s Samuel Nylon Parka might just do the job. It’s an affordable zip up and go number from Musto and it’s well made, roomy, tough and very light, with an outside hood and several pockets. We wore one in the Baltic this summer and it passed the key test for clothing: no one even knew they were wearing it. £90 plus p&p www.musto.com Tel: +44 (0)1268 495824

www.saltybag.com Tel: +30 26610 81770

Tide timetable These are so well designed you can give them to a child or a drunk and they’ll quickly calculate the tide times over a two-year period in any part of the UK coast, northern France, Belgium or The Netherlands. £8.99 each inc p&p www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk Tel: (0)845 450 1077

Prescription goggles If you wear glasses and dread grappling with wet and salt-dried glasses or fiddly contact lenses, then Aquaviz could have an answer. The clever designers have paired mask-style swimming goggles with snap-in prescription lenses, claiming a comfortable, watertight fit. So do they work? Well, our researcher, who is a frustrated lens wearer, tried them in heavy seas and gave them an immediate thumbs up. From £39.95 plus p&p www.aquaviz.com Tel: +44 (0)1440 712777 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Essex Oyster Smack William & Mary CK32 Circa 1860. Totally rebuilt and in immaculate condition Laid deck. Bronze fastenings throughout Nanni diesel twin hydraulic drives 3no berths

£60,000

Tel: Ian Barker 07736816116 Email: Ian_barker@btconnect.com

www.TallShipsforSale.co.uk www.ClassicYachtsforSale.com

42m on deck, Classic Brig two-masted square rigged sailing ship built Steel 1958.

24.7m (81ft) (on deck) Brigantine Sail Training Ship. Built Oak on Oak in 1957.

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

15m (49ft) on deck, Brigantine rigged Motor sailer.

Rebuilt to current form, 2005. Can seat 60 for Dinner! World-wide classification. Euro 3,900,000 - Netherlands

Up to 20 berths, Excellent galley - bar. Scania diesel, Survey available - Please ask for a copy. £375,000 - Edinburgh

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

Built Oak on Oak 1970. 6 berths, Perkins Sabre M115T 114hp diesel. A real eye catcher! Euros 197,500 - Netherlands

11.5m (38ft) Modern Classic Yawl, hull by Spirit Yachts, 2000. 6 berths in three cabins,

8m Kattegat 26, 1997, designed by John Leather/Jim Spencer. Colin Archer style Gaff

11.6m (39ft) 40sq Metre Classic Yacht built Norway 1919. Lovingly restored. Beta

10.7m (36ft) Maldon Fishing Smack, Built Howards, 1889, Larch on Oak. Professionally

Lister 30hp diesel, absolutely beautiful! Survey available - Please ask for a copy. £145,000 - Chichester Harbour UK

Cutter. 4 berths, Yanmar 18hp Diesel, Windpilot Pacific Self Steering. £23,750 Faro, Portugal

Diesel installed 2006 Stainless Steel rigging (2007) Yard maintained. Easily singlehanded. Gorgeous! £TBA - Suffolk

sheathed in 1991, re-decked in 1995. 4 Berths; BMC diesel. Great fun! 2007 Survey available Please ask for a copy. £15,000 - River Colne, Essex

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 OCTOBER 2013

ONBOARD

Classnotes Q-Class BY VANESSA BIRD

evised by yacht designer Nathanael Greene Herreshoff in the early 1900s, the Universal Rule, or Herreshoff Rule as it was originally known, was adopted by the New York Yacht Club in 1903 as a replacement for the Seawanakha Rule, a rating system that had fallen out of favour with the development of light skimming dishes and scows with vast sail plans. The Universal Rule was to reach its pinnacle in the 1930s with the development of the J-Class, but in the spring of 1904 the first class to be built under it, the Q-Class, was launched. The first boat of the class, Orestes, was launched that year, designed by W Starling Burgess, but it got off to a slow start, and it wasn’t until 1907 that the Q-Class gained momentum. Eleanor, the second boat built, was designed by the Wizard of Bristol himself, Nathanael Herreshoff, and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Rhode Island alongside Dorothy Q. Eleanor proved very successful, inspiring many of the day’s top sailors to become involved, and dominated the class for the next 10 years. In 1907 she was also the first winner of the Q-Class trophy, which was presented to her by the well-known British yachtsman Sir Thomas Lipton. By the start of the First World War, 20 of the class had been built, but the war and the subsequent next few years saw a relative lack of interest with no new boats being built as focus turned to the P-Class. In 1923, however, keen to expand the class and promote it as a possible replacement for the New York 30s, American financier JP Morgan commissioned Herreshoff to design him a Q-Class. She was to be Nathanael Herreshoff’s final design in the class, and although Morgan’s attempts to revive interest were unsuccessful in the New York area, further north at Marblehead in Massachusetts, the class was beginning to take off. Three boats

BOB GRIESER

were launched in 1925, and by 1929 it is thought around 67 Q-Class designs were in existence. Under the Universal Rule, the Q-Class’s designers saw a relative amount of freedom with their designs. Specifications among the fleet differ considerably as a result, and there is a notable increase in overall length in later boats. Orestes was 36ft (11m) LOA, while the last of the class to be built, Questa, measured 50ft 6in (15.4m) LOA. As LOA increased, however, so sail areas decreased slightly to compensate, and gaff rigs were replaced by bermudan. The class attracted many prestigious designers over the years. L Francis Herreshoff followed his father’s lead by designing two of the class, and was joined by W Starling Burgess, John Alden, Clinton Crane, William Gardner, Frederick Hoyt and Frank Paine, to name but a few. Even the Norwegian designer Johan Anker was involved, producing two boats – Leonore and Sally XIII in 1925. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s and the ever-increasing popularity of the International Rule, which had seen the development of the similar-sized 8-Metre class, curtailed further development of the Q-Class and after 1929 no more boats were built. As popularity decreased, so most of the fleet moved to the Great Lakes, and today there are still a few there. Only around 15 of the class remain in existence, however, but those that do are still highly regarded for their sleek good looks and racing prowess.

Above: with designs from Frank Paine and L Francis Herreshoff, Q-Class boats have an illustrious pedigree

RACE-BRED DESIGN Dorothy Q was built with a coachroof – a design element that became standard in the class. So competitive was the racing, however, that Questa’s engine and accommodation were designed to be removable through large hatches.

PAINE & BURGESS Half of the Q-Class built in the 1920s were produced by the Frank C Paine and W Starling Burgess partnership. L Francis Herreshoff also worked as a draftsman in their office at the time.

DINGHY ON DECK

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA

50ft 6in (15.4m) LWL

32ft (9.7m) BEAM

8ft 6in (2.6m) DRAUGHT

6ft 11in (2.1m) SAIL AREA

895sqft (83m²) DISPLACEMENT

24,000lb (10,886kg) DESIGNER

Various

One of the original class rules stipulated that an 8ft (2.4m) dinghy must be carried on board during racing. L Francis Herreshoff’s solution to this was to ‘nest’ the dinghy in the cockpit.

DESIGN PLANS Leonore (ex-Cotton Blossom II) was built for US$7,500 in 1925, and was bought for US$25,000 in 2003 by her current owner, America’s Cup legend Dennis Conner. The Frank C Paine-designed Falcon, built in 1930, was restored in 2007 and went on sale for US$550,000. Plans for the John Alden-designed Hope and Nor’easter IV can still be bought at a cost of US$1,450, which includes the rights to build one boat. Alternatively, study plans cost US$40. Vanessa’s book, Classic Classes, is a must-buy. For more details, go to www.classicboat.co.uk CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

International Boatbuilding Training College

Davey & Company Established 1885 Oil lamp All stainless steel Wind resistant 16 hours burn time Heavy construction

Practical training from a day to a year, wide range of projects, new build & restoration

Visitors welcome 01502 569 663 info@ibtc.co.uk www.ibtc.co.uk Shipshape East Anglia Hub

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Stand or hoist Height: 419mm Shade dia. 240mm

www.davey.co.uk

ONBOARD

Getting afloat CLASSIC YACHT brokerAge

Mad for Harrison Butlers C/o CLASSIC YACHT BRoKeRAge

A little Harrison Butler yacht has broad appeal: they sail well and look good. Broker Paul Cowman (left) of Classic Yacht Brokerage in Worcester is something of an authority on them, having been a member of the association and editor of its journal for more than 15 years. He has been a yacht broker for 20 years and is also a past owner of Mischief (see below) – not to mention a Fairey Atalanta,

a Falmouth Quay Punt, a Yachting Monthly Senior, a Thornycroft motor launch and many dinghies. Paul is also a violinist and chairman of the Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra – but that’s another story! He presently has four HB yachts on his books. So without further ado… www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1905 356482, M: +44 (0)7949 095075

Yonne

Marvellous Mischief If you’re a regular reader, you’ll have seen the 26ft (7.9m) Yonne-class Mischief before. We featured her in CB279 because she was the winner of the under 40ft (12.2m) category in our Restoration of the Year awards. The feature is at www.classicboat.co.uk if you missed it. Paul’s claim that she’s “certainly the finest example of a Harrison Butler design available” is probably spot on. The price, while it is a fraction of what it would cost to have a new one built and reflects the exceptional quality of the yacht, is considerably higher than the market average.

L-R C/o PAuL CoWMAN

ToM BeNN

Lying Devon, asking £60,000

ASkAdIL

Alexa

naida

This 1934 bermudan Askadil-class cutter built by KR Skentelbery of Plymouth is 29ft 6in (9m) and has four berths, which is large for a Harrison Butler yacht. Burmese teak, copper fastenings and a lead keel speak of a quality build, and below she has sought-after vintage fittings, like a Taylors paraffin stove and Baby Blake heads. The diesel is a 1968 Sabb.

Like Alexa (left), Naida is an Askadil-class yacht. She was built by Kenneth Newton in Dorset in 1939. She’s pitch pine-planked (pre-war pitch pine is, like Burmese teak, a superlative hull timber) and has some nice vintage kit, such as a Sestrel compass and Simpson Lawrence windlass. Paul describes her interior as “remarkably original”.

Cruinneag, a 1928 boat of the Cyclone II design, is a bit smaller than Alexa and Naida at 25ft (7.6m) on deck. She’s teak on oak, copper fastened and crafted by a boatbuilder of repute – Dickies of Tarbert. She’s in need of some TLC – “some internal cosmetics and hull fitting out”, as Paul puts it, but she could be the bargain of the bunch.

Lying afloat West Sussex, asking £20,000

Lying Dorset, asking £16,500

Lying ashore Worcestershire, asking £9,500

CYCLone II

Cruinneag

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

BOATS FOR SALE

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

To advertise call Edward Mannering +44 (0) 20 7349 3747 Edward.Mannering@chelseamagazines.com Copy Deadline for next issue is 20/09/2013

Camper & NiCholsoN

Classic 7 foot pram dinghy circa 1911 in original as built unrestored condition. Still water tight stored many years. Build quality and colour are remarkable. Has an interesting history. £2,750 Tel: 01503 250 423 Cornwall

43’ X 13’6” X 3’6” EX RAF RANGE SAFETY LAUNCH Construction: hull double skin teak with aluminium superstructure. Service speed 18 knots, powered by twin Rolls Royce diesels, 225 bhp each. Electric anchor windlass, Petter diesel charging set, radar, ESD. Immaculate condition. £95,000 (or will exchange for vintage car, smaller boat – cash adjustment either way). Tel: Mob: 07785 347915 or 029 20 344150 Email: Doveyestates@doveygroup.co.uk

ClassiC Mayfly OysterCatCher 16 lOng-keeled trailer sailOr “rOxanne”

Number 7 of 10 built in 1993 – Currently Lying Neyland Marina Pembs. The build quality is exceptional Gaff rigged 199 sq ft sails, drawing just 2ft draft and sails comfortably with two or three adults. She comes well Equipped and includes: Lowrance Bluewater Depth Sound and Fish Finder, Raymarine Tacktick Wireless Wind System, Fire Extinguisher, Night Sailing Tri Light, Compass, Anchor, Bag, Chain, and Mooring Ropes, Fenders, Bilge Pump, Auxiliary Engine Mount, Storage and Cockpit Navigation Bags. Sail Bags, Lazy Jacks Mainsail Cover. Recent Maintenance. £16,995 inclusive. Please contact Martin on 07974590729

Golant 6 mtr Ketch GK1

UniqUe opportUnity to acqUire a low maintenance classic thames gentleman’s laUnch GRP hull and fine wooden superstructure means low maintenance and elegant looks. Estel is the only 36 ft. example of this hull. Silent electric power. Estel has only had the commissioning owner from the start and has been constantly well maintained and is in beautiful condition. The BSS certificate valid until 2017. £97,500. Contact cteze@aol.com or 07785 331644

For sale, prototype of Roger Dongray’s latest design. Launched October 2012 and now completing first year of sailing trials. Epoxy ply lap-strake construction, full internal fit out plus electronics, Mercury 3.5hp o/board, launcher/ loader trailer. Plans now available from designer, next project commencing soon. £12,500 ono. For full details – Contact: m.j.peart@btinternet.com Telephone - 01326372485

Motoryacht ‘FlaMingo’

Built in 1946, 12.80 x 3.60 x 1.00 mtrs. This one-off motoryacht was designed in 1946 by H.W. de Voogd, one of the founders of Feadship Organisation, and built at the famous Dutch warf De Vries Lentsch in Amsterdam in 1946. Two times participant at Sail Amsterdam and invited for the coronation of King Willem last April. One permanent double bed and 6 temporary beds. 300 litre diesel, 300 litre water, grey watertank, Volvo Penta MD31, 70 hp, 5 hp bow thruster, complete new electrics in 2009. In and outside steering position. Well maintained and in original condition. £80.000 Email: henk@fam-noteboom.nl Tel: +31653322330

Cornish Crabber mark 1

GRP hull, Wooden spars, Gaff rigged, Stuart Turner 8hp diesel engine. 4 nwheel trailer. Current owner since 1995. Currently Lake Windermere. £15,000. Email martyn.lucking@fsmail.net or call +44 1253 725921.

AK BAlflour ex fifes, HoneyBee

MUDJEKEEWIS was built in 1964 at Largs by W T Boag of Mahogany on Oak frames and raced extensively in the Clyde and Ireland. She was fully renovated 3 years ago with a new Beta 20hp engine, 2 new plastic fuel tanks, new keel bolts, new Sikta Spruce mast and rigging, new sails by the original maker WB Leitch of Tarbet, new Rotostay furling headgear, new Lewmar windlass and 60 metres of chain as well as complete renovation of the 2x4 berth cabins in teak. All standard electronics included. L 28ft,B 8ft, D 5ft 6ins. £19,500. Call 07791254833 or email koreacatty@yahoo.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Scarborough claSS Sloop

NICHOLSON 26

Owner has installed new Yanmar diesel engine, twin burner and grill stove, speed and depth instruments. Avon inflatable/Honda O/B. Sprayhood. Sails maintained by CAWS. Lying Isle of Wight. Recent Survey & detailed maintenance records available. £10,500. Contact: 01983 882542 or email: keithdebelder@btinternet.com

A true classic in excellent condition. Traditional long keel. Major professional renovation completed between 1999 and 2002 including new Yanmar 20 and new epoxy deck. Carefully maintained by present owner. Three berths. New mainsail, navigation lights and cockpit cover in 2013 and extensive inventory including Avon. Published illustrious racing history during the 1950’s. £14,950 ono T: +44 (0) 1903782413 E: allen.john2@gmail.com

BOATS FOR SALE Pinus Motor Launch

ClassiC style 8ft Clinker sailing dinghy by Wootton industries

This fast motor launch last saw action with the forces on Strangford Loch. Built early last century of pitch pine on oak, this beautiful boat, the “John B”, comes complete with Perkins diesel engine and 4 wheeled trailer. The hull is complete but the superstructure needs re-building to suit your needs. Length approx. 8m and beam approx. 3m. The boat is in storage under cover, laying N. Brittany, France. Offers invited. Contact +447768596967 +33661 83 48 89

Mahogany on oak. Stored about 15 years, used only once. Never rigged, all sails, mast etc as new.Launching trailer. Some tlc needed. Contact 01929 552925 £2,250

35FT CLYDE CRUISER-RACER

u Of nD fe er r

One of a small class designed to race on the Clyde. Built in Berlin in 1965, mahogany on oak with layed teak deck, has tiller steering, cockpit control and Volvo Penta engine, new in 2010. Maintained in excellent condition, mainly by one owner for 25 years. £32,000 Tel. 02891454725 Email. ken@hawtins.co.uk

ClassiC Day Cruiser

Woodnutt & Sons, St Helens, Isle of White 1938. Designed by Alfred Westmacott. Extensively renovated, excellent condition. Lying Suffolk, UK. £11,000 Contact: 01394 385600 or email mylesfromhere@doctors.org.uk

FROLIC THAMES LAUNCH “BEyONd MEASURE”

Oysterman 22 (Pelagia ex-Curlew) 1988 For sale, Ardrossan. Fine example (http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=256643). £22,000. Phone 01751 417338, 0788 4435971

Professional build Holland 1996. Little used. Mahogany with teak & maple inlays. Davey gunmetal fittings. Volvo 10 hp diesel. Beautiful much admired launch. £25,950 Contact: 01932 852334 / 07860 321000 mike.bushnell@btinternet.com

28ft Gaff Cutter

Sphinx of Lymington

A Bermudian 3/4 rig sloop with a long keel, built by W.A. Souter in Cowes in 1958/59. Accomodation for 4. She is a fast sailer with a large main and points well into the wind. She appeared in Classic Boat magazine 56 in Feb 1993. Recently undergone a complete professional refit and is kitted out with modern electronics Chartplotter, GMDSS, AIS, Echomax etc. Afloat Falmouth Estuary, Cornwall. Further images available http://boat.backus.org.uk £7,990. Contact: 07747006544 / 01865 513427 or jake. backus@ntlworld.com

FOR SALE RAthO PRincESS

The Ratho Princess started life as a Norfolk Broads passenger boat seating 52 passengers. In 2005 the interior was remodelled to make her suitable for living on board and has been in dry dock every year. She has a valid BSS certificate until 2017. Eberspacher heating system, Dual Power ie 12v & 240v hook up, Inverter, Gas Water Heater, Dual Gas Bottles. Stainless Steel Fresh Water & Waste Tanks, Flushing Toilet, Large Double Bedroom VHF Radio, Radio/CD Player, 3 Bilge Pumps, 1 Manual Pump, Fire Equipment, 4 Life Belts, Gang Plank, Boat Hook. £45,000 Email: ronnie_rusack@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 07801430981

Maurice Griffiths Lone Gull design 1946. Mignonette is a rare example of early MG centreboard design, excellent condition, and recently restored back to original features. Mahogany on oak frames, Taylors stove and heater; 4 berths. Lying Bristol Channel. £20,000 Contact Mark Horton on 07967801533 or horton@lineone.net

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

There are two styles of Boats for Sales ad to choose from and with our special Spring offer, if you buy two months, your third month will be free. Pick the style which suits your requirements and email: Edward.Mannering@chelseamagazines.com with your text and image or call +44 (0) 20 7349 3747. The deadline for the next issue is 20/09/2013 SAMPLE STYLE A GoLAnT GAffEr

No. 8. Excellent 2 berth coastal cruiser, built 1999. Length 18’ 9” Beam 7’ Draft 2’ 9” long keel, designed by Roger Dongray. Yanmar GM 10 regularly serviced. Very attractive boat lovingly maintained, Lying Fowey. £12,000 ono. Email: name@classicboat.co. uk 0000 11111111

SAMPLE STYLE B

STYLE B. 5cm x 1 colums. Either 55 words or 30 words plus colour photograph. £155 inc VAT and Internet

cuTTEr

Built 1991, mahogany & epoxy hull similar to GRP, 1930’s spars & fittings, beautifully maintained. Visit www.idclark.force9.co.uk for photos and specification. £25,750 Contact 00000 111111

STYLE A. 5cm x 2 columns. Either 160 words or 80 words plus colour photograph. £275 inc VAT and Internet

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

BROKERAGE

Brokerage

To advertise Call Patricia Hubbard +44 (0) 207 349 3748 Patricia.hubbard@chelseamagazines.com Copy Deadline for next issue is 20/09/2013

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

68 ft Charles E Nicholson Cutter 1937 As FIREBIRD X This yacht was a design inspired by the 12M R class but liveable enough for offshore races and fast cruising. John Leather observed “OISEAU DE FEU is, among middle size yachts, the most convenient and elegant boat a sailor could dream of”. She won many inshore and offshore classic races in her early post war life. In 1989 a two year full restoration was to bring her back to her original splendour. Since then, she has taken part in the Mediterranean classic races, with great results - a yacht on which you can win races and enjoy wonderful cruises in some luxury. €750,000 Lying France

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 an interesting option.

53 ft O M Watts Motor Sailer 1933 MAUDALRIC was built in 1933 for Sir Richard Costain and his brother Alan. With clear deck space, well appointed with teak furniture; ideal for alfresco dining and entertaining she is an extremely comfortable and spacious motor yacht - equally happy on the open sea as on the inland waterways of Europe. This is a remarkable yacht with as much of a sailing dimension as her motoring capabilities and moreover very easily handled by just two people; just what has enabled her owners to make the most of all their Mediterranean cruising in style and comfort €240,000 Lying Spain

45 ft 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

£225,000

47 ft Stow & Sons gaff Yawl 1895 VALERIE has been beautifully and sympathetically rebuilt, commensurate with her vintage, which at nigh on 120 years makes her a genuine historical artefact. Thus an object of such rarity, beauty and desirability can be experienced and enjoyed as was intended by her maker so many tides ago. The simplicity of her finish and fit-out with the re-introduction of her original yawl rig makes her a handy craft capable of being easily sailed by a small crew. Partial completion of her interior enables a new owner to specify his own accommodation arrangements, for which an outline option exists. £200,000 Lying UK

40 ft G L Watson Spey Class Motor Sailer 1965 SPEY BEAM was the last 40 foot Spey class motor sailer of the original design by G L Watson & Co of Glasgow. She has had an extensive refit and has enjoyed almost continuous use. She can sleep 7 people in comfort with 2 heads and a shower. Consuming only ½ a gallon per hour at cruising speed she has a range of up to 1,600 miles. It would easy for a yacht of this style and these dimensions to seem clumsy, yet the designer has succeeded in creating a very handsome vessel as much at home in the wilder waters of the Scottish West Coast as she could be in a French canal or the Med. £99,000 Lying UK

33 ft Fife Sloop 1952 Extensively rebuilt by Simon Grillet - a noted Fife expert who had worked on the restoration of CLIO, William Fife’s own yacht; NYACHILWA’s design provenance is not absolutely certain. While a 1951 review in “Yachting World” of the sister ship NYATONGA described her as ‘being from the board of the master’ – and the shape very reminiscent of LATIFA and EVENLODE, most likely she was the creation of Archibald McMillan, who bought the Fife Boat Yard at Fairlie at the end of World War II, to manage it for many more years thereafter. £48,500 Lying UK

€600,000

email: info@sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk 80

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Lying Spain

45 ft Bristol Pilot Cutter 2007 A recreation of the pilot cutter PEGGY, built in 1904 by Rowles of Pill, POLLY AGATHA has all the charm of a classic Edwardian cutter but with a luxurious modern interior and equipped with modern technology. Her ample deck space and accommodation fit her for a variety of roles including charter and sea school use but her finish and detail befits that of a vintage yacht – and places her a long way from her work boat roots. She has 10 berths including a luxuriously appointed master cabin. £395,000 VAT unpaid

Lying UK

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. Lying UK

www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

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 us at the Southampton Boat Show

1979 Drascombe Lugger Mk2 in original gelcoat with 2005 Yamaha 4HP 4-stroke outboard, 2010 Easylaunch road trailer, 2010 overall cover. £4,950

Brand new Cygnus 15’ rowing/motor boat with three rowing stations. She also makes an ideal family picnic boat with a small outboard of 3-4HP. £3,950

1991 Cornish Coble in lovely condition with covers, oars, road trailer etc. (No engine included) £3,950

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

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

49’ Laurent Giles Dorus Mohr Class ketch. 26TM Built 1961. One of 4 built, a fine big comfortable cruising boat regularly sailed by 2. Cumins diesel. Two twin berth sleeping cabins + pilot berth + saloon. 2 heads, shower. Executor sale hence a very reasonable £75,000 Devon

Scottish fishing boat gaff ketch 1963. 40’ x 14’ x 6’6”. Traditional massive larch/ oakconstruction. Gardner 6LXB. 6 berths. 2 heads, shower. CH. H&C. 650sq’ sail on Collars masts, T Nielsen rigging. 2KW diesel generator. A proper little ship. Cost a fortune to rebuild like this so a very cheap boat at £49,750 Scotland.

37’ Gaff cutter built by Whisstocks in 1937. Absolutely stunning yacht with a lovely short counter and sweeping sheer line. Very rare to find a yacht of this size and type, she is a real gem. Teak planking on oak frames. Only three owners in her life. Suffolk £36,000

43’ Robert Clark sloop one of four built by Berthon in 1962. Honduras mahogany hull, lead keel, solid teak deck and coachroof, new alloy mast, 5 berths. A very elegant and fast yacht with real pedigree. Scotland £59,950

12’6” Bantham Class sailing dinghy, built 2013 by Devon boat-builder. Varnished mahogany. Gunter rigged. A lovely little classical dinghy. £14,000 Devon Many more dinghies for sale on our website

46’ Bermudan ketch built Sweden in 1948. Pitch pine on oak frames. 6 berths in a basic interior. Bukh 38hp new in 2010. Big powerful boat that has been competing in classic regattas for many years. IOW £35,000

33’ Kings Ametyst RORC Class III built in Gdansk in 1965. Popular offshore boat that was available new at very reasonable cost. Mahogany on oak timbers, sheathed underwater. 5 berths in 2 cabins, deep centre cockpit. Well proven boat in present long ownership. Devon £15,000

KDY Junior 15 Sqm designed in 1927 to encourage young people to sail in Denmark. Commonly referred to as the Junior Folkboat, hundreds were built in the Baltic area and are still popular today. Clinker planked in pine, bermudan sloop rig. Cheap fun sailing. Devon £4,950

31’ Dee 25 sloop. The famous Peter Brett design following on the success of his Fair Rover. Varnished pitch-pine hull, teak deck. Fractional rig on aluminium mast. Recent sails and rig. ST winches. Volvo diesel. 6 berths. Standing head-room. A perfect little fast cruising yacht, very smart indeed. Chichester £22,500

Boats don’t have to be ancient to wooden, neither do they have to be wooden to be Classic. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Total Harmony - A spacious 30’ Broads Cruiser with traditional sliding canopy. Antifouled and varnished this year, she is ready for sale in excellent condition. Comfortably sleeping 4, and with a heater for chillier nights, she is cosy, elegant and practical and is powered by a BMC Diesel engine - £20,000

Elysian - One of several slipper stern launches currently for sale with HSC, this one being a Brooke with a lovely interior and still bearing its builders plaque.

Fantasy II - 1958, Toughs of Teddington, great motor yacht for river or sea, currently lying Thames, large aft saloon with galley, flying bridge, good wheelhouse.

Deenar - an Admiralty launch and one of the exclusive Dunkirk Little Ships which cross the channel to Dunkirk every five years to commemorate the rescue of so many soldiers, Deenar has sleeping accommodation, a galley, shower and head as well as seating for 8 in the sheltered cockpit. Viewing afloat mid Thames, £27,500 EH 16 - a totally new addition to our range of Contemporary Classics with a choice of propulsion. Soon to be featured in CB and now taking orders for this summer. Built in the UK by English Harbour Yachts Ltd from £21,500 inc VAT

Golden Butterfly - a 40ft gentleman’s launch built by Mike Dennett and inspired by the Edwardian Andrews launches with their counter sterns. Golden Butterfly was electrified for the current owners who also updated the galley and loo £59,500.

Viola - an early Taylor Bates built as an open electric launch and restored in the mid nineties since when it has always been well maintained. Seats 8 to 10 people in comfort.

Georgiana - an interesting lake launch, now electrified, from East Berlin, probaby built as a ski boat and with a lovely shape. Comes complete with trailer £14,950

Peerless Admiral - stunning 25ft Andrews Day Launch with galley and loo, one of three currently for sale with HSC

Amoreena - simply the loveliest Bates Starcraft with 45ft of internal space, large flying bridge, acres of varnish, suitable for river and sea, maybe for charter too as she would be amazing at Cowes for spectating.

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

Riva SuperAmerica 42

STANLEY & THOMAS BROKERAGE SPECIALISTS IN RESTORATION & REPAIR OF CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS

This classic Riva SuperAmerica 42 is a totally unique example of this highly sought after Italian gem, one which turns heads wherever she goes. Meticulously restored, refurbished and modernised over the last decade. She benefits from twin Cummins 375hp engines, 5kw generator, E series Raymarine navigation aids, holding tank, Tek Dek decking and a hull professionally treated for osmosis and coated in coppercoat for the ultimate protection. Year: 1975, LOA 42ft, Beam 13ft 4in, Draft 3ft 8in. Boat safety valid until 2015 and mooring available by separate negotiation. Price £119,500. Contact Jason Brasier to book a viewing appointment on +44 (0) 1628 569888 or email: harleyford@boatshowrooms.com

Unique 31’ Twin Cabin Launch, 1938. Volvo 180 PK (25 knots). Lying Netherlands.

Classic 48’ RAMPART Motor Yacht, 1966. Twin 6354 Perkins diesel, 115hp. Lying: Hampshire, UK

Cracking 22’ Triple Cockpit Runabout, late 1920’s. Chevrolet V8, 220 hp, 5.7 ltr. Lying: Doncaster, UK

Newly refurbished 31’ Gentleman’s Motor Yacht, 1949, BMC 1.5 ltr. plus Yanmar wing engine. Lying: Windsor, UK

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

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

E-Mail: info@mjlewisboatsales.com • Tel: 01621 859373 • Mob: 07736 553487 Specialists in the brokerage of Classic Vessels, Traditional Yachts and Working Boats

32ft Cardinell’s Yawl, 1932 Mahogany double planked, long keel, centre cockpit, Aft cabin. Many original features. Kent £22,000

23m Klipper Motor Barge, 1894 Steel Hull in commission, cruising home.Kelvin 145. 3 cabins. Kent £145,000

12.8m Sailing Lugger,1904 1990’s refit, re- commission. 7 berths, twin engs 55hp. Charters. Cornwall £90,000

39ft 40sq metre Rule sloop, 1919 Norwegian built, kept in fine order. Recent Beta engine, new Blakes toilet. Suffolk £18,950

27ft Tyrell & Young Smack Yacht, 1992 GRP hull Traditional Gaff rig, solid fuel stove. Yanmar eng. In good order. Kent £24,000

35ft 10 ton Hillyard Cutter,1971 Cruising yacht, centre cockpit. 55hp Perkins eng. In commission. Hampshire £24,000

44ft Sailing Smack, 1912 Fished until 1985. Much rebuilt, new decks, rig & spars. Mainsail 2012. Engineless. 5 berths, h’drm 5ft 9ins. Essex £47,500

40ft Converted MFV, 1963 Built by Weatherheads, now A Gaff Ketch, Larch on Oak, Gardner 6LXB. Accom 4-6. East Scotland £56,000

Heard 29 Gaff Cutter, 1983 GRP taken from Falmouth Oyster boat. Hard wood finish, Noble spars, 40hp Perkins. A serious gaffer. Cornwall £42,000

26ft Portleven Cornish Cruiser, 1961 Wooden. Wheelhouse.large cockpit. Cuddy accom.Perkins 65hp eng. Essex £12,950

11m Gaff Cutter, 1959 Designed John Leather. Smack like lines. H’drm 6ft +, 2 cabins. Solid fuel stove. Volvo eng. Essex £19,500

Windelf 25, Alan Buchanan, 1958 Bermudan sloop. 2 berths. Tidy & restored Volvo MD2. In commission Sussex £7,000

18ft Itchen Ferry, 1904 Gaff rig, inboard ’95 Sole. Restored. 2 berths in cabin. East Sussex £5,500

26ft Maurice Griffiths Bawley,1960 Bermudan rig. Johnson & Jago. Bukh eng. Lovely example, long keel. Isle of Wight £9,950

8m Stirling 28,1968 Classic Holman Sloop by Uphams. Shipwright maintained. A prime example. Kent £26,000

www.heritage-marine.com CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Craftsmanship Yard News

Edited by Steffan Meyric Hughes: +44 (0)207 349 3758 Email: steffan@classicboat.co.uk

KIEL, GERMANY

The rural village of Latendorf near Kiel, population 600, has become the site of a project to restore a sizeable wreck back to sailing condition. Cleone, built between 1917 and 1920 by Wills & Packham of Sittingbourne, Kent, is a ketch of 48ft 6in (14.8m) and 38 tonnes. She served as the home to a Dutch cruising couple from 1985 until 1999, but after a damaging grounding in 2004 under a different owner, she was laid up and left for dead. She was recently bought by 57-yearold Michael Heidelmann (pictured right) – adman turned country restaurateur – who plans a complete restoration in a newly erected shed. According to German journalist Uwe Janssen of Yacht magazine, who alerted us to the story, the biggest hurdle so far has been

C/o UWE JAnSSEn

Restoration for mystery British boat

transport: for Cleone’s journey from the Frisian island of Borkum to her rebuild shed, the entire car deck of the ferry was hired with some parts of the ferry’s bridge having to be removed. other than the details given here, nothing is known about Cleone. if you know anything, please email Uwe at janssen@yacht.de.

Above and left: the size of the restoration project is obvious; the owner, Michael Heidelmann

MASSACHUSETTS, USA

New Herreshoffs; the tradition goes on

C/o FRAnK zoMERDiJK

The build of the world’s 81st Stuart Knockabout has started at Ballentine’s Boat Shop in Buzzards Bay. Build of the 1932 L Francis Herreshoff design started in the mid-1980s and now Ballentine’s, builder since 2010, is starting this, its fifth boat. A fleet of seven of these 28ft (8.5m) fast, shallow-draught GRP dayboats was out racing in Buzzards Bay on 20 July in gusts of up to nearly 40 knots, for their third annual regatta organised by the yard. Crews reefed sails and bailed madly to complete the three races. The yard also builds the ‘Dough Dish’ (GRP Herreshoff 12½), the larger Buzzards Bay 25 and various dinghies.

NETHERLANDS

An Edwardian yawl of English descent is well on her way back to her former glory in the south of Holland, near Rosmalen, courtesy of owner, and CB subscriber, Frank Zomerdijk. The 38ft (11.6m) yacht was designed and built by Albert Luke in 1906, sistership to Ciris. The restoration is a full strip-back, and work to the hull and deck is progressing nicely.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

TYLER FiELDS, C/o BALLEnTinE'S

Luke's yawl on the up

CRAFTSMANSHIP

NIGEL SHARP

FAlMOUTH, CORNWAll

Steam pinnace of HMS Falmouth to be restored A 35ft (10.7m) RN steam pinnace, originally built for HMS Falmouth (pictured above) in 1911, has recently arrived at Falmouth Boat Construction where she will be extensively restored, reports Nigel Sharp. Originally named ASC26, she saw action at a number of naval skirmishes during the Great War, including the Battle of Jutland, soon after which HMS Falmouth was sunk by torpedoes off the coast of Yorkshire. ASC26 somehow survived that and the century or so since, and she is now owned by a group of people in the Falmouth area who plan to restore her to operational condition. They will manage the project through a ship preservation trust and are aiming

to do it in a truly authentic manner, which will include installation of a steam engine and an ornamental machine gun on the foredeck. Ideally they would like to complete the work by July 2014, which will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of ASC26’s war service. However, this is probably unrealistic while the group is initially concentrating on raising the necessary funds – in the region of £250,000 – to ensure the work is carried out in a manner that is sympathetic to the original. www.steamcutterfalmouth.co.uk

FOWEY, CORNWAll

PETER WILLIS

Fowey boatbuilder Peter Williams was recently putting the finishing touches to an extensive restoration of Amber (pictured right), Fowey Troy number T13, reports Nigel Sharp. The Troy is an 18ft (5.5m) open keelboat with a generous sail plan of 300sqft (27.8m2), designed by Archie Watty in 1928 specifically to sail in Fowey Harbour. A total of 28 Troys have now been built, including 15 by Watty himself (one of which was Amber, in 1947) and three by Peter. Amber hadn’t sailed for a couple of years before she was bought earlier this year by Richard Bond, who has previously owned the 6-Metre Caprice and the S&S yawl Tomahawk. Not much more than just the ballast keel, stern knee and forefoot remain of the original boat. By a quirk of fate, one of Watty’s apprentices who helped build Amber was John Fuge, with whom Peter later served his own apprenticeship.

UPPER THAMES

Long job for the Messers

WEST COUNTY

Stirling award

FRANk NOON

One of the biggest restorations to be carried out on the Thames in recent years is the 65ft (19.8m) former motor-sailer Petrellen (above). She was built by Thornycroft in 1929 and was recently bought by Bernie Rowe, well-known Bristol-based classic boat collector. He is having her restored by Colin and Stephen Messer of Classic Restoration Services in Windsor (they recently fixed up Fixitor, CB300). Originally ketch rigged, she came with original plans and photos of her taking part in fleet reviews off Cowes. At present we’re in the stripping-down stage but she’s not in bad condition,” says Colin. The original engines, a mighty pair of three-cylinder Glennifer air-start diesels, “weighed about two tonnes each, and when we got them out the hull lifted 18in (46cm) in the water,” says Colin. They’ve gone to a Glennifer enthusiast for a rebuild. For Petrellen, Colin and Bernie are considering a hydraulic drive. “It means the engine can go anywhere – it doesn’t have to be at the end of a shaft.”

NIGEL SHARP

Fowey Troy Amber rebuild

Stirling & Son has been awarded a £150,000 Regional Development Fund Grant to restore the railways and winches of its ancient 173ft (52.7m) Tavistock slipway. “We also have new cradles and can now take boats of up to 200 tons,” they tell us. The boost has already allowed the firm to take on three more staff. CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Boatbuilder’s Notes 1

Stepby-step guide 1 the saw’s teeth are protected

2 Cut the guard to allow a ¼in (6mm) overhang at each end 3 Mark the centreline for sawing

Making a saw-edge guard

5 repeat at the opposite end, then saw the joined-up kerf to 3/8in (10mm) depth

story and photographs ROBIN GATES sharpening saw teeth is a long and tricky process so it makes sense to protect them from accidental blunting. the boatyard environment puts a saw at increased risk but this can be countered by fitting an edge guard – a narrow wooden channel that slides over the toothed edge. the edge guard supplied with a new saw is typically a fiddly strip of plastic designed more for point-of-sale safety than long-term protection. It is usually a devil to fit – you can easily slice your fingers in the process – so it is often discarded. this is doubly unfortunate for a modern hardpoint saw, which cannot be resharpened and so becomes junk once blunted. the solution is to do as the old-school shipwright did and make a fitted wooden guard. For a backsaw this a simple job requiring only an offcut and the saw itself, although the sawing does require some precision. For this 9in (23cm) dovetail saw I cut a slightly over-length piece of ¾in x 7/16in (19mm x 11mm) spruce, then ran a pencil along the centre using my fingers as the fence to guide it. I began the cut at one end with the saw tipped up, advancing the kerf along the line and to 3/8in (10mm) depth. this was repeated at the opposite end while gradually lowering the saw angle until the two kerfs met, giving a fit that gently grips the saw plate. the edges of the slot were then chamfered to ease the fit and the ends of the guard were radiused. the guard is tied in place by a cord (or an old shoe lace) threaded through a hole amidships.

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

4 Begin sawing at one end about 20 degrees from horizontal

6 Chamfer the edges to ease fitting

4 6

7 radius the ends using a coping saw 8 Bore a 1/8in (3mm) hole and thread the cord

5 7

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Traditional Tool

The apron plane sTory and phoTographs ROBIN GATES I have had this Record 102 block plane since I was 10, but its childfriendly scale belies a serious tool. At just 5½in (14cm) from toe to heel it is often referred to as an apron plane because it slips so easily into the boatbuilder’s apron pocket. The Stanley Rule and Level Co of New Britain, Connecticut, launched the design in 1877 with Record starting manufacture of its own version in Sheffield around 1932, and others following suit. Mechanically it is very simple with the bevel-up cutter being adjusted by eye and feel. To extend the cutter you tap it lightly with a hammer and to retract it a smidgen you tap the strike button cast into the heel. A nickel-plated knurled wheel tightens the lever cap against the cutter. Depth and lateral adjustment would be overkill for such a small plane. In use, it fits snugly in one hand with the palm over the rounded lever cap and the forefinger pressing in a hollow button at the toe, while thumb and other fingers grip the casting sides. It is then that you appreciate the sides of the plane being subtly convex, echoing the shape of old wooden smoothers, and

just how beautifully it handles. It’s perfect for detail work where larger planes would be unwieldy, such as applying a chamfer to an edge, planing end grain or working in tight corners. The short sole is ideal for smoothing hollow areas that a longer plane would not reach and it’s also good for tackling the spaghetti junction of grain around a knot. The 102’s convex casting makes it unusable on its side for shooting an edge to be square, but that’s like saying a National 12 can’t dredge for oysters. Planes are many and varied for good reason – the trick to getting the best out of this one is to keep it sharp and handy. Record stopped making it in the 1970s. Today’s Stanley version is a shadow of the original but a good oldie can be found for the price of a pint.

Above: a block plane that fits in the apron pocket. Right: perfect for chamfering. Below left: the apron plane beside a 9½in block plane and No 4 smoother

MODERN ALTERNATIVE

Belt sander Belt sanders can be difficult to control if they’re not hefty enough, so Bosch offers this powerful 710w 350m/min model with a microfilter box for dust collection to keep up with the high removal rate. The belts are easy to change and didn’t slip no matter how hard we tried, and as you tend to be constantly moving away from the plug when belt sanding, the lead is a decent enough 3m length. Expect to pay around £80 for the Bosch pBs 75a. www.bosch-do-it.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

e id pr tain ith Bri e w at ad re M nG i

e e n ad id ai M h pr Brit t t wi rea G in

Grayling

Unique “R6” Modern& Classic An American Yachting Family Since 1948

The boat was originally built 1989 for the R6 World Championship in Sweden. Designed by Peter Norlin with the famous businessman Mr Jan Stenbeck as principal and first owner. Today the boat is rebuilt to a very beautiful classic look moreover made to be easy to handle with a smaller crew or single-handed. A selftacking furling jib, a brand new mainsail on “Harken-mast-cars” and an inboard diesel engine combined with the modern R6 under waterline hull is a unique and wonderful combination to experience under sail and in the harbour. Many details are well designed, functional and special. Very well maintained. (All in all, only two owners) The beauty is lying in Stockholm, Sweden, now looking for a new owner. Shipment as well as “get under sail” could be supported. EUR 48,000

This center console runabout is known as a ELCO Sport Launch. It is one of two ever built and is in “like new” condition. The hull is glass and the oak and mahogany is coated with twelve coats of two part, UV resistant Alex Seal clear paint. $144,900

Contact Johan Setterberg for more details T: +46708 202281 E: johan.setterberg@uni-it.se

Contact the listing broker directly at: Scott@denisonyachtsales.com or 1-954-610-1499

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

www.denisonyachtsales.com

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Charlotte watters

Adrian Morgan You can see her from the air or Google Earth, for that matter. Forlorn, neglected – well, not entirely, as no one sailing this reach of the river can miss her. Kayakers paddle round her; she is something of a curiosity, a seamark. There cannot be many examples of crack racing yachts from the 1890s still in existence, albeit in such a state. Lost Ships of the West Country, a book I edited years ago, was the best starting point for anyone keen to trawl the mud creeks and backwaters for the echoes of ships. Like Corfe Castle, slighted by Parliamentarian gunpowder, or Tintern Abbey, left to crumble after Thomas Cromwell’s men had driven the monks from their halls, the wrecks of ships are moving as they themselves once moved, carrying things – the workaday drudges of commerce – or racing for silverware around the coast in the days when trainloads of ordinary folk would pay to spend an afternoon watching the privileged at play. Iverna stands for so many more that have reverted to the mud in which they were abandoned. But look around and you will find your own Iverna. Better preserved, perhaps, or slipping to final degradation, with just the timber heads and the rusty block of a pre-war Kelvin breaking the surface at Low Water. On the shores of Loch Broom I can count a dozen or more. The fishing boat built in Wick on the far side and the ferry by the river. And a big pulling boat at the point. Nearer to home, lining the fence outside our cottage, are the sections of a clinker boat I dragged from the shoreline to keep the rain off the wood pile. Lead tingles speak of attempts to stem leaks; a rusty bolt of some botched last-ditch repair. Why the poignancy of a wreck? It must be that it reminds us of our own mortality. If the darling toy of an Irish whiskey baron can end her days on a Salcombe beach, and still have a physical presence 120 years later, how much less significant our lives must be: ashes to ashes and dust to dust with nothing but words on a headstone to remind the world of our existence. They will be there long after we are gone. Enough of this morbid nonsense. Heard the one about the fellow in trouble off Land’s End. “What is your position?” comes the Coastguard. “Your position, over.” “Well, I am the managing director of a small engineering works, if you must know…”

Rotten but not forgotten Adrian ponders the significance of a washed-up wreck

t 50°25N, 03°76W you will find the bones of a wreck. It lies up from Salcombe, opposite a pontoon where we once left Sally for a week in the old days when summer cruises, shoe-horned into the daily grind and often delayed by adverse winds, meant dashing back to London to earn our keep. The name of the wreck – if such a pathetic thing deserves a name – is Iverna, once a famous and swift racing yacht, with frames of steel and the finest, fairest teak planking that South Coast shipwrights could achieve. She was built in 1890 for John Jameson and designed by Alexander Richardson, a Liverpool man unfairly eclipsed by the great names – Fife, Watson, Nicholson – and launched from Fay’s in Southampton. Her name features in race reports alongside the likes of the German kaiser’s Meteor, a great rival in the 1890s, and, naturally, that old royal tart Britannia. She was no laggard on the circuit, winning 23 prizes in 1891. And there in the mud she lies, all steel bones and rotting timber. As recently as 1973 she had been afloat in the estuary, until the harbourmaster cracked his whip and ordered her to be sheathed in concrete or broken up. Enough was enough: these old boats were a menace to navigation, a blot on his landscape. The expense was too great for her then owners, so she was beached and there she has lain ever since.

“But look around and you will find your own Iverna”

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

MARINE DIRECTORY

Marine Directory

To advertise Call Patricia Hubbard +44 (0) 207 349 3748 Patricia.hubbard@chelseamagazines.com Copy Deadline for next issue is 20/09/2013

BOATBUILDERS

MCGRUER & Co Ltd

Peter Freebody & Co

YACHT AND BOAT SURVEYORS Survey Design Consultancy - Refit and Repair Supervision

Boatbuilders, Designers & Restorers of Traditional River Launches A fine selection of classic launches for sale Moorings available Est 300 years Mill Lane, Hurley, Berks, SL6 5ND

Scotland – South Coast – Med. Contact Fraser Noble MRINA YDSA MIIMS Tel: 01436 831313 Mob: 07768 217054 mail@mcgruer-boats.co.uk www.mcgruer-boats.co.uk

See us at Southampton Boat Show: Stands B005 & B006

+44 (0)1628 824382

www.peterfreebody.com

IBTC Heritage

Oulton Broad Suffolk NR32 3LQ ibtc2@btconnect.com www.ibtcheritage.co.uk Tel: 01502 569 663

Traditional Wooden Boatbuilding

Harbour Marine Services Ltd

Boats plans to make the sea more beautiful

incorporating Southwold Boat Yard

photo: Stephen Wolfenden

www.vivierboats.com ALAN S.R. STALEY

SPECIALISTS IN RESTORATION AND REPAIR OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT Tel: 01502 724721 info@harbourmarine.co.uk www.harbourmarine.co.uk Blackshore Southwold Harbour Southwold Suffolk IP18 6TA

BOAT MODELS

PETER WARD

31 ST MARYS ROAD • POOLE • DORSET • UK • BH15 2LH Boat Company

• Shipwright • Boat Building • Spar Maker • Repair & Restoration of wooden boats • Surveys of wooden ships

Tel: 01795 530668

www.alanstaleyboatbuilders.co.uk 90

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

HA MODLEFL

CLASSIC TRADITIONAL DESIGNS, SPECIAL COMMISSIONS AND RESTORATIONS

Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1202 672823 Email: peterward31@msn.com

Marine Directory 19254 Classic Boat_99x60mm_General.pdf

BOATBUILDERS

27/08/2013

12:04

BOATBUILDERS

For tickets & info visit londonboatshow.com BOATBUILDERS

DESIGN

 New catalogue with 350 designs for the home boat builder, ranging from canoes to yachts and launches, now on CD as PDF files with many colour photographs—£7 + £1 p&p

Skippool Creek, Wyre Road, Thornton, Cleveleys, Lancs FY5 5LF

MANUALS by Paul Fisher Stitch & Tape Boat Construction Strip Plank Boat Construction Clinker Ply Boat Construction Sails for the Home Boat Builder Plywood Boat Construction for Larger Craft Fit-Out for Yachts & Launches - all manuals £18 + £3 P&P each

BOAT RESINS

Telephone: 01253 893830 www.davidmossboatbuilders.co.uk

Ryan Kearley 3x1.indd 1 High Quality

BLOCKS

Colin Frake Classic Yacht Fittings

4/1/11 Epoxy Resins at affordable prices

Online or

9:52:27 AM

Tel. 01225 705074 SELWAY FISHER DESIGN 15 King St, Melksham, SN12 6HB Web Site : www.selway-fisher.com

Mail Order

EQUIPMENT

Engine Controls Engine Controls

Phone/Fax 01704 892364 Email: rob@epoxy-resins.co.uk www.epoxy-resins.co.uk

Brass, Chrome or -- Brass, Chrome or Engine Controls Black Black - Brass, Chrome or Engine Controls

Black Engine Controls - Hydraulic Steering Brass, Chrome or Hydraulic Steering Engine Controls

UK Epoxy Resins, 3 Square Lane, Burscough, Lancashire L40 7RG

DESIGN

Probably the finest fittings in the world

- Brass, Chrome or Black Engine Controls Sail Boat to Engine Controls Hydraulic Steering - --Engine Controls Brass, Chrome or Sail Boat to Black Brass, Chrome or - -Brass, Chrome or Classic Yacht - Sail Boat to Black -Black Brass, Chrome or Hydraulic Steering Classic Yacht Black Classic Yacht Harbour Launch Hydraulic Steering Black -- Sail Boat to Harbour Launch Hydraulic Steering Hydraulic Steering - Harbour Launch Sail Boat to Hydraulic Steering to Barge Classic Yacht to Barge Sail Boat to - -Sail Boat to to Barge Hydraulic Steering Sail Boat to - Classic Yacht Classic Yacht Classic Yacht -Harbour Launch Sail Boat to Classic Yacht - to Barge Harbour Launch Harbour Launch - -Harbour Launch Shaft Brakes Classic Yacht to Barge to Barge Shaft Brakes - Shaft Brakes Harbour Launch to Barge - Harbour Launch to Barge Shaft Brakes Shaft Brakes Shaft Brakes to Barge

Shaft Brakes Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Shaft Brakes Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com Shaft Brakes Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233

Clinker Plywood Boats for amateur builders Catalogue £12 Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual £23 airmail

Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com www.helmsmansystems.com Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com www.helmsmansystems.com Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com www.helmsmansystems.com Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233

Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Helmsman Technical advice and sales: +44 (0) 1323 832233 Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com

Helmsman Helmsman Systems Helmsman Helmsman Systems Limited Limited Helmsman Helmsman SystemsLimited Limited Systems

Or email: info@helmsmansystems.com

Struan Cottage, Bearnisdale, Isle of Skye 1V51 9NS Tel: 01470 532732

www.helmsmansystems.com www.helmsmansystems.com

Systems Limited Helmsman www.helmsmansystems.com Systems Limited Systems Limited Helmsman www.helmsmansystems.com Systems Limited Systems Limited www.helmsmansystems.com

Echomax Press Ad Classic Boat 2012:Layout 1

www.helmsmansystems.com

EQUIPMENT

The only one to be seen with...

Echomax 230i

Blocks ‫ ׀‬Deck Fittings ‫ ׀‬Rigging Mast and Spar Fittings ‫ ׀‬The Faversham Stove

Vist our new Web site www.colinfrake-classicyachtfittings.co.uk or phone 07968 041 322 sales@colinfrake.co.uk

For 5 year use at sea of the 230i check out www.Panbo.com

Inflatable radar reflector weighs just 420grms and deflates to pocket size. Recorded an astonishing maximum response of 25.6m2 more than twice the ISAF, RORC, ORC and WCC requirements. Certified response diagram for the race scrutineer. Optional GF kit for dingy or liferaft.

18/7/12

Echomax Active-XS

12:09

Voted best buy PBO Sept 10

State of the Art Active Radar Reflector returns a clear consistant amplified response to radar which helps ensure you are seen earlier and in poor weather: multiple below and above deck alarms – consumes only 23mA on stand by – An RTE is a preferred option in ISAF Rules 2012-13. Full specification available at www.echomax.co.uk

FCC Certification ID: XZMACTIVE-XS

Echomax, PO Box 6032, Dunmow, CM6 3AS, UK. Tel: 00 44 (0) 1371 830216 email: echomaxsales@aol.com

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Pag

:25

Page 1

MARINE DIRECTORY

Fastening & Fitting EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT

INsUraNCE

Insurance

Image of ‘Thames Reach’ kindly provided by Peter Freebody & Company

Tel: 01359 251414 Fax: 01359 250103 Sales@anglia-stainless.co.uk

BESPOKE INSURANCE FOR CLASSIC YACHTS AND BOATS

Shepherds Grove Ind Estate, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2AR

t. 0117 929 9381 e. marine@hayesparsons.co.uk

www.hayesparsons.co.uk

Hayes Parsons Marine is a trading name of Hayes Parsons Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 816448 at St Lawrence House, Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2HF

Yacht Insurance

Traditionally carved decorative work for all craft Interior decoration - Sculptures - Gilding - Restoration Trailboards - Sternboards - Billetheads Tafferels to Figureheads tel. +44 (0)7836 32 34 31

Classic Boat & Motorboat Specialists For a quotation please call

0844 988 6134

www.simonwintermarine.co.uk

‘Chico’ – 1932 GL Watson motor yacht Insurances by Simon Winter Marine Simon Winter Marine Limited is an Appointed Representative of Winter & Co (Marine) Ltd Winter & Co (Marine) Ltd is authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority

5075-New ClassicBoat Ad-8th_Layout 1 13/03/2012 16:32 Page 1

HEaTErs

MasTs

www.classicbo The latest development of charcoal burning marine heaters. ✦ Environmentally neutral ✦ Stainless Steel construction ✦ Bulkhead mounted

Hollow Wooden Spars

www.hampshireheaters.com or

Noble Masts

Classified Marine directory DEC 10.indd 71

For further details go to:

Tel: 07766 645321

CLASSIC BOAT DECEMBER 2010

Harbour Way, Bristol, BS1 5UH, UK T: (0117) 929 7450 • E: gofasterwez@aol.com UK Patent No. 2112706

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013 NobleMasts 8th cb apr 2.indd 1

4/1/11 11:46:35 AM

Marine Directory MOORINGS

Gosport Boat Yard Harbour Road, Gosport, Hants. PO12 1BJ Tel: 02392 586216

Email: gosportboatyard@tiscali.co.uk Cranage & storage, including catamaran lifts. All types of repairs – including GRP, Insurance repairs, marine engineers – Beta agent. RORC approved. Masts. Deep water swinging moorings. Week-end Special Offer Ashore. Friendly and professional service. Deepwater moorings and storage Masters in all marine trades

SURVEYORS

TONY TUCKER

TIMBER

H TIMBER H

Experienced surveyor of traditional and modern, timber, GRP, & steel craft Pre-Purchase, Insurance, Valuation, Damage, MCA Code of Practice Compliance; BSS Expert Witness Trained. Fellow YDSA

Tel/fax +44 (0)1442 253775 www.tucker-designs.com

FULL RANGE OF TIMBER SUPPLIED AND MACHINED TO YOUR SPECIFICATION

H LONG LENGTHS DOUGLAS FIR/SPRUCE H OAK BENDS H MAHOGANY H TEAK H STRIP PLANKING AND CONSTRUCTIONAL VENEERS

JOHN MOODY

T: 01548 831075 F: 01548 831440 john_moody@btconnect.com

LITTLE SHEEPHAM, MODBURY IVYBRIDGE, DEVON PL21 0TS

TIMBER

WEI R QUAY BOATYARD

Traditional boatyard in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, South Devon

High value larchand douglas fir

01822 840474

logs or sawn timber, grown in Germany

www.weir-quay.com

www.hiram.de

RIGGINGS Supply •

Manufacture • Install

Empire Buildings St. Mary’s Road Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7SX

RobbinsTimber,Brookgate,AshtonVale Trading Estate, Bristol, BS3 2UN, UK l Tel: 0117 963 3136 l Fax: 0117 963 7927 l Email: timber@robbins.co.uk l www.robbins.co.uk

+44 (0)1983 292022

WWW.SPENCERRIGGING.CO.UK

Free Comprehensive Catalogue • Elite Marine Plywood We make Mail Order Easy! All major cards accepted • Cedar Strip Worldwide Mail Order UK’s Widest Range! • Hardwoods & Softwoods • West System Epoxy • Collano Semparoc and other Adhesives • Copper, Silicon Bronze and Stainless Fastenings s

The Marine Directory is the place to advertise, call now on +44 (0)207 349 3748 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

CLASSIC FOLDING DINGHIES

Distributed in UK by Nestaway Boats SOUTHAMPTON SHOW A043/4

8ft Sectional Nesting PRAM DINGHY Does everything you’d want a yacht tender to... rows, sails and motors well, stows in the smallest of spaces... stable... and she’s great fun to use. SAILING TODAY

Our popular two-section Pram dinghy has a stored footprint of 4ft 8” by 4ft 2”

NEW NAUTIRAID CORACLE RANGE - Three Sizes: 6ft, 8ft & 10ft - LIGHTWEIGHT skin-on-frame hulls (6ft=40-lb) - Easy to Assemble - Ultra Tough Hypalon Skin - Plywood Frames, Ash Gunwhales - Integral Stabilair tubes for buoyancy & stability - Great to Row - Optional Sailing Rig for 10ft

- Takes three adults (or 2+2 kids) - Ef icient to row, fun to sail - Quick, tool-free assembly - Fits on deck, most yachts 30ft+ - Or on the road, use our towbarmount carry platform, below

We make three other sizes/types (9, 14, 16ft). See us at Southampton Show, stands A061-63

Folded hull plus bag for removable pieces

www.nestawayboats.com Classic_129x202.qxd:Layout 1

Tel: +44 (0) 1202 423094

7/3/13 10:27 Page 600595 1 Mob: +44 (0) 7768

More info: www.nestawayboats.com 01202 423094

10 to 150 hp - 14 very smooth, multi-cylinder, heat exchanger cooled engines

We offer you the best, compact, reliable engines at very competitive prices!

Easy engine replacement, we can supply special engine feet designed to fit your boat

Engineered in the UK, at Beta Marine in Gloucestershire, we welcome your visit

Installation, buy through our dealer network for an installation package - see our website for dealer listings, or contact us 5 Year ‘Self Service’ Warranty

e c i o h C ’s n a m t h c a Y The

www.betamarine.co.uk Tel: 01452 723492 Email: sales@betamarine.co.uk

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Looking ahead Things to do in the next few weeks

NEXT MONTH

MALDON TOWN REGATTA 21 September Maldon Town Regatta, Maldon, Essex Tel: +44 (0)7884 268053, www.maldonregatta.co.uk End of season classic for workboats and yachts

DEN PHILLIPS

CLOCKING A CROCKER

USA

5 OCTOBER ASTO Small Ships Race Cowes, IoW Tel: +44 (0)2392 503222 www.asto.org.uk Expect a record turnout for the 10th run.

Until late 2013 Rhode Island Working Sail Van der Wal Gallery, Newport, RI, USA Tel: +1 (401) 849 5556, www. vanderwal.com A visit to the gallery of Rhode Island photographer Onne van der Wal will reveal not just the usual selection of beautiful maritime photography prints, but a new exhibition of colour prints by marine artist Ezra Smith, depicting workboats of the eastern American littoral. The gallery is open daily (10am-6pm, 12-5pm Sundays) and entry is free.

ITALY 13 OCTOBER Barcolana Classic Trieste, Italy Tel: +39 040 411 664 www.barcolana.it 2,000 boats in this huge annual event.

FRANCE

28 SEPTEMBER – 6 OCTOBER Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Tel: +33 (0) 4 94 97 30 54 www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr Many of the world’s most beautiful boats return to this standout regatta.

NEW BOAT

From the publishers of Classic Boat SAILING TODAY

IN THE LATEST ISSUE

OCTOBER 2013 – ISSUE No 198

GROUP GEAR

Fun inflatables

Boys’ toys to sail, surf & paddle

African Folly Exploring the Gambia River in a home-built sloop

BOAT ON TEST

Wider wake

Dufour goes beamy with the all-new 410 SOUTHAMPTON

New gear, new boats – launching at the show ST198_001 Untitled-2 v8.indd 1 1

Lugger style Drascombe Drifter 22 on test

KNOX-JOHNSTON

Why the BBC has lost its compass on sailing

SNUFF OR FURL?

How to tame your spinnaker the easy way

ATLANTIC SAFETY

Guide to the gear you need to cross the Pond 20/08/2013 21/08/2013 12:37 12:25

 Knox-Johnston – why the BBC has lost its compass on sailing

 Wave riders – battle of the speed machines at Cowes

9 770044 000205

SOUVENIR SPECIAL

Cowes Week All the highlights, plus battle of the speed machines

NEW!

S OF SAILOR NTH THE MO ers First winn

 Young guns – new talent at the Feva Worlds

HOW TO WIN

Youth champions Lessons from the Feva Worlds

YACHTS YACHTING

WWW.YACHTSANDYACHTING.CO.UK

GAMBIA • COWES WEEK • DUFOUR 410 • OCEAN VILLAGE • INFLATABLES

 Fun inflatables – boys’ toys to sail, surf and paddle

IN THE LATEST ISSUE £4.30 Issue #1666 | OCTOBER 2013 www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk 10

COWES WEEK 2013 | LOUIS VUITTON TALES | RISK VS REWARD | TEST: XP 33

 African adventure – exploring the Gambia River in a sloop

OCTOBER 2013 sailingtoday.co.uk £4.20

OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE #1666

GO FURTHER I SAIL BETTER I BE INSPIRED

Wm Fife died in 1944... But his yard, at Fairlie in Scotland, continued and built Ellad in 1957 to an older design. Now she’s had a purist restoration.

28 September Onne van der Wal masterclass US 12-M Champs, Rhode Island, USA, Tel: +1 (401) 849 5556, www.vanderwal.com Learn marine photography from the deck of a sturdy motoryacht. The cost, $595, includes beer, wine and a lobster lunch.

C/O ONNE VAN DER WAL

21-28 SEPTEMBER Régates Royales, Cannes, France Tel: +33 04 93 94 71 67 www.regatesroyales.com Gaffers, sloops, yawls, cutters… all and more join in the fun for the 35th run.

A FIFTIES FIFE?

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

ON TEST

We put X-Yachts' new XP 33 through her paces 1666 Cover (1)8.indd 1

TECHNIQUE

Risk vs reward; Mark Rushall looks at real race scenarios

RISING STAR

Spotlight on the talented Sam Goodchild

AMERICA'S CUP New Zealand wins the Louis Vuitton Cup

 On test – on the water in X-Yachts’ new Xp 33

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

YACHTS YACHTING CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

CHELSEA ARINE M MAGAZINES

28/08/2013 12:47

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

This 25ft wooden traditional carvel yacht is inspired by the Hiscocks’ Wanderer II and has just been launched in the West Country

PLUS GL Watson, new series on restoration, Pasqui’s yard and much more

ON SALE 10 October 2013

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

TOP TO BOTTOM: STEFFAN MYREIC HUGHES, NIGEL PERT, C/O PETER MOOR

A 51ft 1938 bermudan sloop from the American designer Sam Crocker... and well kept? That’s Mercury and you’ve got to see her to believe it!

Letters Letter of the month supported by oLd puLteney Whisky

GRP can be a classic

Above and right: in Andrew Norris’s opinion, both Katrinka and Vixen are classics

“Vixen is well known to you and she’s undoubtedly a classic”

C/o AndreW norris

The views expressed in CB301 and CB302 about what makes a boat classic remind one how subjective this topic is. Gordon J Bushell, in his letter in CB302, makes a very valid point. Why is GRP a material that precludes a boat from this denomination, if on every other criteria it might be considered so? If, for the sake of argument, the cut-off date is 1970, then a classic should be any boat built and designed using the materials, technologies and skills available at that time, and which embodies the spirit, aesthetic and sailing qualities. Designers always try to progress through both design and materials. Think of Herreshoff’s experiments with exotic alloys early in the 20th century. It would be hard to argue that GRP was not a very important advance for boatbuilding for many reasons:

12-Metres used it, Whitbread racers used it… the list would be endless. Mr Bushell sounds a happy man. But if he wanted to race Lynnessa in the classic regattas, especially here in North America, he would find himself on the water racing against totally modern Spirit of Tradition boats, rather than boats with lines and dynamics that his Nic 36 should

be pitted against. Then he might not be as happy. In my opinion, it’s time that entry criteria were standardised around the world. Including GRP boats that satisfy other criteria would increase participation, with all the spin-off benefits for the sport and industry as a whole. Which brings me to my boats, Vixen and Katrinka. Vixen (below left) is well known to you (CB275, CB300) and she’s undoubtedly a classic. Katrinka (top left) is a 1969 custom yawl designed mainly for the Bermuda Race. She raced pretty successfully in the north-east through the 1970s and has a centreboard, flush deck, centre cockpit and an unusual tilting wheel, perhaps the first. She also happens to be built of GRP, of which Tripp was an early enthusiast. Like Vixen, Katrinka has also been restored for me by the Brooklin Boat Yard and I think she’s a classic too, but racing in the Spirit of Tradition division is pointless. Andrew Norris by email

How safe are fuel cells?

I read your article on Biche in the August issue. Biche is a magnificent boat but what everyone can hear on the pontoon is that all pieces are new (I got direct confirmation, having seen the restoration, and discussed that matter with the yard). The initial plan was to keep one floor timber, which was not eventually the case, since the status of the wood was too bad. Biche is a 100 per cent replica. Initial budget was €1.35million but the actual cost is closer to €3.5million and counting, not including interior, mostly paid by public funds. For the good name of your magazine, I would recommend further investigation, would you plan a further article? Patrick Flanagan by email ed – no patrick; we regard her as authentic and sometimes all material ends up replaced, albeit at a high cost

We would like to respond to the comments made by Captain Jim hughes concerning the hazards of using methanol with our fuel cells (Cb301). the hazards are well covered in the technical support section of our website where the appropriate safety data sheets are also referenced. nevertheless, we have now included direct copies of these data sheets in the same section. the fuel cartridges in which the methanol is supplied and to be used confer a considerable degree of personnel protection, and barring major accidents it is unlikely anyone would come into direct contact with the fuel. it is a fact that boating involves the use of a variety of hazardous substances – petrol, white spirit, acetone and LpG. it is also a fact that the degree of mitigation of these hazards is not as comprehensive on boats as would be required on a petrochemical installation or transport facility; such standards would be impractical on a pleasure craft, and for good reason. the methanol safe handling manual from the methanol institute, at some 200 pages, is perhaps too much for the average skipper to digest, but the general point about risk is well made. Mike Dickens, Fuel Cell Systems Limited, by email

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

C/o mQps

The cost of Biche

Medway Queen i write with regard to the latest issue and your fantastic write up on the st Challenge. i am sure my colleague richard halton has been in touch, but we at the ps medway Queen are nearing the end of the works (www.medwayqueen. co.uk) and i hope perhaps her story would be of interest to readers. John Kempton, Vice Chairman, Medway Queen Preservation Society ed – the medway Queen has a fascinating history and we are looking forward to publishing it in the future

C/O DAVE RUSHBY & CHARLY BRAUNGARDT

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

Little Charly wins a big prize but that was not what we wanted, so he did a preliminary drawing, which became Little Charly. Then on the Sunday evening of the prize-giving, much to our astonishment, after many beautiful boats had been awarded their honours, the name Little Charly was announced. It is a tribute to Paul as a designer that a boat which might not fit with many commonly held ideas of what a classic should look like, was awarded such a trophy. The journey from design to trophy is another story! Dave Rushby and Charly Braungardt, Halton Quay, Cornwall

Modern makeover Your article on Pride of Baltimore II (CB303) took me back to 1984 when I had an American girl living with me. She had crewed on the original Pride of Baltimore and she said the crew slept in hammocks and had minimal cooking and washing facilities. She scornfully insisted that the original Pride only capsized after “effete New Englanders” added bunkbeds, showers, galley, etc. I have all the works of naval architect and historian Howard Chappelle, in which he points out that the original Baltimore blockade runners were fast but unstable and phased out when peace was declared between Britain and America. With all her luxury living space, Baltimore II is more comparable to the fast French/British frigates of that era than the original blockade runners. James Wharram, Cornwall

Having just returned from a short cruise of the Suffolk rivers, I was delighted to find my copy of CB contained a piece on the Deben. The author Jack Coote who wrote East Coast Rivers reckoned it should be on every sailors’ summer itinerary and indeed it was one of our first landfalls as scouts aboard the Colchester Smack Sallie in the 1960s. In those days the Ramsholt Arms was a rather ramshackle affair, although I do remember a brief encounter with a full sized ‘Babycham’ girl, albeit a cardboard cut-out! I was there again last week and feel I must put in a good word for both the harbourmaster, George Collins (pictured above), and indeed the ‘new’ Ramsholt Arms. Calling George on my way down river he could not have been more helpful, directing me to a mooring barely 50 yards from the foreshore. Fortunately, although single-handed, I managed to pick up first time as there was an audience of onlookers no doubt eager to advise. George has been manning his shed on an old wooden boat for over 30 years (and he reckons his father did it for 50 years before him!), 365 days a year, and an unpaid volunteer who charges just £5 a night, with all proceeds to the RNLI. Last year he raised over £3,000 – he truly deserves a medal! Peter Harrold via email

C/O PETER HARROLD

You recently featured a short interview with Paul Fisher as part of an article discussing what were the merits required to be a classic. We have recently returned from the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally in Sutton Harbour, where unbeknown to us our boat Little Charly (above) was being judged for the Kinsale Trophy (Best Composite Classic) by Will Stirling. When we approached Paul to do the design for our boat our brief was simple. We wanted a boat that was suitable for offshore passages and it also had to be able to travel the European waterways. Paul had a design for a Teign River stone barge

Three cheers for George

MARC TURNER

Houseboat with a history

Tsk tsk, Kentra’s a ketch Your article Fife’s Finest (CB303) did a disservice to those of us who appreciate the lines, the rigs and the histories of classic boats because you called Kentra a schooner! Just to be sure I checked on the Fairlie Restorations website, and they say: “… she was a fine example of a gaff-rigged cruising ketch…” Not very shipshape, gentlemen! Oh, I love the mag anyway! Doug Fyfe by email Ed – massive apology; still banging my head with a tin tray

The letter from your correspondent about the Yarmouth houseboat (CB303) interests me. I did my National Service as a Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) seaman based at Golden Hill and Victoria forts, so knew Yarmouth well. I think that the vessel in question was a 73ft (22m) Vosper MTB. I think they were the only ones with that blister aft of the wheelhouse and just forward of the torpedo tubes. I do not remember her having a name visible, but I wonder was your correspondent actually reading Sperwer (Dutch for sparrowhawk) as MTB 235 was loaned to the Dutch Navy and named Sperwer II? If the storm mentioned was the one I remember, we had been warned that a rough weekend was due with Force

6 to 8 gales, which blew away a Girl Guide camp at Colwell Bay, brought down many trees in the West Wight and damaged vessels in the harbour. I know nothing of the latter history of the houseboat, as the Harbour Commissioners started to dredge silt from the harbour and the area of marshland on the south side in 1956, and that whole area is now filled in and the space occupied by the two houseboats has become dry land. Regarding RASC/RCT vessels, I wonder if any of your readers know what has happened to the Yarmouth Navigation ex-MFV 1502? I heard that she had sunk somewhere in the West of England, but I wonder if she has been salvaged? Michael Taylor, Wokingham CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

Under the varnish No 5: “Professional Skipper” Guy Venables takes another hilarious glance at a traditional sailing stereotype

CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2013

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