Innehållsförteckning för April 2017 från Classic Boat

Martha’s Vineyard is a tidy, seagoing sort of place, not much given to emotion. The four miles of tide-racked water that separate it from Woods Hole give it the tough, selfreliant air peculiar to good islands, and the handful of people sprawled over the rexine seats of the big ferry look tired after a dull day at work. However, when the ship sticks its art deco nose into the Vineyard Haven bay between the twin peninsulas of East Chop and West Chop, it is possible to imagine that there is a hum of excitement in the air. Partly this is because the annual fishing derby is in full swing, and anglers are hauling striped bass and bluefish out of the rips that chew at the lumpy corners of the island.…

Largest gathering of Tall Ships in Boston BOSTON This summer Boston Harbor will see its biggest gathering of Tall Ships in nearly two decades. The organisers of Sail Boston – the only US port visit during the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta – are planning to host 50 of the world’s largest sailing vessels for a five-day celebration of maritime culture and history. Beginning in Greenwich, UK, the fleet of ships from 20 countries will race across the Atlantic Ocean with stops in Portugal, Bermuda, America and Canada before returning to finish in France. The race will cover a total distance of 7,000 nautical miles between the months of April and September. The Boston event is set for 17-22 June and includes a parade of sail through Boston Harbor, presenting…

BONHAMS The majesty of Migrant With subjects as magnificent as this it’s little wonder that New York photographer Morris Rosenfeld (1885-1968) abandoned the City Hall news beat to pursue his career on the water. Indeed, it’s only when you notice the tiny ant-like figures of the foredeck crew that you appreciate the sheer scale of Migrant. Built in 1929 by Lawley in Boston for American millionaire Carl Tucker, the 223ft-long vessel was at that time the largest schooner yacht there had ever been. With three masts, four headsails and three top-sails she was a spectacular sight. But that was not enough to save her from an ignominious fate. In 1942 she was acquired by the US Navy, and as USS Migrant carried out anti-submarine patrols out of New York. After…

From America’s Cup to Cowes via The Fastnet 2017 is going to be a memorable year for all British sailors. Yes, we are aware that this is Classic Boat – but can there be a sailor in this country who wouldn’t like, finally, for Britain to win the auld mug, 166 years after we first tried? I suspect we’ll be praying for Ben. ck in our world of glittering varnish, the show goes on in Britain and abroad. One of the best things about the international calendar of classic sailing regattas, aside from the racing and shoreside bonhomie, is the impetus it gives boatowners to finish that project, make that passage, or perhaps even just to tidy the exterior varnish work a little. For thrills, the AC still rules after…

SWEDEN BALTIC CLASSIC CIRCUIT The Baltic Circuit for classic yachts is now an established part of the classic sailing world. It has grown over the last few years to produce an alternative European circuit to the much larger one in the Mediterranean and, like the French Atlantic circuit (see boxout below, right), we keep hearing good things about it. This year’s events, all in Sweden, are listed below: 18–19 JUNE Finnish Independence Regatta Aristio Sailing Club, Åbo Båtvarv One-off regatta to commemorate 100 years of Finnish independence Three days of racing 25-30-mile archipelago courses 2-5 JULY Åfor Classic (Around Gotland O? shore Race) Stockholm-Visby-Sandhamn 220-nm passage race 4-5 AUGUST Champagne Regatta Helsingfors Sailing Club Helsinki, Finland Open sea distance courses 10–12 AUGUST Sandhamn Regatta Classic KSSS, Sandhamn, Sweden 25-30-mile archipelago…

The ‘Truly Classic’ range of modern-traditional yachts from the pen of Andre Hoek has been one of the great branding successes in the Spirit-of-Tradition era. Branding is nothing, though, without product, and these are well-proven, well-designed boats that are true to their brief. We were impressed during a recent test sail of a Truly Classic 126 (the biggest in the range), by the speed and usability of a boat which, while firmly in the superyacht category, was a breeze to get to grips with. This one, Acadia, the third TC90, has been built by Holland’s Claasen Shipyards, and delivered to her owner. She’s the 26th Hoek-designed yacht to be built at Claasen, which describes her as a family yacht also ideal for racing and chartering purposes. In common with most…

Who could fail to be moved by the grace and simple elegance of a Dragon? Eighty-eight years after its inception, the Johan Anker design is still one of the most loved and widely sailed classes internationally and in the UK, where around 48 wooden Dragons exist, many of them keenly raced throughout the season. “I first saw a new Dragon at the 1999 boat show – it was the most beautiful shape I had ever seen,” says Alan Dale. In 2002 he bought Snap, a 1956-built wooden Dragon as a semi-wreck, and vowed to restore her to her former glory: she had won the Dragon Classics at Falmouth Week in 1998 and 2000. In 2015 she matched the new glassfibre Dragons and Alan decided there was more life in the…

The blowlamp was invented in the 1880s by Carl Nyberg, a Swedish factory worker skilled in soldering. At that time the relatively low heat required to solder was concentrated on the work by a blowpipe directed through the flame of an alcohol burner. Nyberg sought to generate the higher temperatures required for brazing, which joins metals more strongly, and his experiments gave rise to a pressurised lamp burning vapour instead of liquid. The early lamps burned petrol which was vaporized su.ciently through pre-heating, but later models burning para.n were fitted with a small hand pump to increase pressure. Nyberg opened a factory making blowlamps in Sundbyberg in the 1890s but his invention didn’t find a world market until German machine salesman Max Sievert took an interest and eventually took over…

Gannon and Benjamin are an unusual yard in the sense that they build only dead traditional boats, and attract a steady stream of orders. The small craft are clinker and everything else is carvel. “We just don’t like sanding and glue,” jokes Nat Benjamin, when asked why he has not branched out into modern timber construction. “We enjoy traditional boatbuilding and it’s something we’re pretty good at – so we leave the other methods to others! Also, it’s the best way of building a boat for longevity and for being repaired. There’s a boat in the harbor that’s 100 years old. She wouldn’t still be here if she were strip-planked or glass.” About a decade ago, the Gannon and Benjamin yard built a centreboard cabin sloop of 28ft (8.5m) called…

THE WILLIAM’S CLUB Yachts built by William Fife are, still recognised today as the most beautiful yachts since the beginning of the 20th century. The best four of his few remaining creations being: the Moonbeam IV, the Moonbeam III, the Mariquita and the Hallowe’en. These yachts are particularly diffcult to maintain as they can be considered sailing museum pieces, which need professional attention. The William’s Club wants to ensure that these vessels will still be sailing in a hundred years from now, by o?ering a new innovative form of ownership and support structure. In order to ensure that they are maintained in the best condition, the Club will provide classic yacht lovers a unique, adventurous and luxurious experience with 5* service. The William’s Club is currently o?ering you the chance…

BACKGAMMON A luxury roll-up leather backgammon set from Mayfair company Pickett, known for its hand-crafted accessories, which can be made bespoke for your boat. Price £395, or £1,995 for a larger hard-case backgammon set in lizard pickett.co.uk DAGGER KNIFE Inspired by the Trophée Bailli de Su. ren race between Saint-Tropez and Malta each year, using the red and white of both places’ flags. The race is a tribute to the Bailli de Su. ren de Saint-Tropez, vice-admiral of the French royal navy under King Louis XVI and ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta. Handmade in France; 20cm. Price €520 (c£440) with leather case neptunia.fr GUERNSEY The classic British jumper, with us for more than 400 years, worn by fishermen and royalty, naval officers and soldiers, sailors and spies. Hand-made…

Around the coast The British regatta scene is growing, with a highly successful new event – Hamble Classics – added to the calendar last year. It has become part of an unofficial circuit that now exists, taking in the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta on the East Coast and Panerai British Classic Week and Cowes Classics and the new Hamble bash in the Solent, but as our sample here shows, wherever you are moored, a gathering of fellow wooden boat lovers is rarely far away. SOUTH COAST 1–4 JUNE Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival yarmoutholdga_ersfestival.co.uk Flagship OGA bash, 100+ boats 1 JULY Round the Island Race roundtheisland.org.uk The world’s most popular yacht race 8–15 JULY Panerai British Classic Week britishclassicyachtclub.org One of the top British classic regattas 14–16 JULY Taittinger Royal…

9 JUNE Metre Fest Newport, RI, metrefest.com Racing for 2.4, 6, 8 and 12-M yachts 17 JUNE Great San Francisco Schooner Race San Francisco Bay, sfyc.org 17-27 JUNE 35th America’s Cup Bermuda, Caribbean americascup.com The most famous race on earth, this time incorporating the biggest ever J-Class regatta 6-7 JULY Great Schooner Race greatschoonerrace.com Islesboro – Rockland Harbor, Maine, with some 20 vessels in the most evocative rig of them all 7-9 JULY Vineyard Cup Martha’s Vineyard, Mass sailmv.org/vineyard-cup Foiling kiteboards; classic yachts 22-23 JULY Stuart Knockabout Regatta Megansett Harbor, Mass stuartknockaboutllc.com Regatta for LF Herreshoff dayboats 27–29 JULY Camden Classics Cup Camden, Maine camdenclassicscup.com Great racing in a lovely location, back for its second year 5 AUGUST Eggemoggin Reach Regatta Rockport, Maine erregatta.com 125+ boats over a 15-mile course…

When we saw an advert for a ‘28ft teak sloop, similar to a Twister’, our attention was grabbed because we knew the designer of the Twister to be none other than Kim Holman. The boat’s history turned out to be not quite so straightforward, although we have never for a second regretted going to see her in a chilly Tyneside boatyard in October 2000. The yacht was home-built, by amateur builder Wilfred McDonald, of South Shields, Tyneside. Not only was Wilfred skilled and fastidious, but he was also bold enough to tweak Mr Holman’s design a little. He constructed the boat in his back garden, beginning in 1963 and finishing 20 years later! The hull is teak strips on laminated oak frames, the deadwood is iroko, the superstructure includes iroko,…

The owner of Coral II, the Deben Four Tonner featured in our December 2016 issue, has put her up for sale. A Deben Four is a ‘tabloid’ yacht designed in the mid-1930s by William Maxwell Blake for Claud Whisstock, who built 67 of them in various guises between 1937 and 1959. These are very simple craft, ideal for sailing solo or with friends, and offer reasonable accommodation for the size (22ft/6.7m). Coral II is a great example of the bermudan sloop variant, with the traditional cabin shape instead of the less attractive, later ‘doghouse’ or ‘full-width-cabin’ versions. She was given a no-expenses-spared restoration from 2010, including a new diesel. Some exterior varnish work would bring her back to concours condition. We’ve put our Coral II article on our website: just…

Sail Caledonia race o cer John Macpherson What can participants expect? A week of sailing and rowing amid some of the most beautiful and stunning scenery in Scotland, good-natured competition and some challenging conditions, and all in good company. This year’s dates are 27 May – 3 June. Do boats need to be a certain age? Ageism is not a term we deal in either for competitors or boats, but both need to be seaworthy! Children often come along as part of a boat’s crew. They need to be fairly resilient as some of the sailing can be challenging. How much needs to be rowed – do you need to be pretty fit? The answer to that lies with the gods! There are sailing races and rowing races but if the…

Twenty-six owners may seem a lot for a boat to have had but not, most people would agree, for one that is over a century-and-ahalf old. Mermaid’s current owners, Christopher and Victoria Gottschald, have had her for longer than any of the others – having bought her in 1997, since when Christopher has extensively restored her almost singlehandedly – but her first owner is in second place. Edward Ricketts – principal clerk to the Treasury and probably an heir to a West Indian sugar plantation – commissioned Alfred Payne to design and build Mermaid in Southampton in 1860, and he then raced and cruised her in and around the Solent before selling her in 1877. Her subsequent owners included a captain in the 14th Hussars, another sugar plantation heir, an…

Should I fear for Sally? She’s 80 years old this year. Whereas every month in Classic Boat – a youngster at 30 this year – I read of wooden boats well before their middle age undergoing the full treatment from keel to truck, Sally has never been refastened, replanked, re timbered or pretty much re-anything’d in all that time. Sally II is a 1937 Laurent Giles 25-footer, the second of what, raised and modified to a more sensible cruising configuration (at the expense, perhaps, of elegance) became the Vertue class after an exploit that won her crew the Little Ship Club’s Vertue Cup. Sally has never aspired to such heights, although she has cruised from south to north, Brittany, West Country, the Welsh Coast and from the Clyde to Cape…

Classic sailing epicentre The name Mediterranean – ‘centre of the earth’ – rings true when it comes to classic sailing. And we do like to remind everyone annually (until the message gets through!) that the Med regattas are not horribly elitist. Authenticity trumps size every time and the feeling is one of a passion shared rather than one-upmanship. Antibes, while not the first, is generally seen as the big season opener, and Saint-Tropez as the closer. The former is comparatively relaxed, the latter a huge, but fun, circus, the biggest regatta of its kind in the world. There are also a number of passage races from event to event and some cruises in company (formal and informal). If you want to see the biggest fleets of the most classic yachts…

FASHIONABLE HENLEY, JULY 2, 1875 Yawl Frou-Frou (Salters 1875) and 'Pair Oar Gig' Clytie (Salters 1873). Elegant young ladies and their more casually dressed companions enjoying the outing. Warneford owned both boats. with thanks to Dr Simon Wenham, Adrian Stone and Warneford’s great grandson Charles Gibson, to whom the images belong SINGLE SEATER SAILING CANOE, 1873 Warneford seems to call many of his boats Frou-Frou. Almost certainly photographed at Salters yard where many craft were stored. Her owner is as smart as his boat with its little lug sail. Canoes like this offered freedom to set off on unplanned trips. FROU-FROU AND JESSIE Warneford’s new 4-ton Yawl Frou-Frou (1878) meets J Young’s Jessie. Note the tall mast and lugsail on Jessie. Both were boats built by Burgoyne Brothers of Kingston,…

At the end of May 1940 the RNLI Liverpool class lifeboat Lucy Lavers set off from Aldeburgh to take part in her very first rescue mission, having been delivered from her builders – Groves and Gutteridge in Cowes – earlier that month. It was to be a rescue mission like no other, and one that would become one of the most famous events in recent history: Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of 338,226 Allied soldiers from Dunkirk. Lucy Lavers was one of 19 RNLI lifeboats which took part, along with 700 or so other non-military vessels – or Dunkirk Little Ships as they would come to be known. With a Royal Navy crew on board she was towed across the Channel from Ramsgate – many of the smaller vessels were towed…

Edited by Steffan Meyric Hughes: +44 (0)207 349 3758 Email: steffan@classicboat.co.uk BRISTOL Two re-launches in one week Mark Rolt of Rolt’s Boatyard got in touch to spread the good news that his yard re-launched the 1899 yawl Wayward (ex-Samphire) in January, after an “extensive two-year refit, which included pretty much gutting her, bar the bulkheads, and starting again on the interior; refastening the deck; refurbishing all the hatches and skylights; re-caulking; new stemhead; and goodness knows what else!” We featured the 49ft 6in (15.1m) Wayward (as Samphire) in July 1991, after she had been restored back then. The other boat re-launched into Bristol’s Avon the same week was the 1939 William Osborne motor cruiser Helinda (ex-White Ghost II), requisitioned by the Navy in September 1939 for a war spent patrolling…

The geese have returned to the north the sun’s edging in the same direction and the plaice are swimming back: it’s fitting out time again. One of the great joys of sailing a traditional boat is the way she marks the four seasons. Of all the rituals associated with ownership – the summer cruise, the autumn lay-up, the winter snug-down – the spring fit-out is the most exciting. As you throw off the tarpaulins, slide back the main-hatch and descend into the cold saloon, you are puzzled by the locker hatches piled up on the cabin sole: which one goes where? But having solved the jigsaw you scattered six months before, it’s rewarding to discover that letting all that air circulate has kept the mildew down to a mere five…