Craftsmanship
Edited by Steffan Meyric Hughes: +44 (0)207 349 3758 Email: steffan@classicboat.co.uk
PETER WILLIS
Yard News
SECTION HEAD SUB SECTION
PIN MILL, SUFFOLK
Selina King comes home Selina King, Arthur Ransome’s largest and finest yacht, newly restored,
then shipped her back to the UK in 2017 and continued the work near
has returned to the yard where she was built 84 years ago – King’s, writes
his home at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour.
Peter Willis. Her delivery, on a low-loader, was complicated by the
King’s has built her a new mast and, over the winter, will also make
difficulty of approach down the narrow Pin Mill Lane, so she was launched
her a boom and complete a number of other small jobs, before a
at Fox’s yard, a few miles up the River Orwell, under the supervision of
planned full relaunch next spring.
King’s owner Gus Curtis, who then towed her down to his own yard. Her present owner, Martin Pollard, began restoration work on the 35ft 6in (10.8m) Fred Shepherd-designed sloop in Bermuda in 2011,
Selina King will by lying across King’s yard from another of Ransome’s yachts, Nancy Blackett, which will be remaining in the Orwell this winter.
ISLE OF EWE, SCOTLAND
One litre of diesel per hour Here’s yet another newly-built traditional motor launch from Alasdair Grant, AKA Isle Ewe Boats. She’s “a nice wee launch” says Alasdair, and we agree! “The boat is called Dál Riada after the Gaelic kingdom that connected Ireland and Scotland, as she was built here in the highlands, to be used in Ireland,” Alasdair explains. She’s 17ft (5.2m) long, and built in carvel planks of locally-sourced larch, on oak frames. The Beta 16 diesel gives her a 5.5kt cruising speed while only using one litre of diesel per hour. “She has great sea-keeping, which we got to test in our summer gales,” said Alasdair.
OBAN, SCOTLAND
New life for Brixham trawler The 1924-built Brixham Trawler Providence, which was facing an unknown centenary after her owner, Trinity Sailing, ceased operations, has found new owners. Morag Slesser and Steve Jones bought the 70ft (21.3m) boat in February 2022 and have since done much work on her in Cornwall, including some replanking, a complete repaint, servicing of all rigging, cleaning out bilges, and quite a bit more. In August, they sailed Provident to her new home in Scotland: Dunstaffange Marina near Oban. Work continues to upgrade the interior, including four double guest cabins. From April next year, Provident will be offering cruises of between five and ten days, mostly out of Oban, exploring Scotland’s beautiful western isles and its wildlife. We hope to bring you news of Provident’s happy relaunch next spring. See providentsailing.co.uk
70
CLASSIC BOAT DECEMBER 2022
