YARD NEWS

Craftsmanship

Yard News

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

PIN MILL, SUFFOLK

Selina King comes home

Selina King, Arthur Ransome’s largest and finest yacht, newly restored, has returned to the yard where she was built 84 years ago – King’s, writes Peter Willis. Her delivery, on a low-loader, was complicated by the difficulty of approach down the narrow Pin Mill Lane, so she was launched at Fox’s yard, a few miles up the River Orwell, under the supervision of 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,

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. then shipped her back to the UK in 2017 and continued the work near his home at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour. King’s has built her a new mast and, over the winter, will also make her a boom and complete a number of other small jobs, before a planned full relaunch next spring.

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.

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

IPSWICH, SUFFOLK

New interior ideas on Spirit’s 72 Deckhouse model

The latest 72DH (deckhouse) from Spirit Yachts marks a change in interiors. She was designed, by in-house designer and company founder Sean McMillan, for a European owner for cruising, racing and chartering in the Med. Sean said: “This the first Spirit deckhouse without a ‘mid-level’ seating and navigation area linking the cockpit and the main interior space. The owners wanted to introduce a more modern style, so we opened up the interior to let in more natural light and maximise the central entertaining space. White satin panels and an LED lighting system complement the natural timbers but stay true to the contemporary brief.” More traditionally, the galley is to port, with navigation area and chart table to starboard. The saloon, with seating for eight, is in the centre of the interior space. Accommodation for eight is split across one crew and three guest cabins. The cockpit has seating for up to 10 around a central table with an integrated drinks fridge.

The OM Watts-designed, Fife-built, 39ft (12m) bermudan cutter Peregrine (1936) remains undercover at Attrill’s Boatyard, Bembridge, IoW, writes Ben Wood. Her restoration is now more than halfway completed. After removing all the detritus and extensive broken fittings, marine artist and CB illustrator Martyn Mackrill and wife Bryony have been hard at work measuring, sawing, drilling, fastening, varnishing and measuring again. The doghouse has been removed and the bridgedeck reconstructed using re-purposed teak from it; a new companion ladder has been built, and quarter berth refurbished. Also the galley bulkhead has been repositioned and rebuilt, heads re-chromed and new locker built, deckhead scraped and sanded, saloon revarnished, and the coachroof re-covered in plywood then epoxy sheathed. All deck fittings have been removed and regalvanised. New sails from Ratsey’s have been ordered, together with a new boom and topmast from Lallows in Cowes, and new blocks from Ording.

BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT

Update on Peregrine

BEN WOOD FALMOUTH, CORNWALL

Jobs at Cockwells

After successful shows at Southampton and Monaco this year, the Cockwells order book is growing, as customers put their names down for custom-built motorboats like the two pictured here: TT Malahne on the left and a Titian tender on the right. “With a full order book until the end of 2024, we are looking for more staff to join our growing team, from engineers to boatbuilders, from trainees to management level,” said founder and MD Dave Cockwell. See cockwells.co.uk/careers.