Hillyard 4-tonner Patsy Rye prepares for sea

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Well known Faversham chandler Nigel Davidson’s Patsy Rye prepares for sea. Thanks for the photos go to regular contributor and friend of intheboatshed.net Bob Telford

For some time, one of the sights of Faversham Creek has been a sweet little yacht undergoing a major refit outside the chandlery at Iron Wharf. The Patsy Rye belongs to the chandler himself, Nigel Davidson, and it turns out that he’s planning a major voyage in a rather special little boat. Here’s his story:

‘Patsy Rye is a 22′, Hillyard 4 tonner built in 1937. Originally named Patsy, she was one of two specially commissioned by the British Army Yacht Club of Alexandria in Egypt. This meant she is teak on oak, to resist the heat, and consequently is in great nick.
‘However some previous owner had sheathed her pine decks with ply and polyester which caused the inevitable widespread rot. The owner before me therefore had had the foredeck, transom and side decks all replaced professionally. This left my only significant structural repair the replacement of three cabin deck planks, scarfing in the ends of 5 deck beams and sheathing the deck with ply and epoxy.

‘I bought Patsy, as she was then, about two and a half years ago. I had long planned to retire in 2008 and was looking specifically for a 4 ton Hillyard to fulfill my ambition of seeing the UK by sailing round it. In the ’80s I’d owned a 4 tonner before, Fortuna II, and knew they were good sea boats, easy to manage single handed, and that they motored well. As a gaffer I would be able to raise and lower the mast on my own.

‘Patsy Rye was originally a Bermudan cutter, so I had her changed to gaff rig. Masts and spars were by Dan Tester of Hollowshore. Sail plan and sails were by Rochester Sails.

‘When I bought her the inside was sound, probably original, but astonishingly impractical. Fortunately all those years ago I’d totally refitted Fortuna so I had a readymade blue print for Patsy Rye – and I could have her placed right outside my chandlery – heaven!

‘The refit took two years. Everything inside is new – except the engine, which is a 1999 Yanmar 1GM10. The layout is simple. Sink/drainer, cooker and bunk to starboard. 200ltr flexi water tank under the bunk. Chart table and dinette to port. Numerous electrics under the chart table, Cupboards under the dinette seats and the table drops to form a second bunk. Heads, black tank, hanging cupboard and stowage in the forecabin. Fridge under the starboard cockpit seat, batteries under the port one.

‘She was finished and launched in June. The chandlery is now up for sale. I’ve had about four weekends learning to sail again. I’ve one more scheduled in October, to try out my cold weather sytems, and I plan to set off at the end of March. I’d have like to have gone anti-clockwise, but the east coast is just too cold early in the year. It’ll be London first then down the Thames and turn right!’

The best of luck Nigel, and thanks for telling your story.

I do hope Nigel will be kind enough to update us on his progress from time to time. And if you’re interested in buying a nicely set-up chandlery with a regular customer base, contact Nigel at creek_chandlery@btconnect.com. All of us who sail in the area will be most grateful if you do!

Pass this link to interested friends:

https://intheboatshed.net/2007/09/19/hillyard-4-tonner-patsy-rye-prepares-for-sea/

Please tell us your story: gmatkin@gmail.com