These striking drawings come from Peter Radclyffe Design – if that name seems familiar, it’s because he went public in Classic Boat with some drawings for a new J Class yacht last summer, and that he was responsible for rebuilding the Lulworth some years ago.
Peter tells me that the Dilston Class (top and above left) is named after the village of Dilston near Corbridge, Northumberland, which is where his family hails from. He adds that he learned a lot about the design of boats of this kind from studying the work of John Leather – in the early 70s he lived in the same nearby to Leather’s home at Fingringhoe.
Design no 77, a 50m schooner, is based on the Vera Mary designed by JM Soper and launched in 1932. I think I’d want to take a photograph or 500 if she passed anywhere near me – if I could collect myself long enough to remember where I’d put my camera.
Thank you Gavin and Graham Westbrook Naval Architect for these drawings , the 3 masted schooner is Meteor 7, sail area 1140 m2, 402 tonnes,