Category: Restoration and repair

A 1900s RN sailing cutter converted to a yacht

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Converted RN sailing cutter So Long

Ben Wales (check the recent post about his motor launch restoration) has sent in a photo of a most interesting two-masted yacht that he says has lived on Oxey Lake, near Lymington, for over 20 years.

This boat is named So Long and Ben says she was built originally as a 32ft Royal Navy sailing cutter, which he believes were built around the turn of the century and often called DH boats.

This particular boat was built around 1908 and originally had a gun placement on her fordeck. She was sold to her present owner in the 1960s; he carried out a major refit with new decking and cabin, and a ketch rig. What a gorgeous little boat he created! If anyone has information to add, do please let us know – either using the comment button below, by registering with the forum (right) or by emailing me at gmatkin@gmail.com.

Thanks Ben. I now know what kind of boat I’ll sail if I ever get to heaven.

Schnellboot S130 in restoration at Roving Commissions

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Schnellboot S130 - the last remaining Schnellboot or E-Boat

The last remaining viable example of the feared German Schnellboots, S130 has been in restoration at the Roving Commissions yard at Southdown in Cornwall for some time.

Roving Commissions is run by John Owles, the man who identified the wreck of the historic yacht Scoter as a bawley type. Read more about Scoter.

The 35m torpedo boats had three 2500hp engines a maximum speed of 40knots, and it turns out that S130 was a particularly successful example. Commissioned in the autumn of 1943, she was part of the 9th S-Boot flotilla that in March 1944 found and attacked the American invasion force in Lyme Bay during Operation Tiger, the D-Day preparation training exercise at Slapton Sands that ended in the deaths of more than 740 American forces.

Updated Mylne registers now online

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Mylne Design homepage

The 2010 editions of the Mylne Register of Yachts and Design List are available for download from the Mylne’s website http://www.mylne.com.

A catalogue of drawings by Alfred Mylne and his Mylne company colleagues  available to buy is in the design section of the website, which is available through a free registration gizmo.

While you’re there, there’s also a free download of the Milne Classic Regatta 2009 programme, a gallery of photos, and a fantastic piece of film of many of Mylne’s classic designs including the Royal Yacht Brittannia, Thendara, Iyruna, Audifax, Shamrock V, Tigris, Panope and Veronica.