Category: Suppliers

Stirling & Son makes progress with beautiful Victorian gentleman’s sailing yacht Integrity

Stirling and Son Victorian racing yacht Integrity Bow

Stirling and Son Victorian racing yacht Integrity  Stirling and Son Victorian racing yacht Integrity Port Quarter

These delicious shots of the Victorian-style racing yacht under construction by Stirling and Son have been sent over by Will Stirling, a man who really should be called a photographer, as well as a boat builder, designer and historian.

Here’s what he says:

‘We are fitting her out at the moment in oak panelling. The detail has been taken from photographs of Victorian yacht interiors, with lots of morticing and tenoning to make up the frames, then the different fielded and flat panels, and then the beading.

‘This gives the bulkheads an interesting 3D effect.

‘We have made up patterns for all of the deck fittings and are having them cast in bronze by Ian Major of Major Castings (tel 07897 924 005).

‘Russian hats came out in force last week during the cold snap, which particularly affected John in the yard, as he was fitting the metal work to the spars in a long and drafty shed.

‘Integrity will be launched in mid-May by the Mayflower Marina in Plymouth.

‘Best wishes, Will’

I’m looking forward to seeing photos of her afloat. Stirling and Son is at Tavistock and can be reached via its website, or by phone on 01822 614259. Will doesn’t mention whether Integrity has a buyer, but if you’re in the market for a boat of this kind I guess it wouldn’t do any harm to enquire.

For earlier posts about Stirlings’ projects and plans, click here and follow the ‘Older posts’ links – there have been quite a few over recent years.

PS – I wonder how the Victorian racing yacht Leila’s getting on over by Southwold Harbour? Does anyone know?

PPS – Donan Raven (see comment below) has been in touch to point out that there are some good clips of Will’s workshop included in a YouTube video about the America’s Cup. It seems the directors thought it would be fun to film a traditional boat builder sailing one of the AC speed machines, and Will agreed…

Classic 18ft Harry Feltham dinghy for sale by the River Fowey

Harry Feltham 18ft clinker dinghy for sale Harry Feltham 18ft clinker dinghy for sale

River Fowey boat builder and restorer Marcus Lewis has written in to report that he’s spotted an 18ft clinker-build sailing boat for sale close to his own premises. Here’s what he says:

‘Hi Gavin: I was doing a small job at the St Winnow boatyard on the River Fowey, and spotted this 18ft or so centreplate dinghy, the ownership of which has just passed to the proprietors.

‘Built by Harry Feltham of Portsmouth, it doesnt look in bad condition. It needs some tender loving care, but the buoyancy bags inside are still inflated, a compass still installed, and there is a mast, though I’m not sure about sails. The owners of the boatyard want to sell her, and I shouldn’t think she would be very expensive – and someone could pick up a classic boat at a good price.

‘I dont know if she is a class? maybe someone out there knows more?

‘She needs to be snapped up before a season out the water on a trailer (in the baking sunshine we are bound to get) wont do her any favours.

‘If anyone’s interested, they should contact St Winnow Yachts on 01208 872327.’

Thanks Marcus! Let’s hope she catches someone’s eye.

Pathé newsreels: the London Boat Show of 1967, and Blyth and Ridgway row the Atlantic

Boat Show London 1967

Two hugely nostalgic Pathé newsreels caught my eye today – at least, they are for me. Lots of other folks might think they’re interesting historical documents!

The first is about the London Boat Show of 1967 and the then-fashionable hobby of sailing dinghies, which were often home-built. I have a hazy memory of my father attending the show about that time, and it wasn’t long before I was up to my armpits in ply and goop building our own Mirror paid for on the then-new hire purchase system.

The second celebrates Chay Blyth and John Ridgway arriving in Ireland in 1966 after rowing the Atlantic.

Enthusiasm for rowing oceans in adapted dories does not seem to have gone away in the intervening decades – but where did all the sailors of little dinghies go?