Our featured boat for October is ‘Capriccio’, originally called ‘Wendy’, kept on the River Deben.
She was designed by Morgan Giles when he was just 24 years old. Over her long life, she has had many owners and each has slightly added and adapted her to suit their needs. Despite this, all the planking is original with a few sistered oak frames. The boat has been in and out of the OGA since the early 1970s, based on records in publications and her early Boat Register no., shown on her sail, 388. She’s reported to have taken part in events on the East Coast over her years of membership, including a third place in the East Coast Race, 1979 and Annual Summer Cruise this year.
She was built by Gordon Sinden, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight in 1912. Her construction is pitch pine carvel planking on oak bent frames, copper fastened with teak coamings and superstructure. LOA: 28’, LWL:23’, Beam: 7ft 8ins, Draft: 4ft.
Sinden kept her for his own use until 1924 when she was sold to Major A H Stuart, Southampton. Her next owner, (1930-37) was M Hackforth-Jones who installed auxiliary power in 1931 with a 2-cylinder petrol engine and converted her from sloop to cutter rig in 1933. She changed hands again in 1937 with A McDougall of Tring, Hertfordshire keeping her through the war years. In 1947 she was purchased by L F Kent, London who sold her to G West of Rochester, Kent in 1965 who kept her for ten years. Between 1976 and 1980 she was owned by Wendy Laycock, Huddersfield and listed for sale in the OGA Newsletter 1980 when she was kept at Pin Mill on the River Orwell:
“WENDY (388) Gaff Cutter, 42 tons I.M: 28′ (+4′ bspt) x 8′ x 3’6”. Built Sinden Bros, Fishbourne 1912. 1 double bunk, 1 single. 2 burner & grill cooker. Old main & 2 jibs. V. sound. New main, two jibs & beating genoa. Lies Pin Mill. £4000. Wendy Laycock, Ipswich, Suffolk.”
Just two years later, she’s listed again for sale in the OGA Newsletter, by F S Evans, following a refit which includes a new engine. In the second advert, he reduces the price to £5,900 and notes a new address in Hampshire.
“Wendy (388) 28ft. cutter. Morgan Giles, 1912. Pitch pine on oak. New Volvo 7hp diesel just fitted. Extensive refit, new bunks. Echo sounder, compass, cooker, Blake WC etc., Good sails and new ghoster. Afloat Woodbridge. £6,950. F S Evans, Norwich.”
In the 1980s she came to the East Coast in the ownership of R. Parish who kept her on the River Deben at Woodbridge, selling her in 1987. She was renamed ‘Capriccio’ at this time. Brian and later Crispin Thomas, of Wivenhoe kept ‘Capriccio’ between 1987 and 1995 when she passed to J C Forrest, also of Wivenhoe. She has now returned to the River Deben, owned since 2019 by OGA member, Paul Cook. Her home port is Ramsholt on the River Deben.
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