This year, four East Coast boats have been nominated for the annual Classic Boat Magazine Awards. Please take the time to read about these and other boats which are nominated and make your choice. There are, of course, several other categories with many more interesting tales of restoration to tell.
Restored sailing vessel under 40’: ‘Yet’
Design and Build Aldous, 1898, LOD 36ft (11m), Rig gaff cutter
The ex-fishing smack ‘Yet’ has been rebuilt from wreck by Dan Tester who, with late father Barry, has established a microcosm of perfection in such boats over many years. This one is for himself and his wife Marion, and she remains engineless, the way she was built.
Restored sailing vessel over 40’: ‘Sparklet’
Design and Build Herbert Bunn, 1905, LOD 41ft (12.5m), Rig gaff cutter
The unsympathetic conversion of the Edwardian Broads racing yacht Sparklet to a modest cruising yacht before World War One destroyed her flowing lines but helped ensure her survival into the 21st century. Thanks to Henry Harston and a team at Broadland Boat Builders, she’s back to original.
Spirit of Tradition: ‘Laerling’
Design Paul Spooner & Jim Dines, Build Downs Road Boatyard, 2024, 52ft (15.8m), Gaff ketch
‘Laerling’ (Norwegian for ‘apprentice’) was built by apprentices at Downs Road for a sponsor client. She’s a mix of new and old, with a traditional steel hull based on Colin Archer and other designers, hybrid propulsion, and redundancy in almost everything for adventure in far-flung places.
Gstaad Yacht Club Centenarian of the Year: ‘Growler’
Design TH Hughes, Built by Whites of Conyer Creek, 1922, 34ft (10.4m) LOD, Gaff ketch
The resurrection of ‘Growler’, a half-sized barge yacht from bare hull, was carried out over four years by Ash Faire-Ring. He started the project aged just 17 while still at school. The hull was partly sound, but there was some re-planking to do and the rest of the boat was a hulk. Ash was lucky enough to have some mentors and inspirations, like local man John Owles and, further away, Greg Powlesland.
Find more about the ‘Growler’ project here
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