Designed by Alfred Westmacott and built in his Woodnutts Yard on the Isle of Wight in 1930 for a lady sailor. She was the largest of 3 built to a similar design and proved to be a perfect small cruising yacht.
Bermudian cutter 28’3” x 22’3”wl x 7’10” x 3’8” + 3’ bowsprit. 5TM
A chunky, long keeled yacht, her significant features are her pointed canoe stern and her nicely proportioned varnished teak coach-roof with a marked camber to the roof.
Planked in full length pitch-pine, 16 strakes per side with varnished teak rubbing strakes and toe rails and a cove line cut into the sheer strake, all copper fastened to 55 pairs of Canadian Rock elm steamed timbers on an oak back-bone. Approx 2 ton external lead ballast keel secured with bronze bolts through 12 heavy grown oak floors.
I remember Elfin so well. She was owned then by Janie, I think her name was, a very independent woman rather like her first owner. Again, my memory fails, but I know she featured at her launch in the 1930s in YM, and that she was built for a "lady yachtswoman".
ReplyDeleteThus I have always seen her as a paculiarly feminine little yacht, so graceful.vPeter Gregson would have her history I am sure. She's a special boat that deserves better.
Is that the state in which she can be found today? If so it's a pity because she was always immaculate, on her pontoon mooring up the Hamble, but that must have been all of ten years ago. Someone needs to buy her and bring her back up to scratch, preferably a woman. No woman would have left her in that state, surely...
There's some info on her at: http://www.rlymyc.org.uk/Archives/documents/Paul%20Rawlinson%27s%20Article%20W%20W%20%20WW.pdf
ReplyDeleteBuilt for a Mrs GN Findlay Smith, ah, now I remember...!
I am happy to report that she has is now well cared for and is being returned to a standard befitting her pedigree - by a man - she remains on the Dart. She is indeed a lovely, special little boat.
ReplyDelete