Classic Boat Museum Collection
Most of the boats at the Museum are of wood, beautifully restored and of many types, from sailing dinghies to powerful speedboats to stately Thames craft. FLYING SPRAY AIRBORNE LIFEBOAT SOPRANINO LADY PENELOPE
KESTREL
ROSABELLE
BLACK BESS There is to be an exhibition in Southampton from July 2006 on these ancestors, the Diaper family of Itchen Ferry, which will run to March 2007.
GIPSY MOTH IV CONNECTION This famous yacht, in which Francis Chichester sailed single-handed round the world, has been rescued from a concrete berth by UKSA in 2005 and restored to a very active new life. She is currently ‘going round again’ – this time taking with her young people whose lives will be changed for the better by their experiences on board and from the places they visit.
OTHER BOATS ON DISPLAY include dinghies – Albacore, Duckling, Enterprise, Firefly- with original yellow cotton sails - Hornet, International 14, Signet, Scow, amongst others; canoes – sailing, folding, Marine Commando; rowing boats and motor launches – and an amazing folding lifeboat that volunteers have nicknamed IKEA. Designed and built C. 1912 by Salters of Oxford, this latter may have been a sample for the White Star line, who placed four similar boats on the Titanic, where they saved many lives. To come this summer – a baby hovercraft. |
Now beautifully restored, this 1920’s river launch was found holed and partly flooded in a Thames backwater. She has been to rallies in Germany and Switzerland and recently won the Concours d’Elegance at a prestigious French regatta at Aix les Bains. The fine mahogany transom shows ‘mirror’ flame planking, and her windows are etched with river scenes.
A Mark 1A version of Uffa Fox’s 1943 design, these boats were dropped by parachute from aircraft to airmen who ditched in the Channel and the North Sea during World War II – they saved some 600 lives. Rescued crews managed to sail, motor and sometimes row home. One crew took 4 days to reach Plymouth from the Bay of Biscay. A two-year programme has restored this early example to its original specification after being dug out of a garden in Colchester.
The famous first example of an offshore mini cruiser/racer, and the foundation of the present day highly successful Junior Offshore Group fleet. Sailed across the Atlantic in 1952 by Patrick Ellam and Colin Mudie she was found in a poor state in the USA, purchased for $1 and returned home to be restored to sail again.
The favourite of children of all ages – this Chris Craft Silver Arrow was an early example of glass fibre technology and was once owned by the notorious Lady Docker. She catches all eyes when her 225 hp V8 Chrysler engine roars out of the harbour and she was recently the perfect choice to carry an Elvis Presley look alike ashore for a Cowes Week party.
One of two Bembridge Redwings in the Museum. This 1896 fleet carried a class stipulation of any type of sail under 200 sq ft. In 1934 Lord Brabazon of Tara took this rule to extremes by fitting a rotating aerofoil rig to Kestrel, complete with swiveling mast and a brake at the masthead. Today when she is sailing in a good breeze, incredulous onlookers find it hard to understand how she works – but she does!
The first major restoration project undertaken by the Museum, the 1887 rowing lifeboat Queen Victoria is now owned by the Isle of Wight Historic Lifeboats Trust. She is on view at the Museum when she is not traveling round the country supporting maritime events elsewhere. In January 1999 we took her to Lynton in Devon to re-enact, to the day, the heroic overland pull with five carthorses that took place in 1899 over a stormy Exmoor to launch into sheltered waters at Porlock Weir. She also led the late Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday parade through London, representing the RNLI, and took part in the RNLI’s 175th anniversary event in Poole harbour.
Currently being restored, the very launch from which, in the 1920’s and ‘30’s Frank Beken took all those magnificent sailing pictures that you see today world-wide.
The latest acquisition by the Museum, this historic and beautiful Una catboat has been generously donated by the family in whose care she has been for over 70 years. Nearly 24’ LOA and built in Cowes in 1872, she is thought to be the oldest English registered pleasure yacht still sailing. Of equal interest is the amount of her history that has come with her – photos, paintings, articles, and ownership details that add so much value to her part in the importance of yachting in the Solent area.
An 1870 Itchen ferry, Black Bess carries the Museum name on her tanned sails around the Solent to many regattas during the summer. Sailed often by Malcolm, a volunteer whose ancestors were Itchen fishermen, she is much loved and a fine example of a local working boat.
