Returning to the intended order of writing, it was early 2010 when I started looking into the fate of ‘Corsair’s’ sisters. In part this was spurred on by the C&H connection to Upton.
Of course the Clipper’s also have a bigger sister – ‘Privateer’, who I will write about next.
For ‘Corsair’, I knew by this point she had passed through the hands of Stephen Hinde – a reminder of his ownership is here; https://broadssailing.blog/2019/07/24/olorenshaw-hinde/
Having his head turned by ‘Loyalist’ – Stephen left ‘Corsair’ at a boat auction in Potter Heigham. This period of her life I don’t have many details about, save what’s printed in the class listings within the ‘Green Book’.
1978; sold at boat auction.
1979-1983; owned by K.T. Henson
1984-1987; owned by P. Willen
Bizarrely – during one change of ownership – the spelling of ‘Corsair’ was corrupted to ‘Coresair’ – which wasn’t corrected until 1986!
What I do know, is that for these 9 years, ‘Corsair’ lived on the Northern Rivers, with a prolong spell moored at South Walsham Broad. Given the proximity of S.W. Broad to Martham, it’s likely that she often saw her sisters, still hard at work in the business of hire.
Clippers – dispersal
I’ve written previously about the C&H yachts which made their way to Upton; https://broadssailing.blog/2020/01/31/upton-the-ch-connection/
The other C&H yachts went to a variety of owners, but sticking to the ‘Clipper’s’ – these found their way to Martham, where they became part of the Martham Boatbuilding & Dev. Co fleet.
Known locally as ‘Martham Boats’ – they still retain an extensive fleet of wooden sailing boats, and certainly they were the only yard who saved many beautiful yachts by keeping them working long enough that private owners could be found. More info on their fleet is available here; https://www.marthamboats.com/
In 1961, Martham bought I – V, bolstering their existing fleet of yachts with these small pre-war yachts. Clipper’s I-III were still engineless (!), credit to their reputation as immortalised by ‘Blakes’ the hire agency;
“a design giving distinctly superior sailing qualities”
Perhaps more objectively, this is an insight into the post-war attitudes at Chumley & Hawke. Knowing they intended to dispose of the fleet, it may well have been economic to limit the investment in R3M Stuart Turner engines to the newer (just) yachts.
During 2010, I went and spoke with Gordon Curtis, one of the founders of the Martham fleet, to learn more about how the ‘Clipper’s’ had turned out in their ownership.
By 1965 Clipper’s I-V all had inboard engines, but had had their rigs adapted slightly. Gone were the self-tacking jibs, and in their place a smart tan suit of sails changed their appearance considerably. Also, gone the pre-war varnished top-sides replaced with white gloss.
Credibly, Martham kept these pre-war yachts active for a number of years. If it hadn’t been for their intervention, I am not sure that all 6 would have survived.
They did however remain very basic with optional extras limited to a wireless radio & a rowing dinghy!
Digressing slightly, it would have been an exhilerating time for any wooden boat enthusiast to walk the bank at Martham. Woods, Powles, Chumley & Hawke, Press, Pegg & numerous other pre-war pedigree craft lined the Upper Thurne. Gordon even bought a wherry (or two)!
In fact, as a complete aside – Gordon bought the wherry ‘Hathor’ from infamous Broads navigator – ‘Claud Hamilton’. His previous wherry – ‘Claudian’ had sadly broken her back during the 1953 floods. Seen here in 1950 at Barton Regatta looking quite spritely, sailed by ‘Claud’;
Whilst chatting, Gordon recounted how he quickly learnt how to sail ‘Hathor’ using the original pre-war cotton mainsail, until this disintegrated. She then became a houseboat, until saved by Peter Bower – founder of the current Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust.
Anyway, yes. This is writing about Clipper’s not wherries. Sorry.
Over the years, Clipper II, IV & V gradually left Martham’s fleet, with Clipper I being the last to formally retire from hire, being sold in 1998.
1998? That’s 63 years work of hire, being sailed week in, week out from Easter through to October. I’m amazed at the resilience of these dainty yachts.
Clipper III remained in Martham’s ownership, and to my knowledge was withdrawn from hire at some point in the early 1990’s. I wasn’t allowed to photograph her, but by a bizarre turn of fate – my good friends Vince & Linda had hired her in the 1970’s!
I’m confident in saying that Clipper III is the most original to how the Clipper’s would have been in hire, having now been sojourned at rest for 30 years in her barn.
However, what’s astonishing to me, is the way in which the ‘Clipper’s’ seemingly brushed past me closely, without me knowing about them. Clipper V was bought and owned by my primary school Headteacher for example!
Both Clipper IV & V are perhaps the most significantly altered from original. Both have had their cabin’s cut-down, cockpits extended and some very neat integral topsail rigs fitted. This has made them both extremely competitive!
As an aside, the modifications carried out also haven’t spoilt the aesthetic of the Clipper’s. They retain a very sleek look, as you can see here;
Clipper II still lives close to Martham, in fact she spends much of her time in a wet boatshed at Potter Heigham. She was reverted to varnished topsides – and although she is seen here sailing with an outboard motor mounted (sacrilege), she provides the closest aesthetic to the pre-war Clipper’s. I suspect if given a self-tacking jib, she’d be a facsimile of a 1930’s Blakes photograph.
Finally – Clipper I. After her exhaustive career in hire – she was owned by Robert Harris as a private yacht, and then bought back into Martham’s fleet, circa 2015. They immediately treated her to a new suit of sails, giving her a VERY similar appearance to ‘Corsair’, early 1960’s.
What is apparent when you compare Clipper’s I-V to ‘Corsair’ is the difference that extra plank makes in terms of internal volume. I’m VERY grateful that when ‘Corsair’ was built as Clipper VI, that extra plank was added!
In 2010, Clipper’s I & VI found themselves at rest, Horsey Dyke, which started this whole process.
So yes, in a round about way that’s the fate of all the Clippers. One day I might be lucky to get all 6 in the same place.
Goodnight.
A Broadsman 