A reasonably dry night surprised us all at Coltishall, 4 drips overall we reckon can be considered reasonably dry!
We motored in the rain (surprise!) downstream to Wroxham, taking the shortcut through Bridge Broad. This is a stretch of the navigation which can be overlooked – did you know there’s an Alpine landscape next to the river?
At Wroxham, some replacement waterproof trousers were needed (don’t ask) – an unfortunately due to a stocking issue, the entire crew of ‘Corsair’ can now wear these poxy trousers at the same time!!
Given the now torrential rain, we all clambered aboard ‘HB’ & found ourselves moved quite briskly downriver to Horning, ready to make sail again (after all, this is a sailing boat – Skipper’s grumble).
Maybe it was an omen, but we found ourselves in the sunshine (for the 2nd time that week, AND with a favourable breeze it felt like maybe it could be an actual holiday! This was Jacob’s 1st venture into yachting, so typically we launched ourselves straight into the path of an oncoming wherry (Albion)!
At the mouth of the Ant, we cut short our yachting & joined the procession of jolly sailor types heading from Barton Open Regatta. En-route we passed the film crew of ‘Jam Today’ again – and by How Hill we’d set 1st reef & middle jib for some more yachting.
Out on Barton we were glad of the reef – storming about adjacent to ‘HB’ – causing chaos in the cabin,
Energetic sailing doesn’t pay!
although we did get some spectacular photo’s of the old girl. Our antics were carefully watched by ‘Jenny’ – a fully reefed hire boat from Martham who disapproved.
Eventually, ‘HB’ towed us to Sutton Staithe, where we moored in the rain (how familiar) & spent the evening BBQ’ing… after all we are on holiday!
We survived. A bland & mediocre offering but nonetheless sufficient. Much like rationing.
It is strange to start a day’s log talking about events that happened yesterday however some things are worthy of note… as ‘Vintage Broadsman’ appeared on Salhouse Broad last night, blasting out a cheesy disco soundtrack, it was promptly drowned out by the Mozart from HB’s sound-system. How proper.
We can also report that the ‘Fur & Feathers’ is still a fine establishment serving much tasty ale… In fact the only fly in the ointment is that there was a troupe of Morris dancers outside who asked for requests; apparently ‘piss off’ wasn’t the correct answer. So we left swiftly after clearing that misunderstanding up!
Evening at Salhouse
Besides ensuring that we stayed until we had used all of our £6 mooring fee, there was little available to keep us at Salhouse so we headed for Wroxham amid more rain (lovely!) – in fact it was so unpleasant that we lowered the mast & motored the whole way as quickly as possible.
Wroxham itself had a variety of temptation to offer us, mostly fish & chips, some overly large waterproof trousers and an exceedingly flamboyant umbrella for the skipper. Also, there was a whistle-stop tour of Roy’s food department.
The world’s largest trousers…
And, for no reason at all, its worth nothing that when you throw the mudweight overboard, ALWAYS check if it is on a short line, and whether or not it’s only on a small cleat with short screws… I mention this for no reason.
Post fish & chips, we departed the moorings & motored under Hoveton viaduct toward Belaugh. Despite HB taking a shortcut through bridge broad – ‘Corsair’ maintained the lead.
It was the 1st time ‘Corsair’ had been to Coltishall in my ownership & despite the weather (torrential rain) the navigation was very pretty. I saw a Kingfisher & several shoals of fish in the very clear water.
I might add, those weren’t the only highlights of the trip. ‘HB’ had the sliding roof open going through Wroxham bridge, soaking the Judas aboard… Sadly it was nothing to the sogginess of ‘Corsair’ – the awning was laid over the cabin, the umbrella was up… not a jot of bloody difference it made!
We spotted the ‘Death & Glory’ and ‘Troutbridge’ moored at Belaugh. No loveable Lesley however.
Much later, we found ourselves at Coltishall with the Tilley lamp valiantly drying out the contents of our cabin, with our new crew member languishing aboard ‘HB’ in the saloon. Weakness of character if you ask me!
Today we started lazily if I’m honest, the Skipper began with attempting to steal a TE20 tractor from the boatyard & in a fit of benevolance we offered the crew of a ‘Leander’ to moor alongside us so they could access the freshwater hose.
It was quite strange really to compare the 2, considering that ‘Corsair’ came from the same yard – they really are completely different!
Our C&H ‘sister’; freshly re-watered.
(This was years before I understood the role A.L. Braithwaite had with the clippers – versus the reality of Alfred Yaxley from Belaugh, the postwar foreman of Chumley&Hawke who did however build ‘Corsair’ with Tim Whelpton, albeit with an extra plank)
Anyway, in a strange reversal of our now familiar daily routine, we took all reefs out – bunged the big jib on (!) & set full rig after 4 days!! We soon departed & headed for a wild-mooring opposite St. Benet’s abbey to perform housework. (Binky cleaned the cabin windows)
Enjoying full-rig, we set off again & navigated onto South Walsham Broad where we sailed well into the inner broad, circumnavigated the island & spotted RCC S/N70 ‘Don’ at mudweight. Coming out of Fleet Dyke, we engaged in some informal racing with a Devon yawl, with Mr Jalil proving himself quite competitive (surprising)
S/N70 ‘Don’ & assembled fleet!
HB was spotted on the St Benet’s moorings, where Theo promptly (and quite literally) jumped ship. The prospect of a warm & dry berth proving too tempting for his weak-willed traitorous ways!
Despite this treachery Binky & I enjoyed the gentle tack upto Ranworth, where to be fair ‘HB’ did tow us onto Malthouse broad, where we mudweighted close to the wherry ‘Albion’ where we then all unwisely leapt into a tiny dinghy for the passage to the Maltsers P.H.
The tack to Ranworth.
(At this point, a certain Judas displayed all the grace of a baby rhino on acid to get in/out of the said dinghy, nearly tipping us all in!)
After a reasonably boozy lunch, we motored upriver to the surprisingly expensive Salhouse Broad for the night. D is cooking, only tomorrow will tell if we survive…
Dear readers… this morning we managed to wake slowly, with no hysterics from Jalil… our temporary waterproofing HAS WORKED!
Despite the sheltered nature of the staithe – it was apparent that it was bloomin’ windy, something we discovered when we ventured onto Barton Broad. We set the ever familiar 2 reefs & middle jib, before storming across the Broad enjoying ourselves, and ignoring the chaos in the cabin (!)
Whilst thundering around the Broad, we allowed ourselves a giggle at a hire-yacht branded with ‘TRY SAILING’ -which at times seemed a good suggestion for the helmsman to follow. (!)
This was said through gritted teeth!
Fun over, we decided that a tack down the Ant would be impossible – so we became tourist-esque. We motored to Stalham to wander around. It was at this point I bought a Tilley lamp, which turned out to be a complete lemon! (I think we were desperately trying to find ways of drying out the boat)
Sadly even the charms of Stalham weren’t enough to keep us there, despite a ‘en masse’ decision for hot showers at Richardson’s boatyard (behave! Not like that) So freshly laundered, we gave into the inevitable and motored downriver to Ludham Bridge, where we moored in half a bloody gale… holiday’s afloat eh?
The crew at this point abandoned me – choosing to sit in the cabin rather than endure another cold & wet slog into the rain. Can’t blame them! (but I will)
‘Enjoying’ ourselves in the summer weather.
The weather did moderate a little, which enabled us to stop at ‘How Hill’ (more tourism) – walking around & inspecting both Toad Hole cottage & Boardman’s pump. Boardman’s pump is a trestle open frame mill, complete with its turbine pump (dating from 1897) – it’s amazing what you’ll read on an information board when you’re soaked through & fed up!
Sensibly at this point, we sought refuge in the ‘Dog Inn’ for the evening. Highlights (or not) was how we ended up in conversation with a film crew who were filming a short film called ‘Jam Today’ – for the UK independent film council. The weather meant these lads were stuck on a boat with beautiful young women. Bastards.
Today started with a sense of deja vu… Although without such a vibrant soundtrack, Mr Jalil was nontheless forced to vacate his bunk in search of drier sanctuary in the cockpit…
(At the time, we ended up duct-taping bin bans to the cabin side & routing them behind the bunk-shelf – diverting water mostly away from the mattress and sleeping crewmate)
This was to prove a persistant issue – and it wasn’t until 2016 I was in a position to attempt a permanent repair.
After such inclemency, the weather did improve somewhat. However before I divule such metrological bumphf I should mention the nice lay who sold us eggs… It’s all in aid of ex-battery hens & extensive testing of the said eggs (with bacon & fried bread) revealed that they are DELICIOUS!
Tacking out of Hickling – note the small rig (Day 3 of double reef / No. 2 jib!)
Despite this usual ‘slog’ – we bravely carried on! (I suspect heads may have been sore after the Greyhound P.H) and began a long tack into Potter. There’s little which can be said about tacking against the tie, however if you add a narrow river, moored boats, bungalows and trees… suddenly it becomes a more ‘entertaining’ scene. One small piece of Willow was our only trophy for our endeavours!
Mooring at Potter Heigham proved to be quite eventful… The Hunter’s yacht ‘Luna’ who after several abortive attempts made a down-tide mooring which saw our harassed bowsprit bending most alarmingly. Full credit to the skipper who performed a leap worthy of a gymnast which Theo was dragged along the bank trying to tether same yacht with its bow-line. Still… it’s only varnish!
Such excitement behind us, we motored slowly out down the Thurne, before tacking up the Bure toward St. Benets, this 2nd bout of tacking proved to be the only sunny interlude of the day – something which we remembered fondly later on…
I can’t speak much for our trip up the Ant, except that I was busy repairing No. 1 jib (three repairs) and en-route we selected Neatishead as our destination for the evening.
Mooring & navigating to Neatishead requires care at the best of times, you dodge trees, motor-boats & other obstacles all the way up the dyke. So we went slowly…
… our unusual caution meant us getting caught in a viscous downpour which soaked us all to the skin. In such circumstances, we moored & ‘awned’ in record time. With both burners going on in the galley – we recreated a sauna whilst re-waterproofing Theo’s bunk with more bin bags.
Last night there was rain, not your average ‘oh dear it’ll do the garden good’ rain… but biblical, bouncing off the cabin roof deluge.
Still – could be worse!
Truthfully my first conscious memory of the day was to see Mr Jalil storming indignantly out of the cabin (whilst still in his sleeping bag) muttering something about “Mr Farrow & his so called waterproof boat” (!)
Needless to say, he slept the rest of the evening in the cockpit – a miserable experience. ‘Corsair’s’ benches are just under 6ft long, and work ideally as seats – but not beds!
Sated with a cooked breakfast (these engineers are so very tempremental) we decided to keep our cut-down rig and sedately proceeded upriver to Potter Heigham, where with ice cream & burgers we lunched with CD & co.
The calming breakfast…
Having quanted through both bridges – we were treated at this juncture to the sight of several Hunter’s yachts scattering themselves across the river.
Evidently trying to ‘shoot’ the bridges, some had masts down, some halfway up, some just were a tangle of legs, string & quants… We noted all of them were ‘uptide’ of the new bridge (how brave!)
The Hunter fleet at Potter – with an interesting yacht below the bridge
Eventually, we set sail upriver toward Hickling, sliding along as we tacked through the bungalows to Kendal Dyke.
Here we were treated to a bit of champagne sailing, the wind had filled in to a steady sea breeze and ‘Corsair’ stormed across Hickling, narrowly beating local YBOD ‘Monarch’
By now we felt truly ‘on holiday’ – Jalil managed to dry his bunk mattress in the evening sunshine, and as we were moored in the aforementioned sun, we sipped at Cab. Sauv. whilst writing this.
Afterwards in the wake of a spectacular sun-set we ventured ‘up the road’ to the Grayhound P.H. The skies were fantastic, purple even!
For those of you who’re familiar, each year the reality of having an old wooden boat meant I also holidayed… aboard my old wooden boat. 2010 was no different!
Day 1
Today, as ever was quite hectic (this stands true now – no matter how prepared I think I am – I still end up pulling a superhuman effort to leave the house on time with all the gear I need for a sailing trip)
The precious/vital items you’ve forgotten, the last minute jobs etc. This year it was further compounded by ‘Boris’ a truculent 30yr old Land Rover;
The L/R
You get 2 choices at Oby – make several time-consuming trips, OR make one lung bursting, eyeball popping legs-bowed trudge – thinking stoic thoughts about pack mules. The path itself was also uneven, often muddy & with livestock to contend with…. Character building!
With ‘Corsair’ loaded – we then entered our usual underwater ploughing competition to leave the mooring. 3ft 8″ draft. Sigh.
(having just bought a L/R with a 2.6L straight six – I was resigned to sailing without the engine as I couldn’t afford petrol for both. Improves your sailing skills, but watching both quants bend like bananas as we forced ‘Corsair’ through the mud always was unnerving!)
Freed, we set two reefs & middle jib saw us storming up the Bure toward Thurne junction. Despite our efforts at reefing, control soon became marginal (!)
Situation ‘not ideal’
…and it was only the sterling work of Mr Jalil (who I note has been promoted for 2010?) that brought relative calm by scandalising the mainsail.
We ventured up Womack water for the evening, and sliding upriver we spotted ‘Pickin Jack’ looking quite forlorn outside Colin Buttifant’s yard. Evidently he has still yet to complete ‘Seabird’s’ new mast…
(nb ‘Seabird’ had sustained an injury whilst acting as start-boat for Reedham regatta. Colin B. being tasked with a new mast. ‘Seabird’s’ owners been reported as muttering “I wanted a new bloody windscreen not a new bloody mast” to much hilarity.)
Mooring at the staithe proved tricky but we slid into a little spot!! We adopted our usual trick of aiming at the gap – pushing in until the fenders sqweak, keep pushing then adjust the other boats mooring lines to make the space fit ‘Corsair’… works every time – especially with unsuspecting tourists.
In fact, my top-tip for mooring next to holiday-makers. First come alongside, then step aboard… Get a line on the nearest cleat. Then, and only then ask if its okay to moor alongside them. Got it?
(alas boat next door turned out to be noisy swines)
Later that night, we found ourselves in the King’s Arms, which for some inexplicable reason had a DJ and the music… more bloody noise!
Well peeling your eyelids with rusty nails would have been less painful. However later in the evening there was entertainment in the form of Laura (also a pub-goer) who had an issue with her dress zip(!)
(The logbook notes the skipper became all unnecessary at this point & ends abruptly)
‘Corsair’ was kept at South Walsham broad, moored in a private dyke under the ownership of a M.Doleac. I’m uncertain as to whether she was actively for sale, but as is the way with many old Broads yachts, there was someone looking – and ultimately most boats are for sale if you ask very nicely.
The someone being Steve Sanderson, a local boatbuilder from Reedham.
The Sanderson family – 1981; Steve Sanderson far right.
He’d been tasked with finding a Broads yacht for Joe Kilner (from whom I bought ‘Corsair’) – although Steve & his family also deserve a mention…
The Sanderson family bought their boatyard in 1932, the site being known as ‘Hall’s yard’, wherry builders who’d built some absolute beauties.
Hall’s yard – Reedham. At least 2 wherries on the slip.
2 Halls built wherries survive, ‘Hathor’ (with her own rich & varied history) – and ‘Maud’, the last surviving clinker built trading wherry. A grandson of the Hall family worked for the Sanderson’s until the 1950’s.
The Sanderson’s lived aboard a sizeable ex-RAF launch ‘Astral’ for 28years, with brothers Colin & Steve joining the family business as they were able to. So when Steve was asked to source a suitable Broads yacht for Joe K. – he duly pointed him in the direction of ‘Corsair’.
Astral – moored outside Sanderson’s.
(Later I was to learn that ‘Corsair’ had transferred ownership via circuititous routes more than once!)
At this point, it’s very hard not to digress but in the mid-late 1980’s there was a huge resurgence of interest in old Broads yachts, their sailing & racing. The Broads legend (s) Maidie & M.Barnes in 1984 found themselves at Sanderson’s – the beginning of an ownership/story which is still ongoing today; 84_maidieeastored.jpg (600×1463) (broadlandmemories.co.uk).
As part of this resurgence, in 1985 a proposal to re-form the Yare Sailing Club was made – which caught the interest of Joe. ‘Corsair’ was purchased, and arrangements made to bring her south to Reedham – to a mooring in Sanderson’s Dyke.
Joe & Julia both lived out of Norfolk at this point, Julia recalls on her 1st trip down, her Mini clubman broke down outside of King’s Lynn, making a long journey to Reedham even longer. Salvation came in the form of a friend couple who drove Julia to their house nearby, enabling the RAC to be called (life before mobile phones!). The car was resurrected & after several hours the Ferry Inn lit up in the headlights, and an indroctrination in Broads sailing started.
(what a beginning!)
Despite the breakdown, the Mini was pressed into service almost immediately – with the mast counterweight being loaded into the back (!), something which I’m certain made the steering a lot lighter!!
After an early start ‘Corsair’ was fastened alongside the motorboat ‘Tinga’, owned by Brian Holden of the GWYC – and towed through Yarmouth. Tidally it’s always worth getting to Breydon at the right time, as wind over tide can create abit of a ‘slop’.
One of ‘Corsair’s’ many quirks came to light at this point… the forrad cabin ports will only close if the roof is raised! And, like all boats being towed alongside in even mild wind over tide conditions – torrents of water begun to fling about – especially as the towing boat bounces to a different ‘sync’ than the towed vessel. Cue lots of water flooding past those open cabin ports!
Julia at this point resorted to crouching in the cabin, holding both panes of glass in an attempt to keep the cabin dry! I’m not sure of the success of this tactic, but a ‘pit stop’ at the Berney Arms Inn restored spirits (or should that read restorative spirits?) for ‘Corsair’ to motor to Reedham & slip into Sanderson’s Dyke.
Joe & Julia’s ownership of ‘Corsair’ brought well-needed stability & care to the boat. When you own a boat for a long time you’re able to properly invest in its future. Joe set about a comprehensive programme of modifications / structural works to ‘Corsair’, which included a new rig. Since 1961, she’d carried a neat gunter rig which Joe replaced with a gaff-topsail set-up from ‘Sabrina’, then in the ownership of another GWYC member, Robin Stewart.
In the early days of Joe’s ownership – ‘Corsair’ had a tendency not to respond to the helm, this was solved with an extension to the rudder, and eventually alterations to the position of the keel. Many, many years later when rebuilding ‘Corsair’ we were able to utilise one of the original floors, which at the time was not fitted with a keelbolt – such was the distance the keel was repositioned!
Joe oversaw the replacement of many planks, fitment of a gas locker & deck hatch in the aft deck, repositioning the winches from the cabin roof onto the deck (their previous location on the roof can still be seen today). Interestingly, although the mast & bowsprit were extended – fittings were added to enable the original ‘small’ rig to be set on the same spars.
Early in their ownership (1988) ‘Corsair’ won the Turkey race, an annual event originally sponsored by Steve Sanderson, 1st prize. Celebrations post-race also included the Reedham Ferry, where interestingly enough, there’s a link to another story…
My favourite recollection of Joe & Julia’s ownership – is one from a very early sail… Whilst running down the Yare – Joe advised Julia not to let the tiller come up, as to avoid a gybe.
This advice duly given – Joe was gathering fenders in on the sidedeck, when a crash gybe flung him (and the fenders) straight into the river Yare! When questioned why she’d tell the tiller ‘up’ Julia calmly responded that it only moved from side to side… (!)
Although another good tale, is the day ‘Corsair’ was in the strops of Sanderson’s big crane;
The infamous ‘big crane’ – seen here in 1984 lifting the Broads racer Maidie S/N52.
This crane has personality… with ‘Corsair’ hanging just above the barrels – it took off slewing with no input at the controls – boat conkers! Although I think the planks & ribs which suffered have now all been replaced thankfully.
Living in Holly Farm Dyke, wintering in Holly Farm barn, Reedham was home for ‘Corair’ the next 20 years, truly becoming a ‘southern rivers’ boat.
Corsair & her friends – Holly Farm Dyke, late 1980’s.
Next time we’ll re-visit 2010’s sailing holiday, and start to unpick the trail of Corsair’s designer, A.L. Braithwaite.
I mentioned the white painted transom previously as an indication of an older yacht needing TLC… this perhaps was reflected in the price, £450!
The Bown family duly put ‘Privateer’ to use, often sailing as a family. Compare this photograph from the early 1960’s to Privateer in 1936.
Privateer – early 1960’s
Alas this proved to be quite true, as Mr Bown senior undertook a significant amount of work in 1965 on ‘Privateer’. At that time, much of the planking & many of the ribs were replaced.
Paul Bown (Mr B’s son) recounted that there was little evidence of Privateer’s hire-career, aside from a repair to a cabin-side, which was a legacy of the Royal (!) cock up on Breydon in ’48.
Interestingly – Paul also discovered evidence that ‘Privateer’ had been altered throughout her hire career at C&H, there were multiple holes in the hog, indicating that the keel had been moved on at least two occasions (!)
I suspect, that Privateer when built was almost entirely balanced, and that the re-positioning of the keel was an attempt to bring some weather helm into play for safety reasons.
(most Broads hire cruisers had enormous weather helm, which meant if a hirer panicked, they just luffed themselves and stopped)
Unfortunately the 1965 rebuild cost £720 (!), which reflects the nature of the bargain price.
During the 1965 rebuild – ‘Privateer’ underwent a significant change in physical appearance. Many C&H yachts have cockpits which are ‘snug’, ‘Privateer’ being no exception. Hence the tiller linkage during her early years.
To provide useful additional space, Mr Bown senior re cut the coamings, raised the benches & splayed the short coamings ‘outboard’ to give a little extra space, as seen here.
Privateer with new windows & an enlarged cockpit. Moored at NBYC, Wroxham Broad.
The external sliding windows & their frames also disappeared at this point, apparently they could be opened by a jib-sheet – resulting in VERY wet bunks!
The final addition during Mr Bown senior’s ownership was the addition of a bowsprit, added in 1970. Paul Bown can be seen here – attaching the new jib!
The new bowsprit.
Mr Brittain had purchased new sails in 1956, aside from the larger jib for the bowsprit, that suit soldiered on until early 1990’s, another long-lived Jeckells suit. (not quite as long-lived as ‘Corsair’s’)
Privateer was sold in 1979, to Peter Dunham, who kept her in a boatshed at South Walsham (it appears S.Walsham has a ‘draw’ for C&H boats!). He didn’t keep her long however, as in 1983 she changed hands again…
… to Paul Bown! Mr Bown’s son. Evidently despite having sold her 1st time round because she was ‘abit much to handle’ -she was bought again!
Following a similar pattern, after 2 years of family-sailing, Paul took the opportunity to undertake some signficant works to ‘Privateer’ during 1985;
Paul managed to squeeze her into his front garden for this work!
So, in 1985, with a new deck, and a new rudder – Paul was able to enjoy racing ‘Privateer’, predominantly at Wroxham Broad;
Privateer – racing – Paul Bown helming. S/N 52 ‘Maidie’ & S/N 119 ‘ButterCup’ also photo’d.
In 1990 though, Paul had another project lined up, and ‘Privateer’ soon changed hands again, this time going to Jean Vaughan & Terry Secker.
Jean Vaughan, was in fact Jean Oliver – whose family had regularly hired ‘Privateer’ in the 1950’s, the boat having made such an impact on Jean, she snatched her up given the opportunity!
Jean & Terry kept ‘Privateer’ at Oulton Broad for a further 8 years. During this time, the tan sails disappeared. She lived on a buoy in Oulton’s South Bay.
Privateer – Oulton Broad 1990’s
Their ownership wasn’t without the occasional excitement. One day having rowed out the buoy, the tiller was found lying on the deck… The rudder having detached itself & helpfully sunk!
A diver was summonsed, and with breathtaking luck, he jumped off the stern of ‘Privateer’, and stood straight on the rudder! Given that on a buoy, say about 40ft overall, that’s an 80ft diameter circle it could have been lost on the circumference, so 1st dive to find it is bloody amazing!!
In 1998, Jean & Terry sold ‘Privateer’ to Mr Child, who still owns her today – the longest period of single ownership ‘Privateer’ has had to date. Tim has continued to enhance her, starting with a jackyard topsail rig;
Privateer – Cantley Regatta 2006.
Undoubtedly the addition of a larger jib, and a topsail enhanced ‘Privateer’s’ sailing performance, and kept her a regular figure on the regatta circuit throughout the early 2000’s.
In fact, Tim further pushed for performance by introducing one of the first ‘integral’ topsail rigs to be seen on the Broads, seen here to good effect at another Yare Sailing Club event, Breydon Open Regatta;
Privateer – Breydon Regatta 2007
Aren’t they both fantastic photos? Really showing the A.L. Braithwaite ‘sleek’ look, with the added bonus of being a sunny day. Fantastic!
Which brings us upto now – Tim still owns ‘Privateer’, he was my next door neighbour for a prolonged period of time, re-enforcing that somehow, C&H boats are bizarrely never too far away from me or my life…
Next time, we go back to ‘Corsair’ – and how she came to be a ‘southern rivers’ boat…
I promised I would write about ‘Privateer’ – and have managed to pull together my notes. Whilst it’s a distraction from writing about ‘Corsair’ – I hope it’s interesting. This is Part 1 of 2.
It was an incredible experience, and these photographs only emphasised that if I’m honest. I believe they’re taken in 1936, and show a newly built ‘Privateer’, heeling to a fresh breeze, clearly the pride of the C&H fleet;
Privateer – A.L. Braithwaite’s photographs.
I will say, I still find it AMAZING that those photographs survived 80 odd years, before being found & rescued by me. I count myself as very lucky to have them.
‘Privateer’ is typically Braithwaite in her design, displaying the fine entry & narrow transom that’s a signature for C&H yachts he drew. Complete with characteristic chrome trim, including the corner pieces on the cockpit & cabin sides.
At 31ft on-deck, there’s a strong chance that her metacentric qualities mean the largest underwater sectional area is likely to be nearly dead-on 50% of the LWL.
Interestingly, period commentary of ‘Privateer’ from both anecdotes (more of this later) and the Blake’s catalogue suggest she was a ‘handful’. Certainly she was advertised with the stern warning;
“not available to novices”
Blakes catalogues, much like Estate Agency listings need some interpretation, ‘Lively’ means arm-breaking weather helm. “Bijou” accommodation means a pokey cabin, and ‘easily handled’ means it sails like a log whatever you do… (!)
So I suggest the warning given meant ‘Privateer’ was a powerful boat.
This was confirmed to me in an anecdote by Paul Bown – a previous owner. He recounted that a local boatbuilder – Stanley Nudd was working quietly in the rigging shed at Herbert Woods – suddenly being rudely disturbed by ‘Privateer’ bursting through the shed wall! The party of young women aboard having lost control.
I don’t think this is immediately the fault of the helm, or ‘Privateer’ if I’m honest. To capitalise on internal space, alot of hire yachts had large cabins, with comparatively small cockpits, and as a ‘work around’ – some had their rudders linked to the tiller, which could then be mounted much further aft.
This creates alot of space in the cockpit – but the mechanical linkage limits you to putting the helm over until about 45 or 50 degrees max…
‘Privateer’ originally had such a linkage, which was later removed.
My theory – is that ‘Privateer’ was running downriver – toward the bridge. Upon turning, the limits of the tiller linkage meant she couldn’t (and wouldn’t) turn. Hence the nasty thump on the shed.
No damage to ‘Privateer’ was reported!
Herbert Woods’ yard – photographed in 1938 shows a white shed, immediately adjacent to the main river – I suspect this was the unfortunate victim of ‘Privateer’s’ advances!;
Herbert Woods – Potter Heigham, 1938.
Note the white shed, next to the footbridge (and the river!)
Being larger than the ‘Clipper’s’ meant the ‘Privateer’ could boast being a 2-cabin, 4 berth yacht. That is with 2 berths in the forrad cabin, then a Heads compartment & companionway opposite segregating this from the aft cabin – also with 2 berths. I’ve slept on ‘Privateer’ – and can vouch that the bunks are over 6ft length, and very wide!
Even though she was built for hire, it’s clear that Braithwaite & Lejeune decided to experiment. The gaff spar is bamboo – reducing weight aloft and linking back to the aim that all C&H yachts would be rewarding to sail.
They also looked to reducing the weight of the hull through construction. ‘Privateer’s’ hull planking was reputedly 3/4 mahogany (!) – with oak frames at 9″ centres. By comparision ‘Corsair’ has 1 inch planking, and her ribs are at 6″ centres.
Use of metalwork featured in the structural members of the hull- there was an iron breasthook & quarter knees – plus a substantial iron frame around the tabernacle.
Internally – the cabin roof was raised by a primative hydraulic system, ambitious! Later removed – as the leather seals were prone to leaking & spraying holiday-makers with oil!
In 1957, ‘Privateer’ found herself hired by the Bowes-Lyon family.
Yes, that Bowes-Lyon family! Although Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was not aboard.
The Bowes-Lyon’s were sailing across Breydon, where they hooked a post with the mainsheet. BANG. You stop quite quickly doing this, and it was apparent they & ‘Privateer’ were going nowhere.
Unforgivably – they piled into the dinghy, and rowed to the ‘Star Hotel’ on Yarmouth quayside. Where upon they calmly telephone Chumley & Hawke – informed them where ‘Privateer’ was, and curtailed their holiday by getting on a train, pronto.
‘Privateer’ was found, lying on the mud on her side, full of water.
I’ll save my opinions on that, but ‘Privateer’ is the only R.C.C. yacht that can claim to be sunk by Royal Appointment!
Bizarrely, a very close friend of mine spent her childhood hiring ‘Privateer’. In fact, Jean & her family first sailed from Chumley & Hawke in 1951, to begin with, hiring ‘Clipper’ yachts. A bit of me hopes that Jean & her parents hired Clipper VI, especially as in 1951 she was the newly built C&H yacht…
Jean re-counted that her Father had previously hired ‘Brigand’ from Wroxham, but found it too frustrating getting through the trees from Wroxham each year. So turned to C&H in Horning for holidays.
The format of their holidays was quite simple, the Oliver family would drive from Birmingham, get aboard ‘Privateer’ & head to Hickling Broad in company with some other yachts, including 1 or 2 from Hunter’s yard at Ludham.
Again, I’m hugely fortunate in that Jean’s shared a number of photographs of ‘Privateer’ in hire, during the early 1950’s;
Oliver family – Privateer, 1950’s.
By the 1950’s – the windows in ‘Privateer’ had undergone their first change – gone were the chrome ports – replaced by sliders in external frames. Jean reports that these frequently opened when ‘Privateer’ was heeled over!
Like ‘Clipper’s’, the original chrome ports didn’t make ‘Privateer’ that light inside the cabin, so they were changed. Much like the oval hopper windows that ‘Corsair’ received in 1961 in fact.
Also note the cross-trees, and tan sails.
I’m quite taken by the scene in the cabin at mealtime. So much atmosphere – and ALOT more room than in ‘Corsair’s’ cabin!
Once on Hickling – Jean was often set adrift in the pram dinghy, learning to row quite quickly. (!) Whilst her parents roared up & down the Broad;
Oliver family – 1950’s, Privateer including the Pram dinghy
A few days spent on the upper Thurne would result in a frantic ‘sort out’ between the boats present at the end of the holiday. One at least one occasion, Percy Hunter complained that his yachts were returned with C&H cutlery in the drawer.
In 1956, C&H disposed of ‘Privateer’ to a Mr J. Brittain – who kept her for 7 years, where she passed to Paul Bown’s father. He’s kindly shared with me this photo of ‘Privateer’ at South Walsham Broad, 27th July 1963 – when they bought her;
Bown family – ‘Privateer’, South Walsham Broad 1963
Note the white painted transom, potentially a sign of an elderly yacht needing some TLC.
Paul’s family bought ‘Privateer’ from Mr Brittain, who just bought S/N117 – Anne.
I’ll stop here for Part 1, and revisit my notes about Paul’s father, Paul’s ownership & ‘Privateer’s later history for Part 2.
A Broadsman 
