The Sailing Ground
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The Kyles of Bute lead south to the openwaters of the Clyde
You are looking across from the Isle of Bute to the Isle of Aran - sheltered sea that reach out from the Clyde, what more alluring region of shore line could you find in the British Isles.
As a starting proposition for the sailing ground of Ancora, the Clyde offers a varied readily accessible and particularly beautiful region of protected water to set the venture off and explore the cohesion of the team effort.
The option already exists for an additional base in West Cork. As with all matters relevant to the boat management and use, once the team is formed, all issues will be for unanimous agreement and operate on a co-operative basis.
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Fife Regatta on the Clyde opposite Tighnabruach
How will the partnership of the team work?
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An agreement will be made in the form of a contract that will be drawn up along the lines of the RYA boat share scheme which sets out in detail how ownership, maintenance and use will operate between all members of the partnership.
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The share cost will be determined, depending on how many team members join, after a current estimate from David Moss boat yard.
If we value and respect our national maritime heritage, the cost of restoration will be a small contribution to make towards our island culture that should not be forgotten or thought inconsequential in the context of modern society.
The Opportunity
There are but few occasions when you might chance to find the means to sail a classic boat today, but look, here is one, an exceptional one and an opportunity that you should now consider. May I present the proposition – I am forming a team who should be like minded sailors who will draw on each other’s experience and interests to make this proposal work. Banish pensive thoughts about all the problems and expense that might flood into your mind when thinking about owning a classic boat. Instead, join a friendship that will share the cost, the responsibility and the management of the boat.
It’s only sensible, for it will take a crew of maybe four to sail the boat in race conditions, or heavy weather, so this could be the ideal number to form a partnership that will look after the boat and share the duties and any necessary work.
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Fife regatta boats on the Clyde - joggling at the start of the day.
The Restoration Work
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The hull has survived in reasonably good condition with only two of three garboard strake planks needing replacing. Similarly, the rudder, stock and trunk are sound. The restoration work will consist of some new frames alongside the existing. with some replacement and some strengthening of other frames. In addition, there needs to be some strengthening of the hull around the mast area to take the tensile loads from the shrouds. The deck will be replaced in a form similar to the original structure shown in the Beken photographs. The top two planks to the hull will be replaced to take out any misshapening of the sheer strake that has occurred over the years.
A new mast and yard, and rigging will be made according to the original sail plan. A valuable copy of this has been obtained from the Teignmouth museum in Devon.
A new set of sails will be required.
It would be beneficial to design, plan and incorporate an electrically powered propulsion system that will minimise any alteration to the hull and not normally be visible when sailing.
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