The 22 square metre Caritana has been delivered back to her owners following repair work at the yard. She was hit by a heavier yacht during a race at Cowes last summer. This broke her mast, a deck beam, her mast partners and the sheer plank. In order to access the beam her canvas deck and covering boards were removed. As she was opened up ten cracked ribs were also replaced.

The 22 square metre open keel boat regatta will be held at Cremyll Plymouth on the 8th, 9th and 10th of June 2012. For those interested in chartering a 22 please contact Barbara Bridgeman at info@cremyll-keelboats.org.uk

Lead On, the new build pilot’s punt for Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Kindly Light was delivered to her owner during March.

Another new 12′ dinghy left the yard at the end of March and was delivered to Sussex

A 12′ Tideway dinghy was bought to the yard for repairs. A new foredeck and side decks were fitted, underwater repairs carried out and a complete refinish.

Integrity is being fitted out in oak panelling. The detail has been taken from photographs of Victorian yacht interiors.

We have made up patterns for all of the deck fittings and are having them cast in bronze by Ian Major of Major Castings (07897 924 005).

Russian hats came out in force last week during the cold snap which particularly affected John who was fitting the metal work to the spars in a long and drafty shed.

Integrity will be launched in mid-May by the Mayflower Marina in Plymouth.

Our 14′ sailing dinghy has been taken on two trial sails in very different conditions. One sail in very light airs in Plymouth Sound with the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Cornubia and tow naval ships in the background and a second sail up the River Tamar in more vigorous conditions with three reefs down. She proved a stable and responsive boat.

In January she travelled to the London Boat Show by invitation of Classic Boat magazine where she spent ten days on their stand. The photo below shows Will and Sara with explorer Jock Wishart, who launched his Row to the Pole book during the show.

The 22 Square Metre Caritana has arrived at the yard for repairs. She is owned and operated by Cremyll Keel Boats. CKB are organising a regatta in June 2012 to be held in Plymouth Sound. Their website has information about the boats and regatta; http://www.cremyll-keelboats.org.uk/

In early December Belle Poule, a 46′ Alfred Mylne arrived at the yard. She was built shortly after the First World War and shows every feature of a fine Mylne yacht. Her owner had shipped her back from America where she had been saved by Gannon and Benjamin and stored in their yard at Martha’s Vineyard. She is due for an extensive rebuild which will include centre line, some framing and some planking. The work will begin in March 2012.

In November we built a pilot’s punt for the 1912 pilot cutter Kindly Light, recently relaunched after a rebuild to a very high standard of authenticity over the last twenty years. As no plans were available we designed the punt to the owner’s researched requirements: she is 12′ long with a little hollow in the forefoot, a full and stable midship section carried well aft and terminating in a pretty transom. Whilst there is no tumble home forward or at the transom the sheer has a little tumble home midships to ensure the rubbing strake takes the impact when going alongside. She has double knees on each thwart specially selected for the grain of the grown oak.

In October we built and installed a lock gate and cantilever bridge for South West Water and the AONB. Both gate and bridge were made of oak. As access to the site was restricted and without power we made the gate and bridge at the workshop. Both were then dismantled and transported to the canal before being installed. Installation took three days. The gate and bridge were assembled in place because we were unable to get any mechanised lifting gear to the site.

In early September Will was invited to sail on the Spanish Team’s AC45 America’s Cup catamaran for speed trials in Plymouth Sound. A film crew visited the boat building shed to see the yacht and dinghies, took Will to the America’s Cup base in Plymouth to meet the China team catamaran designer and then took him out to sail. The footage, which was televised on Channel 4 and Sky, can be seen at the following link:

http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Artemis-Racing/Latest/Videos/2011/9/Americas-Cup-Uncovered-Episode-8/

Photos courtesy of Pierre Contin

The 14′ sailing dinghy was completed a fortnight ago in time for the Southampton Boat Show. She is built of Mahogany on Oak, Copper and Bronze fastened with Bronze and Yellow Metal fittings (including the centre plate). She is bright varnished with gold leaf inlaid cove line and carving scroll work.

The sail is clipper canvas with three strand buff polyester rope rove through Ash and Bronze blocks. The rig is a balanced lug which has a single halyard and sheet and is self tacking.