Elise was built on the Clyde in 1912 by William Fife III as an auxiliary gaff schooner with a Gardner two-cylinder paraffin engine. She was constructed for a WA Young of Paisley of mahogany and pitch pine on oak frames, copper fastened and the hull […]
“You have no pearls?” she said looking at Jeanette. We were in a small store in the Tuamotus and the Polynesian lady at the register had caught me staring at her beautiful necklace
Usually, the family spends three or four weeks sailing every summer but lately the sailing interest among the kids has dwindled. However, as my 50th birthday was last year, for a birthday present the three children gave me a promise that they would all come on board for two weeks’ sailing.
Every now and again a restoration comes along that redefines what can be expected in terms of the resurrection of classic yachts. The relaunch of the Fife III, First Rule 8-Metre, Ierne, in 2008, went a long way towards establishing what levels of authenticity, purity and craftsmanship could be effected, and this was achieved far way from the big-name restoration yards.
Virtually every traditional and classic boat lover will have experienced sudden and sometimes irrational feelings of longing, envy, and lust, coupled with an overpowering urge to possess some boat or other. It is more than the desire to go fast or to set out to […]
For some years Americans waited in almost breathless anticipation for the definitive history to be written of the Sparkman and Stephens yawl Dorade. It is now available and I can confirm
