30Apr/23
Feli broken up.
A48 Feli has been broken up. She sank at her moring in 2015 during a storm. I got her re floated and took her out of the water. Unfortunately the stern wasRead More…
23Mar/23
Centre line repairs
Over the last several years water has leaked into Helene’s forward cabin. The amount was relatively small – more annoying than anything else – but something was not right. Everything pointedRead More…
12Feb/23
A77 under sail
Photo of A77 Blue Goose sailing. Title: A77 under sail in USA1.1-8758af51Caption: Out for a sail
Mallette promoted anew to restoring and still married/spliced.
Thanks for the resources over the years. Word to the wise: It would have been easier to buy one in better condition! Should you undertake a similar restoration be prepared for ChristsRead More…
22Jan/23
WINTER COVER – DIY
I did learn before I bought A90 that the enemy of an Atalanta was not sea water but rain. So off to Sturminster Newton and Hansons’ massive material warehouse. Then bumping backRead More…
30Dec/22
Repairs to top sides
The Uffa fox event was the perfect excuse for me to finally address the top-sides. Mary was in good condition when I took over her care. But the paint had definitely goneRead More…
27Nov/22
Does anyone own Baby Seal?
Hi. Does anyone own Baby Seal? I would love to hear that she is still around. My Uncle, John Berry of HM Coastguard in Margate, Spurn Point and Liverpool, bought this boatRead More…
26Nov/22
A3 Andana and A137 Baby Seal
This photo was found in my late Uncles records. He owned Baby Seal and look like this might be a rare photo of A3…!
First owner
My father Dr Francis George Elvins was the first owner, from 1960 until 1971 when he died. He kept her moored on Wareham Quay, Dorset where he lived. He crossed the channelRead More…
12Nov/22
Winter Quarters, 2021/22
This is a late, but nevertheless. Helene was lifted on 18 October 2021 at Mistley Marine on the River Stour in Essex. It proved to be a somewhat quirky but very pleasantRead More…
06Nov/22
Atlantic crossing A115 moves South with new owner
We are delighted to hear that A115 ‘Mara’ has been sold. Her new owner has moved her to the South Coast to complete her restoration. This is great news. In 1975 EricRead More…
25Oct/22
A sad day for A179 Emma Duck
A small team visited Rye last week to rescue parts from A179 Emma Duck before she is destroyed. The Secretary and Committee have worked hard in recent years to support the ownersRead More…
18Sep/22
Memories of A19 Valare
The boats travelling to the UF50 event in August stopped off at Brighton. They were spotted by Mark Whittle who sailed A19 Valare in the 1970’s as a young boy. Mark veryRead More…
01Sep/22
Zambra ongoing works
It’s been a busy few years so Zambra has had to take a bit of a backward step but this year, finally, I’ve managed to get her going forwards again. Thought IRead More…
10Jun/22
A38 has a new custodian
Members have enjoyed following the news from Harry Budden in Canada of A38, The Beaver, over the years. In 2019 he sent news and pictures of his journey across Canada from NorthRead More…
14May/22
A124 Helene reaches new heights
I popped by to help ready Helene for final fitting out tasks – putting her ‘in the air’ for work inside the keelboxes on the new posts at the rear. It isRead More…
Christchurch A5
Title: A5 Diaphony a long time agoCaption: A5 Diaphony a long time ago Title: 20200921_202043-c0bc6bc5
25Apr/22
A5 restoration
Have decided to fit the keel mechanism from Jack of London T4 as it was all made from stainless steel ,Problem is getting this lot to fit in the keel box asRead More…
02Apr/22
A89 with new Tiger stripes
I have always like the “Tiger design” NATO jets, so yesterday, I gave Colchide a “Tiger design” to her hull. Title: A89 Tiger Paint JobCaption: A89 Tiger Paint Job
21Jan/22
book reference – A21 ‘Chuff’
Mentioned in the book “The War That Never Was” by Duff Hart-Davis page 29 one page only. The boat, A21 ‘Chuff’, was flown to Aden in the early sixties or earlier byRead More…
20Jan/22
‘Out of Arklow’ – book added to Archive
We came across this book recently by Danny O’Neill. Danny owned A78 Marianda in the 1980s and 1990s. The book is about Danny’s life at sea on eighty different boats as aRead More…
10Nov/21
Elle moves to winter quarters
Elle is being stored in a barn this winter. Located in Dell Quay, Chichester Harbour – Apuldram Manor Farm. The storage allows the luxury of working on the boat throughout the winterRead More…
24Oct/21
A49 seems to be in need of rescue
Just saw this on Boat Scrapyards site. The boat is in Cheshire
15Oct/21
A15 Artemis II – Unique and in fine condition – £4000 ono SOLD
Presently afloat and in commission in Chichester harbour. Artemis II is in good condition with a Sabb marine single diesel engine and a new under boom cockpit cover. All fresh painted thisRead More…
13Oct/21
1966 – We nearly drowned
The AOA caught up with the son of an ex-owner at the Southampton Boastshow in 2021. This was great – it filled in an ownership gap in our records and provided theRead More…
The Wrabness tender mystery. Part 2
On taking over a boat it is common to inherit a certain number of “special” items. Dredged from the depths of locker or lazarette, damp and probably rusty, their identity andRead More…
23Sep/21
The Wrabness tender mystery. Part 1
The plan was for an overnight to Pin Mill or the Walton Backwaters. We left Manningtree under sail around 1130 anticipating the ebb, without even a cat’s paw of breeze. TheRead More…
09Sep/21
A1 Generating Chatter At Southampton
After a great deal of effort by Mike A1 is moored in the ‘Class Association’ area of the Southampton boatshow, alongside the Old Gaffers Association. She has already generated ‘chatter’ – sheRead More…
22Aug/21
Out of hibernation
I am really glad that I managed to find ‘hibernation’ for Mary over the lock-down. But it is time to get her back in the water enjoy a sail and make sureRead More…
20Aug/21
A117 Turtle project with trailer, free to be restored
Free for restoration. Turtle is currently sitting on a four wheel trailer in Truro. If someone out there will take her please do, just send a lorry we can pull her onRead More…
17Aug/21
Cockpit Corner Reinforcement and Repairs to Aft Bulkhead
Bluster has guard rail stanchions at the aft end of the cockpit. These were bolted through the stringer and the deck with a block beneath and above. Unfortunately, after being pushed aroundRead More…
30Jul/21
Cockpit comfort – orientation and curves
Since the mid-1990 I have owned a number of small boats including a Devon Yawl, Cornish Shrimper, Cornish Crabber (Mk 1), Kingfisher 22+ (jink rig), Anderson 26 (lifting keeI), Golden Hind andRead More…
24Jul/21
The times they are a changing, dear Maurice
To escape the worst of the expected heatwave I thought I would visit what has quickly become my favourite anchorage, and do some relaxed mud listening. After a beat down the StourRead More…
02Jul/21
Repairing the Split in the Topsides
As reported in Bluster’s last blog post, there was a worrying split in the topsides at the starboard aft end of the cockpit where the aft deck moulding is joined to theRead More…
12Jun/21
Repairs around the rubbing strake
The hot sunny weather we are having in Scotland at the moment is ideal for wood repairs as the exposed laminates are nice and dry before being sealed in with epoxy. WaterRead More…
10Jun/21
A184, Aquilo II, £5,500
Aquilo II is in a barn on her trailer near Bridport in Dorset. She is possibly the last ever 26ft Atalanta to be launched, which she was in 1969. She has beenRead More…
A165 Sloeberry was Mavista pre 1996
My father Dr.Peter Ewart Burden re-named this boat. We nearly lost her and our lives once-sailing from Ramsgate on a halcyon day ,force 3 forecast to be caught in squall. My husbandRead More…
11May/21
Bluster Progress – Removing Rusty Iron and Making Good
Work on Bluster has continued in April and early May. Much of April was spent removing rusty bolts from the engine bay area and rudder skeg. The keel stops were removed withoutRead More…
02May/21
Keel bolt covers: “Sikaflex – Ugh!”
This will be my last post on Helene’s Boat Blog as owner. In fact although started before the sale it is being published after handover to Jim, the new owner. Due toRead More…
A passenger ride in an Atalanta aged 9 started me sailing
I was spring cleaning A89 Colchide yesterday, when I was approached by a gentleman. “Is that an Atalanta” “Oh, I had a passenger ride in an Atalanta, aged 9, in the earlyRead More…
05Apr/21
Stem capping strip repair- rot in forward part of keel
A177 Quinteffence has been laid up on her trailer for the last 8 years as life has not allowed time to spend sailing (and maintaining her). She has been stored under aRead More…
31Mar/21
A85 Kicky Wicky in the 1970s
I was delighted to welcome an ex-owner of Kicky Wicky as a website user last month. Having ‘conversations’ with ex-owners and their families is one of the delights of my job asRead More…
25Mar/21
Furlough Work cont
Made a mtg for the python drive from 19mm Ply /Mahogany and 2.5 mm A4 stainless.. A new propshaft from Clements engineering made from Duplex with couplings for conversion from 3/4″to PythonRead More…
22Mar/21
A155 Miranda – Still Alive
A chance contact with the original owners of T10 Calista led to a photo of Calista with A155 Miranda in the background which, with thanks to the AOA bloodhound which is ourRead More…
21Mar/21
Well rotted
Occasionally walk past this poor old boat at Newham on the Truro River. I imagine she has been abandoned. Title: IMG_2181-49b2968f Title: IMG_2182-531749c3
19Mar/21
T10 Calista – Memories from her first years
February was a great month for connecting to ex-owners of Fairey yachts. Rodney, son of Titania T10 Calista’s first owner, joined the website and we entered into a conversation by email. RodneyRead More…
14Mar/21
Bluster’s Keels and Steelwork Removed
After much prevaricating, Bluster’s trailer was removed and the keels lowered to the ground. The supporting steelwork was then also removed for inspection. Before removing the trailer, I cut off most ofRead More…
24Feb/21
Steering Gear Wear and Corrosion
With the snow melting and the weather warmed up (relatively), work on Bluster has resumed with the stripping out of the steering mechanism. The whipstaff bearing had a bit of play, butRead More…
09Feb/21
Engine Bearers and Thrust Bearing
The weather continues to be very cold this winter in Aberdeenshire, and now we also have 20 cm of snow. Consequently, not so much work has been done on Bluster. After muchRead More…
26Jan/21
Bluster’s 1GM10 Serviced and painted
Bluster’s engine was winterised, but otherwise in reasonable working order. It was badly rusted in places, the fuel and oil pipes were beginning to rust, and the paint was peeling off muchRead More…