Maritime Ipswich Festival, part 2

'White Moth'

I hadn’t expected I would have so much fun at the Maritime Ipswich Festival. The mood among participating yachtsmen was infectious. Enthusiasm for their boats was evident by responses to my questions. Here was a group of individuals united by having a common passion for maintaining and sailing their diverse vessels. I didn’t see an identical yacht. Yes, there were similarities between a few of them, notably the Smacks, but even they differed in hull form and sail plan.

'Charm'

I took photos of 17 entries to the Festival, and as I mentioned yesterday, my favourite yacht was ‘White Moth’. The 1927 gaff yawl, ‘Charm’, built in Dublin to plans according to Albert Strange came a good second. A. Richardson built her for the marine artist Robert E. Groves. She was almost identical to ‘Sheila 11’ sailed single-handedly by Adrian Hayter to New Zealand. He documented his voyage in his book, ‘Sheila in the Wind’, a thoroughly entertaining and instructive account I highly recommend.

Here are a few of the photographs taken with my iPhone, including another of ‘White Moth’, and one of ‘Charm’. (Above)

'Victoria'

'Baldrick'

'Gollant Gaffer'