Sterling 28 Yacht designed by C. R. ‘Kim’ Holman

 

'Rosa Ryal' - a Sterling 28

Yesterday, thanks to Patrick, I discovered that ‘Rosa Ryal’ is a Kim Holman 28’ pocket cruiser. She’s in pretty good shape for a wooden boat built in 1961. Kim’s own Sterling 28 is for sale at Wooden Ships. (See link below.) Altogether 19 of these yachts were built at Upham’s Yard at Brixham, Devon.

Sadly, Kim Holman died at the age of 44, but not before designing many long-keeled yachts, including the Twister, believed by him to be his best, and the popular East Coast cruiser/racer, the Stella. A few of these wooden, clinker yachts can still be found on the River Crouch. I can remember when there was a fair-sized flotella of them that raced at Burnham on Wednesday evenings for the summer series.

There’s a Classic Boat Magazine article below that gives an in-depth account of Kim’s life, the boats he sailed, and the yachts he designed. (See second link.) This is well worth reading.

Links

Wooden Ships Advert: Holman Sterling for Sale £24,500

http://www.woodenships.co.uk/sailing-yachts/holman-sterling/  

The Life and Designs of Kim Holman by Steffan Meyric-Hughes

http://www.classicboat.co.uk/articles/the-life-and-designs-of-kim-holman/

C. R. Holman and the Twister

 http://littleshipclub.co.uk/node/2388

Sailboat Designs of Kim Holman

http://sailboatdata.com/view_designer.asp?designer_id=115

Specification of a Sterling 28

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5734

'Rosa Ryal'

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/rosa-ryal.html