Crowdfunding campaign to rescue Clarion of Wight

Clarion of Wight was destined for the chainsaw but thanks to the intervention of a benefactor it can be saved © David Elliott

Clarion of Wight was destined for the chainsaw but thanks to the intervention of a benefactor it can be saved.

However, we urgently need to fund the cost of the boat (more or less the scrap value of the lead which is what the owner was hoping to get) and the cost of shipping it back to the UK from France where it has languished ashore for a few years. We have somewhere safe to put it (free of charge) until its restoration can be undertaken.

We do need to cover the yard costs until we have sufficient funds to move the boat which if course we'd like to do as soon as possible so do please help if you can - via www.justgiving.com/campaign/clarion-of-wight - and if you are a UK taxpayer, do please Gift Aid your contribution. We need to reach our Phase I target fairly quickly.

Why Save Clarion of Wight

Clarion of Wight is an important boat in the history of our sport - the top scorer in the 1963 Admiral's Cup (Derek Boyer) along with Max Aitken's Outlaw and Ron Amey's Noryema III - the winning team - both restored and actively sailing. Clarion also won the Fastnet Challenge Cup in that Admirals Cup series.

The Cup was a big deal in 1963 because the UK had won the first two (in 1957 & 1959) but then lost to the USA in 1961 so it was imperative to win it back, and as a consequence fourteen boats took part in the UK trials. It was later owned by Sir Maurice Laing and again competed in the Admirals Cup in the 1970 Irish team.

It is significant as the first Admirals Cup boat in the UK team not designed by a British designer. It is a Sparkman & Stephens boat, built by Lallows in mahogany and teak, and probably the first successful S&S boat designed to the RORC rule. Clarion of Wight is 43ft 6in LOA, 31ft 6in LWL, 11ft beam and 6ft 8in draft.

So, we urge anyone concerned about our sailing heritage to contribute to the rescue fund. BNYA will collect the funds and claim any Gift Aid and award a grant in due course.

www.justgiving.com/campaign/clarion-of-wight

British National Yachting Archive - registered charity 1131630