Classic Boat

Our two sailing yacht features in this issue could hardly be more different. I’m talking about the 1930s Nicholson-designed 8-Metre yacht Vision, restored to probably better than new condition; and the Deben Cherub Ariel and her sisterships on Suffolk’s River Orwell. Vision, at around 48ft in length, is quite a bit longer then the Cherubs, for a start, at about 48ft versus 21ft. The real difference though, is the intention. The Cherub, although far smaller, is the cruising boat that could take you quite a way. Vision, at twice the size, is a pure racing dayboat. That gives yachts like her a sort of aesthetic extravagance that most of us can only marvel at, as you can probably make a guess as to the cost of her restoration! And guess…

Back in 2006 I wrote an article in Classic Boat called The Future is 100 Years Old. In it I gave a short history of the International Rule since its inception in 1906, the 8-Metre World Championship of that year and the positive developments of the class at that time. Prophetic words it turned out as now, even more than then, the Metre Classes in general and the 8-Metre s in particular are experiencing a veritable renaissance with increasing numbers of old boats being sought out and restored, and the yachts being campaigned ever more seriously and competitively at a growing number of regattas and European and World Championships on both sides of the Atlantic. After 1936, when the 8-Metre s had their last big moments in the limelight at the…

Classic Boat’s address: Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ cb@classicboat.co.uk Follow the Classic Boat team on Twitter and Facebook CIM adopts glassfibre classics CIM, the rating system used for classic yachts in the Mediterranean, is breaking new ground by creating a class for boats launched between 1970 and 1984 – meaning for the first time glassfibre hulls will become eligible, writes Noel Gazzano. Yachts of the composite and early glassfibre eras are eligible in some classic regattas worldwide, but most events accept only post-1970 yachts that are built in a Spirit of Tradition style or built to a vintage design. The cut-off date chosen by most regatta organisers has, until now, been mid-1970s at the latest. The CIM decision marks a step change in the well-worn debate over what constitutes a classic yacht and it…

Some boats get all the luck. Good and bad. Ariel, Tim Everson’s Deben Cherub, won the Classic Boat Award for Restoration (under 40ft/12.2m) in 2020, but by the end of the following year, she was back in her builder’s yard after taking a beating from Storm Arwen. Between these events of course, covid and the lockdown had intervened, and to add to Tim’s troubles he was out of action for several months with complex eye surgery. The celebratory article in Classic Boat had to be repeatedly put on hold. Meanwhile though, the renaissance of the Cherub class as a whole has continued apace, with other restorations, and the appearance of one of them, Jubilee, at the 2022 Southampton Boat Show. All in the context of a rejuvenation of the yard that…

ARTCURIAL Belmondo’s Riva goes ballistic A decent 8m (26ft) twin-engined Riva Aquarama, the ultimate totem of ‘La Dolce Vita’, would set you back £300,000+, so why would someone splash not much less and pay a world-record price for a smaller single-engined Riva Florida? Perhaps this will explain. In 1964, when actor Jean-Paul Belmondo was riding high as the male pin-up of French New Wave cinema, the heart-throb treated himself to a new Riva Super Florida. Good idea. Naming it Elodie 1 after his wife, not so good. The pair, who’d been married for 12 years, separated the following year. Belmondo softened the blow somewhat by holding on to the 7m (23ft) mahogany Riva and falling into the arms of screen siren Ursula Andress, after whom he didn’t name a boat – and the pair…

PHOTO SYMPHONY French/Persian artist Sina Vodjani, now resident in Hamburg, describes himself as a “photographer, painter, musician, composer, globetrotter, sailor”. His art “embodies versatility in all aspects… the art of visualising vibrance in spacetime…” His topics range vastly. This large-scale nautical work is made using photography, digital editing and hand painting, resulting in an ethereal, shimmering effect. vodjani.com STEEL, ROPE AND WOOD These rustic wall-hangings are by inventive German artist Thomas Froehlich, who also makes grander items, including tables, outdoor sculptures, indoor and outdoor tables, even sculpted grills for your barbecue. The classic anchor and line is made using stainless steel and locust tree wood, while for the compass rose piece he used reclaimed wood. Anker mit Tau €125 (anchor) Windrose mit Tau €750 (compass rose) kontrastwerke.de SAILING COLLAGE Inspired by the expressionist paintings of the 20th century, German…