skipper toy yachts uk

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Skipper Contender Traditional Yacht

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For over 20 years Skipper have been producing beautiful hand-made wooden sailing boats, available in 8”, 10”, 12”, 15”. All yachts have genuine sail cloth, adjustable rigging, solid wood hull and steel keel. Skipper is proud to design toys which engage children in traditional play and fun. In a world of instant gratification, Skipper toys aim to develop patience, independence and learning whilst promoting the magic of social interaction between different generations.

Also look out for Skipper's range of ride-on toys including a child’s first balance scooter and Ride n Roll. In keeping with tradition, all Skipper toys are hand-made using natural materials such as wood.

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May 30th 2021

World Pond Yacht Day

A worldwide event.

Sunday, 26th May 2024

Where to buy a pond yacht.

Starting out can be a little daunting for the beginner but you can still find plenty of good used and new yachts to sail. For the keen DIY enthusiasts there are some yacht kits to build and a lot of well-worn yachts still available to restore.

However finding a model sailing yacht is easier than you think, there are plenty of second-hand Star, Bowman, and Skipper yachts available on auction sites like eBay or vintage sites like Etsy, there is even a Facebook Marketplace where yachts come up from time to time. Prices vary according to their condition, and vintage yachts are becoming very collectible with J. Alexander of Preston yachts commanding several hundred pounds.

However, the Star SY range is still reasonably priced and appears on eBay regularly. The SY range is all solid hulled yachts, they sail very well indeed for their size. The Star MK range is hollow and therefore lighter yachts these sail impeccably well. Bowman produced a wide range of yachts, their solid range of Admirals was the most commonly available and they do come up for sale from time to time, be prepared to pay a little more for a good Swift, Aquaplane, Gull, or Heron.

Skipper yachts are still relatively modern and very good boxed examples appear from time to time. These were made in Suffolk originally and range from 8 inches to 32, with a very nice 21-inch Yawl available for around the £100 mark. There are plenty of older vintage yacht types available but remember their sails and rigging may be delicate and need replacing. You may be lucky to stumble across a vintage racing yacht fitted with steering gear but whatever yacht you own it is true to say the more you sail the more you will love the art of sailing.

Since the demise of Skipper, there has not been another quality mass-produced model yacht range available. However, a small number of British artisan makers like Grove Pond Yachts, Haycroft Pond Yachts, and Britannia Pond Yachts are out there, producing ranges of new high-quality yachts to sail.

A boxed Skipper Coastal 15 inch Pond Yacht .

Makers of new pond yachts in Britain

"Britannia Pond Yachts’"on Etsy and Facebook, also antique, restored and used model yachts, including spares on ebay

"Grove Pond Yachts" website: www.grovepondyachts.com on Facebook and Instagram.

"Haycroft Pond Yachts" website  www.haycroftpondyachts.co.uk  and facebook.

Dealers of fine antique pond yachts in Britain

'Paul Drewett' Specialist in antique yachts on Facebook.

"Pond Yacht Antiques" website www.pondyachtantiques.co.uk   also on Instagram.

Makers of new pond yachts in France

"Tirot" website www.bateaux-jouets-tirot.com

"Voiliers Albas" website,  www.voiliers-albas.com

Makers of new pond yachts in Germany

"Guenther" website, www.guenther-toys.de also a good range of yacht spares.

Makers of new pond yachts in the USA

"Tippecanoe Boats" website, sailingisme.com

Click the links above to view websites

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The majority of our items are delivered within 2 working days from the date of dispatch although this is not guaranteed and can take up to 5 working days, especially during busy periods. We aim to dispatch orders received by 10.30 a.m on the same day.

Deliveries are by Royal Mail 48 (Standard Delivery), Royal Mail 24 (Expedited Delivery) or, for heavier items, by courier. The following items are send direct from the manufacturer/supplier and delivery information is as follows.

WIN GREEN Playhouse are dispatched within 1 - 2 working days by Fedex next working day delivery. Smaller items are sent by Royal Mail.

MUNGAI MIRRORS are dispatched within 2 working days and can take a week to arrive.

If at any point we think that we will take longer than this, we will inform you as soon as possible. Please contact us for special delivery requests. We hold the majority of our ranges in stock and get regular deliveries from our supplier. We do everything we can to keep our stock levels up to date. In the unlikely event that you order an item that is not in stock we will contact you within 24 hours to ask if you want to wait for your item or would prefer a full refund.

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Haycroft Pond Yachts are individually hand crafted in a quiet corner of the glorious Devon countryside, using traditional tools and methods of construction.

All of these designs are my own, inspired by classic lines, and are built to enjoyed both on and off the water!

Please feel free to browse the website to view current models, and learn a little more about what we do. You can also make a purchase via my eBay shop below.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/haycroftpondyachts

If you would like to get in touch, please use the ‘ Contact Us ’ page.

© Haycroft Pond Yachts 2022

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Bayesian yacht captain's chilling five words after breaking silence over capsize disaster

A massive search operation is underway as crews from across Italy continue to look for any trace of the people still missing following the sinking of the superyacht

• 09:32, 20 Aug 2024
• Updated 10:12, 20 Aug 2024

The captain of the superyacht has broken his silence with a chilling five-word admission after the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

James Catfield, who captained the boat that sank off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo simply said: "We didn't see it coming." Catfield was described as "limp" as he waited outside an emergency room in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese.

He was reportedly taken to the town along with four other passengers of the Bayesian. The superyacht , owned by Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch, sank after being caught up in a storm off the Italian island at about 5am local time on Monday.

It is understood the £30million yacht was little more than 700 metres from the harbour when its mast snapped in the storm, throwing it off balance. One body has been recovered, believed to be the ship's chef, and search teams are preparing to search the vessel for any trace of the missing.

Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and several other people are still reported as missing. Others listed as missing include Lynch's lawyer Christopher Morvilla, his wife Nada, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer as well as his wife Anne.

Lynch's wife and 14 other people were rescued and survived the disaster. Named survivors include: Sasha Murray, Irish, 29; Frenchman Matthew Griffith, 22, captain of the boat; James Caulfield, New Zealander, 51; Ayla Ronald, 36, from London; and Myin Kyaw Htun, 39, from Myanmar .

Italian rescuers resumed their search for the missing at about 6:30am local time today, according to La Repubblica . British investigators are also set to join the search once they touch down in Palermo later today.

The tragedy comes after Lynch was acquitted earlier this year of conducting massive fraud over the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard, back in 2011. It is understood the disaster happened as Lynch and other passengers celebrated his legal win in court.

Lynch was extradited to the US in 2023, where he said, on being handed over to authorities, they "put chains round me." He ended up being bailed for $100million but on house arrest. He faced two decades in jail had he been convicted of the 17 charges he faced.

The father of Ayla Ronald, a Clifford Chance lawyer who was part of the legal team that represented Lynch in court said she had been celebrating.

"I have texted with my daughter and she hasn't given me any updates about missing personnel or saved personnel" father Lin told The Telegraph . "She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive."

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

What is a waterspout and did it cause the Sicily yacht tragedy?

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At least one person has died and six others – including a software mogul nicknamed ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’ – are missing after a yacht capsized in Italy .

The British-flagged Bayesian had been anchored about a half-mile off Porticello, about 12 miles east of the Sicilian capital, Palermo, when a sudden storm shook the coast.

Fifteen people managed to escape, with the body of the ship’s chef, named as Recaldo Thomas, recovered.

Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for latest updates on the Bayesian yacht sinking

Those unaccounted for are: tech titan Mike Lynch , 59, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah; Jonathan Bloomer , chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy; Christopher Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and his wife, Neda, a jewellery designer.

Witnesses say they saw a ‘waterspout’ tearing through the seas at the time of the sinking, which happened around 5am on Monday.

But what exactly is this ocean phenomenon and how likely is it that one could have sunk the Bayesian ?

What is a waterspout?

You can think of a waterspout as a small tornado tearing through the water.

Rather than solely wind, waterspouts are whirling columns of air and water mist.

Or, as Dr Jian-Guo Li, a senior modelling scientist for the Met Office , puts it to Metro.co.uk , they are an ‘atmospheric tornado happening over water surface’.

There are two types of waterspouts. Tornadic types start as tornadoes on land and move to water, sucking up the moisture like a vacuum cleaner.

Then there’s the more common fair weather. These form during calmer conditions – so not a storm, for example – and stretch out from the water towards the clouds.

Most only last a few minutes – 20 minutes at a push and move at about 20 to 30km an hour. Slightly more intimidating, however, is their size, often towering at several hundred feet and can whip up wind up to 150mph strong.

What causes a waterspout?

They’re caused by the interaction of very cold land air sweeping over warmer ocean air, so are common during choppy weather like storms.

Waterspouts can start off as funnel clouds, the Met Office says , with strong wind stretching and twisting a cloud down without reaching the surface. Think of a rope dangling off the ceiling.

‘Waterspouts form beneath thunderstorm clouds, so need the same ingredients as a thunderstorm,’ says Dr Pete Inness, an Undergraduate Programme Director at the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology.

‘Heat and humidity in the lower atmosphere are the two main requirements, and over the Mediterranean in late summer and autumn there is plenty of both.

‘Changes in wind direction with height are also needed to set up the rotation of air within the waterspout.’

Are waterspouts rare?

Waterspouts are fairly more common than their land-dwelling cousin, the tornado, and tend to be milder, too.

These eerie columns are most likely to be found in tropical and sub-tropical seas – especially the Mediterranean – but can be seen in the UK from time to time.

Are waterspouts anything to worry about?

If you ask Inness, not really. Most waterspouts don’t have much damage potential – plus, out at sea, there’s a fair few less buildings that can be destroyed.

‘But at the more intense end of the scale, winds of above 100 km per hour are possible, although actual wind measurements from inside waterspouts are very rare indeed,’ he says.

Jian-Guo says the problems waterspouts pose are the same as tornadoes, really.

‘You may have seen many American tornado reports, which showed how cars and house roofs are sucked into the air and scattered around like toys,’ he says.

‘When it forms over the water surface, it pumps the water into the air, resulting in the waterspouts. When a boat or yacht happened to be in its centre, it could be lifted and dropped aside.’

Could a waterspout have sunk the Bayesian?

It’s hard to say for sure, both experts stress. Officials are still piecing together exactly what happened in the early hours of Monday that led to the luxury yacht being flipped over.

Prosecutors in Termini Imerese, a city east of where the yacht sank, have been charged with opening a formal investigation.

What is known is that a violent storm rocked Palermo overnight, one predicted by the  European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts .

As ‘brief’ was it was, Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology said, it was ‘intense’ and involved strong gusts of wind and lightning flashes.

Weather reports from Palermo airport, 12 miles west of the yacht, reported gusts of 40mph.

‘Winds of this strength coinciding with the location of a boat are capable of causing damage or capsize, especially because the wind direction varies very rapidly within a waterspout which could cause a boat to rock violently,’ Inness says.

Stressing he is speculating, Iness says that the crew and passengers likely would have had little time to react.

‘Within a waterspout things happen very quickly,’ he says. ‘The strong wind sets in very quickly and changes direction rapidly, within a few seconds or a minute or so.’

The 56-metre-long Bayesian once had the world’s tallest mast at 75 metres, according to the database YachtCharterFleet .

This aluminium mast may have played a role in the sinking, however, with it snapping as the hefty boat tipped over.

‘Rapid changes in wind speed and direction with height in a waterspout could mean that low down the mast the wind was pushing it in one direction, whereas higher up the wind may have been pushing it in a different direction,’ Iness says, stressing he is only speculating.

‘Certainly, any rapid changes in wind direction within the waterspout could cause the boat to rock violently.’

What is the deadliest waterspout?

A tornadic waterspout erupted in Grand Harbour in Valletta, the capital of Malta, in September in the 1550s (the dates are disputed).

Some 600 knights, soldiers and slaves were drowned, according to The Gallery of Natural Phenomena . Four Maltese navy ships were flipped over.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Classic Pond Yachts

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I will be back, honest. Let me tell you a story, when we had the 'Covid' shutdown I wound up at home with all the time in the world, just not allowed out. So I picked up a model yacht that had been around for years. I started to restore it, I had a great time, got it finished and started another boat. As we came out of Covid, I bought some more models, and some more, and some more, I was living the dream. Then we got back into the real world, I started going to work again, well sort of, my son is now running our yacht maintenance company, so I go in a couple of days a week to do ?? then we started RC yacht racing again, then I had to start keeping them working. Then we thought it would be a good idea to get a Ceccarelli design for IOM model yachts, and lets build 9 of them in red cedar !! then I had work to do on my full size boat. Basically the world came back with a vengeance and I did not have time for the Classics. That is going to change, I will start updating the site next week and get back into showing you the new boats and what has happened to some of the others.

Stan Witty WASP

I have got my Stan Witty Wasp sailing. She is my first Marblehead Vane steered boat, that I have actually  raced, now called WaZp. I originally  bought her to do the Vintage open event at Fleetwood, as I did not want to risk damaging my Kittywake on the bank, more info on the bottom of the Stan Witty Wasp page. She sailed really well, but we, the Skipper and Mate, took a while longer to get going, she now needs a repaint! Our first sail was a VMYG meeting at Gosport, pictures below of Gosport and Fleetwood, with a link to the page. 

Just found this Video!!

https://youtu.be/KSy9qn7kYww

WaZp at the vintage day in Gosport, I took a few boats that day, nice light winds and sunshine  with friends, a lovely day.

'Wazp' sailing at Fleetwood in the Classic and Vintage Marblehead Regatta 21 & 22 May. A great weekend, as I put these words together a couple of weeks later, I can almost walk again, they made us walk over 13 km on Saturday  alone. As mentioned above 'WaZp' sailed very well, hindered by us learning how to set her up, our first Vane meeting, we are really Radio guys, but we will be back next year, a great experience, a few more words on the Stan Witty Wasp page.

Gosport VMYG day, I took Wazp my Stan Witty Marblehead, Laura my 5 Tonner, XPDNC and a couple of Toy models for the grandsons, a lovely day.

As always with VMYG meetings a lot of fascinating  boats and interesting people.

A model Ship was spotted and recovered from the bottom of the lake, looks like she was set fire to and sunk! but a welcome new model for a young  lads bedroom, now called the 'Titanic', his mum will be so pleased!!

5 Tonner Laura sailing at the VMYG day on the lake at Gosport M.Y.C. Keen grandsons on turning pole duty! Spot the Bowman sailing by.

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Superyacht guests were celebrating Mike Lynch’s acquittal when disaster struck

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Mike Lynch yacht latest: Divers smash through window into hull with crucial hours ahead in Bayesian search

Missing six could be alive if they are trapped with an air pocket, claims engineer, article bookmarked.

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The race to rescue any survivors from inside the sunken Bayesian superyacht is set to enter a crucial stage, with divers succeeding in smashing through a glass window to enter the hull.

Six people remain missing after the boat sank in a severe storm in the early hours of Monday , including British billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer ; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Divers from the Sicilian fire services were able to reach the common areas of the vessel, Giornale Di Sicilia reported yesterday – but they are yet to make it to the cabins.

It comes as an engineer warned the next hours are “critical” as the search for the six people still missing enters day three. One man has so far been confirmed dead, Recaldo Thomas, while a further 15 people survived the incident.

Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation in 2012, told Sky News : “They’ve got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued. You’ve got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out.”

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Who were the passengers on board of the Bayesian superyacht in Sicily and who is still missing?

Who were the passengers on board the Bayesian and who is still missing

As the desperate search for the missing continues for a second day, here is what we know about those involved

Watch: Desperate conditions facing divers looking for survivors on the yacht submerged in Sicily

Pictured: ‘kind’ chef ricardo thomas who died after bayesian sank.

Recaldo Thomas, who is understood to be the superyacht’s chef, has been pictured after he died in the sinking of the Bayesian.

The Palermo Port Authority told Canadian broadcaster CBC News the body of Mr Thomas, a Canadian-born man who had been living in Antigua, had been recovered from the wreckage.

The chef’s friend Gareth Williams told the BBC: “I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.”

Tributes have been paid to him by friends on social media, with one saying: “Rest in Power big man. I don’t know what else to say except I love you, and I always will.”

Another wrote: “Going to miss you so much Recaldo Thomas still finding this so hard to believe.”

The Italian coastguard confirmed to this information to Sky News .

Watch: CCTV footage shows the moment missing tycoon Mike Lynch’s Bayesian yacht is engulfed by storm

CCTV footage shows the moment Bayesian yacht is engulfed by storm

Italian officials have said British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and five others may be trapped in a pocket of air inside the boat

Emergency rescue teams will have to make ‘a big choice’, expert warns

Emergency teams trying to access the submerged Bayesian yacht will have to make “a big choice” as the rescue efforts intensify, a maritime diving and wreckage expert has said.

Bertrand Sciboz told BBC News: “I think 50 metres is a limit to dive with a certain category of professional divers, so you will need to dive with some kind of helmet and pipe and (be) connected to the surface for oxygen, and also for for speaking and hearing and telling what you see and and do.

“It’s always very difficult, and especially with a sailing vessel, because you’ve got rope everywhere, you’ve got a sail which is floating in the current, because we are in Mediterranean Sea and not in the English Channel.

“But the main thing, you know, it’s the fact that in those kind of conditions, it’s very hard to go inside the wreck, and they will have to have to make a big choice at one moment, of salvaging the whole wreck or rescuing the bodies.”

What we know about the sinking of the superyacht off Sicily

Violent storm

The Bayesian sank after being hit by a “violent storm”. The Italian coast guard said bad weather had been forecast, but added that it was more virulent than expected. Some locals spoke of a waterspout, or sea whirlwind, of exceptional force. The Bayesian was at anchor, its sails down, when the tempest hit, with another yacht moored nearby.

The other boat

The nearby yacht, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell, remained anchored and weathered the storm after its captain turned on the engine to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian. The captain, Karsten Borner, said he did not know if the crew of the Bayesian had managed to switch on its engines. “I only know that they went flat with the mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes,” he said.

Swift capsizing

Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic university, said a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking in a huge amount of water, suggesting that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the waterspout.

There has also been media speculation that a major hatch might have been inadvertently left open. However, fire department diver Marco Tilotta told Il Messaggero daily the wreck was “apparently intact” – although only one half of the hull is visible to divers.

And an industry expert in Britain said it should have taken hours for the Bayesian to fill up with enough water to sink it, making its swift demise incomprehensible.

Tallest mast

The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Perini Navi, which said it featured the world’s tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72 metres. However, Ratti and a second expert, structural engineer Filippo Mattioni, said an unusually tall mast is not by itself an element of vulnerability in a storm. Both were also sceptical about the theory a broken mast caused damage smashing against the hull as the boat would not have capsized if this was the case.

Retractable keel

The Bayesian had a retractable keel – the fin-like structure under the hull that helps stabilise boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. Both Ratti and Mattioni wondered if the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, reducing its depth under water, making it less stable. Ratti said the boat might have started oscillating wildly, under strong winds, putting exceptional strain on the mast. But even if this had led to its breaking, “this by itself is not enough to justify the sinking,” he said.

Investigation

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the disaster. Their case is likely to take months to complete.

Mike Lynch’s neighbour says she was ‘honestly horrified’ to learn he was missing

A neighbour of Mike Lynch said she was “honestly horrified” when she learned he was missing after his yacht sank in a tornado.

Ruth Leigh, of Pettistree in Suffolk, said she knew the family had the Bayesian, but when she heard the news, she said: “I just couldn’t believe it, I thought this can’t be right.”

The 57-year-old writer and author added: “It’s dreadful, it’s the worst news.”

She said they had been neighbours for around 15 years and that “right from the start [Mr Lynch] was a fantastic neighbour”.

“Even though he was incredibly wealthy and a very important person, he never ever gave that impression,” said Ms Leigh.

“Whenever he met you, he always remembers your name, he would chat to you, incredibly friendly and down to earth, which we thought was a great quality. He was a really good neighbour.”

Pictured: The Bayesian yacht

Who is Jonathan Bloomer? Morgan Stanley chairman amongst missing from Sicily yacht

The british businessman is one of six people missing after a superyacht capsized near Sicily

Missing Mike Lynch is a ‘very charitable man’, neighbour says

Ruth Leigh, a neighbour of Mike Lynch, said the tycoon was a “very charitable man” who would speak at the village church on Remembrance Sunday.

Ms Leigh, of Pettistree in Suffolk, said: “You’d see him driving about and he’d always wave and say hello and use your name.

“Once a year he’d host a party on the lawn and we’d all go to it.

“He’s just a really nice person. I know that sounds a bit trite, but for a man in his position with every right he could have been quite lofty but he wasn’t, he got involved.

“He used to come and speak at the church in the village on Remembrance Sunday.

“He was a very charitable man, he gave a lot of his time and effort which was good. We just had an incredibly high opinion of him.”

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British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch missing after yacht sinks off Sicily

Lynch, his daughter, two other Britons and two Americans were missing after the 183-foot luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a “violent storm.” Fifteen people were rescued; one crew member was found dead.

Key takeaways

Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.

• Yacht sinks off Sicily coast
• One dead, six missing
• 15 rescued, eight hospitalized
• Violent storm blamed
• Search and rescue ongoing

A previous version of this article and its headline misstated the number of American citizens among the missing. There were only two, not four. The article and headline have been corrected.

ROME — One person was dead and six American and British nationals were missing Monday after a British-flagged yacht sank in a storm off the northern coast of Sicily, authorities said.

The missing included Mike Lynch , the British founder of the tech venture capital firm Invoke Capital and co-founder of the tech firms Autonomy and Darktrace, according to a person familiar with the situation. Rescuers were searching for Lynch, 59, and daughter Hannah, 18, as well as two people with British citizenship and two with American citizenship, authorities said.

Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among 15 people rescued, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the situation. The 183-foot luxury yacht, Bayesian, is owned by Revtom, a firm controlled by Bacares and registered on the Isle of Man, documents show.

A 1-year-old girl was among the survivors , after a near-brush with tragedy when she slipped from her mother’s grasp in the furious waves. She and her mother, Charlotte Golunski, were rescued, according to local media.

Responders recovered the body of the vessel’s chef, a man of undisclosed nationality, the only confirmed fatality in the disaster. The search-and-rescue operation includes four coast guard vessels with two helicopters and two dive teams on alternating shifts.

The yacht sank to a depth of more than 160 feet; it is believed that some passengers might have been trapped in their rooms. The first attempt by cave divers to search inside the sunken yacht was unsuccessful, local rescue authorities said , with limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing the passage.

The Bayesian was anchored about half a mile off the fishing village of Porticello when it sank about 5 a.m. Monday in what authorities called a “violent storm.” Some Italian media outlets described it as a whirlwind.

The Sir Robert, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel anchored nearby, responded immediately to help survivors before the Italian coast guard arrived.

Rescued crew members told authorities that 22 people were on the Bayesian: 12 passengers and 10 crew members. Of the 15 people rescued, eight — including the 1-year-old girl — were taken to hospitals in conditions that were not life-threatening.

“We don’t as of yet have an official passenger list, so all of the available information currently comes from the skipper, who was still shaken, and may be confused,” said Luciano Pischedda, a spokesman for the harbor master in Palermo.

Lynch, the son of a firefighter from County Cork and a nurse from County Tipperary in Ireland, received a doctorate from Cambridge University and made his fortune in tech. Autonomy, a spinoff from his Cambridge Neurodynamics, founded in 1991, grew to become one of Britain’s 100 largest publicly traded companies.

He sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for more than $11 billion but was subsequently accused of overvaluing the company and was charged in the United States with fraud. After a lengthy legal battle, he was found not guilty on all charges.

In May, the Sunday Times estimated Lynch and Bacares’s combined wealth at $649 million. That was down from $1.08 billion in 2023.

The Italian wire agency ANSA reported that the storm might have broken the sailboat’s mast, causing the yacht to lose its balance.

Pietro Asciutto, a local fisherman, told ANSA he was at home when the storm hit. “I immediately shuttered all the windows, then noticed the boat,” he said. “It had only one mast, quite big.”

“It was floating, still, then suddenly vanished,” he said. “I saw it sink with my own eyes.”

Baker reported from Washington. Rachel Pannett in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.

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The benefits of a skippered yacht charter: Stress-free sailing

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• BY Yana Veleva
• DATE 20.08.2024

Imagine the sun glistening on turquoise waters, a gentle breeze guiding your yacht through the waves, and the only decision you have to make is which stunning bay to anchor in next. This is the essence of a skippered yacht charter - an experience that combines the freedom of sailing with the comfort of professional guidance, ensuring a truly stress-free adventure on the open sea.

Expert Navigation and Local Knowledge

One of the primary benefits of a skippered yacht charter is the expertise that comes along with it. Your skipper is not just a skilled sailor but also a knowledgeable guide. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the local waters, your skipper knows the best routes, hidden coves, and must-see destinations. This local insight transforms your journey into exploring the region’s most beautiful and often undiscovered spots, far beyond the typical tourist routes.

Stress-Free Sailing

Sailing can be a thrilling but challenging experience, especially for those who are not seasoned sailors. A skippered yacht charter removes the complexities and stress of navigation, weather forecasting, and boat handling. Your skipper takes care of all the technical aspects, from plotting the course to adjusting the sails, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey fully. Whether you want to learn the ropes or simply lounge on deck with a cocktail, the choice is yours, without any of the usual pressures of sailing.

Safety is paramount when you’re out at sea, and having a professional skipper aboard ensures that you’re in capable hands. Skippers are trained to handle various situations, from changing weather conditions to emergency protocols. Their presence means you can enjoy your sailing holiday with peace of mind, knowing that every aspect of your safety is being taken care of.

Customized Itinerary and Flexibility

Another significant advantage of a skippered yacht charter is the ability to tailor your itinerary to your preferences. Unlike packaged tours, a skippered charter offers the flexibility to create a personalized sailing route. Whether you want to explore bustling coastal towns, dive into secluded bays, or spend a day anchored off a deserted island, your skipper can adapt the itinerary to suit your desires. This level of customization ensures that your sailing holiday is uniquely yours.

On a skippered yacht, you can focus entirely on relaxation. Without the need to worry about docking, anchoring, or the myriad details that come with operating a yacht, you’re free to immerse yourself in leisure activities. Swim in crystal-clear waters, sunbathe on the deck, enjoy gourmet meals prepared on board, or explore the local culture and cuisine at your stops. The entire experience is designed to help you unwind and savor every moment.

Learning Opportunities

For those interested in sailing, a skippered yacht charter can also be an educational experience. Your skipper can teach you the basics of sailing or help you refine your skills if you already have some experience. This hands-on learning, guided by a professional, is an invaluable opportunity to deepen your knowledge while still enjoying the comfort of a guided journey.

Whether you’re an experienced sailor looking for a more relaxed vacation or a complete novice wanting to experience life on the water, a skippered yacht charter is suitable for all skill levels. The skipper can take full control of the yacht, or, if you prefer, you can participate as much or as little as you like. This flexibility makes skippered charters an ideal choice for families, groups of friends, or couples with varying levels of sailing experience.

A skippered yacht charter offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. It’s an opportunity to explore stunning coastal regions without the stress of managing the boat yourself. With a professional skipper at the helm, you’re free to enjoy the beauty of the sea, the thrill of sailing, and the serenity of a stress-free vacation. So why not let go of the helm and let someone else navigate the waters while you focus on creating unforgettable memories?

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TYPES OF VINTAGE MODEL YACHTS

Sailing pond yachts is a very absorbing hobby, there are in fact many different manufacturers to choose from or collect, here are some of the most important and most desirable British model yachts that have ever been made.

Skipper Yachts.

Skipper Yachts are the most recent British manufacturer of traditional model yachts, Skipper developed a superb range of beautiful contemporary boats that were made using modern materials they certainly appealed to young and old alike and sold very well. Skipper Yachts was conceived by John Foster in 1991, using basic construction methods, at the Milton works on the River Deben estuary in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

John had originally looked at the possibilities of purchasing the Star of Birkenhead name and any useful assets, however negotiations fell through. It was decided to create a completely new range of model yachts and so initially production was a family affair, until sales increased resulting in a need for larger premises these were found in Rendlesham not far from Woodbridge, here upto 12 people were employed and became Skipper Yachts Ltd.

Skipper Yachts were carved from a solid piece of Jelutong an Asian timber then later Obeche an African hardwood carved out on an Edwardian Dutch Clog making machine. Skipper also branched out into making a range of other wooden toys like Star had done in the past.

The earliest yachts can be identified by a circular logo printed on the sail fabric and by a paper sticker placed just in front of the mast, other early features are screw eye fittings instead of the later nylon Gooseneck, and a drilled hole in the deck instead of the later nylon mast foot. The original sails were not hemmed and can fray, reinforcements were bonded in the corners to receive the eyelets. Early keel shapes also vary as designs were improved. The transom on the earliest yachts sloped aft this was changed to slope forward. The hull also changed shape they became slightly deeper. Yacht designs were tested by the Woodbridge Model Yacht Club at the Woodbridge model yacht pond.

                          Skipper Shrimp and Jumbo Shrimp

The Skipper yacht range originally included a 5 inch Shrimp and a 6 inch Jumbo shrimp, these had no keels fitted and these were toys for the bath.

                                       Skipper Baby Sailer

The original line up also included a 6 inch baby sailor this was fitted with a simple Star SY0 type keel.

                                           Skipper Chubby

However the range was simplified and an 8 inch Chubby was introduced and featured a pronounced rounded bow and came in various colours and printed sewn sail combinations.

                                        Skipper Contender

A ten inch contender with a sleeker hull was introduced and probably proved to be the most popular in the range.

                                     Skipper Deben Estuary

The 12 inch Deben Estuary yacht was next in the range, various hull and keel shapes are known exist for this model. These were also marketed in a self build model kit form, including a rare version for Marks and Spencers.

                                          Skipper Coastal

Another yacht in the range is the 15 inch Coastal, this also has undergone a few changes to the shape of the keel and hull. 

                             Skipper C13 and C18 Catamaran

The C13 and C18 Catamaran are a beautifully designed and crafted yacht, these are sought after by collectors their production run was very brief and are difficult to find. Made in two sizes of 13 inch and 18 inch these yachts were made using the early sleek hull shapes with aft facing transoms.

                                      Skipper T18 Trimaran

Another collectors item is the 18 inch Trimaran this was developed using the sleek early hull shape fitted with two pontoons created by using the hulls from the Baby Sailor. Although a beautiful design these were produced in low numbers and are now very rare.

                                        Skipper Coastal 20

A 20 inch Skipper Coastal was also manufactured this yacht sports a lined deck and indications of deck cabins and hatches.

                                      Skipper Blue Water 21

The flagship of the skipper fleet was the 21 inch Blue Water Ketch sporting a yawl set up with two masts and along shallow hull, the deck was lined and fitted with with a cabin and hatches. This yacht is very popular with collectors and sails well.

                                          Skipper Lightning

Little is known about this yacht it was developed in the late 1990's as a 25 inch radio control yacht with a GRP hull and an aluminium mast. Lightning was sold only in kit form, it is said that only 36 were manufactured. 

                                    Skipper Ocean Racer 32

The largest wooden yacht that skipper produced was the stunning 32 inch Ocean Racer this was fitted with a keel shape unlike any of the other in the range, along with a lined deck, hatches a cabin and a footwell. Its size makes this the best sailing yacht in the range, these yachts are famous for their appearance in the stunning window displays of Ralph Lauren's high couture shops in the USA.

                                     Skipper Ocean Bound

Marketed in 1996 for the launch of the first BT Challenge race as a yacht for the enthusiast the 34 inch Skipper Ocean Bound featured a GRP hull and aluminium mast, this yacht was marketed as a kit and was designed for radio control. It is believed that only 400 of these kits were produced. 

Skipper Yachts Limited was purchased by Susan Mariani in 2007, then in 2009 production was transferred from Suffolk to China and marketed by a UK toy wholesaler. The yacht range continued to be sold under the Skipper name, but the packaging changed and MDF stands were provided instead of the hardwood types previously used. Unfortunately the original high standard of craftsmanship was lost and hull shapes and paint finish was not as good as the Suffolk made yachts but they continued to sell well. Skipper Yachts unfortunately could not compete with another cheap yacht manufacturer and eventually stocks were run down and the Skipper brand that we used to love is now no longer available. A buoyant second hand market keeps these little yachts in circulation, it is still possible to find unsailed boxed examples on various auctions sites, and are occasionally sold by Britannia Pond Yachts.

Star Yachts of Birkenhead.

Star yachts originated shortly after WW1, Franz-Marie Den ye sold his hand made yachts in a local shop after a short time carving his pond yachts he was able to purchase his own factory building in Marion Street, Birkenhead. From here a wide range of different yachts were manufactured. We are probably most familiar with the SY range of solid yachts and the MK Endeavour range of metal keel yachts, however a beautiful range of larger BR and SB yachts were also made including racing yachts. Some Stars are now collectable as over the years different designs and badging were manufactured. I have listed some of the more commonly found yachts below.

Star SY Solid Yacht Series available from 1932

Having a solid hull all of the yachts in the SY range were finished using various attractive enamel paint colours, they were turned on a lathe from 1939 and they were all fitted with quality hardened Sheffield Steel keels, the decks were fitted with. The Cotton sails were stamped with a black star emblem and numbered according the yachts size, they were all rigged using braided cotton cord which was adjustable using first brass bowsies then later white plastic. The masts and bowsprits were all hinged to allow the sails to be folded down when not in use a removable pin is fitted to the bowsprit bracket . A triangular display stand was also available. From around 1939 the SY series carried a square stern. The last SY yachts were fitted with coloured sails

SY00                                   5 inch                             Cat boat 

SY0                                      8 inch                             Bermuda rigged 

SY1                                       11 inch                             Bermuda rigged 

SY2                                      12 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY3                                      14 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY4                                      16 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY5                                      18 inch                            Gunter rigged 

SY6                                      21 inch                            Gunter rigged 

SY7                                      24 inch                           Gunter rigged

Star MK Endeavour Series

The MK Endeavour Series were all hollowed out to provide a lighter more responsive yacht and were made to a slightly higher specification than the SY series. The prefix MK refers to metal Keel. They were painted in white enamel with varnished lined decks. The mast, boom and bowsprit were originally fitted with brass ferrules but later with white plastic, instead of staples used to anchor the sheeting brass screw eyes were used. These yachts were also fitted with Luff rings to the leading edge and foot of the mainsail.  The sails were made from white cotton and carried a red printed Star emblem. From 1939 Star MK yachts carried the name Endeavour in honour of the Americas cup winner. A coloured stripe was painted both sides of the hull to indicate the yacht type. Later yachts were fitted with colour coordinated adjustable rudders. From around 1939 the MK series was made with a square stern. The last MK yachts were fitted with coloured sails

Star MK1 Endeavour         12 inch          Bermuda rigged, red stripe

Star MK2 Endeavour        14 inch          Bermuda rigged, blue stripe

Star MK3 Endeavour        16 inch          Bermuda rigged, yellow stripe

Star MK4 Endeavour.       18 inch          Bermuda rigged, green stripe

Star BR  Series

Listed in the Star catalogue as a fast all weather yacht the Star BR is a pretty looking well proportioned yacht made using hollowed out pine, the deck fittings are the same as those used on the MK range but the hulls were either painted all white underside with a deep coloured band to the water line or had varnished undersides. The deck was varnished and lined. The Star BR series sails were made using white cotton and stamped using a Star emblem and number in black to denote the yacht type, they were made to have a higher aspect ratio than those in the MK series. The boom and mast were tapered and varnished, whilst the smaller yachts had collapsible rigging for ease of storage and carrying. The larger yacht had 

 removable sails and mast. A lead counterbalance weight was fitted to a wooden keel. These yachts were also named.

Star BR/2             Meteorite                          Bermuda rigged 21 inch

Star BR/3             Planet                                Bermuda rigged 24 inch

Star BR/4             Comet                               Bermuda rigged 30 inch

Star SB Series

The beautiful Star SB is listed as the Super edition of the Bermuda type yacht. The hollowed out hull was made of specially selected timber and was well designed possessing excellent sailing qualities. SB yachts were all painted in white enamel and fitted with a rubbing strip that was painted red. SB series yachts were fitted with rudders and a tiller the shape of the rudder changed in later years. The sails were made from white Union Silk (no longer available) with taped hemmed sails which were fitted with eyelets via Luff rings and were originally fitted with brass ferrules to the mast, boom and stay boom. The shaped wooden keel was also weighted using lead, the yachts were named using black and gold lettering. These yachts are very graceful on the water and perhaps the most widely sought after of all Birkenhead made Stars yachts

Star SB/2              Pacific Star                       Bermuda rigged 21 inch

Star SB/3              Arctic Star                        Bermuda rigged 24 inch

Star SB/4             Baltic Star                         Bermuda rigged 27 inch

Star SB/5             Western Star                     Bermuda rigged 30 inch

A suffolk made Skipper C13 Catamaran

Star SY6 Southern Star, pond yacht.

Bowman are a fascinating and complicated company to collect, having started out just before the start of WW1, they manufactured a great range of toys including clockwork, rubber band powered, and live steam. From locomotives, and stationary engines through to speedboats and sailing yachts. Their first boat was in fact a 25 inch a rubber band powered speedboat produced in London. Soon their famous highly collectable clockwork and steam powered speed boats were produced. In 1923 production was moved to Norfolk in collaboration with Hobbies Ltd.

The first Bowman made yachts produced were named Peewit and Ace both being made around 1926, these were marketed by Hobbies Ltd. The superb range of rubber powered Aeroboats and steam launches including the famous Miss America continued to be made until Geoffrey Jenkins had decided he could no longer take directions from the Hobbies board and parted company. He again started making his models now based in Luton but with greater detail than before. Unfortunately the company was dissolved in 1948. 

The Jenkins family moved to Ridlington in Norfolk, and in 1950 Geoffrey Jenkins again turned his mind to model boats, especially yachts. A large range of designs and changes were made to these yachts so it is common place for these yachts to be quite different even in the same range. The first new yacht to be named was a mid sized yacht called Dragonfly, various sizes of this design were produced in the early 1950's, until the solid hulled aquaplane was introduced. The Dragonfly series was followed in succession by the solid hulled swift and Admiral yachts. The hollow hulled 18 inch Gull and Heron were also available in the late 1950's, the Heron featured a cabin and rudder, (although variations have been found) kits were also available to make at home. Geoffrey died in 1959 and his son Max continued on with the business, in the late 1960's a vacuum formed plastic hull was introduced and was named the Olympic series. The last yacht in Bowman range was the Lively Lady, sadly Bowman closed its doors for the final time in 1982.

                               The Bowman Yacht Series

Unnamed with automatic steering              20 inches 1951

Dragonfly                                                     various from 1951

Aquaplane                                                    14-24 inches 1953-1968

Swift                                                             9-15 inches 1955-66

B18 Gull and Heron                                     18 inches 1958

Keil Kraft Gull Kit                                        18 inches 1955-60

B26 Heron                                                   26 inches 1966

Catamaran                                                   15 inches 1962

Admiral                                                         9-24 inches 1966-68

Olympic                                                        6-22 inches 1968-70

Olympic De Luxe                                         6-22 inches 1970-75

Lively Lady                                                   14 and 18 inches 1970

To complicate matters further Swift and Aquaplane yachts have upto 3 different design changes or series to look out for. There may even be more Bowman yachts out there that have yet to be discovered.

A 1958 Bowman B18 Gull

Lines Brothers and Tri-ang.

Lines Bros Ltd did not start out in the toy boat market until 1933, introducing 3 ranges of 20 new wooden hulled yacht designs, by 1934 they had reduced the range by marketing only 8 of the quality S range. Tri angs inexperience as a yacht designer showed in the performance of their yachts. Their boats at best can only be described as cruisers the hulls were heavy and sat low in the water, however they were well-made, good-looking cutters. In 1934 it was decided to enlist the services of an experienced manufacturer and because Kellner were already selling a range of quality boats through Hamleys now owned by the Lines Brothers so Kellner became an ideal partner to work with. A range of Composite and Steel yachts was developed by Kellner.

Kellner held the patent for a resin-impregnated silk hull design (The forerunner to GRP). This, however, was only listed as weatherproof and if the paint was cracked or scuffed in any way water would seep into the material and soak up water and then the yacht would be ruined. Three very attractive racing yachts were produced called the K Yacht series, they were fitted with cedar decks, braine gear and a quality Bermuda rig. The light weight of the design resulted in very high performance. These yachts were manufactured until 1940 and are extremely rare today. The smaller Kellner-designed tin plate yachts continued to be made at Merton until 1953.

After WW2 had ended the Penguin brand appeared this was to market the now cheaper-to-produce plastic models that Tri-ang had been working on. However, the larger metal-bodied yachts continued in production until the late 1950's. By 1963 the Scalex brand had been introduced for the plastic-bodied yachts, the largest plastic yachts produced were the attractive Commodore and Osprey at 24 inches overall, these yachts sailed well and some were fitted with automatic steering. Tri-ang was absorbed by Hornby in 1971.

The Tri-ang yachts series

A12-18  Wood            Lugger rigged             2-18 inches long 1932

A21-24 Wood            Bermuda rigged          21-24 inches long 1932-35

B12-18  Wood.           Lugger rigged             12-18 inches long 1932

B21-24  Wood           Bermuda rigged          21-24 inches long 1932

S12-S18 Wood.          Lugger rigged             12-18 inches long 1932-35

000-4  Steel             Bermuda rigged         8.5-31.5 inches long 1934-51

K2 Elizabeth               Bermuda rigged         21 inches long 1935-40

K3 Margaret               Bermuda rigged         26 inches long 1935-40

K4 Rosemary.             Bermuda rigged         32 inches long 1935-40

X and Y series.            Bermuda rigged         18.5-21 inches long 1935-40

K10-K16                      Bermuda rigged         10-16 inches long 1936-39

14-20 Wood,              Bermuda rigged         14-16 inches long 1937-38

C16 Aluminium.          Bermuda rigged         16 inches long 1947-53

C18 Steel.                   Bermuda rigged         18 inches long 1937-40

C20-24 Steel             Bermuda rigged         20-24 inches long 1939-53

T24-69 Steel              Bermuda rigged         24-69 inches long 1937-38

No 1-2 Star made       Fishing Smack            14-17 inches long 1937-40

K12-20 Steel.             Bermuda rigged          12-20 inches long 1938-40

K24 Steel.                   Bermuda rigged          24 inches long 1938-51

000-0 Steel               Bermuda rigged         8-14 inches long 1947-53

W16-W18 Wood          Bermuda rigged         16-18 inches long 1947

C16-24 series 2 Steel Bermuda rigged         16-24 inches long 1954-59

404Y Ocean plastic    Bermuda rigged         24 inches long 1960

405Y plastic                Bermuda rigged         24 inches long 1961

410Y  plastic                Bermuda rigged         10 inches long 1960

411Y Catamaran           Bermuda rigged         13 inches long 1961

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged         12 inches 1953-54

430Y Neptune             Bermuda rigged         16 inches 1958-60

Penguin Yachts

410Y plastic.                 Bermuda rigged           10  inches long 1953-54

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged            12 inches 1953-54

430Y Neptune              Bermuda rigged            16  inches 1951-54

Scalex Yachts

H211 Gull plastic           Bermuda rigged            11 inches long 1964-67

H212 Swift                    Bermuda rigged            12 inches long 1964-72

H216 Diana                   Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1964-72

H224 commodore        Bermuda rigged            24 inches long 1971

H312 Swift 2                 Bermuda rigged            12 inches long 1968-69

H316 Seahawk              Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1964-66

H316 Seahawk 2            Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1968 -69

410Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged            10 inches long 1963

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged             12 inches 1963

430Y Neptune             Bermuda rigged             16 inches 1955-63

A pre 1953 tin plate 12 inch Tri-ang Junior 0 series

All Suggs yachts were hand carved the company first started before WW1 and very few have have survived today. They were produced by the Frank Sugg company of Liverpool and sold in Gamages stores, Stevens's Model Dockyard and also probably other stores, elsewhere. Made in various sizes and designs, including Schooners and Yawls Suggs cutters were either spoon or clipper bowed and always gaff rigged, painted with black topsides and red oxide below the waterline, the larger yachts were fitted with a topsail using a jackyard, but these are often lost. Little is known about the company, but an example exists with a deck transfer reading 'Sugg. Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London'. The Suggs company also made sports goods and traded selling sports appareil until the 1980's.

Suggs Cutters are difficult to identify but do have the following characteristics, the original set up often featured double head sails as on a full size cutter that were overlapped and loose footed. Deck fittings known as Bugg Pins were hammered in and bent over to form a loop. The deck was curved (Turtle back) to provide run off and was set into the hull which was completed with a finely made toe rail all round that tapered off to the stern. A typical feature of Suggs made yachts is the distinctively shaped adjustable raked rudder and rudder post, which was fitted with a brass tiller and sprung beneath a narrow brass horse which was given three indentations providing a center, Starboard and Port position for the helm. These rudders can also be found on early Hamleys, Lines brothers (Tri ang) wooden cutters and yachts, which does make you wonder if these yachts were in fact made by the Suggs company as well.

All Suggs Cutters were originally painted the same way, with black topsides and a red oxide below the water line. Nearly all have a very fine painted cove line around the the bilge. The decks were also lined out before varnishing except for some of the smallest yachts. The larger examples, and those with 'non standard' hulls have a light moulding fitted to act as a rubbing strake.

Suggs yachts are highly sought after rare and are delightful, well made models, they do take some getting used to when sailing, it is advised to keep the top sail taught to keep it off wind, the yacht will not self tack due to the overlapping for-sails these will need to be reset each time that you need to go about.

A typical larger 1920's 25 inch spoon bowed Suggs Cutter.

Albatross, by Games Industries.

The first Albatross yachts were manufactured by Games Industries of London during the 1950's and were marketed by the prestigious department store Gamages. They were well made quality yachts manufactured with hollow hulls and were offered in 3 ranges. The Q series with a fixed rudder and a keel similar to a Star MK, and then the R range fitted with a manually operated rudder.

The high specification De Lux series were fitted with a simple but effective form of Braine steering quadrant with a forward mounted horse for beating and reaching, the sheets led through eyelets to the tiller quadrant for running. It is interesting to note that the jib stay and boom were originally made from shaped flat sided timber as were the full size racing yachts of the day. The foot of both the jib and main sail were lashed to the stay and boom to help make the sail as efficient as possible. The main sail was attached to the mast using Luff rings. The largest yachts had fold down masts for ease of stowage. There is little known about Games Industries and their range of Albatross yachts .

The Games Industries, Albatross Yacht Series

Q14                   Bermuda rigged                    14 inches long 1952-57

Q16                   Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

R14                    Bermuda rigged                    14 inches long 1952-57

R16                    Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

R21                    Bermuda rigged                    21 inches long 1952-57

J16                     Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

J20                    Bermuda rigged                    20 inches long 1952-57

J25                    Bermuda rigged                    25 inches long  1952-57

J30                    Bermuda rigged                   30 inches long  1952-57

J36                    Bermuda rigged                    36 inches long  1952-57

An Albatross J25 awaiting restoration in an original stand.

Albatross, by G Cornish, Paignton.

The second Albatross Yachts were manufactured by Mr G Cornish in King Ash, Road Paignton, in Devon. between 1988 and 1996  with the invaluable help of his wife Freda, who made the sails and carried out the bookwork. The first yachts were made in the garden shed at 170 Kings Ash Road, but as production increased operations were moved to an industrial unit to the rear of 36 Palace Avenue, Paignton.

The Paignton Albatross yacht series

Kathleen, wooden             Gaff rigged                          24 inch 

Kathleen, GRP                  Gaff rigged                          24 inch

Kathleen GRP                   Yawl                                     24 inch

Sloop, wooden                  Bermuda rigged                   20 inch

Tonnage Class, wooden    Gaff rigged                            26 inch

Nisha, Brixham Trawler     Gaff rigged                          22 inch

Valentine, wooden            Gaff rigged                           30 inch

Neptune Schooner           Gaff rigged                           18 inch  

Schooner, wooden            Gaff rigged                           20 inch

1890, wooden,                  Gaff rigged                           18 inch

Jolie Breeze, wooden        gaff rigged                            22 inch

Barge, wooden                  Gaff rigged                            6 and 11 inch

Solid Sloop, wooden         Bermuda rigged                    12 and 14 inch

Hollow Sloop, wooden      Bermuda rigged                    14 and 16 inch

Hollow Sloop                    Gaff rigged                            15 and 18 inch

Hollow Sloop                    Double head Gaff rigged      18 inch

Yawl.                                Lugger rigged                         17 and 20 inch

Some of the above yachts were made in very small numbers

24 inch Albatross Kathleen yawl.

J Alexander and Sons of Preston

Alexander racing yachts really are in a class of their own for their astounding quality of finish and sailing qualities they are now highly sought after with each example offered for sale commanding high prices.  John Alexander trained to be a carpenter and was employed by Browns Shipyard in Glasgow, during WW1 he was involved in building early flying boats for the Royal Navy, possibly Saunders Roe. John was a keen model yachtsman and in 1925 he made the decision to convert his hobby into a business. His range of quality hand crafted yachts were made in the sprawling upstairs rooms of his house in Ashton on Ribble. The house was ideally situated for testing and sailing near Fleetwood International boating lake. His sons successfully raced their own boats which provided excellent PR for their range of yachts. The enviable quality of the yachts was assisted by entire family who helped with assembly and sail making.

After WW2 demand decreased due to Britain's period of Austerity,

and the demand for their expensive range of yachts was no more. John retired from the business around 1950, his sons carried on producing the yachts and introduced an electric powered speed boat.  J Alexander and sons sadly ceased production in around 1960. It is not known how many models were actually produced.

J Alexander yachts were sold by mail order and in Gamages, and Hamleys with the advertising slogan of British Boats for British Boys!

The J. Alexander yacht series

White Flyer

Heather Elf                                            18 inch

White Heather                             20-34 inch

Heather Dew                               22-25 inch

Heather Bells                               26 inch

Heather Isle                                 30 inch

Heather Glen                               36 inch

White Elf                                      22 inch

White Spray                                 30 inch

It is believed that all J Alexander yachts were Bermuda rigged. There was also a tie-up with Bassett-Lowke who marketed the White Heather series known as R1-R4

J Alexander White Heather, Pond Yacht.

Ailsa Yachts

It is not known when Ailsa yachts first started making model yachts but an early advertisement is dated 1936, it is now accepted that the earliest wooden yachts date from the late 1920's. Sadly it is not known how many different models that were made and it is assumed that they were first produced by Turner of Largs, and the very first model yachts were carved from bread and butter pine board construction, and fitted with a wooden lead weighted keel and sometimes with a metal fin. However they were initially designed to be used without a moveable rudder and provide excellent performance in the hands of beginners they were made to a high standard, with extensive prototype testing carried out by Turner on the yacht pond at Largs. These earliest yachts were referred to as Clyde built Stevie boats and were originally fitted with striped cotton sails. At the time the dockyards of the River Clyde had an enviable reputation and built more ships and boats than anywhere else in the world. The later name Ailsa refers to an Island called Ailsa Craig off the coast of Largs.

Initially they were sold by the Clyde Model Dockyard in Glasgow, it is possible that only those yachts sold by the Clyde Model Dockyard were named Iona. They became widely sold throughout the UK and were even exported throughout the Commonwealth. Production ceased during WW2 but after the war manufacturing commenced and at one stage upto 12 people were employed. Milbro a toy and sports equipment wholesaler began marketing the yachts these were fitted with an ivorine name plate bearing the name Milbro. An aluminium hull with a Cedar deck was introduced soon after the war which enabled the yacht to be slightly lighter and therefore faster than those yachts with wooden hulls, speed of production was also increased. The very last of the yachts were fitted with hot rolled terylene sails, this was the go to racing sail material used at the time. The very last yachts were made with a GRP hull and the last Ailsa yacht off the line was made in the early 1960's. Today Ailsa yachts are still very popular they are elegant in design and provide outstanding performance, something that has still to be bettered today, perhaps this is why Ailsa yachts are rarely seen for sale and command such high prices when they do.

                                   The Ailsa yacht series

12  inches long

14  inches long

16 inches Long

17  inches long

18  inches long

20 inches long

21  inches long

28 inches long

30 inches long

These are the only sizes  known at the time of writing

A late 16 inch Aluminium hulled Milbro Ailsa.

B-Boats, British Yacht and Model Company

The first listing for B-Boats was in the 1932 Meccano Magazine, they were manufactured at 459 Fulham road in London. Very little else is known about the company and how long it stayed in business, however the hulls were made from a quality aluminium pressing like later Ailsa yachts, it is interesting to note that B-Boats power boat pressings were also used on the Scottish Marine Companies, Mermaid power boat. B-Boats were a high quality product with beautifully sewn double stitched double hemmed sails that were provided with a curved foot, sheeting was attached using Lanyard clips like other quality yacht manufacturers at the time a free swinging rudder was also fitted. All B-Boats were supplied in a green felt lined wooden box. The advertising slogan for B-Boats was unsurpassed for Grace and speed. (Once my B-Boat has been restored I will set it against a similar Ailsa to see which is the quickest across the pond).

The British Yacht and Model Company, B-Boat range.

S1016                     Bermuda rigged                             16 inches Long

S1020                    Bermuda rigged                             20 inches long

S1026                    Bermuda rigged                             26 inches long

S1033                    Bermuda rigged                             33 inches long

The remains of a once beautiful 16 inch B-Boat.

Bassett-Lowke Ltd

The trading name of Bassett- Lowke was Founded in 1899 and has a long and complicated history, based in Northampton they were originally known for their large scale exhibition standard models made for boat and ship manufacturers including military vehicles, model steam locomotives and rolling stock. They also retailed quality model yachts and boats including the Alexander White Heather range. It is not known how many model boats that Bassett-Lowke actually made but it is certain that they manufactured a range of four beautiful power boats and a range of model boat fittings themselves.

A Bassett-Lowke Deerhound

                           Bonds of Euston Road

Bonds O Euston Road as they called themselves were a very popular model engineering supplier, selling model kits, tools, parts, stationary engines, plans and castings, established in 1887 known simply as Bonds, they moved to Euston Road in 1929,  Bonds also had their own range of quality racing yachts and boats sourced from a variety of suppliers. The decline in interest of their core products meant that they had to move to new premises in Sussex and changed direction becoming a hardware store, they closed in 2010.

                         Bonds of Euston, Endeavour range

17 inch                             automatic rudder

21 inch                             automatic rudder

28 inch                            Braine type steerin g

36 inch                            Braine type steering

A 1935 Bonds of Euston, Endeavour Yacht

AW Gamage Ltd

Gamages were a quality London department store that started trading in 1878 selling clothes, they were very successful and were soon selling all manner of goods including toys and model yachts. Little is known about the range of yachts sold as the company closed in 1972, and the records were destroyed. It is thought that because Gamages were able to sell high volumes of goods they were able to acquire exclusive deals with existing manufacturers, the types of yachts sold it seems was very varied and some were possibly made in Germany. Difficulty in identifying Gamages type yachts exists because few yachts had any identification marks on them.

A  superbly made 1920's Gaff rigged Gamages yacht

Hobbies of Dereham Ltd.

Hobbies of Dereham Ltd was established by John Skinner in around 1880, and sold specialist woodworking tools, patterns and materials. They produced the popular Hobbies magazine which included their ever growing range of items and how to do articles. Hobbies Ltd was formed in 1902 and was now operating from many shops around the country. It was in 1922 that the association with Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins was formed, and a range of steam powered motor boats was introduced. Bowman designed and built a variety of yachts and boats, the company became known as Hobbies Bowman.

Unfortunately the Bowman section of the company failed in 1935. It is interesting to note that from this failure the creation of Mammod came about from the early steam engine designs made by Geoffrey-Malin's co-operation with Hobbies Ltd. By 1968  Hobbies Ltd was liquidated, however a previous employee managed to purchase the brand name and Hobbies Ltd was relaunched and is still trading today with a strong online presence selling plans, materials tools and spares as it had originally done when Hobbies first started.

The Hobbies Bowman range

The Ace                    14.5 inches Gaff rigged                         1925-28

Peewit                      14.5 inches Bermuda rigged                  1925-29

Whitewings              20 inches Gaff rigged

Seagull                     23 inches Gaff rigged

An early Hobbies "Peewit" pond yacht.

Winford Model Yachts

Winford made a stylish and unusual range of pond yachts, they were a quality product and expensively priced, and were marketed as an any weather yacht. They featured innovative pressed steel hulls fitted with wooden decks and  remov able/adjustable  lead weighted wooden keels of different weights and sizes. These yachts were also fitted with steering gear and a stern mounted rudder, all models featured a bowsprit and as far as we know all were fitted with a Bermuda rig. They were produced at the Kingswinford Forge in Staffordshire during the 1920's. Very little more is known about the company it is likely that very few yachts were sold and even fewer have survived even though world wide sales were claimed.

The Winford yacht range

12 inch ‘Ordinary’, fixed keel, one suit of sails.

12 inch ‘Special’ with two suits of sails and spars, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and weighted rudder.

15 inch ‘Ordinary’, fixed single keel, one suit of sails.

15 inch ‘Special’ with three suits of sails and spars, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and simple tiller steering gear.

20 inch ‘Racing’ model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a sheet to tiller steering gear.

27 inch model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a sheet to tiller steering gear.

36 inch model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a simple sheet to tiller steering gear. 

36 inch schooner rigged with two suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, with steering gear.

Winford racing yacht diagram.

Kylecraft Model Yachts

Kylecraft Pond Yachts were made in Largs on the river Clyde just after the Second World War. Largs was also the home of the Ailsa yacht brand, on inspection the two types are very similar, with the Kylecraft yacht having a slightly deeper hull and keel than an Ailsa. It is not known if there was any collaboration between the two companies. Kylecraft continued to use carved wooden hulls whereas Ailsa were using a pressed aluminium hull. Overall Ailsa yachts were produced in far greater quantities and therefore easier to find than Kylecraft yachts and because of their rarity they have now become highly collectable. It is thought that Hobbies of Dereham Ltd marketed Kylecraft yachts. Once Kylecraft had ceased trading 300 nearly completed yachts were acquired by a gentleman who ran a market stall in Portobello Market, he completed the yachts and sold them as display pieces.

The Kylecraft yacht range

12 inch                                Bermuda rigged

16 inch                                Bermuda rigged

18 inch                                Bermuda rigged

22 Inch                               Bermuda rigged

24 inch                               Bermuda rigged

A 12 inch Kylecraft yacht sailing in Cumbria.

Redwing Model Yachts

Very little indeed is known about Redwing  Pond Yachts, it seems that they were manufactured in the 1920's as a surviving catalogue although undated refers to the 1921 Cowes yacht races. They made both yachts and powerboats, Redwing models were hardly toys with some of the yachts being 50 inches long and made to a very high specification which included steering gear on some models. The company was based at 150 Kingston Road, in New Malden, Surrey.

The Redwing yacht range

Model No 1   The Redwing Sloop               36 inch Gaff rigged

Model No 2  The Redwing                          24 inch Gaff rigged

Model No 3  Bluebird                                 36 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 4  Bluebird                                 24 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 5  Ten-rater Schooner              50 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 6  6m International                   (size unknown)

A 50 inch Redwing Ten-rater Schooner.