Admire the world's most beautiful boats, brought to life through breath-taking photography. Classic Boat offers a unique blend of yacht reviews, seamanship and restoration features, history and design columns, practical advice and coverage of the leading international regattas and events. Whether your interest lies in working on restoration projects or sailing in classic regattas; whether you're a wooden boat owner or simply an admirer of traditional marine workmanship, Classic Boat will have something for you.
IT’S NEVER PLAIN SAILING
Classic Boat
CENTREBOARD KETCH • Saecwen of Lymington is a new strip-planked centreboard ketch, built by the Elephant Boatyard to a Nigel Irens design. Hardly run of the mill then…
BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK
Cowes Classics Week a huge success
Barges race on the Blackwater
Classic Yachts magazine
Arthur Beale moves to Portsmouth
Italian city gets its own classic yacht
Historic paddle steamer slipped
Original Mermaid
Classics at Southampton Boat Show • The Southampton International Boat Show, which runs from 10-19 September, is expanding in a big way this year and taking over more of the city. There is plenty lined up for classic boaters and others
TROY STORY TWO • Barbara’s first owner ordered her in 1947 with the money that should have been a deposit on a family home. Now she’s been rebuilt as new boat, with just her lead keel to remind her of the past
Saleroom
Objects of desire
Floating on her waterline • Will he ever get that waterline painted on right?
BOSUN’S BAG • PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THE TRADITIONAL BOATER
Sky’s no limit • His first design was for a 36ft sailing yacht. Now, Andrew Winch is designing a dozen super yachts, including the biggest the world has ever seen. Then there’s the jets and houses…
ON THE TRAIL OF THE REAL MR PIKE • Fred Mortimer, one of the last sailors of the age of sail, inspired Jack London to create the character Mr Pike in The Mutiny of The Elsinore
LESSONS IN SCHOONERING • For a top racing skipper with two transats under his belt, sailing a schooner to Haiti was going to be a piece of cake – right?
Ian ridgeway’s notes on ropes
Nat Benjamin’s next challenge
THE ISLE OF LIGHT • Off the French Mediterranean coast, famed for the big regattas at Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Antibes, a smaller regatta has been hiding in plain sight – for 18 years
GOING WITH THE FLOW • We’ve admired Nick Smith’s fiercely traditional gent’s harbour launches for years – finally, it was time to hear their story and have a go in one
Honey Bee
Getting afloat
Starling Burgess 8-M from history
Oldest wooden barge to be restored
MIND OVER MATTER • Boatbuilder John McShea is finding cleverer ways to do things, from laser-guiding fastening positions to multi-purpose knees
Boatbuilder’s Notes
Traditional Tool
Letters
Next month
Bringing clarity to varnish • Dave Selby reveals the trade secrets behind a perfect varnish finish