Classic_Boat_2016-09

Wooden boats at Mystic

The WoodenBoat Show took place at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, in June. The sun was out

and the varnish was gleaming on a range of beautiful craft, from immaculate 14ft amateur

kit builds through to the glamour of the 55ft S&S Santana, launched in 1935 and once

owned by Humphrey Bogart. The Santana restoration has been done by Loughborough

Marine Interests and East Passage Boatwrights. Among the other boats on the quay, Mink is

a fascinating project overseen by local Mystic company MP&G to restore this Buzzard’s Bay

25 exactly as she was at launch, even down to the number of stitches on the cotton sails by

James Lawrence Sailmakers in Essex, and the period-correct innards of the bilge pump,

machined specially. The Concordia Company was showing off Javelin, Corcordia no 57 built

in 1958. Elsewhere, whether it was budget kit builds, Spirit of Tradition dayboats, chandlery

old and new or boats for hourly hire, visitors had a huge range of things to enjoy. The

Family Boatbuilding Tent was busy, with mums, dads and youngsters putting together a kit

for a Moccasin 14, courtesy of B&B Yacht Designs, done over three days with a grand launch on

the fi nal day. In an al fresco theatre, local actors told the story of east coast whalers and

pirates for rapt youngsters. Meanwhile, Mystic pale ale and lobster rolls kept parents well

sustained. Next year’s show runs June 30 to July 2. thewoodenboatshow.com

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ROB PEAKE

1 Sails of all shapes and sizes fi ll the sky at the museum seaport 2 The Buzzard’s Bay 15 Maribee and

Buzzard’s Bay 25 Mink were in the Herreshoff yard in 1914 at the same time, now reunited on the

Mystic waterfront 3 Boat-spotting in style 4 Mink shows off her new cotton sails 5 Bronze fi ttings

by Seven Star Marine on Santana 6 The Malahias family ticking one off dad Ted’s bucket list in the

Family Boatbuilding tent 7 1916 Fay & Bowen torpedo stern motorboat, restored by Tumblehome

Boatshop, which won a restoration of the show award 8 Private owners showed off their kit-builds

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