Classic_Boat_2016-02

Left: Cambria’s immaculate interior was removed to give access for the hull work. Right: Relaunched at

Southampton Yacht Services in late autumn 2015

CARLO BORLENGHI ANNA BARKHAM

CAMBRIA

and sanding, the hull was glassed by Centreline Marine

with four layers of 600gm cloth laid up and down the

hull – the first and fourth with a diagonal weave, the

middle ones 0/90 – and coated with Ampreg 21 epoxy

resin. Although it proved impossible to get the moisture

content of the remaining pitch pine planks below the

manufacturer’s official recommendation, an off-the-

record assurance that the product was flexible in terms

of its usage put the project team’s minds at rest. The hull

was then faired by Superyacht Solutions with a

maximum thickness of just ¼in of filler. “That was in the

bow where there were two hollow sections,” explained

Matthew, “probably caused by frame distortion which

had been there for a long time.”

Towards the end of the project, various different

processes were carried out concurrently along the length

of the boat: at one stage SYS’s shipwrights were

completing planking work at the stern, forward of them

were the laminators who were themselves being chased

by a team of painters applying preliminary coats while

up at the bow the fairing had begun. “There wasn’t

much point in waiting for all the woodwork to be

finished before starting any laminating so when we had

half the boat ready they started,” said Matthew. “And

they only once caught up with the shipwrights.”

Perhaps the most important work on the deck was

fixing the leaks which had caused the sheer plate

corrosion. Also, the bowsprit was removed for the first

time since the boat was in Australia. To do this the

capping rail had to be cut and removed along with an

area of decking that covered the bowsprit heel fitting,

but these were re-fitted in a way that will allow easier

removal in future. The cockpit decking was re-laid to

match the rest of the deck (it was previously fore and aft

but is now swept) and adjustments were made to the seat

and backrest angles for increased comfort. All the

brightwork was taken back to bare wood and recoated

by the crew – the deckhouses were moved to an adjacent

workshop for this – and the rich dark red mahogany

colour has now been brought back.

Below decks the only new work was the reconfiguring

of the crew area forward (to designs by CB’s Theo Rye)

to give more storage and better seating, and to allow

easier access to the inside of the hull for future

maintenance. Other than that all the joinery (mostly

original) which was removed to allow for the hull repairs

was simply reinstated, in accordance with the declared

priorities. Indeed it is a great testament to the project

team’s determination in that respect that, when Cambria

sailed away from Southampton in November, she still

had so much of her original structure intact including the

complete centreline, the rudder, the vast majority of her

steel framework and much of her planking.

Over the page: Theo Rye puts the refit in context

Cambria’s skipper

Chris Barkham

“The refit project was a massive undertaking, as all of them are,

however it was made possible by the passion those involved have

for classic yachts, in particular Cambria. She manages to get under

the skin of all those who come into contact with her. This is obvious

with her aesthetic appeal but her soul and character attract

like-minded people who genuinely enjoy their work on board. We

have been working with past friends at Southampton Yacht

Services, but also a completely new team of welders, shipwrights

and joiners who also have found themselves brought under her

spell. This is part of Cambria’s ethos – it’s the team of skilled

tradesmen and women on the job that we need to thank. Cambria’s

refit was an amazing experience.”