Classic Boat — November 2017

SPIRIT OF TRADITION

EMILLY HARRISC/O FRANCOIS VIVIER

MERVYN MAGGS

CLASSIC BOAT NOVEMBER 2017 57

Norfolk Gypsy

Over the years, a few Spirit of Tradition niches have emerged

and the most numerous type, by far, is quite a specific

formula: a small, heavy, seagoing, centreboard cabin yacht of

around 19/20ft (c6m) for four to sail or two to overnight, built

in GRP with an easily-managed ga‘ rig, and towable, if you

have the right car. The best-selling of these by far is the

Cornish Shrimper, but countless others have entered the fray.

This one, the Norfolk Gypsy, is “built to a standard, not a

price”, sturdily and smartly put together, with glacial

depreciation a balm to that high initial price. More than 140

have been built since the 1980s.

Price £45,750, neilthompsonboats.co.uk

Rustler 33

When you go to a designer like Stephen Jones and say: “It’s

got to look good and sail well...we don’t care about headroom,”

you know you’re going to get something tasty. The GRP Rustler

33 was first launched in 2012. Most SoT yachts borrow from

pre-war (particularly 1930s) design. The R33 owes its origins

to post-war Metre yachts, with a retroussé counter stern,

square-oval portlights and gentle sheer. It results in one of the

most subtly original and beautiful yachts of recent years. Add

to that modern, dinghy-like performance, build quality and a

competitive price, and you have the ideal weekender. She’s a

great reminder that a yacht is, ultimately, a wonderful toy.

Price £114,500, rustleryachts.co.uk

Pen-Hir

A revivalist school of thought in France in the early 1980s bemoaned the

increasing specialisation of racing dinghies and sought to design and build

dinghies and dayboats of the old mould, boats that could be rowed as well as

sailed, or take an outboard, with something stretched over the boom for nights

under the stars. Enter Francois Vivier, whose boats could be built to plan or

kit, or ordered from a professional boatbuilder. Pen-Hir is a later boat from

Vivier, a 24-footer (7.5m) with decent accommodation, good looks,

trailability and a serious turn of speed. She’s been designed with a nod to

the handy, fast American knockabouts of the early 20th century, from

the likes of Alden and Crowninshield, although she’s beamier, and the

workboats of the designer’s Brittany. Simplicity is the key: no diesel,

no winches and no through-hull fittings.

Home build: €35-40,000 (c2,200 hours). Yard build: €100,000.

vivierboats.com

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