“The vital
papers
were not
there, but
that simply
meant we
must look
harder
elsewhere”98 CLASSIC BOAT NOVEMBER 2017Sternpost
I
had been looking for Hope for over a decade. She is
listed No1 in the International 14 book, build date
just before the First World War; I knew she had been
designed by Linton Hope, and built by Jac M Iversen
and his brother-in-law, my grandfather, for EG Martin. I
had the family archives and newspaper clippings, but not
the boat. Then a tip-off from Jane Shaddick, Morgan
Giles family archivist, located Hope at Lowestoft, stored
in a polytunnel, part of a big collection.
Hurrah! After a positive response, I waited for a
callback, as ecstasy turned to agony. The news was the
collection was to be disbanded and probably auctioned,
leaving Hope up for grabs, for anyone to buy.
Of course there were family consultations, and also
discussions with classic boat specialist Adrian Stone, the
safest hands I know if you want a vessel properly
conserved. I cannot stress enough my gratitude to the
National Small Boat Register, through the National
Maritime Museum Cornwall; they already had Hope
listed with photographs, but recent images were
provided for me and much practical advice.
Through the National Small Boat Register I received a
letter from the one-time secretary of the Maritime Trust,
now the Maritime Heritage Trust, saying the usual
transfer agreements would have specified the Marine
Trust must be given first refusal. But was there
paperwork to prove it? That became the big search.
Stuart Tyler at the Devon Archives bent over
backwards. Yes they had possible catalogue listings and
would check for me. Eventually the vital papers were not
there, but that simply meant we must look harder
elsewhere.
Amazingly the National Small Boat Register did come
up with documentation proving Hope was not allowed
to be sold off, and we all felt that there was light at the
end of the polytunnel. So, imagine the shock when, lateon the day before the auction, Hope appeared as listed.
Now, once again anyone could bid for her.
There was talk of foreign buyers, American, Far and
Middle Eastern... I also spoke to the auctioneer (staying
determinedly on the phone until he was free) to plead
Hope’s case. He had another look at the document and
agreed she needed to be removed from the list. An 11th
hour reprieve. So the auction went ahead without Hope,
and I watched that fantastic collection being sold off in
real time, even Ivy Morgan Giles’ Solitaire. Does anyone
have an idea where Solitaire is now?
The Maritime Heritage Trust were unaware that one
of the MH fleet (others included Cutty Sark, Brixham
smack Provident, Gipsy Moth IV) was caught up in the
auction. The chairman, David Morgan, wrote to the
liquidators that the trust wished to exercise its “right to
reacquire title to the vessel” and that was that.
By the time you read this, Kingswell Transport’s lorry
will have arrived in Lowestoft to carry Hope to the
Cowes Classic Boat Museum, along with the Uffa Fox
Flying 10 and Flying 12 that the museum bought in the
auction. Thanks to chairman Mark McNeill and his
team, this will be Hope’s new home, and what could be
more fitting?
Adrian Stone is going to write and oversee her
conservation management plan, so watch this space. But
she has no rig, and no sails. Tony Must, the manager of
the Lowestoft marina searched for me, and couldn’t find
them. He even photographed the mast slot, in case the
mast was up in Eyemouth. He locked the ‘portables’ in
his store to give me peace of mind.
Saving Hope means I owe many people heartfelt
thanks. Now, through the Cowes museum, she may sail
again. But what about the other boats that were
auctioned on 26 July, with or without their masts and
sails? What on earth is happening to them now?Clare McComb had to be yachting historian and detective to save a historic dinghy
TONY MUSTCLARE MCCOMBSaving No1, Hope
Main photo:
Hope continues
her journey at
Lowestoft marina,
en route to
Cowes. Inset:
Jac M IversenCB353 Sternpost.indd 98 26/09/2017 14:25