Classic Boat — January 2018

Above: Robin

Blain, driving

force behind the

Junk Rig

Association

(^24) CLASSIC BOAT JANUARY 2018
TELL TALES
A community initiative has provided
yachtsmen with a place to scrub off in
Brittany. The oyster and mussel-friendly
site has been set up following a ruling in
January 2009 that made it illegal for
yachts to dry out in harbours, rivers or
creeks and scrub off on the tide in the
traditional way, after years of lobbying
from shellfi sh producers. Wooden boat
owners like Peter Cumberlidge, who sent
this report, have had to lift out for
scrubbing and antifouling – “never as kind
to a venerable wooden hull as setting down
against some sleepy quay up a sheltered
river” – as Peter, who has kept his 1936
yacht Stormalong in Brittany since 2008,
puts it. But now at Plouër-sur-Rance the
community has developed a quayside
scrubbing grid where you can “dry out and
scrub off to your heart’s content”. Toxic
waste drains into a sump and is pumped to
a holding tank for collection and treatment.
Water and electricity are on hand and the
Restaurant de la Cale is just opposite.
We are calling for nominations for
our annual Classic Boat Awards.
The Awards celebrates the best of
2017, with the winners announced
in the spring. The shortlisting
deadline is midnight (GMT) on 15
December. Anyone can nominate
for Best Restoration, New Build,
Spirit of Tradition boats,
Powerboats and Yachtsman of the
Year (this can be for a non-sailing
achievement and applies to both
men and women). Please email
steff [email protected] with ‘CB
Awards 2018’ as the subject line,
attaching at least one photo.
ROBIN BLAIN 1941-2017
The king of junk rig
BRITTANY, FRANCE
A port in a storm
for classics
Nomination
deadline
Robin Blain, founder of the Junk
Rig Association (JRA) and for many
years its driving force, died on
25 October, aged 76.
In 1976, Robin and naval
architect Alan Boswell founded
Sunbird Yachts to market the fi rst
purpose-designed, junk-rigged
production boat, the Sunbird 32,
several of which were built.
At their fi rst Southampton Boat
Show in 1979, they realised that the
biggest task would be educating
the sailing world about the virtues
of junk rig; and that there were
many more people interested in
junk rig than could aff ord a Sunbird

32. This led to the idea of forming
    an association for the exchange of
    knowledge on the rig.
    Robin and Alan also ran a
    business converting existing boats
    to junk rig, so to provide a forum to
    help people with their own, DIY
    versions was going to cost them
    customers, but Robin was always
    more interested in promoting the

C/O PETER CUMBERLIDGE

PETER MANNING

rig than himself, and the Junk Rig

Association (JRA) was formed.

For many years, Robin, in essence,

was the Junk Rig Association, ably

assisted by his wife Miranda (Mandy),

working hard to become the world’s

focal point for all things junk rig.

Nearly all who encountered Robin

became a friend. His presence at

numerous rallies, often towing his

little Gigi, enabled people to see a

junk-rigged boat and to have a sail.

Surrounded by like-minded people,

and wearing his blue denim cap and

JRA sweatshirt, pint in hand, he was

in his element, off ering advice,

making introductions and patiently

answering the same questions he

must have answered hundreds of

times. The JRA recently presented

Robin with the Hasler/McLeod

Award for his services to junk rig.

Robin will be missed by all who

knew him, not least members of the

JRA which is growing, with over 700

members in 32 countries.

He leaves behind wife Mandy, two

sons, Christopher and Guy, and two

grandchildren, Amber and Rosie.

Thanks to JRA chairman Annie Hill

for these words. See classicboat.

co.uk, to read about Leaf of Bristol,

a new, wooden, junk yacht, and for

an appraisal of the rig.

Peter and wife

Jane scrubbing

off at the new

facility

Awards

2018

CALL FOR

NOMINATIONS