LETTER OF THE MONTH
SUPPORTED BY OLD PULTENEY WHISKY(^94) CLASSIC BOAT FEBRUARY 2018
Letters
How can the boat on the January cover, Glendhu, be ‘controversial’ [in that
her lines were stretched out of class]? If you’re honest, who wouldn’t love
to own this little beauty? There were loads of nice comments [on Classic
Boat’s Facebook page]. The boat is now a goer with two young kids
enjoying going sailing on her. Job done!
Pete Eastlake, via email
I was interested to read your
article in the November issue
about Clarion of Wight which I
had the pleasure of owning
many years ago and can fill in
the ‘missing 10 years’.
Whilst campaigning
trimarans in the 1980s I set
about restoring and refitting Clarion for ocean cruising. It is interesting to
see a lot of the work done then is still evident 35 years later.
During Dr O’Hanlon’s ownership in the late 1970s she broke her mooring
one windy night and ended up high and dry on the rocks surrounding Port
St Mary in the Isle of Man.
Half a dozen locals, including Nick Keig of Three Legs of Mann fame,
bought her for a song, built a road over the rocky foreshore and craned her
onto a trailer for repairs.
Ian Lallow, who managed the family firm of her original builder Clare
Lallow, came over to the Isle of Man to fit some new frames and planks.
She was relaunched and sailed locally.
After my refit I kept her on a mooring at Rhu on the Clyde and one
foggy night I went aground on Ailsa Craig, where she was once again left
high and dry, with the odd broken frame and planks. Thankfully I had
installed an engine-driven Jabsco pump, which kept her afloat as I
motored to nearby Troon Yacht Haven (which was then managed by Robin
Knox-Johnston) and straight into the slings of their travel lift.
From there she was taken by road to the Solent where Ian Lallow
launched her for the trip to his yard in Cowes and once again set about
repairing her. I sold her shortly after her re-launch, in about 1985, to a
gentleman who I believe raced her out of Poole for many years.
Mike Whipp, Isle of Man
Glendhu’s a goer!
Clarion call
Crowhurst on film
Having followed the Sunday Times Golden Globe
Race half a century ago, I have read every book on
this extraordinary story, watched more than one
documentary and now accompanied by thousands of
yachtsmen around the world I look forward to seeing
the story dramatised in the cinema. The attention
over the years is understandable, but the film, I hope,
will be the last word on the subject.
I hope too that the producers and directors will
have treated the story of Donald Crowhurst with
sensitivity. I remember being appauled when it
emerged what Mr Crowhust had been through and
his desperately sad end. The press furore at the time
was less than sympathetic. His family have continued
to suffer with the ongoing popular characterisation
of Mr Crowhurst as a fraudster and ‘madman’.
I was gladdened some time ago when I visited
Teignmouth to see a plaque congratulating Mr
Crowhurst on his achievement in sailing many
thousands of ocean miles single-handed. That is not
something I have ever achieved, nor many others.
Harold Milne, Somerset
Editor replies: Tomalin and Hall’s book estimates that
Crowhurst sailed 16,591 miles over 243 days.
Read Nic Compton’s review of The Mercy on p68.
THE MAKING
OF A DREAM
She looks a million dollars, but controversial decisions have marked the most recent years of this Mylne design’s life
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS NIC COMPTON
PPL