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C/O EDMISTON

C/O THE OWNER

It wasn’t long ago that the Getting Afloat editor had the privilege of helming the Fife yacht

Hallowe’en after winning the day’s racing at the Puig Vela in Barcelona last year. She is

frequently referred to as the world’s most beautiful yacht and on this occasion we offer no

argument. Even our technical editor Theo Rye is a fan, and he’s hard to please. She was Fife’s

first large bermudan yacht when she was launched in 1926 and often referred to as the world’s

first cruiser racer, “as much of a benchmark vessel as Dorade” in the words of yachting

historian Ian McAllister. She could do with some work to the decks and perhaps a new suit of

sails, but this is reflected in the price, which is pretty reasonable. Meanwhile the buyer will

get looks to die for, amazing provenance, race-winning ways, and even reasonable

accommodation. You can read the full Hallowe’en article from Puig Vela on our website now.

/M\QVOIÆWI\

ELLAD

CB Award winner for sale

The unusual double-ended Fife yacht Ellad won our

‘Restoration of the Year under 40ft’ award in 2014. She was

one of Fife’s last designs in 1938 but, because of the war, was

not built until 1957, by which time Fife had been dead for 13

years. Her recent restoration by Hubert Stagnol for a French

owner was detailed in a series in Classic Boat. Her teak hull

and superstructure have been taken back to Fife’s original

design and this is now a very manageable little masterpiece

at just 34ft 6in (10.5m) and bermudan sloop-rigged. She was

the smallest boat at the 2013 Fife Regatta, and it’s hard to

imagine a simpler, prettier boat that would probably

guarantee entry into any regatta in the world.

Lying France, Asking £107,000, Tel: +44 (0)1202 330077

STORK

Vosper customs launch

Stork is a 50ft (15.1m) Customs & Excise launch built in 1926 by Vosper in

Portsmouth. She’s riveted steel with a teak wheelhouse forward and deck

saloon aft, powered by twin 210hp Ford Sabres, with the original telegraphs

still in use. The counter is accessed from the saloon and is used for storage

but could be converted to an aft cabin. “In fact, Stork has much potential for

improvement” said the owner, no less a figure than Greg Powlesland, who

was behind the world-class restorations of two beautiful Nicholson yachts:

Marigold and Patna. Stork is in need of some cosmetic work and features a

full canopy which is “not original but does keep the weather at bay”. Her

interesting history includes a sinking by the Luftwaffe in WW2. There is a

superb set of builder’s plans, showing every detail of her inventory and

construction. Listed with the Historic Ships Register.

Lying London, Asking £70,000, Tel: +44 (0)7876 198894

8 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2015 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2015 9

HALLOWE’EN HALLOWEEN

full-width saloon Hallowe’enAbove: ’s

for entertaining. Looking forward, is a great space

the walk-through galley to port and a starboard cabin

can be seen

appointed master the beautifully Above, left:

I cabin in the stern; companionway, looking aft

t all seemed pretty civilised until Antonio fell overboard at this year’s Puig Vela Clàssica. Skipper Inigo Strez (named after the English

baroque architect Inigo Jones) was talking about the naval architect William Fife III, while we slipped past a city indelibly linked to the

architect Aby Spanish glimpse of pale, feeble men in rimless spectacles but the ntoni Gaudí with a foredeck manned entirely architects. I peered forwards, straining for a

crowd up there looked more like a posse of Barcelonian nightclub bouncers – all T-shirts, tans and bulk. port-tack start, and leading the fleet of a dozen vintage In a very relaxed way, we were winning after a daring

bermudans around a hexagonal course in the narrow weather window that is perfect for knots. Even in these relatively light airs, the lee rail was Hallowe’en – 12-13

dipping under slightly, the long counter kissing the sea’s surface to give us more waterline and more speed. We were really trucking.

useless motivational clichés and bottles of water, and wind up one of the Irish syndicate owners on board with us that day, was entertaining us heartily back in the Crewman Paddy, whose sole job was to dispense

cockpit. The ubiquitous baguettes had been eaten, the foil wrappers balled neatly in the gash bag (Paddy’s other

responsibility when not entirely task-saturated by his other, more serious work). And everyone had been very polite about accepting a tuna salad baguette instead of

one filled with cured ham and one of the great aged, ewe’s cheeses the Spanish do so well (Manchego possibly). Then one of the architects, Antonio, fell overboard.

We were on a beam reach with the genoa flying and Antonio walked forward on the lee side deck, reaching out to put a steadying hand on the genoa sheet just as

the wind dropped and the genoa crumpled. “Keep hold of the sheet” called Inigo from the helm, with admirable presence of mind. Not that he needed telling. A heartbeat or two ticked slowly by and then magically, the genoa

filled again and the sheet hooked itself perfectly under the floating crewman’s knee and shoulder, depositing him gently back on board, cap and glasses still in place. The

boat erupted in cheers and cries of amazement.Barcelona in first place elapsed and corrected. One to Ten minutes later we crossed the finish line off

Hallowe’enin this victory (assistant rubbish collector) was secondary even to Paddy’s contribution, but the crew generously attributed the good luck to my presence, and gave me the , nil to the world. Your correspondent’s part

helm to sail real privilege after such a happy, fortuitous day.Hallowe’en back into Barcelona. It felt like a

Even by Fife standards, she is extraordinarily attractive – one of those boats that are sometimes referred to as the To see Hallowe’en docked at the pontoon, is special.

most beautiful in the world. Writing for us in 1994, Carles Serra i Nadal explained the appeal well: “What made her unique was the slight sheer of her hull and

deck, the transom almost in line with the counter and, most of all, her deck line: a perfect oval framed in teak that gleams like a tear-drop. The beauty of this platform

is enhanced by the emptiness of it, its expanse broken up only by a few hatches and portholes.” in the world – an aesthetic jewel even among Fife’s Hallowe’en might be one of the most beautiful yachts

incredible canon of work – but she’s not just a pretty face. She was ordered by a Colonel Baxendale and launched in 1926, as Fife’s first large bermudan yacht.

She won line honours at that year’s Fastnet in the incredible time of three days and 19 hours, a time that was never beaten, as the course was later changed. To

put that in context, the first winner the year before, Briselaunch of According to yachting historian Ian McAllister, the , took just over six days, and that was a good time. Hallowe’en marked the virtual invention of Jolie

the cruiser racer, “surely as much a benchmark vessel as [legendary 1930 S&S yawl] Dorade”. It is part of the

HALLOWE’EN

Grace and pace

Contact Mike Horsley at Edmiston. Tel: +33 (0)493 34 68 98, edmiston.com

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