Classic Boat — November 2017

SPIRIT OF TRADITION

Out and about

Buyer’s

guide

Not long ago, the label

Spirit of Tradition usually

meant a trailer-sailer or a

millionaire’s yacht in the

Caribbean or Med. These

days, the market’s gaps

have been fi lled and there

is a modern traditional boat

out there for everyone

Fairlie 55

After years of restoring some of the most famous yachts in the world – particularly the creations of William Fife

III – a new Spirit of Tradition yacht from designer Paul Spooner and boatbuilder Duncan Walker of Fairlie Yachts,

was always going to be a looker. The Fairlie 55 is among the loveliest of all SoT yachts and when we tested her

back in 2012, she lived up to her looks. Uncluttered decks, a well-sorted rig, a fast, modern underbody and a low

cabin trunk for good helming visibility (as well as those good looks), add up to the ideal compromise for a

high-end SoT yacht in this size bracket. She’s as fast as a modern yacht; just much, much nicer to own.

Price c£1m, fairlieyachts.com

EMILY HARRIS

52 CLASSIC BOAT NOVEMBER 2017

Shrimper 21

The original Roger Dongray-designed Cornish Shrimper,

which started production in the late 1970s, has since

established a successful genre – the 19ft trailer-gaˆ er. More

than 1,100 boats have been sold. This, the 21, is just 2ft (61cm)

longer, but gives a lot more volume below and a cockpit to

seat four to six. Both are GRP-built weekenders, but if

overnighting on the Shrimper 19 could be equated to

camping, the 21 is perhaps more ‘glamping’! Like the 19, this is

a centreboarder with a transom-hung rudder, however at 1.4

tonnes, it is still trailable with the right car. After decades of

development, both Shrimpers are well set-up and easy to sail.

Outboard version £33,600, cornishcrabbers.co.uk

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