Oyster News 49 - Oyster Yachts

6
www.oystermarine.com
A Classic
Richard Matthews reports on an event held between the UBS Oyster Regatta
and Antigua Sailing Week.
Just as Oyster's 3rd Caribbean Regatta came to a close, so the 16th annual
Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta got underway.
As popular with spectators as participants, the classics are broadly divided
into two groups. The ‘real’ classics are either original or restored yachts from
an almost bygone era. Wood or steel construction, heavy displacement, a
long keel and traditional rig are prerequisites. The ‘Spirit of Tradition’ class
allows modern yachts that look like classics to join in, but in a separate
division and at the discretion of the organisers, to maintain the
authenticity and character of the event.
Most people agree that the divas of the true classic fleet are the
magnificent J Class yachts, typically Velsheda, Shamrock and
Endeavour. This season Velsheda was, sadly, the only J able to take
part, but even in splendid isolation was magnificent in every sense
of the word. Velsheda is a special favourite of ours since she was
completely rebuilt by our own SYS yard in Southampton in 1997
and returned to the yard for a refit in 2002. SYS Managing
Director Piers Wilson sailed on board during the regatta.
Tim Wright, our photographer for the Oyster Regatta, was in a
helicopter catching the action in the Oyster fleet just as the
Classics were on their racecourse in near perfect conditions.
The temptation for a quick detour was too great and the
results are some outstanding aerial photographs, including
those illustrated.
In the 'Spirit of Tradition Class', Oyster 62 owner Terry
King-Smith and his son Richard were invited to join the
crew for day two on the beautiful 130' Ketch, Victoria
of Strathearn and, as the picture shows, were very
pleased to be ‘seen’ by our camera boat.
Classic Yacht PS
I was in our local last autumn and an old friend
started buying me beer. I should have seen the
warning signs, but about four beers into the
evening he told me about Pierrette, a genuine
"Fife" built in 1898. Adrian bought her in a
sorry state a few years back and, as a selfemployed
wooden boat builder, was well
into her restoration. The evening ended
with yours truly becoming a 50% owner
of this 105-year-old 27 footer. My
partner Denette said "Oh no not
another boat!" We hope to attend a
special Fife event in Scotland this
summer and Oyster News will bring
readers more news once Pierrette
gets under way.
Rebuilt at Oyster's Southampton yard,
SYS, Velsheda looked magnificent
Photo: Tim Wright