The former Nazi-era 'Wind-fall yacht', Sea Wraith.

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

Are there any off-shore sailors here (of a certain age... ... ) who recall Sea Wraith, possibly either HMS Dryad or Vernon's Establishment Yacht?

Whist I never sailed in here I vaguely remember it still racing on the Portsmouth RNSA/JOG Offshore circuits in the '60s/'70.

Where is it now? A good illustrated account here of a long restoration project:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cht-OAP-spent-five-years-renovating-SANK.html

PS Likely answered here* but that book is out of print... Perhaps @Seaweed or @Naval_Gazer might remember?

*http://www.windfallyachts.com/Windfalls.html

 

[Wightsparker]

I do remember See Otter.

 

[SONAR-BENDER]

I remember the 'Windfalls'. I sailed on a couple in the 70s and I'm pretty sure I did a Tall Ship's Race which ended up in London on one of them. As I was a dabber RP at the time, it may well have been Sea Wraith. All I can really remember is the march through London and St Katherine dock and trapping a WREN in the forepeak!

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

^Trapping eh, C**** F*****s told me a dit at an RNSA reception where she had just sacked a French delivery crew between Caribbean islands. They had insisted on sailing naked - no prude our lass but they ignored her repeated concerns of one of 'em trapping their dangly bits whilst winch-grinding...ugh!

 

[Seaweed]

I don't recall anything about these in Portsmouth but there were five at Dartmouth - collared in Hamburg in 1945 I was led to believe - there was one called Harpy that 'belonged' to the Special Entry. I only got an afternoon outing in her as I wasn't one of the mad keen sailing types from Pangbourne so in my ten weeks there only qualified under sail in whaler, cutter and RNSA dinghy. Yo ho ho and a bottle of Campari.

 

[Wightsparker]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1401817/Commander-Peter-Richardson.html

The link provides the obituary in the Telegraph of the late Cdr Peter Richardson.
An interesting read in itself, but the relevant bit for this thread is as follows:

"Richardson's great love was sailing. In 1946 he had been sent to Kiel and made responsible for a fleet of 180 "prizes", mostly abandoned yachts. He picked which ones were to be taken as reparations for war damage, and sailed them home to Britain, all without engines and safely under sail, the largest yacht being the 150-square metre Orion.

"These yachts became known as "windfalls", and were so well chosen that for nearly 30 years they were used for adventure training and provided the opportunity for serving men and women to participate in major races. Later in life Richardson bought one from the Navy for himself, Sea Otter, which is now being restored in his garden by his two sons."

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

BZ & thanks for that, @Wightsparker.

I was unaware of his back history but I recall Peter as friendly, unassuming character. Nevertheless one of those key RNSA figures who kept RN sailing very much alive when those at the top scornfully treated it 'as merely a fringe sport for jolly-boating'.

The first RNSA/Whitbread RTW Race (now VOLVO's) in '73/74 shifted the focus somewhat (with the RN crewed Nicholson 55 ADVENTURE's 1st to Capetown & 2nd overall) but never enough to alter that ingrained misconception, IMHO.

 

[joel]

Are there any off-shore sailors here (of a certain age... ... ) who recall Sea Wraith, possibly either HMS Dryad or Vernon's Establishment Yacht?

Whist I never sailed in here I vaguely remember it still racing on the Portsmouth RNSA/JOG Offshore circuits in the '60s/'70.

Where is it now? A good illustrated account here of a long restoration project:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cht-OAP-spent-five-years-renovating-SANK.html

PS Likely answered here* but that book is out of print... Perhaps @Seaweed or @Naval_Gazer might remember?

*http://www.windfallyachts.com/Windfalls.html

Are there any off-shore sailors here (of a certain age... ... ) who recall Sea Wraith, possibly either HMS Dryad or Vernon's Establishment Yacht?

Whist I never sailed in here I vaguely remember it still racing on the Portsmouth RNSA/JOG Offshore circuits in the '60s/'70.

Where is it now? A good illustrated account here of a long restoration project:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cht-OAP-spent-five-years-renovating-SANK.html

PS Likely answered here* but that book is out of print... Perhaps @Seaweed or @Naval_Gazer might remember?

*http://www.windfallyachts.com/Windfalls.html

 

[joel]

Flamingo details at http://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co....100-Sq-m-Windfall-Sloop-1936-/yacht-for-sale/

 

[Trainer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the RAF had a load of these as well......

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

Not wrong, Senior airmen & soldiers grabbed a fistful, too.

The number of ermm, 'Regimental/Squadron-type Offshore Yachts' often put the RN to shame.

Despite 'Joint Services Sailing', trying to charter one of the other's yachts was akin to the crime of stealing nutty from a toddler the way they squealed 'but, but, but..No!'

Hope it has changed recently?

 

[bollotom]

I remember Sea Feather at HMS Ganges. Went for a spin once with a Lt Cmdr Cobb in charge.