Clarion of Wight was destined for the chain saw but thanks to the intervention of a benefactor it can be saved.
However, the British National Yachting Archive (BNYA) urgently need to fund the cost of the boat (more or less the scrap value of the lead which is what the owner was hoping to get) and the cost of shipping it back to the UK from France where it has languished ashore for a few years. They need to cover the yard costs until they have sufficient funds to move the boat which they we would like to do as soon as possible. They then have somewhere safe to put it (free of charge) until its restoration can be undertaken.
Why Save Clarion of Wight?
Clarion of Wight is an important boat in the history of our sport – the top scorer in the 1963 Admiral’s Cup (Derek Boyer) along with Max Aitken’s Outlaw and Ron Amey’s Noryema III – the winning team – both restored and actively sailing. Clarion also won the Fastnet Challenge Cup in that Admirals Cup series. The Cup was a big deal in 1963 because the UK had won the first two (in 1957 & 1959) but then lost to the USA in 1961 so it was imperative to win it back, and as a consequence fourteen boats took part in the UK trials. It was later owned by Sir Maurice Laing and again competed in the Admirals Cup in the 1970 Irish team. It is significant as the first Admirals Cup boat in the UK team not designed by a British designer. It is a Sparkman & Stephens boat, built by Lallows in mahogany and teak, and probably the first successful S&S boat designed to the RORC rule. Clarion of Wight is 43ft 6in LOA, 31ft 6in LWL, 11ft beam and 6ft 8in draft.
if you would like to contribute to the rescue fund visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/clarion-of-wight. BNYA will collect the funds and claim any Gift Aid and award a grant in due course.
