Boat Register

Additional Build Notes

Current Owner
Peter Lanham

Known Owners

Initial RYA measurement – 7 March 1958
Hull weight – 161 lb, class minimum at time – 160 lb
Constructed on Mould Number 4
Collected from Hamble – 10 March 1958
Total cost, including all gear and rigging, fixed rudder and suit of cotton sails from Ratsey & Lapthorn, Cowes
c£210, but excluding trolley and canvas cover

1st owner – RYA, NFA records and Fairey Marine sales ledgers uncertain –

Perhaps – K Pluckley, Manchester Cruising Assn, (Budworth SC) see F783
named “Twish III”

c1973 – Nick and Caroline Martin, (nee Lougher) named “Aconite”, Imperial College and Castaways.

January 1975 – Peter Lanham, Bosham SC, later Chipstead SC.
See F610
(NFA Membership Secretary & Treasurer 1973/1977)

History

Acquired by present owner January 1975 and enjoyed ever since, regular NFA Championships, open meetings, club points racing (and prize winner sometimes!) in Chichester Harbour and later at Chipstead SC,

Over a period of some three winters c late 1980’s and early 1990’s, her owner patiently cleaned all the existing varnish from the hull, interior floor and decks mostly using Nitromores paint stripper, alas, this product is now far inferior but probably less evil to use at home, and Skarsen blades, and plenty of abrading. Refinished with single pot varnish, as many coats as required, early coats suitably thinned, and always International or Epifanes product

NFA open events and championship weeks, all despite some very unwise and now much regretted flirtations with other classes of dinghies and keelboats by her owner.

Image taken at Chipstead SC, unclear whether the present owner is bawling at the Duty Race Officer to express displeasure, perhaps, at the choice of course, angle of the start line, or at the day’s Tea Ladies to order cream cake to enjoy after the race, but certainly not at his ever patient crew!

Some NFA Championships results:

Firefly Week 1972:
Felixstowe Ferry 110 entries

Felixstowe Ferry Trophy
Nick Martin and Caroline Lougher, Imperial College.
1st place

Firefly Week 1973
Llandudno c65 entries:

Sir Richard Fairey Trophy – 2nd place.
Sir Ralph Gore Trophy – 6th place.
Sussex Silver Firefly – 4th place.
Felixstowe Ferry Trophy – 1st place.

Nick Martin and Caroline Lougher, Castaways.

1973 Burnham on Crouch, Royal Corinthian YC.
Endeavour Trophy “Champion of Champions” competition,
1st place. Nick Martin and Caroline Lougher, representing the Firefly class, competition thought to have been raced in dinghies provided by organising club, probably Larks. c30 invited entries.

Known to have been raced at Championship Week, Plymouth, c230 entries (!) 1959 by K Pluckley, (see F783), then named “Twish lll”, from Manchester Cruising Association. Sadly, no record of final position or crew’s name….

Converted to Mark lll layout 1983 by Wyche & Coppack, Dell Quay, West Sussex  and apart from regular varnishing, largely untouched since, just sailed and ENJOYED