I am speaking to the converted, by and large, when I say that we all think old wooden boats are special. OK, there may be some who take the magazine out of nostalgia for a long gone era; not only owners of Gib’ Seas and Beneteaus, but also RIBs and Sunseekers and even hovercraft or jetskis perhaps? And why not. Classic Boat is a broad church, and perhaps the sight of so much varnished mahogany might one day persuade you to mend your ways.
More likely you will have formed an unshakeable aversion to jetskis, a prejudice that unites us all. Mostly you will already have formed an attachment with something built in wood when wood was good, and an apprentice might knock you up a clinker dinghy in their tea break, and the yard owner charge £8-7s-6d on top of the £400 for the little 5-tonner.
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The joys of coarse racing
A record year for Loch Broom SC and its Flying Fifteens
MOSQUITO FIRST RULE 6 (ANKER, 1913): FROM TRIUMPH TO DISASTER AND BACK
She was designed to race hard in 1913, but 101 years later, almost sank after a calamitous collision. Today, Mosquito is back and racing again
SYDNEY HARBOUR 18 FOOTERS
The Sydney 18s were among the most radical racing dinghies in the world in their heyday. These days, they still are
SWEDISH ROSE
At her launch in 1894, Bel’Rose changed Swedish sailing forever. Now, her owner of 44 years has had her rebuilt, in strictly traditional style
FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Cox’s Boatyard on the Broads was revitalised a quarter of a century ago and it hasn’t looked back
PETER NICHOLSON Got the T-shirt
From navy pilot to yacht designer to Squadron commodore to company boss... it’s all in a life’s work to Peter Nicholson
It's Howard's Way... not Martin's way
Martin Black recalls a rare win, uncelebrated; and a chance at fame, unrequited
F0R WHOM THE BOAT CALLS
A replica of Hemingway’s fishing boat Pilar has put to sea and will soon enter line production, bringing a legend back to life
Winston Megoran THE MAN BEHIND THE BOOK COVER
For more than 30 years, illustrator Winston Megoran produced countless paintings and etchings of the sea and boats. This brilliant and diverse self-taught artist also created a wealth of book jackets that have made his work, if not his name, famous
YARD VISIT: SPIRIT YACHTS GREEN SPIRIT
James Bond, the electric age, and a new dayboat model
