Sagitta Sails again.
As many of you will know Bob Baker and myself, having restored the two 10R yachts we acquired and restored, sold them on to two active members of the Vintage Model Yacht Group Gareth and Elizabeth Jones. The took the restoration that one step further and put them back on the water in good order and they sent me some pictures of and a short email to explain their progress which I have set out below. Enjoy!
I thought you might be interested in some photos of Sagitta's maiden voyage under its new ownership today. I have fitted a sailwinch and rudder servo to allow her to be sailed in the open water on a local watersports lake near where we live. The installation is quite discrete with the option to revert to vane steering after a few minutes work. I have not yet fitted the vane and associated sheeting as it will take a while to fine tune the radio system first.
We have had a few leaks to fix, mainly from the joint between the first plank and the wooden block that forms the base of the keel. I had to use some glass cloth and resin on that area to stop the water getting in. There was just a small amount of water in the hull today after about 30 minutes sailing but I hope the planks will take that up when the hull has been in the water a few more times.
There was not much wind today but it was a good day for a test sail. Sagitta had lots of admiring onlookers and was definitely the biggest model on the lake today. She sailed very gracefully and picked up speed quickly on the rare occasions when the breeze got a little stronger. We are looking forward to sailing her again later this week when the wind is forecast to be a little stronger.
As you can see from the final picture, she will just fit in my Honda Jazz, with the front seat fully folded back and the back seats folded flat. Unfortunately that doesnt leave room for any passengers so Elizabeth had to pedal to the lake on her bike.
Regards,
Gareth and Elizabeth Jones
I thought you might be interested in some photos of Sagitta's maiden voyage under its new ownership today. I have fitted a sailwinch and rudder servo to allow her to be sailed in the open water on a local watersports lake near where we live. The installation is quite discrete with the option to revert to vane steering after a few minutes work. I have not yet fitted the vane and associated sheeting as it will take a while to fine tune the radio system first.
We have had a few leaks to fix, mainly from the joint between the first plank and the wooden block that forms the base of the keel. I had to use some glass cloth and resin on that area to stop the water getting in. There was just a small amount of water in the hull today after about 30 minutes sailing but I hope the planks will take that up when the hull has been in the water a few more times.
There was not much wind today but it was a good day for a test sail. Sagitta had lots of admiring onlookers and was definitely the biggest model on the lake today. She sailed very gracefully and picked up speed quickly on the rare occasions when the breeze got a little stronger. We are looking forward to sailing her again later this week when the wind is forecast to be a little stronger.
As you can see from the final picture, she will just fit in my Honda Jazz, with the front seat fully folded back and the back seats folded flat. Unfortunately that doesnt leave room for any passengers so Elizabeth had to pedal to the lake on her bike.
Regards,
Gareth and Elizabeth Jones
Two 'Old Friends Return Home
Two vintage yachts have finally returned to Wicksteed Park. They were found by Bob Baker who kindly offered the 10 rater to me as he knew I was interested in that class. Its name is 'Sagitta' and is mahogany plank on frame built for vane sailing.
The quality of the build and just good luck in the storage has meant that both boats do not need that much in the way of restoration, though the rigging on mine needs a bit of TLC and new sails and Bobs 'Undine' again has rigging in need of sorting out and new sails.
I have found references to both boats in the history section and will fish them out and post them separately, I will also update this page as and when I get some more information and history, in the mean time if any members can add anything to the history or owners of either boats please email me with the details, but to whet your appetite here are some photos.
Paul Millers.
The quality of the build and just good luck in the storage has meant that both boats do not need that much in the way of restoration, though the rigging on mine needs a bit of TLC and new sails and Bobs 'Undine' again has rigging in need of sorting out and new sails.
I have found references to both boats in the history section and will fish them out and post them separately, I will also update this page as and when I get some more information and history, in the mean time if any members can add anything to the history or owners of either boats please email me with the details, but to whet your appetite here are some photos.
Paul Millers.
The pictures below show references to both boats and are from the archives in the possesion of Dennys Warren and in the history section of this web site.
Under this note are some pictures of Bob's yacht 'Undine'. The research into both boats is ongoing, but as with anything that went on sixty or so years ago memories fade and mental images become blurred with the passage of time but there is still a lot known about these boats, just a matter of digging deep.
It would seem that there may be a sister yacht to 'Sagitta' in the Nottingham area, suggesting that two were made possibly at the same time, we shall have to wait and see.
Update 13th June 2013
I have recently contacted Alistair Roach of the Vintage Model Yacht Group with a view to joining the group and also to let the group know of the two yachts that have come our way. He in turn contacted another member, Russell Potts who was able to furnish the following information. I have taken this from an email that Russell sent in reply.
752 Undine was originally registered in 1936 as a Wicksteed boat. Designed by Daniels, as were3 other Wicksteed 10-r registered at the same time. Owned and built by L Toseland, of whom I know nothing. On the register again in 1948 and last renewed in 1975.
1942 is in the register as Warbird, a Bournville boat, designed by John Lewis and owned by Mike Harris. Registered in 1977. I wonder whether the sails actually belong to the boat, both because of the different name, and because they are varnished terylene, which had been superseded by hot rolled terylene well before 1977. Mike would not be using it by then.
While it seems that Undine's past is fairly ordered and todate straight forward, that of Sagitta is turning out to be anything but so the hunt goes on.
Update 21st June 2013
Having spoken to Dennys Warren recently if would seem that the builder of Sagitta was a Mr Samson from Luton and the sister yacht that he built was called 'Sammy", the one that is believed to be in the Nottingham area.
The matter of the sail numbers not matching up to the hull is still a mystery, but then how many restored cars are around with non original parts, but they still drive perfectly well.
752 Undine was originally registered in 1936 as a Wicksteed boat. Designed by Daniels, as were3 other Wicksteed 10-r registered at the same time. Owned and built by L Toseland, of whom I know nothing. On the register again in 1948 and last renewed in 1975.
1942 is in the register as Warbird, a Bournville boat, designed by John Lewis and owned by Mike Harris. Registered in 1977. I wonder whether the sails actually belong to the boat, both because of the different name, and because they are varnished terylene, which had been superseded by hot rolled terylene well before 1977. Mike would not be using it by then.
While it seems that Undine's past is fairly ordered and todate straight forward, that of Sagitta is turning out to be anything but so the hunt goes on.
Update 21st June 2013
Having spoken to Dennys Warren recently if would seem that the builder of Sagitta was a Mr Samson from Luton and the sister yacht that he built was called 'Sammy", the one that is believed to be in the Nottingham area.
The matter of the sail numbers not matching up to the hull is still a mystery, but then how many restored cars are around with non original parts, but they still drive perfectly well.
Update 24th june 2013
Today’s bit of news comes from a contact in Australia, who seeing that there was no information on the sails pointed me to an Australian website. www.radiosailingshop.com.au and their ‘Boat News’ page. Scroll down to the entry 15th January 2012 and the varnished Terylene sails on the 36r, right hand side picture show identical stiching to the ones that came with Sagitta, including the new set. The makers name they think is Roberts of Hove, that’s Hove in the UK.
Hot foot into the garage and after a very close inspection of the sails that I have, there for all to see,’Sailmaker-Roberts of Coventry and Hove’ that appears to have been typed on an old 1950’s style typewriter on a slip of paper or white cloth and sealed up with varnish in one of the hems of the foot of the main sail.
Hot foot into the garage and after a very close inspection of the sails that I have, there for all to see,’Sailmaker-Roberts of Coventry and Hove’ that appears to have been typed on an old 1950’s style typewriter on a slip of paper or white cloth and sealed up with varnish in one of the hems of the foot of the main sail.