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In the present sea
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The simple sailor

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4 comments:

  1. Hi there,
    You might be interested to know that my late father was the first owner of 'Arctic Smoke' and specified her build at Peter Webster's yard in Lymington.
    Lots of happy memories (and lots of wet ones too!)
    I've probably got photos from that time (certainly one of her on launch day) and if you wanted to know any of her early history I'd be pleased to help.
    Regards.
    Kelvin Walker

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  2. Hi Kel

    Just found this. Missed it because away sailing. I owe your father and Peter Webster a debt of gratitude. Your father clearly new what he was doing. Where do you live? AS is in Chatham and I live in London. Would be good to meet. Very best regards. Tom

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  3. Hi Kel

    Just found this. Missed it because away sailing. I owe your father and Peter Webster a debt of gratitude. Your father clearly new what he was doing. Where do you live? AS is in Chatham and I live in London. Would be good to meet. Very best regards. Tom

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  4. Hey there, so glad to have found and read your blog because we were the third loving owners of Arctic Smoke. When we bought her she still had plenty of evidence (such as rather ancient but good quality sets of oilies) of the original owners on board, whom we understand kept her in the Med. We bought her through a Beaulieu River Yacht Agent and never actually met owner no.2 whom we understand had emigrated to Australia so unfortunately could not share history. She was probably some time without a skipper as she was rather sad and damp, a neglected beauty.
    We took her back to Lowestoft and started work. We had the decks and cockpit painted, the binnacle was stripped down as it was shedding layers everywhere. We also had a nice leather cover made for the helm as it was painted webbing when we got her, not much fun in spring and autumn, I wonder if the leather is still in tact?
    We had the engine out and overhauled, a bit on the light side but a good worker and we don't much enjoy using engines so we felt it would be good to keep the original whilst it was still performing well which it did.
    Inside we stripped out the sticky bitter orange vinyl upholstery and cured a smelly leak in the quarter berth. Your green upholstery (I think you still have it) was made by a charming Philippino lady who lived in Suffolk and kept a boat in France. Perhaps it is still going strong.
    Having said all that you probably found Arctic Smoke in need of TLC as we sold her to 2 joint owners; sadly the youngest died shortly after buying her and as the other partner was fit but in his eighties I think she lingered without an active skipper for some time. The chap who died was a very nice man who would have looked after her, he was so pleased with her.
    So why did we sell. Well we are now in Malaysia being half way round in our circumnavigation. We are completely re-rigging and servicing everything on board ready for our crossing of the Indian Ocean to South Africa starting from Sumatra in April. Had we not found this boat in time Arctic Smoke might well be here now but she is just a tad small for this.
    When we return to Uk in ??? years time we would certainly consider another Elizabethan, they are lovely boats.
    Do contact us (we would love to hear from you) if you want any more info or just for Arctic Smoke's old times sake.
    Regards and fair winds,
    Lorraine Marchant

    We are Lorraine and Chris, sv Gryphon II
    Email: gryphon@mailasail.com
    blog.mailasail.com/gryphon

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