skipper yachts woodbridge

TYPES OF VINTAGE MODEL YACHTS

Sailing pond yachts is a very absorbing hobby, there are in fact many different manufacturers to choose from or collect, here are some of the most important and most desirable British model yachts that have ever been made.

Skipper Yachts.

Skipper Yachts are the most recent British manufacturer of traditional model yachts, Skipper developed a superb range of beautiful contemporary boats that were made using modern materials they certainly appealed to young and old alike and sold very well. Skipper Yachts was conceived by John Foster in 1991, using basic construction methods, at the Milton works on the River Deben estuary in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

John had originally looked at the possibilities of purchasing the Star of Birkenhead name and any useful assets, however negotiations fell through. It was decided to create a completely new range of model yachts and so initially production was a family affair, until sales increased resulting in a need for larger premises these were found in Rendlesham not far from Woodbridge, here upto 12 people were employed and became Skipper Yachts Ltd.

Skipper Yachts were carved from a solid piece of Jelutong an Asian timber then later Obeche an African hardwood carved out on an Edwardian Dutch Clog making machine. Skipper also branched out into making a range of other wooden toys like Star had done in the past.

The earliest yachts can be identified by a circular logo printed on the sail fabric and by a paper sticker placed just in front of the mast, other early features are screw eye fittings instead of the later nylon Gooseneck, and a drilled hole in the deck instead of the later nylon mast foot. The original sails were not hemmed and can fray, reinforcements were bonded in the corners to receive the eyelets. Early keel shapes also vary as designs were improved. The transom on the earliest yachts sloped aft this was changed to slope forward. The hull also changed shape they became slightly deeper. Yacht designs were tested by the Woodbridge Model Yacht Club at the Woodbridge model yacht pond.

                          Skipper Shrimp and Jumbo Shrimp

The Skipper yacht range originally included a 5 inch Shrimp and a 6 inch Jumbo shrimp, these had no keels fitted and these were toys for the bath.

                                       Skipper Baby Sailer

The original line up also included a 6 inch baby sailor this was fitted with a simple Star SY0 type keel.

                                           Skipper Chubby

However the range was simplified and an 8 inch Chubby was introduced and featured a pronounced rounded bow and came in various colours and printed sewn sail combinations.

                                        Skipper Contender

A ten inch contender with a sleeker hull was introduced and probably proved to be the most popular in the range.

                                     Skipper Deben Estuary

The 12 inch Deben Estuary yacht was next in the range, various hull and keel shapes are known exist for this model. These were also marketed in a self build model kit form, including a rare version for Marks and Spencers.

                                          Skipper Coastal

Another yacht in the range is the 15 inch Coastal, this also has undergone a few changes to the shape of the keel and hull. 

                             Skipper C13 and C18 Catamaran

The C13 and C18 Catamaran are a beautifully designed and crafted yacht, these are sought after by collectors their production run was very brief and are difficult to find. Made in two sizes of 13 inch and 18 inch these yachts were made using the early sleek hull shapes with aft facing transoms.

                                      Skipper T18 Trimaran

Another collectors item is the 18 inch Trimaran this was developed using the sleek early hull shape fitted with two pontoons created by using the hulls from the Baby Sailor. Although a beautiful design these were produced in low numbers and are now very rare.

                                        Skipper Coastal 20

A 20 inch Skipper Coastal was also manufactured this yacht sports a lined deck and indications of deck cabins and hatches.

                                      Skipper Blue Water 21

The flagship of the skipper fleet was the 21 inch Blue Water Ketch sporting a yawl set up with two masts and along shallow hull, the deck was lined and fitted with with a cabin and hatches. This yacht is very popular with collectors and sails well.

                                          Skipper Lightning

Little is known about this yacht it was developed in the late 1990's as a 25 inch radio control yacht with a GRP hull and an aluminium mast. Lightning was sold only in kit form, it is said that only 36 were manufactured. 

                                    Skipper Ocean Racer 32

The largest wooden yacht that skipper produced was the stunning 32 inch Ocean Racer this was fitted with a keel shape unlike any of the other in the range, along with a lined deck, hatches a cabin and a footwell. Its size makes this the best sailing yacht in the range, these yachts are famous for their appearance in the stunning window displays of Ralph Lauren's high couture shops in the USA.

                                     Skipper Ocean Bound

Marketed in 1996 for the launch of the first BT Challenge race as a yacht for the enthusiast the 34 inch Skipper Ocean Bound featured a GRP hull and aluminium mast, this yacht was marketed as a kit and was designed for radio control. It is believed that only 400 of these kits were produced. 

Skipper Yachts Limited was purchased by Susan Mariani in 2007, then in 2009 production was transferred from Suffolk to China and marketed by a UK toy wholesaler. The yacht range continued to be sold under the Skipper name, but the packaging changed and MDF stands were provided instead of the hardwood types previously used. Unfortunately the original high standard of craftsmanship was lost and hull shapes and paint finish was not as good as the Suffolk made yachts but they continued to sell well. Skipper Yachts unfortunately could not compete with another cheap yacht manufacturer and eventually stocks were run down and the Skipper brand that we used to love is now no longer available. A buoyant second hand market keeps these little yachts in circulation, it is still possible to find unsailed boxed examples on various auctions sites, and are occasionally sold by Britannia Pond Yachts.

Star Yachts of Birkenhead.

Star yachts originated shortly after WW1, Franz-Marie Den ye sold his hand made yachts in a local shop after a short time carving his pond yachts he was able to purchase his own factory building in Marion Street, Birkenhead. From here a wide range of different yachts were manufactured. We are probably most familiar with the SY range of solid yachts and the MK Endeavour range of metal keel yachts, however a beautiful range of larger BR and SB yachts were also made including racing yachts. Some Stars are now collectable as over the years different designs and badging were manufactured. I have listed some of the more commonly found yachts below.

Star SY Solid Yacht Series available from 1932

Having a solid hull all of the yachts in the SY range were finished using various attractive enamel paint colours, they were turned on a lathe from 1939 and they were all fitted with quality hardened Sheffield Steel keels, the decks were fitted with. The Cotton sails were stamped with a black star emblem and numbered according the yachts size, they were all rigged using braided cotton cord which was adjustable using first brass bowsies then later white plastic. The masts and bowsprits were all hinged to allow the sails to be folded down when not in use a removable pin is fitted to the bowsprit bracket . A triangular display stand was also available. From around 1939 the SY series carried a square stern. The last SY yachts were fitted with coloured sails

SY00                                   5 inch                             Cat boat 

SY0                                      8 inch                             Bermuda rigged 

SY1                                       11 inch                             Bermuda rigged 

SY2                                      12 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY3                                      14 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY4                                      16 inch                            Bermuda rigged 

SY5                                      18 inch                            Gunter rigged 

SY6                                      21 inch                            Gunter rigged 

SY7                                      24 inch                           Gunter rigged

Star MK Endeavour Series

The MK Endeavour Series were all hollowed out to provide a lighter more responsive yacht and were made to a slightly higher specification than the SY series. The prefix MK refers to metal Keel. They were painted in white enamel with varnished lined decks. The mast, boom and bowsprit were originally fitted with brass ferrules but later with white plastic, instead of staples used to anchor the sheeting brass screw eyes were used. These yachts were also fitted with Luff rings to the leading edge and foot of the mainsail.  The sails were made from white cotton and carried a red printed Star emblem. From 1939 Star MK yachts carried the name Endeavour in honour of the Americas cup winner. A coloured stripe was painted both sides of the hull to indicate the yacht type. Later yachts were fitted with colour coordinated adjustable rudders. From around 1939 the MK series was made with a square stern. The last MK yachts were fitted with coloured sails

Star MK1 Endeavour         12 inch          Bermuda rigged, red stripe

Star MK2 Endeavour        14 inch          Bermuda rigged, blue stripe

Star MK3 Endeavour        16 inch          Bermuda rigged, yellow stripe

Star MK4 Endeavour.       18 inch          Bermuda rigged, green stripe

Star BR  Series

Listed in the Star catalogue as a fast all weather yacht the Star BR is a pretty looking well proportioned yacht made using hollowed out pine, the deck fittings are the same as those used on the MK range but the hulls were either painted all white underside with a deep coloured band to the water line or had varnished undersides. The deck was varnished and lined. The Star BR series sails were made using white cotton and stamped using a Star emblem and number in black to denote the yacht type, they were made to have a higher aspect ratio than those in the MK series. The boom and mast were tapered and varnished, whilst the smaller yachts had collapsible rigging for ease of storage and carrying. The larger yacht had 

 removable sails and mast. A lead counterbalance weight was fitted to a wooden keel. These yachts were also named.

Star BR/2             Meteorite                          Bermuda rigged 21 inch

Star BR/3             Planet                                Bermuda rigged 24 inch

Star BR/4             Comet                               Bermuda rigged 30 inch

Star SB Series

The beautiful Star SB is listed as the Super edition of the Bermuda type yacht. The hollowed out hull was made of specially selected timber and was well designed possessing excellent sailing qualities. SB yachts were all painted in white enamel and fitted with a rubbing strip that was painted red. SB series yachts were fitted with rudders and a tiller the shape of the rudder changed in later years. The sails were made from white Union Silk (no longer available) with taped hemmed sails which were fitted with eyelets via Luff rings and were originally fitted with brass ferrules to the mast, boom and stay boom. The shaped wooden keel was also weighted using lead, the yachts were named using black and gold lettering. These yachts are very graceful on the water and perhaps the most widely sought after of all Birkenhead made Stars yachts

Star SB/2              Pacific Star                       Bermuda rigged 21 inch

Star SB/3              Arctic Star                        Bermuda rigged 24 inch

Star SB/4             Baltic Star                         Bermuda rigged 27 inch

Star SB/5             Western Star                     Bermuda rigged 30 inch

A suffolk made Skipper C13 Catamaran

Star SY6 Southern Star, pond yacht.

Bowman are a fascinating and complicated company to collect, having started out just before the start of WW1, they manufactured a great range of toys including clockwork, rubber band powered, and live steam. From locomotives, and stationary engines through to speedboats and sailing yachts. Their first boat was in fact a 25 inch a rubber band powered speedboat produced in London. Soon their famous highly collectable clockwork and steam powered speed boats were produced. In 1923 production was moved to Norfolk in collaboration with Hobbies Ltd.

The first Bowman made yachts produced were named Peewit and Ace both being made around 1926, these were marketed by Hobbies Ltd. The superb range of rubber powered Aeroboats and steam launches including the famous Miss America continued to be made until Geoffrey Jenkins had decided he could no longer take directions from the Hobbies board and parted company. He again started making his models now based in Luton but with greater detail than before. Unfortunately the company was dissolved in 1948. 

The Jenkins family moved to Ridlington in Norfolk, and in 1950 Geoffrey Jenkins again turned his mind to model boats, especially yachts. A large range of designs and changes were made to these yachts so it is common place for these yachts to be quite different even in the same range. The first new yacht to be named was a mid sized yacht called Dragonfly, various sizes of this design were produced in the early 1950's, until the solid hulled aquaplane was introduced. The Dragonfly series was followed in succession by the solid hulled swift and Admiral yachts. The hollow hulled 18 inch Gull and Heron were also available in the late 1950's, the Heron featured a cabin and rudder, (although variations have been found) kits were also available to make at home. Geoffrey died in 1959 and his son Max continued on with the business, in the late 1960's a vacuum formed plastic hull was introduced and was named the Olympic series. The last yacht in Bowman range was the Lively Lady, sadly Bowman closed its doors for the final time in 1982.

                               The Bowman Yacht Series

Unnamed with automatic steering              20 inches 1951

Dragonfly                                                     various from 1951

Aquaplane                                                    14-24 inches 1953-1968

Swift                                                             9-15 inches 1955-66

B18 Gull and Heron                                     18 inches 1958

Keil Kraft Gull Kit                                        18 inches 1955-60

B26 Heron                                                   26 inches 1966

Catamaran                                                   15 inches 1962

Admiral                                                         9-24 inches 1966-68

Olympic                                                        6-22 inches 1968-70

Olympic De Luxe                                         6-22 inches 1970-75

Lively Lady                                                   14 and 18 inches 1970

To complicate matters further Swift and Aquaplane yachts have upto 3 different design changes or series to look out for. There may even be more Bowman yachts out there that have yet to be discovered.

A 1958 Bowman B18 Gull

Lines Brothers and Tri-ang.

Lines Bros Ltd did not start out in the toy boat market until 1933, introducing 3 ranges of 20 new wooden hulled yacht designs, by 1934 they had reduced the range by marketing only 8 of the quality S range. Tri angs inexperience as a yacht designer showed in the performance of their yachts. Their boats at best can only be described as cruisers the hulls were heavy and sat low in the water, however they were well-made, good-looking cutters. In 1934 it was decided to enlist the services of an experienced manufacturer and because Kellner were already selling a range of quality boats through Hamleys now owned by the Lines Brothers so Kellner became an ideal partner to work with. A range of Composite and Steel yachts was developed by Kellner.

Kellner held the patent for a resin-impregnated silk hull design (The forerunner to GRP). This, however, was only listed as weatherproof and if the paint was cracked or scuffed in any way water would seep into the material and soak up water and then the yacht would be ruined. Three very attractive racing yachts were produced called the K Yacht series, they were fitted with cedar decks, braine gear and a quality Bermuda rig. The light weight of the design resulted in very high performance. These yachts were manufactured until 1940 and are extremely rare today. The smaller Kellner-designed tin plate yachts continued to be made at Merton until 1953.

After WW2 had ended the Penguin brand appeared this was to market the now cheaper-to-produce plastic models that Tri-ang had been working on. However, the larger metal-bodied yachts continued in production until the late 1950's. By 1963 the Scalex brand had been introduced for the plastic-bodied yachts, the largest plastic yachts produced were the attractive Commodore and Osprey at 24 inches overall, these yachts sailed well and some were fitted with automatic steering. Tri-ang was absorbed by Hornby in 1971.

The Tri-ang yachts series

A12-18  Wood            Lugger rigged             2-18 inches long 1932

A21-24 Wood            Bermuda rigged          21-24 inches long 1932-35

B12-18  Wood.           Lugger rigged             12-18 inches long 1932

B21-24  Wood           Bermuda rigged          21-24 inches long 1932

S12-S18 Wood.          Lugger rigged             12-18 inches long 1932-35

000-4  Steel             Bermuda rigged         8.5-31.5 inches long 1934-51

K2 Elizabeth               Bermuda rigged         21 inches long 1935-40

K3 Margaret               Bermuda rigged         26 inches long 1935-40

K4 Rosemary.             Bermuda rigged         32 inches long 1935-40

X and Y series.            Bermuda rigged         18.5-21 inches long 1935-40

K10-K16                      Bermuda rigged         10-16 inches long 1936-39

14-20 Wood,              Bermuda rigged         14-16 inches long 1937-38

C16 Aluminium.          Bermuda rigged         16 inches long 1947-53

C18 Steel.                   Bermuda rigged         18 inches long 1937-40

C20-24 Steel             Bermuda rigged         20-24 inches long 1939-53

T24-69 Steel              Bermuda rigged         24-69 inches long 1937-38

No 1-2 Star made       Fishing Smack            14-17 inches long 1937-40

K12-20 Steel.             Bermuda rigged          12-20 inches long 1938-40

K24 Steel.                   Bermuda rigged          24 inches long 1938-51

000-0 Steel               Bermuda rigged         8-14 inches long 1947-53

W16-W18 Wood          Bermuda rigged         16-18 inches long 1947

C16-24 series 2 Steel Bermuda rigged         16-24 inches long 1954-59

404Y Ocean plastic    Bermuda rigged         24 inches long 1960

405Y plastic                Bermuda rigged         24 inches long 1961

410Y  plastic                Bermuda rigged         10 inches long 1960

411Y Catamaran           Bermuda rigged         13 inches long 1961

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged         12 inches 1953-54

430Y Neptune             Bermuda rigged         16 inches 1958-60

Penguin Yachts

410Y plastic.                 Bermuda rigged           10  inches long 1953-54

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged            12 inches 1953-54

430Y Neptune              Bermuda rigged            16  inches 1951-54

Scalex Yachts

H211 Gull plastic           Bermuda rigged            11 inches long 1964-67

H212 Swift                    Bermuda rigged            12 inches long 1964-72

H216 Diana                   Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1964-72

H224 commodore        Bermuda rigged            24 inches long 1971

H312 Swift 2                 Bermuda rigged            12 inches long 1968-69

H316 Seahawk              Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1964-66

H316 Seahawk 2            Bermuda rigged            16 inches long 1968 -69

410Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged            10 inches long 1963

412Y plastic                  Bermuda rigged             12 inches 1963

430Y Neptune             Bermuda rigged             16 inches 1955-63

A pre 1953 tin plate 12 inch Tri-ang Junior 0 series

All Suggs yachts were hand carved the company first started before WW1 and very few have have survived today. They were produced by the Frank Sugg company of Liverpool and sold in Gamages stores, Stevens's Model Dockyard and also probably other stores, elsewhere. Made in various sizes and designs, including Schooners and Yawls Suggs cutters were either spoon or clipper bowed and always gaff rigged, painted with black topsides and red oxide below the waterline, the larger yachts were fitted with a topsail using a jackyard, but these are often lost. Little is known about the company, but an example exists with a deck transfer reading 'Sugg. Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London'. The Suggs company also made sports goods and traded selling sports appareil until the 1980's.

Suggs Cutters are difficult to identify but do have the following characteristics, the original set up often featured double head sails as on a full size cutter that were overlapped and loose footed. Deck fittings known as Bugg Pins were hammered in and bent over to form a loop. The deck was curved (Turtle back) to provide run off and was set into the hull which was completed with a finely made toe rail all round that tapered off to the stern. A typical feature of Suggs made yachts is the distinctively shaped adjustable raked rudder and rudder post, which was fitted with a brass tiller and sprung beneath a narrow brass horse which was given three indentations providing a center, Starboard and Port position for the helm. These rudders can also be found on early Hamleys, Lines brothers (Tri ang) wooden cutters and yachts, which does make you wonder if these yachts were in fact made by the Suggs company as well.

All Suggs Cutters were originally painted the same way, with black topsides and a red oxide below the water line. Nearly all have a very fine painted cove line around the the bilge. The decks were also lined out before varnishing except for some of the smallest yachts. The larger examples, and those with 'non standard' hulls have a light moulding fitted to act as a rubbing strake.

Suggs yachts are highly sought after rare and are delightful, well made models, they do take some getting used to when sailing, it is advised to keep the top sail taught to keep it off wind, the yacht will not self tack due to the overlapping for-sails these will need to be reset each time that you need to go about.

A typical larger 1920's 25 inch spoon bowed Suggs Cutter.

Albatross, by Games Industries.

The first Albatross yachts were manufactured by Games Industries of London during the 1950's and were marketed by the prestigious department store Gamages. They were well made quality yachts manufactured with hollow hulls and were offered in 3 ranges. The Q series with a fixed rudder and a keel similar to a Star MK, and then the R range fitted with a manually operated rudder.

The high specification De Lux series were fitted with a simple but effective form of Braine steering quadrant with a forward mounted horse for beating and reaching, the sheets led through eyelets to the tiller quadrant for running. It is interesting to note that the jib stay and boom were originally made from shaped flat sided timber as were the full size racing yachts of the day. The foot of both the jib and main sail were lashed to the stay and boom to help make the sail as efficient as possible. The main sail was attached to the mast using Luff rings. The largest yachts had fold down masts for ease of stowage. There is little known about Games Industries and their range of Albatross yachts .

The Games Industries, Albatross Yacht Series

Q14                   Bermuda rigged                    14 inches long 1952-57

Q16                   Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

R14                    Bermuda rigged                    14 inches long 1952-57

R16                    Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

R21                    Bermuda rigged                    21 inches long 1952-57

J16                     Bermuda rigged                    16 inches long 1952-57

J20                    Bermuda rigged                    20 inches long 1952-57

J25                    Bermuda rigged                    25 inches long  1952-57

J30                    Bermuda rigged                   30 inches long  1952-57

J36                    Bermuda rigged                    36 inches long  1952-57

An Albatross J25 awaiting restoration in an original stand.

Albatross, by G Cornish, Paignton.

The second Albatross Yachts were manufactured by Mr G Cornish in King Ash, Road Paignton, in Devon. between 1988 and 1996  with the invaluable help of his wife Freda, who made the sails and carried out the bookwork. The first yachts were made in the garden shed at 170 Kings Ash Road, but as production increased operations were moved to an industrial unit to the rear of 36 Palace Avenue, Paignton.

The Paignton Albatross yacht series

Kathleen, wooden             Gaff rigged                          24 inch 

Kathleen, GRP                  Gaff rigged                          24 inch

Kathleen GRP                   Yawl                                     24 inch

Sloop, wooden                  Bermuda rigged                   20 inch

Tonnage Class, wooden    Gaff rigged                            26 inch

Nisha, Brixham Trawler     Gaff rigged                          22 inch

Valentine, wooden            Gaff rigged                           30 inch

Neptune Schooner           Gaff rigged                           18 inch  

Schooner, wooden            Gaff rigged                           20 inch

1890, wooden,                  Gaff rigged                           18 inch

Jolie Breeze, wooden        gaff rigged                            22 inch

Barge, wooden                  Gaff rigged                            6 and 11 inch

Solid Sloop, wooden         Bermuda rigged                    12 and 14 inch

Hollow Sloop, wooden      Bermuda rigged                    14 and 16 inch

Hollow Sloop                    Gaff rigged                            15 and 18 inch

Hollow Sloop                    Double head Gaff rigged      18 inch

Yawl.                                Lugger rigged                         17 and 20 inch

Some of the above yachts were made in very small numbers

24 inch Albatross Kathleen yawl.

J Alexander and Sons of Preston

Alexander racing yachts really are in a class of their own for their astounding quality of finish and sailing qualities they are now highly sought after with each example offered for sale commanding high prices.  John Alexander trained to be a carpenter and was employed by Browns Shipyard in Glasgow, during WW1 he was involved in building early flying boats for the Royal Navy, possibly Saunders Roe. John was a keen model yachtsman and in 1925 he made the decision to convert his hobby into a business. His range of quality hand crafted yachts were made in the sprawling upstairs rooms of his house in Ashton on Ribble. The house was ideally situated for testing and sailing near Fleetwood International boating lake. His sons successfully raced their own boats which provided excellent PR for their range of yachts. The enviable quality of the yachts was assisted by entire family who helped with assembly and sail making.

After WW2 demand decreased due to Britain's period of Austerity,

and the demand for their expensive range of yachts was no more. John retired from the business around 1950, his sons carried on producing the yachts and introduced an electric powered speed boat.  J Alexander and sons sadly ceased production in around 1960. It is not known how many models were actually produced.

J Alexander yachts were sold by mail order and in Gamages, and Hamleys with the advertising slogan of British Boats for British Boys!

The J. Alexander yacht series

White Flyer

Heather Elf                                            18 inch

White Heather                             20-34 inch

Heather Dew                               22-25 inch

Heather Bells                               26 inch

Heather Isle                                 30 inch

Heather Glen                               36 inch

White Elf                                      22 inch

White Spray                                 30 inch

It is believed that all J Alexander yachts were Bermuda rigged. There was also a tie-up with Bassett-Lowke who marketed the White Heather series known as R1-R4

J Alexander White Heather, Pond Yacht.

Ailsa Yachts

It is not known when Ailsa yachts first started making model yachts but an early advertisement is dated 1936, it is now accepted that the earliest wooden yachts date from the late 1920's. Sadly it is not known how many different models that were made and it is assumed that they were first produced by Turner of Largs, and the very first model yachts were carved from bread and butter pine board construction, and fitted with a wooden lead weighted keel and sometimes with a metal fin. However they were initially designed to be used without a moveable rudder and provide excellent performance in the hands of beginners they were made to a high standard, with extensive prototype testing carried out by Turner on the yacht pond at Largs. These earliest yachts were referred to as Clyde built Stevie boats and were originally fitted with striped cotton sails. At the time the dockyards of the River Clyde had an enviable reputation and built more ships and boats than anywhere else in the world. The later name Ailsa refers to an Island called Ailsa Craig off the coast of Largs.

Initially they were sold by the Clyde Model Dockyard in Glasgow, it is possible that only those yachts sold by the Clyde Model Dockyard were named Iona. They became widely sold throughout the UK and were even exported throughout the Commonwealth. Production ceased during WW2 but after the war manufacturing commenced and at one stage upto 12 people were employed. Milbro a toy and sports equipment wholesaler began marketing the yachts these were fitted with an ivorine name plate bearing the name Milbro. An aluminium hull with a Cedar deck was introduced soon after the war which enabled the yacht to be slightly lighter and therefore faster than those yachts with wooden hulls, speed of production was also increased. The very last of the yachts were fitted with hot rolled terylene sails, this was the go to racing sail material used at the time. The very last yachts were made with a GRP hull and the last Ailsa yacht off the line was made in the early 1960's. Today Ailsa yachts are still very popular they are elegant in design and provide outstanding performance, something that has still to be bettered today, perhaps this is why Ailsa yachts are rarely seen for sale and command such high prices when they do.

                                   The Ailsa yacht series

12  inches long

14  inches long

16 inches Long

17  inches long

18  inches long

20 inches long

21  inches long

28 inches long

30 inches long

These are the only sizes  known at the time of writing

A late 16 inch Aluminium hulled Milbro Ailsa.

B-Boats, British Yacht and Model Company

The first listing for B-Boats was in the 1932 Meccano Magazine, they were manufactured at 459 Fulham road in London. Very little else is known about the company and how long it stayed in business, however the hulls were made from a quality aluminium pressing like later Ailsa yachts, it is interesting to note that B-Boats power boat pressings were also used on the Scottish Marine Companies, Mermaid power boat. B-Boats were a high quality product with beautifully sewn double stitched double hemmed sails that were provided with a curved foot, sheeting was attached using Lanyard clips like other quality yacht manufacturers at the time a free swinging rudder was also fitted. All B-Boats were supplied in a green felt lined wooden box. The advertising slogan for B-Boats was unsurpassed for Grace and speed. (Once my B-Boat has been restored I will set it against a similar Ailsa to see which is the quickest across the pond).

The British Yacht and Model Company, B-Boat range.

S1016                     Bermuda rigged                             16 inches Long

S1020                    Bermuda rigged                             20 inches long

S1026                    Bermuda rigged                             26 inches long

S1033                    Bermuda rigged                             33 inches long

The remains of a once beautiful 16 inch B-Boat.

Bassett-Lowke Ltd

The trading name of Bassett- Lowke was Founded in 1899 and has a long and complicated history, based in Northampton they were originally known for their large scale exhibition standard models made for boat and ship manufacturers including military vehicles, model steam locomotives and rolling stock. They also retailed quality model yachts and boats including the Alexander White Heather range. It is not known how many model boats that Bassett-Lowke actually made but it is certain that they manufactured a range of four beautiful power boats and a range of model boat fittings themselves.

A Bassett-Lowke Deerhound

                           Bonds of Euston Road

Bonds O Euston Road as they called themselves were a very popular model engineering supplier, selling model kits, tools, parts, stationary engines, plans and castings, established in 1887 known simply as Bonds, they moved to Euston Road in 1929,  Bonds also had their own range of quality racing yachts and boats sourced from a variety of suppliers. The decline in interest of their core products meant that they had to move to new premises in Sussex and changed direction becoming a hardware store, they closed in 2010.

                         Bonds of Euston, Endeavour range

17 inch                             automatic rudder

21 inch                             automatic rudder

28 inch                            Braine type steerin g

36 inch                            Braine type steering

A 1935 Bonds of Euston, Endeavour Yacht

AW Gamage Ltd

Gamages were a quality London department store that started trading in 1878 selling clothes, they were very successful and were soon selling all manner of goods including toys and model yachts. Little is known about the range of yachts sold as the company closed in 1972, and the records were destroyed. It is thought that because Gamages were able to sell high volumes of goods they were able to acquire exclusive deals with existing manufacturers, the types of yachts sold it seems was very varied and some were possibly made in Germany. Difficulty in identifying Gamages type yachts exists because few yachts had any identification marks on them.

A  superbly made 1920's Gaff rigged Gamages yacht

Hobbies of Dereham Ltd.

Hobbies of Dereham Ltd was established by John Skinner in around 1880, and sold specialist woodworking tools, patterns and materials. They produced the popular Hobbies magazine which included their ever growing range of items and how to do articles. Hobbies Ltd was formed in 1902 and was now operating from many shops around the country. It was in 1922 that the association with Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins was formed, and a range of steam powered motor boats was introduced. Bowman designed and built a variety of yachts and boats, the company became known as Hobbies Bowman.

Unfortunately the Bowman section of the company failed in 1935. It is interesting to note that from this failure the creation of Mammod came about from the early steam engine designs made by Geoffrey-Malin's co-operation with Hobbies Ltd. By 1968  Hobbies Ltd was liquidated, however a previous employee managed to purchase the brand name and Hobbies Ltd was relaunched and is still trading today with a strong online presence selling plans, materials tools and spares as it had originally done when Hobbies first started.

The Hobbies Bowman range

The Ace                    14.5 inches Gaff rigged                         1925-28

Peewit                      14.5 inches Bermuda rigged                  1925-29

Whitewings              20 inches Gaff rigged

Seagull                     23 inches Gaff rigged

An early Hobbies "Peewit" pond yacht.

Winford Model Yachts

Winford made a stylish and unusual range of pond yachts, they were a quality product and expensively priced, and were marketed as an any weather yacht. They featured innovative pressed steel hulls fitted with wooden decks and  remov able/adjustable  lead weighted wooden keels of different weights and sizes. These yachts were also fitted with steering gear and a stern mounted rudder, all models featured a bowsprit and as far as we know all were fitted with a Bermuda rig. They were produced at the Kingswinford Forge in Staffordshire during the 1920's. Very little more is known about the company it is likely that very few yachts were sold and even fewer have survived even though world wide sales were claimed.

The Winford yacht range

12 inch ‘Ordinary’, fixed keel, one suit of sails.

12 inch ‘Special’ with two suits of sails and spars, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and weighted rudder.

15 inch ‘Ordinary’, fixed single keel, one suit of sails.

15 inch ‘Special’ with three suits of sails and spars, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and simple tiller steering gear.

20 inch ‘Racing’ model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a sheet to tiller steering gear.

27 inch model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a sheet to tiller steering gear.

36 inch model with three suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, a carrying box and a simple sheet to tiller steering gear. 

36 inch schooner rigged with two suits of sails, removable keel and ballast, with steering gear.

Winford racing yacht diagram.

Kylecraft Model Yachts

Kylecraft Pond Yachts were made in Largs on the river Clyde just after the Second World War. Largs was also the home of the Ailsa yacht brand, on inspection the two types are very similar, with the Kylecraft yacht having a slightly deeper hull and keel than an Ailsa. It is not known if there was any collaboration between the two companies. Kylecraft continued to use carved wooden hulls whereas Ailsa were using a pressed aluminium hull. Overall Ailsa yachts were produced in far greater quantities and therefore easier to find than Kylecraft yachts and because of their rarity they have now become highly collectable. It is thought that Hobbies of Dereham Ltd marketed Kylecraft yachts. Once Kylecraft had ceased trading 300 nearly completed yachts were acquired by a gentleman who ran a market stall in Portobello Market, he completed the yachts and sold them as display pieces.

The Kylecraft yacht range

12 inch                                Bermuda rigged

16 inch                                Bermuda rigged

18 inch                                Bermuda rigged

22 Inch                               Bermuda rigged

24 inch                               Bermuda rigged

A 12 inch Kylecraft yacht sailing in Cumbria.

Redwing Model Yachts

Very little indeed is known about Redwing  Pond Yachts, it seems that they were manufactured in the 1920's as a surviving catalogue although undated refers to the 1921 Cowes yacht races. They made both yachts and powerboats, Redwing models were hardly toys with some of the yachts being 50 inches long and made to a very high specification which included steering gear on some models. The company was based at 150 Kingston Road, in New Malden, Surrey.

The Redwing yacht range

Model No 1   The Redwing Sloop               36 inch Gaff rigged

Model No 2  The Redwing                          24 inch Gaff rigged

Model No 3  Bluebird                                 36 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 4  Bluebird                                 24 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 5  Ten-rater Schooner              50 inch Bermuda rigged

Model No 6  6m International                   (size unknown)

A 50 inch Redwing Ten-rater Schooner.

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Andy and Niall did an excellent job of…

Andy and Niall did an excellent job of getting our catamaran from Falmouth to Cuxhaven. We always felt safe and learned a lot on the trip. We can recommend Halcyon Yachts 100%!

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

Reply from Halcyon Yachts

Many thanks. A pleasure to be of service!

Halcyon delivery

Outstanding customer focused service. Professional from first contact to final handover. Boat was left cleaner and tidier than it ever will be again!

Date of experience : May 02, 2024

Birchwood 340 Amsterdam to Woodbridge.

Efficient office administration. Very good skipper and crew who had to deal with an electrical failure in the middle of the night in the North Sea without any significant drama, but still delivered on time much to my relief.

Date of experience : April 23, 2024

We needed an additional crew member for a boat delivery

We needed additional crew for a last minute change of circumstances during a powerboat delivery. Following a telephone call in the morning, Halcyon Yachts had an experienced crew member arrive at the boat, within hours, enabling us to set off same day without delay. The whole process was absolutely seamless from start to finish. Richard and Pete were great to work with. The qualified crew member (Joseph) was extremely professional, a pleasure to have on board, his experience was vast, and his assistance highly valued for a trip over 4 days. I would not hesitate to recommend the team at Halcyon Yachts to anyone looking for crew members or skippers, and I would certainly use their services again.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

A pleasure to be of service!

Contessa 32 from Lymington (UK) to Hellevoetsluis (NL) and back

As a newbie sailor I needed professional help to get my Contessa 32 from Lymington (UK) to Hellevoetsluis (NL) and back. Halcyon did a fantastic job in helping with this trip. I was able to join as 3rd crew member and thanks to Halcyon's professional skipper Tim we enjoyed a safe sail to The Netherlands in december 2023 and back to the UK in march 2024. Skipper Tim was a great help for me to get to know the boat better and provided lots of useful navigational knowledge during the passage. I highly recommend Halcyon for your deliveries.

Date of experience : March 18, 2024

Many thanks Toine. A pleasure to be of service!

The Halcyon Effect

William joined us as crew to cross the Celtic Sea, Penzance to Kinsale. The weather has been unpredictable and we wanted a third crew member. He was perfect. Friendly, helpful, skilled and crucially relieved me from an 8 hour watch bang on time. 0200 relief is a big one after a long watch. Even though roly and uncomfortable he did his stint below on food prep. Admin wise, Peter and the team were great efficient and reacted quickly when we decided on additional crew.

Date of experience : July 19, 2023

Owner assist to Canaries

Glenn came on board as an “owner assist” skipper in our first proper offshore from UK to the Canaries. In every aspect he excelled – not just in keeping us safe but taking every opportunity to teach us, help us fix what went wrong, and generally just making us feel like we had another of our mates on board (albeit one with much more experience!). We cannot recommend enough – thank you!

Date of experience : August 12, 2023

Many thanks Andy. A pleasure to be of service!

S/Y Whimbrel Palma / Norway Sweden / Palma 2022

My boat called Whimbrel , it is a 62 foot Chuck Paine designed aluminum sailing sloop based in Palma . This year -2022 -i planned at least two months cruising in South Norway and the East Coast of Sweden with family and friends . Due to work pressures i could not do the positioning of the boat in either direction . Halcyon however provided the solution . This was carried out in both directions with little fuss and appropriate care and attention . I would be happy to recommend Halcyon to any owner . Regards Paul Over , Owner .

Date of experience : August 27, 2022

Many thanks Paul. A pleasure to be of service!

The perfect choice for yacht delivery!

Extremely happy with Halcyon and their team to assist me with delivery of a 44 ft catamaran from Hamble to Kip Marina in Scotland. I also completed my Coastal Skipper while en route. Flexible, professional, reliable and great value for money. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Date of experience : May 26, 2023

Many thanks David. A pleasure to be of service.

Halcyon Yachts recently moved my boat…

Halcyon Yachts recently moved my boat from Oban in Scotland to North Wales.The delivery crew were excellent. Very friendly, thorough, safe and professional. The delivered the boat at the agreed time despite some difficult weather. At the end of the trip the boat was spotless and their handover was very informative. Thanks very much indeed.

Date of experience : April 25, 2022

Many thanks Martin. A pleasure to be of service!

Yacht delivery from Madeira to Dover

We used Halcyon Yachts who provided a skipper with two crew members to deliver our yacht from Madeira to Dover. The company was very helpful and arranged the delivery in a short period of time which enabled the boat to be brought back before too much uncertainty with the weather crossing Biscay. The skipper kept us informed of his progress and even sent some photos and short video clips. The whole delivery experience was very professional and we felt confident that our yacht was in safe hands. If the need arose, we would certainly use Halcyon Yachts again.

Date of experience : October 09, 2020

Pete and his team were super efficient

Pete and his team were super efficient. Everyone wants their boat delivered, "yesterday". But their advice and patience, waiting for the correct weather window was the right call. They were proactive on all aspects and it was great to get the regular feedback on the actual location of the boat during this 4 day delivery trip. Thank you. Mike - Dehler 42

Date of experience : November 15, 2021

Thanks Mike. A pleasure being of service. You have a lovely yacht - happy sailing!

Career Development program

I recently completed a 3-month Career Development Program with Halcyon Yachts. During this time, I was placed on multiple deliveries throughout Europe and the UK, where I had the privilege of learning from their top delivery skippers. This helped me to develop my own approach as a skipper, as I was able to observe the unique ways each skipper ran their boat and select what worked for me. It was refreshing to work with a company that delivers on all their promises. I was scheduled on back-to-back deliveries with no days lost waiting for boats. My expenses were paid timeously. Travel between boats was straightforward and being a South African they assisted me with my travel documents. I can highly recommend Halcyon Yachts to any sailor who is serious about building a career at sea.

Date of experience : August 02, 2023

Many thanks Dylan. It has been a pleasure to be of service.

HANSE 350 Fleetwood to Shotley

The crew were very informative and kept me up to date at all times. It was not an easy trip and it was at a difficult time of year. The very mindful of ensuring the boat wasn't subject to excessive wind & wave loads. The boat was clean and tidy when I got on board, and they were very helpful when i joined them from Cowes to Shotley, the very last leg of the journey.

Date of experience : October 06, 2023

Many thanks Geoff. A pleasure to be of service.

Delivery from Gironde France to Portishead UK

The only issue was the late replacement of the skipper which led to a delayed departure. However, a replacement was quickly found and the delivery successfully completed. Without that, it would have been a 5-star rating. The skipper and crew were friendly, helpful and thorough and the back-up from Halcyon could not be faulted. I liked the WhatsApp group set up to keep the owner, crew and Halcyon updated on progress and conditions with text and photos. A technical fault discovered at about halfway was swiftly and professionally dealt with without adversely affecting the schedule. On arrival the yacht was very neatly and cleanly handed back to the owner. Would thoroughly recommend Halcyon.

Date of experience : October 07, 2023

Hi Nigel. Many thanks for the feedback. It's been a pleasure to be of service.

Great company answered all my questions…

Great company answered all my questions and responded promptly to emails. Our Yacht was delivered in perfect condition and with no fuss or hassle,would definitely use them again in the future. Nick & Anita

Date of experience : September 29, 2023

Many thanks Nick and Anita. It's been a pleasure to be of service!

Transfer of a sailing yacht from south-west England to the Baltic Sea in wintertime....

Despite the extreme winter conditions the competent Crew with skipper Steve brought the yacht to its destination safely and undamaged. Also a friendly and communicative office at any time before and during the transfer. Would fall back on Halycons anytime. I would also like to take these likeable and experienced skipper on board to support me on an extended holiday Trip. Thanks Steve, crew and Pete!!

Date of experience : January 26, 2020

Thank you for the review. It was our pleasure!

Good Company that cares about your vessel.

I have worked with Halcyon yachts for at least 5 years, and have found Pete and his team to be most professional. I have over 100k successful miles moving all types of sailing vessels around the world. Happy to reccomend Pete and his team at Halcyon for your next vessel delivery.

Date of experience : November 10, 2021

Trip from Marmaris to Northern Spain on a Dufour 56

Halcyon provided me with a Yachtmaster instructor to help us on a trip from Marmaris to Northern Spain. They made the whole process very simple to set up and delivered exactly what they had said they would. We had some challenges on the trip and Dave Preston, the skipper they provided, was excellent. His experience and practical skills shone through and provided the confidence and advice that we had wanted. I wouldn't hesitate recommending Halcyon.

Date of experience : June 16, 2022

Many thanks Kevin. A pleasure being of service!

Best decision to use Halycon Yachts for…

Best decision to use Halycon Yachts for our delivery from UK to Portugal in late April 2023. Five star rated skipper. Made all the right decisions to keep us safe whilst crossing Biscay. Would highly recommend this Company

Date of experience : April 21, 2023

Many thanks Karen. A pleasure to be of service!

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About 'Wings'?

What do people think.

Simon is a first rate skipper , a first rate teacher and a first rate human being. He made the course fun , exciting and I learned more than any other course I have been on with RYA. It’s quite a skill to teach and Simon has that skill. He fills the student with confidence. His knowledge of sailing is amazing and unlike many who teach he is not frightened of sharing that knowledge. His boat is spotless and a joy to sail. All in all I cannot recommend him enough to beginners and also those who think they know the sea ! I will be booking with him again.

CF, July 2023

A fantastic five day experience and  Wings is the perfect boat for learning on. Robin is such an amazing instructor with so much knowledge of every aspect of sailing and I really appreciate him for his calmness , patience and advice regarding our recently purchased yacht. Thank you from an extremely happy student.

G, April ’22

Keith made the Day Skipper course interesting, informative and fun, particularly in some of the challenging conditions we had through the week F5-6 most days. He was very good at explaining things in different ways. I also appreciated the efforts to provision for L who’s lactose intolerant. Thanks very much for a great 5 days.

JW Day Skipper

Simon was a great instructor. Very considerate to individuals’ previous knowledge and experiences. Very attentive to our questions and answered them well. Made learning very easy and enjoyable. Was good to explain any technical information in a clear and understandable manner. We all got plenty of opportunities to practice all elements of sailing. Wings is a very clean and comfortable boat to be on as well as easy to manoeuvre. Accommodation was very comfortable with good food being served, taking into consideration any dietary requirements. We all had a really fun and enjoyable experience. Will definitely be coming back to do future courses and leisurely sails. Thank you!!

M Competent Crew October 2021

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Gift an amazing sailing experience to your favourite seafarer wannabe! You can buy this now at the link below for just £105.

Buy a personalised voucher for a taster sail, yachting course, or any of our other fun-filled seaborne adventures on the gorgeous Suffolk coastline or beyond.

Our sailing vouchers can be used to pay for one of our Day Sails , or to offset the cost of any of our courses, charters or cruises .

Click the link below to buy one now – a personalised voucher will be in your inbox within a few minutes – or contact us for other options

What better way to watch an epic sporting event than to have a grandstand seat? Better still, how about a seat that moves around with the action, with a coffee and nibbles never more than an arms reach away? Where, still firmly attached to your seat, you can graze away at your lunch without queuing for hours to fetch it?

No such thing? Think again!

We have opportunities aboard our beautiful yacht Wings for companies, private groups and day sailors to do exactly that. Contact us to discuss your preference and enjoy a fabulous day with your friends, family, staff or clients, or simply treat yourself in the company of like minded sailing fans.

Dates currently available from 6-11th August, leaving from/returning to East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight.

Accommodation on board can be arranged at no extra cost, subject to availability.

If you’re a more experienced sailor looking for a challenging trip, why not join us on a cross-Channel trip to Dunkerque, before heading to the Solent via Eastbourne? At least 2 ‘qualifying’ passages (60 miles or more) and the opportunity for some night sailing (subject to weather conditions).

Dates: 5-9 September 2023

Prices & Availability: Please contact us

Another great opportuity for some serious cruising as we head back to Shotley from the Solent via the South Coast and France. A fabulous sailing adventure for those who want to enjoy more serious passages, or who are looking to build crewing or skippering experience or miles to put towards some of the higher level RYA courses.

For many crossing the Thames Estuary or English Channel under sail would be genuine ‘bucket list’ contenders. Join us on this trip to tick both off in one hit. Sail past iconic British coastline landmarks that most people will have heard of, but few will have witnessed close-up – Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters, Selsey Bill, and the 19th century forts built to protect the Solent.

It will be a few days of adventure, and maybe a glass or two of French red, plus some time to explore Brighton – maybe shopping in the Lanes or a stroll along the pier.

The journey will start from the Solent (probably Portsmouth) on the weekend of 15/16 June 2019.

Highlights * a 5 day cruise in our classic 42′ Moody yacht ‘Wings’ * crossing the Thames Estuary and the English Channel * stopovers in Brighton, Eastbourne, Boulogne and/or Dunkerque and Ramsgate. * opportunity for skippers to practice their passage-making skills with mentoring from seasoned instructors * ideal for cruisers/milebuilders/passage makers/those wishing to achieve their RYA Competent Crew or Coastal Theory tickets.

Each leg is 40-60 miles (with the exception of the 20 mile hop from Brighton to Eastbourne. If you haven’t yet visited Boulogne, the old town is a beautiful place to wander along the cobbled streets and maybe enjoy a plate of moules frites and a glass of something, whilst Dunkerque, of course, is famed for its wartime memorials.

At this stage the trip is available to either individuals who wish to share, or for exclusive charter.

Price & Availability: please contact us

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We could turn right, head north up past Brightlingsea, duck into Pyefleet Creek and pick up a mooring buoy (or drop the hook). Then watch as your pre-ordered box of crab, lobster, king prawn, mussels – not to mention locally sourced oysters – is delivered to the boat. Yes, really. It’s a bit like a drive thru without the driving or the queuing! And then, replete with fruits de mer, you could sit and watch the sunset over Mersea Island.

Or go straight ahead. Past the Colne and up the Blackwater to West Mersea. Thumb a lift from the yacht club ferry to the jetty, and stroll ashore to make a late lunch table booking at the famous Company Shed. Perhaps (hopefully!) there’s time for a quick drink in the West Mersea Yacht Club beforehand. Followed by a fabulous seafood platter in one of the simplest but most fabulous restaurants you will come across.

Hey, if you’re a real seafood junkie you could even do both!

Talk to us for prices and availability. This is a two or three-day trip.

The Annual Pin Mill Barge Match, one of a series of regional barge matches, is held in late June/early July. Starting on the River Orwell, and following a course dictated by the day’s weather and tide conditions, the match is a true spectacle of years gone by.

Once coastal cargo carriers, these beauties have been lovingly restored and maintained, and several are available for day trips, charters and social occasions.

This is very much a day sail with a difference, as the itinerary will be geared to a very satisfying combination of match watching – with the endless photo opportunities this will entail – plus time to enjoy your own bit of sailing up and down the Orwell and Stour rivers. You will see a veritable forest of brown sails, gaffe rigs, and more ‘ropes’ than you can shake a stick at.

Prices & Availability: Please contact us

We will need to leave Shotley by 1000 latest, after coffee and a safety briefing. It’s a 2 ½ hour sail down to Clacton, and once there we drop anchor as close to the ‘fairway’ as possible. The fairway is a cordoned off area of the sea just off Clacton Pier, and it is above this area that the serious flying is done. Which means the planes seem to almost clip the top of our mast as they zoom past!

The line-up for the show is still evolving but according to the show’s website it will include:

The Red Arrows The Battle of Memorial Flight The RAF Typhoon Bremont Great War Display Team Plus lots of other aerobatic displays

You can see the full line up at the show’s website here……

When we’ve nibbled our way through the 3-4 hour show, it’s time to weigh anchor and head back home after a truly memorable day.

Price: £80 (offered on bring your own lunch basis). Please contact us for availability

Our skipper will work with you before your trip to create a passage plan to suit your requirements and the experience of your party. This will obviously depend on tide predictions and the number of days you choose to book for. There are many fantastic destinations to the North or South to choose from, and a variety of ‘challenges’ ranging from passages which are (relatively speaking) ‘just around the corner’, to Thames Estuary and Channel crossings. Possible destinations include Southwold, the River Blackwater, Burnham-on-Crouch and, further afield, London, the South Coast and the Continent.

Price & availability will depend on duration and destinations agreed, please contact us to discuss options

Your skipper gives you the options for the day (weather and tide dependent) and you decide the agenda. A river sail, a short coastal cruise, a bit of both – whatever ‘floats your boat’. Your day starts with a coffee and the essential safety brief on board, and then you head out on your sailing adventure. Maybe you’ll choose to explore the rivers in the morning, or head round to Hamford Water if the tides are right. After anchoring for lunch** on board  you might decide on an afternoon at sea. Maybe checking out Rough’s Tower (the ‘Principality of Sealand’), or a round trip past Felixstowe to the Deben entrance, before returning through the lock to Shotley Marina.

Base Price: weekday from £270* (half-day) or from £390* (full day), weekend from £450* (minimum full day)

* These are our base prices which cover two adults plus up to four children (aged 16 or under). There is a supplementary charge of £15 per additional adult (half-day trips) and £20 per additional adult (day trips).

** You can choose between bringing your own lunch to enjoy on board, or we can provide lunch to suit your needs. We can discuss this when you book.

Up to four children (aged 16 or under) go free when accompanied by two adults.

Why not extend to a Sleepover Sail for an additional charge of £90? Stay on board the night before, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and enjoy a bacon roll breakfast before sailing the next day.

For pricing and availability

A lot of people do most of their sailing at weekends, and that’s when we are often at our busiest. But if you’re lucky enough to have time for some sailing on weekdays then one of our Day Sails might be just the thing for you. You will get the same fabulous sailing experience but at a great price of £105 per day. In order to minimise costs we ask you to bring your own lunch, and the only other proviso is that we need a minimum of 3 people to run the day.

Simply register for our newsletter (sign-up is available at the foot of all our website pages) and we will let you know the Day Sail dates when they are available along with all our other news and offers.

If you would like to buy a Day Sail as a gift for someone else, take a look at our Sailing Gift Voucher option – when you buy we will send you a PDF by email, and your lucky friend can contact us directly to arrange their date.

Price £105 per person (£100 per person if you bring one or more friends)

Availability: Please see our sailing schedule or  contact us

Join with up to 5 others who want to share the cost of sailing and meet new people.

Your day will start at Shotley Marina where your skipper will give you a safety briefing over a cup of coffee on board. You’ll help prepare the boat for departure, exit the lock gates, hoist the sails and head out for an adventure on the local rivers and coastlines. You will get the chance to participate fully in the running of the ship – hoisting, helming, trimming – hey, you can even put the kettle on if you like! After a morning sail we will drop anchor for lunch on board, maybe at Hamford Water (Secret Water), Wrabness (beach huts on stilts), or somewhere on the very beautiful River Orwell. After lunch, more sailing, more fun, and more tea (and perhaps a cheeky biscuit) before heading for home.

Price £105 per person (offered on a ‘bring your own picnic’ basis)

For dates and bookings……..

Suffolk Coast Sailing runs classroom-based Day Skipper and Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory courses at Shotley Marina and venues in the East Anglia region. We can offer private, one-to-one courses, and courses for groups (businesses, clubs and associations) at your chosen venue. Face to face courses are best if you prefer to learn in an interactive environment, as you benefit from wider discussion prompted by questions from other participants.

See more about our classroom courses .

We also offer  online theory courses which you can complete in your own time and in the comfort of your home or office. These are delivered by our partner company, Sailing Course Online, who are a RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training. The course content is specifically delivered for an online experience, with bite-sized modules, regular auto-marked tests, and full support from the instructors at Sailing Course Online whenever you need them.

Find out more about online theory courses.

See below for more information or

Day Skipper Theory

A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.

This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising.

The course is taught over 40 hours with two exam papers.

Course topics include:

• the basics of seamanship
• the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage
• electronic charts
• position fixing
• plotting a course to steer
• weather forecasting and meteorology
• collision regulations
• construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat
• emergency and safety procedures including distress calls,use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore

Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.

This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal and Yachtmaster™ Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

The course is taught over 40 hours with three exam papers.

• course shaping and plotting
• tidal knowledge
• use of almanacs and admiralty publications
• electronic position finding equipment
• taking and interpreting forecasts
• plotting weather systems
• weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
• customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

Own Boat Tuition

All of our RYA courses can be run in the comfort of your own boat, or we can tailor a programme to focus on what you need to learn, practice or perfect the most. The agenda is very much up to you, and we will discuss your needs thoroughly before recommending a program for you.

Suitable insurance and a reasonable level of safety gear will be needed on your boat, you can see our requirements here

For prices and availability

Please note we may need to add travelling expenses depending on the location of your boat.

Coastal Skipper

Advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.

We will expect you to complete the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory course beforehand as there is insufficient time to teach you theory during the week.

Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions.

Requirements & Outcomes

Pre-course experience: Minimum 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours.

Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to at least the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shorebased Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore

Minimum duration: 5 days

Minimum age: 17

Course content: Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations

Ability after the course:  Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night

Prices and Availability: £760 per person please Click Here for Course Schedule or

Day Skipper

A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

Learn to skipper a short passage with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn’t.

If it’s help with navigation that you need, you should take our Day Skipper shorebased or online course.

Pre-course experience: 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht

Assumed knowledge: Theory to the level of Day Skipper. It is recommended you take our Day Skipper shorebased or online course  beforehand.

Minimum duration: 5 days residential

Minimum age: 16

Course content: Preparation for sea, deck work, navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, victualling, emergency situations, yacht handling under power, yacht handling under sail, passage making, night cruising

Prices & Availability: £760 per person please Click Here for Course Schedule or

Competent Crew

This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers.

Experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered.

By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You will also have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday.

Pre-course experience: None

Assumed knowledge: None

Minimum duration: 5 days.

Minimum age: None

Course content: Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies

Ability after the course: Able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines

Prices & Availability: £760 per person Click Here for course schedule or

A short introduction to sailing for complete beginners, this course is available by arrangement to groups of 3-5 people.

By the end of the course you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board.

Holders of the Start Yachting certificate can go on to complete the Competent Crew course in a reduced time of three days.

Minimum duration: 2 days

Minimum age: 8-10 years old

Course content: The yacht, ropework, underway, rules of the road, man overboard recovery, clothing and equipment, emergency equipment and precautions, meteorology.

Ability after the course: Basic knowledge of yachting.

Prices & Availability: If you have booked a charter of two or more days with us, we may be able to  build the Start Yachting syllabus into your itinerary. If you have a party of 3 or more people, we can arrange a course to suit your schedule.

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Company Profile

BSK Marine  is a company that has a few years in vessel constructing but her rapid progress creates a remarkable history and makes Skipper boats synonymous to quality and seaworthy

Address: 39 Varis – Koropiou Ave. P.C.: 194 00 Koropi, Attica, GR

Tel.:  +30 210 55 55 622 Email: info[at]skipper-bsk.com

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SKIPPER YACHTS IN WOODBRIDGE

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Skippern Yachts

Skippern Yachts is a Norwegian company oriented towards maritime services and real estate as a spin-off of the yacht services. Our backbone is yacht sales and yacht brokerage. We also assist clients in finding and acquiring their ship or yacht. We have a good "touch" and overview over the Nordic boat market and cooperate with an extensive international network. Skippern Yachts AS Company ID 932 726 874, Norway In association with Riktor Maritim Company ID 985 784 043 & Scandinavian Boats Group

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