Alan Hill RIP

oldharry

oldharry

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I've not seen this announced anywhere else, so apologies if it duplicated: I heard this morning from Alan Hill's son that Alan had passed away shortly before Christmas at his home in Essex

Alan will be remembered as the designer of many fine boats, starting with the Trident 24, Tomahawk and Sabre 27, and going on to a stable of fine boats still known and valued for their practicality and seaworthiness. Many of Alan's designs came in to being through his association with Eric White at Marcon Marine on the Itchen.

Our sincere condolences go to his family in their loss at this time.

Commodore, Trident Owners Association
 
oldharry said:
I've not seen this announced anywhere else, so apologies if it duplicated: I heard this morning from Alan Hill's son that Alan had passed away shortly before Christmas at his home in Essex

Alan will be remembered as the designer of many fine boats, starting with the Trident 24, Tomahawk and Sabre 27, and going on to a stable of fine boats still known and valued for their practicality and seaworthiness. Many of Alan's designs came in to being through his association with Eric White at Marcon Marine on the Itchen.

Our sincere condolences go to his family in their loss at this time.

Commodore, Trident Owners Association
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Claymore 30
 
I had a fin keeled Trident 24 for a couple of seasons a few years back: a fabulously capable, good looking, proper little yacht. I often miss her.

I didn't know Alan well, but we were on nodding acquaintance whenever we passed on the quay at Burnham.

A really genuine, decent sort of chap, by all local accounts.
 
A friend has an immaculate triple keel Trident 24, I've been extremely impressed and quite surprised how well she goes to windward, counter to all one may expect of the short keels - as you say Neal, she looks great too. :encouragement:
 
Seajet said:
A friend has an immaculate triple keel Trident 24, I've been extremely impressed and quite surprised how well she goes to windward, counter to all one may expect of the short keels - as you say Neal, she looks great too. :encouragement:
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Crikey, Andy ....... that's (deservedly) high praise indeed, coming from Mr Anderson 22!!!
 
I had both a Cutlass 27 and a Sabre 27.

Both brilliant boats. Cutlass would go anywhere (except in reverse) at any time and was both seakindly and fast.

The Sabre had many of the same traits, but lots of room for its size. Both well built (strong) and had longevity built in.

Alan Hill personally answered a couple of questions I had re the boats and was friendly and interested in his creations. And obviously very talented.

Condolences to his family.
 
NPMR said:
I had both a Cutlass 27 and a Sabre 27.

Both brilliant boats. Cutlass would go anywhere (except in reverse) at any time and was both seakindly and fast.

.
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The Trident was also seakindly and (by the standards of her day) fast.

She was also the easiest boat to throw around at close quarters, under power, that I've ever 'driven', including in reverse ... and I've owned a good number of different breeds.

A brilliant design.
 
Sad news

Loved our Sabre 27, superb boat.

Only met Alan once, very briefly, little more than a nod to each other really. Would have liked to have been able to have a proper chat about his designs
 
NealB said:
The Trident was also seakindly and (by the standards of her day) fast.

A brilliant design.
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Not so slow by modern standards either, in experienced hands: The original Trident No 1 was racing on the Medway until a couple of years ago. Her last season on the Medway she reportedly won every race in club racing. Her owner complained that his club was trying to invent rules to slow him down!
 
oldharry said:
Not so slow by modern standards either, in experienced hands: The original Trident No 1 was racing on the Medway until a couple of years ago. Her last season on the Medway she reportedly won every race in club racing. Her owner complained that his club was trying to invent rules to slow him down!
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We'd need to know handicap details to fully understand that one, of course.

However, when we had our Trident (Mary Reeve of Hamble), we once got into a friendly, informal, match against an MG Spring 25. We were (surprisingly to me) clearly faster to windward, but the MG easily showed us a clean pair of sterns as she blasted passed us downwind.

I'm feeling feeling very nostalgic now: the Trident was, without doubt, a brilliant design!
 
oldharry said:
Not so slow by modern standards either, in experienced hands: The original Trident No 1 was racing on the Medway until a couple of years ago. Her last season on the Medway she reportedly won every race in club racing. Her owner complained that his club was trying to invent rules to slow him down!
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The Trident is a great design but you Old Harry and Neal, don't get too carried away ! :)
 
NealB said:
We'd need to know handicap details to fully understand that one, of course.

However, when we had our Trident (Mary Reeve of Hamble), we once got into a friendly, informal, match against an MG Spring 25. We were (surprisingly to me) clearly faster to windward, but the MG easily showed us a clean pair of sterns as she blasted passed us downwind.

I'm feeling feeling very nostalgic now: the Trident was, without doubt, a brilliant design!
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We met the new owner of Mary Reeve in Ramsgate last September. Seemed a nice guy and was besotted with his new ship.
 
That's very sad, condolences to the family. But what a lovely legacy, so many of "his" boats still sailing 50 plus years after being designed, and going on from generation to generation. I wasn't even born when my previous boat, a 1972 Sabre 27 was built...she was a fantastic boat, and after a horrendous 21 hour passage from Brighton to Gosport in what ended up being a F8 at times once, I certainly gave Alan a number of uttered "thank yous" for designing such a seaworthy boat...
 
Dan Tribe said:
We met the new owner of Mary Reeve in Ramsgate last September. Seemed a nice guy and was besotted with his new ship.
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Thanks, Dan: that's really good to hear.

He is, indeed, a very nice guy, and it was a very happy transaction all round.

I was slightly concerned when he sailed her away from Burnham, bound for her new home at Greenwich, on a seriously gusty, breezy, day. It must have been a demanding beat up the Thames in pretty horrible wind over tide conditions. I had every confidence in Mary Reeve, but it was perhaps not ideal for a first trip in a 'new' boat.
 
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NealB said:
Thanks, Dan: that's really good to hear.

He is, indeed, a very nice guy, and it was a very happy transaction all round.

I was slightly concerned when he sailed her away from Burnham, bound for her new home at Greenwich, on a seriously gusty, breezy, day. It must have been a demanding beat up the Thames in pretty horrible wind over tide conditions. I had every confidence in Mary Reeve, but it was perhaps not ideal for a first trip in a 'new' boat.
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It was serendipity. We had a horrible trip from Nieuwpoort and entered Ramsgate at same time as a Stella. On the pontoon we got chatting, which led to beer of course. Then the guy from Mary Reeve wandered over and started asking for local advice, more beer followed. He mentioned that he was looking for somewhere to keep her, the Stella guy said what about Hoo, where my Stella lives?
A quick phone call to someone at Hoo and a mooring was arranged.
A bit of thread drift going on here but I'm sure Alan Hill would have approved of the socialising.
 
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Dan Tribe said:
It was serendipity. We had a horrible trip from Nieuwpoort and entered Ramsgate at same time as a Stella. On the pontoon we got chatting, which led to beer of course. Then the guy from Mary Reeve wandered over and started asking for local advice, more beer followed. He mentioned that he was looking for somewhere to keep her, the Stella guy said what about Hoo, where my Stella lives?
A quick phone call to someone at Hoo and a mooring was arranged.
A bit of thread drift going on here but I'm sure Alan Hill would have approved of the socialising.
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Hmmm ... interesting!

I wonder if it was the same chap that bought her from us? He was a tall, charming, Polish chap and a keen member of Greenwich YC.

Anyway, I agree with you: I'm sure Mr Hill would be very happy at a bit of idle banter about his boats!!
 
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