Alpa A7

[Slick]

Hello everyone, I have just brought an Alpa A7 in Italy, I know very little other than she was designed by Capt J Illingworth along with the the A8 and A9 also buit by Alpa one of the eariler GRP boat builders in Italy during the 60-70's. Mine is No261 and her age is estimated 1970?

Im curious why this design was not taken by one of the English boat builders, how it ended up in the hands of an Italian boat builder and if anyone else built her. I dont have my camera so can't download pictures. She has a long keel but large cutaway and keel hung rudder, the outboard sits in a purpose built well. Encapsulated 50% lead ballast ratio a beam of 7.2 feet About 5.10 interior headroom and a length of 23 feet, oddly enough she looks good too, well for me anyway.

I will of course try the Italian boat forums but as its an English designer I hope sombody in England might shed some further information.


Best Rgds

 

[sarabande]

some pictures here
Alpa

 

[Tranona]

Illingworth and Primrose were very activce at that time "selling" their designs to boatbuilders, particularly in France. They were right at the leading edge of racing designs and "modern" construction. I suspect the Italian yard commissioned the design for their sole use. I do not recall any English builders commissioning a similar boat.