Calling Coney Island 8800

[Dave_Snelson]

There is a new user on this forum goes by the name of "Coney Island 8800". He sent me a PM regarding my old Windy 8800 which was called Coney Island. This chap (I assume it's a he not a she) has bought my old Windy and is restoring it from top to bottom. I wish him well with the project as, apparantly, the boat had been left in a poor condition.

I do hope CI 8800 will post on here with pictures, as restoration jobs of this nature are always of interest to us all, not just me as a previous owner.

 

[The Binman]

What is it with you portmadog chaps who must have a Van Morrison reference in the boat name!! "Coney Island," "Precious Time" St Elmo's Fire (Steel my heart away)..........
hope they do a good job Dave and get her back to her former glory!

 

[Dave_Snelson]

What is it with you portmadog chaps who must have a Van Morrison reference in the boat name!! "Coney Island," "Precious Time" St Elmo's Fire (Steel my heart away)..........
hope they do a good job Dave and get her back to her former glory!

Well do you remember in Porthmadog there was a "Brown Eyed Girl" as well?

When CI is restored, she will be cruising in the north sea - Buckden on Ouse, IIRC.

 

[raven]

Point of order.

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" is a song recorded by John Parr. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 7, 1985, remaining there for two weeks. It was the main theme for the Joel Schumacher's 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire.

The song also peaked at number six in the UK, Parr's home country.[1] and became a number-one hit for John Parr around the world and provided many awards and a Grammy nomination.

The song was originally written by David Foster and John Parr for the Canadian athlete Rick Hansen, who at the time was going around the world in his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. His journey was called the "Man in Motion Tour."[2][3]

Strangely, this hit song did not also appear on a John Parr album, except on a very rare 1985 CD re-release of his self-titled album from 1984 in West Germany.

It was not....I REPEAT N.O.T. a Van Morrison song

 

[The Binman]

Point of order.

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" is a song recorded by John Parr. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 7, 1985, remaining there for two weeks. It was the main theme for the Joel Schumacher's 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire.

The song also peaked at number six in the UK, Parr's home country.[1] and became a number-one hit for John Parr around the world and provided many awards and a Grammy nomination.

The song was originally written by David Foster and John Parr for the Canadian athlete Rick Hansen, who at the time was going around the world in his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. His journey was called the "Man in Motion Tour."[2][3]

Strangely, this hit song did not also appear on a John Parr album, except on a very rare 1985 CD re-release of his self-titled album from 1984 in West Germany.

It was not....I REPEAT N.O.T. a Van Morrison song

Oh. So why did you call it St Elmo's Fire? is it an anagram?

 

[raven]

St Elmo (or St Erasmus) is the patron saint of seafarers and / or fishermen.

In the old days, when seafarers were ashore after a stint at sea, they would (like as not) head for the taverns and bars and get themselves "grogged-up" and end up either fighting or visiting the local bordellos to fraternise with ladies of ill repute....nowadays we have the YBW forum.

 

[usernamekim]

There is a new user on this forum goes by the name of "Coney Island 8800". He sent me a PM regarding my old Windy 8800 which was called Coney Island. This chap (I assume it's a he not a she) has bought my old Windy and is restoring it from top to bottom. I wish him well with the project as, apparantly, the boat had been left in a poor condition.

I do hope CI 8800 will post on here with pictures, as restoration jobs of this nature are always of interest to us all, not just me as a previous owner.

 

[usernamekim]

Hi Dave,

we are the current owners of Coney Island windy 8800 (since September 2020) would be amazing to have a bit of history as she did not come with much paper work - is it right she was previously opened by ‘Beken of Cowes’?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide

Andre and Kim
Emsworth Yacht Harbour

 

[Larida007]

Hi Dave,

we are the current owners of Coney Island windy 8800 (since September 2020) would be amazing to have a bit of history as she did not come with much paper work - is it right she was previously opened by ‘Beken of Cowes’?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide

Andre and Kim
Emsworth Yacht Harbour View attachment 164507

Hi Andre and Kim. I bought Coney Island from Dave and took her from North Wales, with two mates by sea to North Devon (Instow), via Ireland and Milford Haven. Yes you’re right I believe, there was a sheet of A4 on her and some other clues to her being Beken of Cowes. It might have been an old MBY article after Keith died? She had two big V8s in her then it seems. 300 hp each! It read as though she was his favourite high speed press/photo platform in style and relative comfort. With those engines I Imagine she would have been a beast and kept up with the class 4, 3 Cowes/ Torquay and round the IOW racers ( power and all over the sail action). Maybe even been able to cut corners and intercept the class 1 and 2s (must have spilt a drop of gin doing it though). Great hull to deal with Solent chop and wash ( my old stomping ground in the day) platform with big cockpit for catching all the yacht racing wherever pronto I guess. She also did the inbetween displacement and planing level and well for me too. Really rough seas no probs like that. Dave had 2 v6 gas converted Petrols in her when I bought her. Would do over 40 knots with those, but sensible relatively economic cruising for all around 22 knots, on gas when it worked, not too bad. The gas conversion aspect was trouble and she was falling a part internally. Engine marinisation corroded out too, some failed on our run to Instow. I found out over time she was also falling apart inside.?Not surprising it turned out as most of the interior was not structural and lightly put in from new it turned out. Strong hull and top deck though. I started full refurb and 3 parts fitted a single unused 200 hp Volvo penta 41 6 cyl diesel. Plan being to get her back up to scratch and economic yet while not fast, over 20 knots, 18-20 cruising. I was self employed and practically ran out of money, so had to sell her cheap as was and get a decent salaried job again. I hope she has turned out well for you. I might have a copy of the Beken bit featuring her. I do have photos. Happy to share. We had some great times in her. As all Windys of the era, great sea boats