Ex-Ocean Youth Club 72ft ketch, Francis Drake, being restored in Plymouth

[Concerto]

This seems a wonderful new life for a classic old yacht that introduced so many youngsters to sailing.

Ex-Ocean Youth Club 72ft ketch, Francis Drake, being restored in Plymouth - Marine Industry News

 

[yotter]

Thats nice to see,
I was involved with and sailed on Taikoo (spelling?), the Scottish OYC boat when I was a teenager and it brings back memories. I recall Colin Lewrey (again spelling?) was a significant figure and remember him staying at my parents house around that time. Lovely to se Francis Drake being restored

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Robert Clark designed the 72' boats and built them, IIRC, for sail training. Taikoo was sold on but I don't know what happened to her in the end. One was bought and refurbished in Sweden and was offered for sale more or less completely refurbished, but not quite finished, a couple of years ago.

Good luck to the renovators of Francis Drake, but it seams a lot of effort with significant alteration for what is a ruined old, end of life hull. Still. classic is good term as they were purpose built sail training boats. The later Oysters were soulless.

 

[E39mad]

Francis Drake was the first "big boat" I sailed on out of Liverpool on a day sail back in about 1982. Unfortunately don't remember much about it!

 

[Barton Seagoon]

The OYC boat that I sailed on from Hamble in the 1970s was Sir Thomas Sopwith. She is now a charter yacht based in Sydney, Australia. SIR THOMAS SOPWITH | Superyacht Charter | Ocean Alliance
I would love to get a chance to sail on her again, but the charter costs are are bit steep for me.

 

[penfold]

Blimey, at what point does it stop being Drake and become a Drake-shaped facsimile? Shades of Tallyho, but tupperware.

 

[doug748]

Anyone know what became of Falmouth Packet, remember her from the 1980's with skipper Andy Brown?

 

[Sandy]

Anyone know what became of Falmouth Packet, remember her from the 1980's with skipper Andy Brown?

I'm in contact with Andy. I can make enquiries.

 

[doug748]

I'm in contact with Andy. I can make enquiries.

Thanks, It would be interesting to know what became of the boat, I can't see much on the net. I didn't know Andy well at all but Falmouth Packet was a regular feature around the South West.