Gipsy Moth

I'm sure it's been mentioned on here recently... I saw her in the yard down in Lymington over the summer. I think there was some concern as to who would get the proceeds of sale as, IIRC, she was brought back to life with charitable donations... would seem to 'save her for the nation', folk are being asked to contribute twice?
 
From memory she is owned by UKSA. Aside from the cost of keeping such an old boat coded and up to standard, I would imagine from her reputation that she is not exactly the perfect boat to teach on either.

I seem to recall a quote from Francis Chichester about her "hobby-horsing violently in the Solent chop" and having real fears about what she would be like in any real weather. :eek:
 
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Been at Berthons all summer, no price on their website though. I can't see anyone wanting to buy her to sail - Chichester said she should be burnt!
 
Yep, just been on the news this morning. Looking for £1/4M to "keep it in the country". Reason given is "can't afford maintenance costs".

If they truly want to "save it for the nation", then better give it to the National Maritime Museum. I can't see any private owner wanting it - £250k is an awful lot for an old sailing yacht.
 
I would advise anyone thinking of taking on this boat to read Chichester's own account of her in 'Gypsy Moth circles the world' - he was never really happy with her, and completed his circumnavigation constantly battling her shortcomings, although at least some of those have to be put down to inadequate preparation and lack of sea trials before he set out. Nevertheless, if any boat deserves to be preserved for the nation, it's this one. Needs to have a trust set up to own , maintain and operate her.
 
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greenalien said:
I would advise anyone thinking of taking on this boat to read Chichester's own account of her in 'Gypsy Moth circles the world' - he was never really happy with her, and completed his circumnavigation constantly battling her shortcomings, although at least some of those have to be put down to inadequate preparation and lack of sea trials before he set out. Nevertheless, if any boat deserves to be preserved for the nation, it's this one. Needs to have a trust set up to own , maintain and operate her.
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It's to Chichester's credit that he was so honest. Ordinary mortals are less inclined to report that their life savings have been invested in a boat that sails like a bathtub.

I wonder whether "preserving her for the nation" is throwing good money after bad. For what purpose is she to be preserved? So that youngsters can have a stab at sailing? There are much better boats for that. As a museum piece? She's been there, done that, and look what a mess she got into. As a warning to boat designers that grand ideas and good looks don't guarantee good seagoing qualities? Perhaps.
 
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Danny Jo said:
It's to Chichester's credit that he was so honest. Ordinary mortals are less inclined to report that their life savings have been invested in a boat that sails like a bathtub.

I wonder whether "preserving her for the nation" is throwing good money after bad. For what purpose is she to be preserved? So that youngsters can have a stab at sailing? There are much better boats for that. As a museum piece? She's been there, done that, and look what a mess she got into. As a warning to boat designers that grand ideas and good looks don't guarantee good seagoing qualities? Perhaps.
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While I admire Chichester's exploits, I have a lot more admiration for Alex Rose, who did much the same trip in Lively Lady, a vessel that wasn't built for the purpose, and who did it with much less self promotion and fanfare.

Chichester's aviation exploits are actually much more interesting (in my view) than his yachting exploits :) The account of his crash in Japan is very interesting, and shows great self-reliance in that he pretty much rebuilt the wing of his aircraft himself!

As far as preserving Gypsy Moth IV for the nation, I guess the question is, Why? As far as I can see, she is ONLY famous because Chichester took her round the world. She isn't a particularly fine example of a class of yacht, nor is she at the head of a new class of yacht. So, why preserve her, rather than hundreds of other rather similar yachts of the same period?
 
I guess you need to be old enough to remember the event - at the time, Chichester was a national hero. After he'd done the voyage, Gypsy Moth was taken on a tour round the UK by sea, and I can remember, at a young age, going out on a 'penny sick' from Exmouth to see her in all her battered glory. It's sad that such a beautiful craft sails so badly, I reckon a little more fullness to the forward part of the hull would make a lot of difference - as you can see from the video, she's a bit of a floating pendulum - but regardless of her sailing qualities, she's still a unique part of Britain's maritime heritage and should be kept in the UK. Museum piece or afloat - well, that's the question, certainly cheaper to keep her ashore, just seems a bit of a waste...
 
greenalien said:
I if any boat deserves to be preserved for the nation, it's this one. Needs to have a trust set up to own , maintain and operate her.
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Why?There are many more boats that have done much more spectacular voyages just without the media adoration & upper class connections:rolleyes:
Even as a kid around that time I thought it was all very superficial & hyped & since then I have read oodles of accounts by people like Peter Tangvald & Joshua Slocum.
Seems to me that what the ordinary boy in the street needs is something to inspire him that he can actually do himself.......Particularly at a time when it is all about big business & corporate interest.Leave re enforcing the Establishment to others.......
 
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greenalien said:
I guess you need to be old enough to remember the event - at the time, Chichester was a national hero. After he'd done the voyage, Gypsy Moth was taken on a tour round the UK by sea, and I can remember, at a young age, going out on a 'penny sick' from Exmouth to see her in all her battered glory. It's sad that such a beautiful craft sails so badly, I reckon a little more fullness to the forward part of the hull would make a lot of difference - as you can see from the video, she's a bit of a floating pendulum - but regardless of her sailing qualities, she's still a unique part of Britain's maritime heritage and should be kept in the UK. Museum piece or afloat - well, that's the question, certainly cheaper to keep her ashore, just seems a bit of a waste...
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If I had the time, I'd dig out the pictures I took of her coming up the Thames (and through Tower Bridge, or is my memory addled?) accompanied by fire-fighting vessels sending fountains of water high into the air.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
While I admire Chichester's exploits, I have a lot more admiration for Alex Rose, who did much the same trip in Lively Lady, a vessel that wasn't built for the purpose, and who did it with much less self promotion and fanfare.
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I totally agree with you there. If there was ever an example of the average man in the street just getting out there and doing it, then a greengrocer from Southsea with very little funding is it.

AFAIK Lively Lady is still sitting sadly on Hayling Island with a lien over her that no-one is prepared to pay. (I could be out of date on that one though).
 
Sad that two great achievements should be compared with some derogatory comments above.
I've read both of their accounts and was a young man during their incredible voyages.
From different backgrounds they may have been, but I find them both an inspiration.
Is it easy to lose sight of the enormity of their exploits given the equipment they had to hand?
Isn't it a pity that both craft cannot be kept as a 'living' reminder of our heritage?
 
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greenalien said:
I guess you need to be old enough to remember the event - at the time, Chichester was a national hero. After he'd done the voyage, Gypsy Moth was taken on a tour round the UK by sea, and I can remember, at a young age, going out on a 'penny sick' from Exmouth to see her in all her battered glory. It's sad that such a beautiful craft sails so badly, I reckon a little more fullness to the forward part of the hull would make a lot of difference - as you can see from the video, she's a bit of a floating pendulum - but regardless of her sailing qualities, she's still a unique part of Britain's maritime heritage and should be kept in the UK. Museum piece or afloat - well, that's the question, certainly cheaper to keep her ashore, just seems a bit of a waste...
Click to expand...

I am old enough to recall the event - and thought it was over-blown at the time. Alec Rose's quiet modesty made a much bigger impression on me.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Sad that two great achievements should be compared with some derogatory comments above.
I've read both of their accounts and was a young man during their incredible voyages.
From different backgrounds they may have been, but I find them both an inspiration.
Is it easy to lose sight of the enormity of their exploits given the equipment they had to hand?
Isn't it a pity that both craft cannot be kept as a 'living' reminder of our heritage?
Click to expand...

I hope I didn't make any derogatory comments - I am an admirer of Francis Chichester, but for his earlier aviation exploits rather than his later yachting ones. And whatever the background, his voyage in Gypsy Moth IV was a great achievement. But personally - and it is a personal thing - I admire Alec Rose's yachting exploits as being something someone like me could perhaps aspire to.
 
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