Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
Yes she was bought new by an Italian doctor who was married to an English woman (Alison) he was attached to the Italian consulate or embassy in the Yemen and sailed the boat there direct and for several years on the African coast with only a trailing log and old sea fix echo sounder. The boat had hanked on sails with a ginourmous overlapping gennaker. His father died leaving him a large boat and pots of money so he retired sailed the boat back to Italy paid the VAT in Rome hence Italian VAT receipt ( you should have the translation) then on to Northshore where she was put on brokerage. I saw her literally as a bare boat with very faded chalky gel coat but immaculate as new inside. The only other things that came with her were a childs plastic inflatable that was listed as the tender and a wad of KenyanShillings lurking at the back of the chart table ( thought I had a good discount on the boat when I found them as the looked like American Dollars till I got hold of them) still got some of them.
We refitted her and sailed her extensively with a couple of Biscay crossings, then part exchanged her through Northshore to Colin Marr ( another story) who quickly sold her to the Cheshires a lovely couple who I last saw about 6 years ago he was recovering from cancer I seem to remember. I changed her name as I found Alison of Newhaven a bit personal and I am or was a chemist so Alchemist seemed a good choice. She was the last 274 built and was Pheon completed. She was lightly shot blasted and professionally epoxy coated using the International system. Her survey was done by Tony Statton-Bevan and unfortunately I threw the last copy away complete with photographs a year ago.
We refitted her and sailed her extensively with a couple of Biscay crossings, then part exchanged her through Northshore to Colin Marr ( another story) who quickly sold her to the Cheshires a lovely couple who I last saw about 6 years ago he was recovering from cancer I seem to remember. I changed her name as I found Alison of Newhaven a bit personal and I am or was a chemist so Alchemist seemed a good choice. She was the last 274 built and was Pheon completed. She was lightly shot blasted and professionally epoxy coated using the International system. Her survey was done by Tony Statton-Bevan and unfortunately I threw the last copy away complete with photographs a year ago.
