Morning Cloud - where are they now?

[oldgit]

an interesting thread......
Why do I seem to remember Mr Heath visiting a boat yard located in Vicarage Road at Hoo in Kent to check progress on the fitting out of a sailing boat hull, carried out by shipwright called Charles Manley.
My pocket money job at the time was applying interminable coats of varnish and white spirit to spars and masts, many of which ended up aboard the Medway sailing barges being restored at the time.One of which was the Cabby.
Still recall the adze, chalk line and the square baulks of timber in the workshop with the steel tube plus fire outside to steam ribs and planks.

 

[earlybird]

Had a quick look around Opposition when she was berthed at Largs a few years ago Beautiful boat, but quite dark and austere below deck, in keeping with her original purpose. The modern electronics were concealed behind opening covers to maintain the period appearance.
She had been restored from very poor condition, IIRC there is an on-line video of the project. The skipper then on board said that the owner had purchased a complete mahogany log to ensure that the outer skin colour was consistent over the whole hull.
I have a copy of Heath's sailing memoirs, "The Course of my Life", but not the most enthralling read.

 

[caerolusmagnus]

Morning Flight is in Clyde Marina Ardrossan. Newly painted topsides.

Image is from ten years ago.

 

[Aja]

Image is Rothesay?

Donald

 

[caerolusmagnus]

Image is Rothesay?

YES. Inner basin.

 

[Stoyareginagoodwooder]

Very few owned her at the time too bad retouching and photo manipulation tuts weren't around at the time

 

[Marina K.]

Morning Flight is in Clyde Marina Ardrossan. Newly painted topsides.

Image is from ten years ago.

How is the current technical condition and appearance of the boat? 10 years later)

 

[caerolusmagnus]

My apologies for sloppy syntax. The photo is from ten years ago. She had the normal scuff marks.

This winter the boat has new topsides and bottom paint.
I know she was sailing around the Firth last season.
I would guess the boat was professionally painted by Boatcraft, Ardrossan by Donald and/or Robert.
Tel 01294603047. I have no commercial interest.
They may know the tech condition.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well airways thought that Ted Heath sailing fortunes were down to the EEC and us being taken into it by Ted Heath got no evidence of it at all, no way, but to me just seems like the way of the World