Mrs Ranzo

[Des22]

Hi,looking for any information on what I think is a Wiliam Maxwell Blake Mrs Ranzo Class 1936 Sloop.Would really appreciate any information ,references or photos ,Plans or drawings even.Thanks for your time.If there is any other Mrs Ranzo owners out there,or anyone who could point me in the right direction I would really appreciate any contact

 

[dombuckley]

There's a website devoted to one (1950 vintage), with some photos and mention of a Maxwell Blake association: here http://www.janora.co.uk/
Lovely lines.

 

[Des22]

re :Mrs Ranzo

Thanks,I have found that and contacted the William Blake museum in Woobridge but have yet to hear from them.Thanks for your trouble.Des

 

[Kukri]

The lines and sail plan were published in the Yachting Monthly in 1936-ish.

The Mrs "Ranzo" if I recall correctly was an amendment to the "Ranzo" design incorporating the changes to the lines suggested by the Metacentric Shelf Theory (see Dr T Harrison Butler - "Cruising Yacht Design").

Blake went to Woodbridge School, did articles as a naval architect at one of the Colne yards, went to Singapore where he founded the Singapore Yacht Club and was General Manager of the United Engineers shipyard, built a 6 metre to his own design called Monsoon and campaigned her in the class but being teak she was too heavy; on the other hand,she is still around!

He retired to Felixstowe and designed yachts as a hobby; he also wrote a superb series of articles, with plans, on British traditional craft.

So far as I know the WM Blake Association is defunct, but if you find otherwise do let me know, as I have a Blake boat.

I also have a friend with a "near" Mrs Ranzo, at Pin Mill