Sigma 36 'True-Brit'

[eddystone]

Thought the name rang a bell and checked old log book. Sailed on True Brit 18-20 August 1995, with Britannia Sailing from Shamrock. Hope it wasn't me that dented her. Also have entry for16-18 June same year on British Eagle, also a Sigma 36 then owned by Britannia. Don't know what happened to Britannia because when I went back to do Coastal Skipper practical at Shamrock it was with On Deck Sailing, now also disappeared sadly.

 

[Birdseye]

I remember doing my day skipper with Britannia on a Contessa 33 called the James Bond with that iconic man with gun graphic on the stern. The skipper was a girl called Rosie who was very competent indeed. Some time late 80s I think.

 

[superheat6k]

'True Brit' was the main boat sailed by Chris Serle in the TV show.

I sailed for the great Roger Justice (he was an Army Major, not Captain) at Britannia Sailing then based at Shamrock Quay 1990 - 1992. I sailed just a few miles on Boadicea of Britannia (91st over the line for the 91 Fastnet).

Britannia was also the school which took most of the first timers out for their first sail prior to the first BT Global Challenge and were roundly supported by Chay Blyth.

British Eagle and Hope & Glory were was sailed by personal friends I am still in touch with. PM me if you want personal contact details.

Roger also operated other Sigmas e.g. British Beagle, British Bulldog; British Bullfrog; Goosegreen; The Guardian; Drakes Drum. I also have some knowledge of Sandpiper of St Helier and Electron II both Sigma 36.

Britannia sadly moved on and not for the better following Rogers untimely death in 1993.

SWMBOs first ever sail was on British Bulldog.

My current boat has just been renamed Boadicea.I look forward to seeing the original Boadicea of Britannia on the water. Good times, good sailing, and not a GPS in sight.

 

[earlybird]

British Eagle has been mentioned a couple of times. Unless my memory for that name is very wrong, she was brought up here to the NW roundabout 2000. Not long afterwards she hit a rock ledge at speed whilst leaving Strangford Lough, suffering severe damage to the hull in the keel attachment area. Photos were on Portaferry L/B website for a while.
After salvage, I saw her advertised as a repair project. From post #16, that seems to have gone ahead.
Edit:- Just checked Portaferry L/B website. For 22/07/2003, there's still a picture of British Eagle close to Pladdy Lug Beacon with the L/B alongside.

 

[sailor211]

'T

I sailed for the great Roger Justice (he was an Army Major, not Captain)


.

That maybe the case however when he statred with Goosander Co32, he advertised him self as Captain.

 

[tat27]

Cor, I can remember that Jeanneau, one of the first boats I taught on commercially. Gonna drive me dafter that I cant remember the name! Nearly bought Bulldog 20 odd years ago, didnt quite work. Ah, memories...

hi CapnSensible - the Jeanneau was called Frenchi.

 

[sandpiper of st helier]

'True Brit' was the main boat sailed by Chris Serle in the TV show.

I sailed for the great Roger Justice (he was an Army Major, not Captain) at Britannia Sailing then based at Shamrock Quay 1990 - 1992. I sailed just a few miles on Boadicea of Britannia (91st over the line for the 91 Fastnet).

Britannia was also the school which took most of the first timers out for their first sail prior to the first BT Global Challenge and were roundly supported by Chay Blyth.

British Eagle and Hope & Glory were was sailed by personal friends I am still in touch with. PM me if you want personal contact details.

Roger also operated other Sigmas e.g. British Beagle, British Bulldog; British Bullfrog; Goosegreen; The Guardian; Drakes Drum. I also have some knowledge of Sandpiper of St Helier and Electron II both Sigma 36.

Britannia sadly moved on and not for the better following Rogers untimely death in 1993.

SWMBOs first ever sail was on British Bulldog.

My current boat has just been renamed Boadicea.I look forward to seeing the original Boadicea of Britannia on the water. Good times, good sailing, and not a GPS in sight.

We have just become the very proud owners of Sandpiper of St. Helier and would love to know more of her history.

 

[yoda]

We have just become the very proud owners of Sandpiper of St. Helier and would love to know more of her history.

Sandpiper was bought by HMS Sultan when I believe she was only 1 or perhaps 2 years old. She remainded there until about 1996 (ish) I believe. I raced her over the 2 1/2 years that I worked there including a successful fastnet campaign. She was hard worked at the time but did get decent attention over the winter when she would be put in a heated hanger for maintenance and repair. I hope that helps with your search for information.

Regards

Yoda

 

[sandpiper of st helier]

Thanks yoda,
We will post further info as we find it.

We do not want hijack this thread so will start a fresh one.

 

[superheat6k]

Sandpiper was under my care from 1987-88 whilst I was appointed Chief of the sailing yachts at Sultan - also Sandra - a Hurley 22, and the Foxterriers - Olympus & Proteus.

She was very well used and raced hard at many Solent and Service sailing campaigns, as well as Fastnets and the accompanying offshore qualifiers.

At that time under the overall care of Lt Cdr Vic Prodger MBE, an ex-Olympic sailor, and directly overseen by Lt Phil Goldson.

I cut my teeth on Sandpiper and occasionally Electron II (of HMS Collingwood) which shared the same hangar at Sultan for the Winter (these boats were seriously spoiled at that time !). These put me in good stead for my later forays on Britannia's Sigmas.

Other chaps seriously involved in sailing these boats around that time were, Dave Evans a submariner (aka Lord Evans of Hornet), Nick Eales of Seastart fame, and Paul Bennett who later skippered Ocean Rover in the first BT Global Challenge.

 

[sandpiper of st helier]

Must have missed your reply superheat6k. Thank you for the information. If you or Yoda are ever in the lake district and fancy a trip down memory lane we are based in Whitehaven marina.

 

[yoda]

Sandpiper, delighted to hear she is still going strong. I will keep your kind offer in mind.

Yoda

 

[superheat6k]

Must have missed your reply superheat6k. Thank you for the information. If you or Yoda are ever in the lake district and fancy a trip down memory lane we are based in Whitehaven marina.

Long time since I have been near the Lakes, but if we do venture that way I will make a point of saying hello.

My first sailing boat headed that way in 1994, but never heard if she made it there - a Ballerina 22 called String Quartet. Would be nice to hear if it still around somewhere.

 

[Nicholas Hill]

Hi all,
Im the (relatively) new owner of the Sigma 36 'True-Brit' & would love to hear any history or story's (good or bad) with regard to her. I know she was used in the BBC documentary "In At The Deep End' when Chris Serle sailed on her for the 1985 Fastnet Race & that she did a lot of charter work & she had a few sisters but thats all.....
She has just completed a 15 month total re-fit so is now in very good health again.
If anyone has any info it would be great to hear.
Many thanks Mike

Hi Mike,
I boarded "True Brit" at start of a Britannia Yachting RYA course at Shamrock Quay on the evening of 31 October 1995, 25 years ago tomorrow. The week was exceptionnal but had many unforseen circumstances. I would be delighted to hear back from you, especially if you are still the owner. Regards. Nick

 

[Channel Sailor]

I did my Coastal Skipper Practical with Britannia on the Sigma 36 Boadicea in October 1995. A brilliant boat and skipper.
He regailled us with stories about squadies coming home from the Falklands and been sent on sailing trips on the Sigmas as Rest and Recuperation. R and R they did not get.

I too did Coastal Skipper Practical with Britannia Sailing on Boadicea. My log book says week 12 Feb 1995, skipper was R A Williams (who I think was ex forces), sailed between Solent ports in a max of a F8. I recall it was very wet and windy all week. After that trip I bought decent breathable waterproofs. I recall the kicker/vang lower block exploded while going on a reach at night in maybe a F7 (several reefs in the main a I vaguely recall we did not have a genoa up). Probably hank on foresails. It was a really tough week of sailing.

 

[Birdseye]

As I posted on the 'TV series' thread...

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember True Brit being part of Britannia School of Sailing; if the set-up I'm thinking of, I saw her in late 1992 with a very good lady skipper / instructor on board and a great graphic of a stylised ensign / Union Jack on the transom ( of the boat ).

Wasnt that a boat called the James Bond - a Contessa 33 if memory serves. The skipper was called Rosie.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Wasnt that a boat called the James Bond - a Contessa 33 if memory serves. The skipper was called Rosie.

James Bond (and its sister ship whose name escapes me) were Contessa 34s - the cruisy version of the OOD34.

 

[Sailbad the sinman]

Sailed on True Brit with my lad, who was only 11 at the time, from Brittania at Southampton. She was quite new in age but a beautiful boat to sail and the memories are long and happy. First real yacht that I sailed on of many.

 

[doris]

True-Brit

When I brought her she had been renamed 'Absolute' & had been for 10 years i believe, but I changed the name back & have had the transom flood filled with a huge Flying Union Jack again. In the early photos I have obtained of her from Bekins she had a Cannon, two soldiers & a flying Union Jack on the transom. After 160 hours of wet & drying the hull back & a re-polish that has brought her up like a mirror, complete with new windows & frames all round she looks like she just left the factory & down below she has been completely rewired, all new electronics & everything has been changed over to LED (domestic & navigation) & new DVD & Flat screen tv. Galley re-finished complete with new cooker & complete gas installation. All woodwork has been stripped back to bare wood & re varnished. Keel dropped & bolts checked & keel re-bedded back on. All new soft furnishings throughout along with all new headlining throughout. Heads stripped out & refitted including new toilet & pipework. New fuel & water tanks from Tec Tanks. Topped off with new standing & running rigging & a complete new set of Kemp sails with Seldon roller furler.
Yeah I've spent too much I know but what a boat....glad the wife doesn't read this!!!!

I once had a 362, same hull. Had to sell it cos I couldn’t bear the toe rail leak caused, I’m sure, by crew heaving themselves up on the guard rails. A fabulous boat in its day, one of David Thomas’ truly brilliant stable. The similarities between the 33,36,362,and 41 are plain as can be. A wonderful sisterhood.
A mate of mine has totally, and I mean totally in extremis, redone British Bulldog. A 36 based down in Falmouth which has done Ostars, Solo Fastnets etc.