Restoration
ethos and brief history of completed projects
The
big four Naval Architects of the early twentieth Century were all extremely
talented, competent people. Our starting premise for any restoration is that
the original designers and builders worked to the highest standards of the
day. There is very little that Fife, Nicholson, Watson, and Milne did not know
about yacht designing. Their principle drawback was the materials technology
available in this period.
The
majority of the yachts at this time were built under Lloyds Survey, this gives
us an excellent starting point for the materials used and their scantlings.
Before any physical work is started, the design and estimation process needs
to be undertaken in a thorough manner to ensure that the client is fully aware
of the implications, both financial and with regard to any rating system he
may wish the finished yacht to conform to.
The
aim of any restoration is to produce a seaworthy yacht incorporating as much
of the original structure, furniture and gear as possible. In many instances
the yachts will require the design of modern systems for living on, sailing
the yacht and navigation. Sympathetic installation is often required to make
these aids to modern living as unobtrusive as possible.
By
careful design work and thoughtful installation, it is possible to create a
practical working yacht which, looks feels and sails like the original.
Fairlie Restorations has considerable experience of this process and the
successful application of practical solutions
At
the heart of the company is the belief that, to a large extent, the success of
any restoration relies on faith in the original yacht. The distinguishing
features of any Fife yacht is the grace of the bow and shear lines and the
sense of proportion and detailing of the joinery work. The underwater body,
with the typical long keel and hung rudder, is a critical factor in defining
the style and sailing characteristics of this type of yacht, and Fairlie are
loathe to make significant alterations.
Fairlie
aim to use timber as near to the original species as possible today, the main
species difference is the use of iroko for the backbone structures in place of
oak and English elm. The company goes to
great lengths to ensure that any ferrous metal used is adequately protected
against corrosion and the effects of any potential electrolysis minimised.
Any
new joinery, whether on deck or below is built using the Fife philosophy of
design simplicity and balance. Great care is taken in the colour matching and
grain selection and timber
Brief
details of Fairlie’s past restoration work
The
8M Class.
Fairlie
Restorations have extensive experience in the class with two major structural
restorations, a 50% rebuild and a minor refit to their credit.
The
first of these, Fulmar a late 2nd Rule yacht, was found decaying on
Vancouver Island by Dr. William Collier. After a full structural restoration
she was ready to race in the classic regattas in 1994 . Over the last eight
seasons this yacht has continually confirmed her racing prowess.
Like many of her class this
vessel was found in a sad and neglected condition. Built to the light
scantlings of the rule and sailed for over six decades the hull required
extensive work to ensure further years of useful life.
Fulmar
was restored under Lloyds supervision and was put back into class following
the restoration. She is a lovely little yacht with perfect manners and is a
testament to William Fife’s skill as a designer and builder.
Osborne,
built in Spain for the then reigning Queen required far less work. After an
eventful career the yacht had been epoxy coated and sheathed during the early
nineties and extensively refitted without much regard for her original
aesthetics. Working with her new Spanish owner Fairlie managed to return her
to a more ‘Classic Fife’ look, whilst retaining and disguising many of the
nineties improvements. The yacht is fitted out for cruising and sails
extensively in the Mediterranean.
Fairlie
Restoration’s next 8M project was perhaps technically the most demanding.
The Owner had brought the yacht to us for a new deck and stripping out for
racing after a long period as a cruising yacht. Following partial dismantling
serious problems were found and in consultation with the Owner’s Surveyors
it was necessary to rebuild 50% of the structure. The Owners engineering
requirements were also challenging- to fit a method of propulsion which could
be used during local Regattas on the lakes, but could easily be removed for
International Championships. The solution chosen was a battery powered motor
giving a range of around 6km. When serious racing was to be enjoyed the
batteries, motor and ‘A’ bracket are easily removed, leaving a powerful 3rd
rule yacht rated to her maximum potential under the ‘Coupe Cartier’ rules.
Carron II has enjoyed considerable
racing success, with the elegance of style so typical of the Fife yard
returned to her.
During
the summer of 1999 an English lady owner approached Fairlie with the hull of
Siris, This fine yacht,
bought by her current Owner from a barn in Norfolk at a peppercorn price, was
in a sad distorted state, not having sailed for over a decade. The company
Naval Architect had to conduct detailed research from various archives holding
the design work of Morgan Giles.
The yacht’s lines were generated from old creased
and torn plans and then faired by computer and on the loft floor. The joinery
work was replicated from photos of Giles yachts. The final result, with much
care taken to colour match all the deck mahogany has produced perhaps the
company’s most beautiful restoration to date.
Shortly after her launch in Easter 2000 the yacht competed in the World
championships, and finished well up the field, proving especially fast in
light airs.
The
Fife Archive, to which Fairlie Restorations have a unique access, allows for
the potential to replicate many of Fife’s more successful yachts in this
class. The yard has a proven record in the building and restoration of metre
class vessels.
Although
not currently working on any 8M projects Fairlie have the hull of Lucky
Girl, the winner of Finland’s bronze medal in the 1912 Olympics,
available as a restoration project. A 12M hull, Miquette,
from 1934 is also lying in Hamble awaiting a new future.
Other
Restoration Work.
Tuiga
When
Fairlie Restorations was set up in 1990 the first task was to rescue a number
of classic yachts that were perceived to be 'at risk'. One of these was a 1909
gaff racing cutter called Tuiga. Tuiga
was designed and built by Fife to the I.R.C. 15 Metre rule; she is 92 ft LOA
and 49 ft LWL. She was comprehensively restored to totally original condition
over some two years. A steel and timber composite yacht, she required very
extensive rebuilding, including new planking, frames, steelwork, decks etc.
Her interior was restored and refitted to the original layout. The restoration
was carried out under Lloyd's Register Survey, and upon completion she resumed
her class. She has raced very successfully at regattas in the Mediterranean,
and was purchased by the Monaco Yacht Club to be their flag ship.
Kentra
In
1995 the yard relaunched Kentra, a
65 tonne Fife gaff rigged auxiliary cruising ketch, built in 1923. Some 102 ft
LOA and 60 ft LWL, she carries five full time professional crew. This
restoration, taking some 22 months, was again done to Lloyd's Register Survey,
and she resumed her classification of +100A1 and LMC. It included reframing,
some replanking, new deck and rig, and a series of engineering systems to
allow her to make extended comfortable cruises. These included an hydraulic
system to run seven deck winches and the windlass, two generators, freezer and
refrigerators, a heating system, hot and cold pressurized water, a water
maker, grey and black water systems, ventilation fans and ducts, in addition
to a 140 bhp engine installation. Her electrical systems were equally
comprehensive, combining state of the art navigation and communication
systems, lighting and power circuits, etc. These systems were carefully
integrated so that they did not intrude on her cream and mahogany period
interior, complete with a french polished saloon and three twin guest cabins.
On deck, she is almost identical to the yacht that emerged from Fife's yard in
1923, but with seven discreet bronze winches. As expected, she has proved a
delightful, safe and comfortable yacht, and is being enthusiastically and
extensively cruised and raced by her new owners. She has just completed a two
year world cruise.
Madrigal
In
1996 Fairlie were approached by the Owner of Madrigal,
designed by Fife in 1937 as a fast cruiser and rigged as a bermudan cutter.
The Owner had recently bought the yacht and had her shipped to Hamble. The
hull structural work on this project involved dropping the keel and replacing
the bolts, and repairing the metal floors. The deck was original and had
reached the end of its life, a new teak deck with a plywood
sub-deck was fitted. Most of the original deck fittings were iron,
these were used as patterns to cast new fittings in bronze. Inside the hull
the saloon was kept intact and the rest of the interior was modernised
to the owner’s new plans which included a forward double cabin with
its own head and wash basin. A new galley was fitted aft, with modern
facilities such as fridge and gas cooker. Opposite the galley a new navigation
station was built, with the radar and navigation equipment fitted discretely
behind wooden panels. The old engineering systems were removed and the vessel
had a new engine and all systems replaced to modern standards.
Throughout
this refit the utmost importance was attached to preserving the original feel
of the vessel.
The
Lady Anne
Early
1998 also saw the start of their second 15M restoration. The Lady Anne was bought by a European Owner and Fairlie were given
the task of a complete structural restoration. The original interior wasn’t
salvageable so the Owner asked us to use European walnut and completely
re-build the interior, in a slightly modified layout. This interior is without
a doubt the highest quality they have yet achieved with our joinery-work. As in the 8M the drive train can be
removed for racing. The
engineering was further complicated by the tankage arrangement. In the
interests of weight saving and due to the fact that a corridor runs down the
middle of the interior, aircraft quality flexible tanks were fitted. These are
completely removable without disassembling any of the interior. The deck
layout of the Lady Anne remained very true to the original, although all
fittings were cast in bronze. During the summer of 1999 members of Fairlie
Restorations team were in Monaco to take part in the first race between yachts
of the 15metre class since 1914.
Shamrock
V
In early 2000 Fairlie were approached by the Project Manager of Shamrock,
which was in Pendennis Shipyard undergoing a major refit. Fairlie were
contracted work in two areas: a team of shipwrights laid the ply sub deck and teak deck, bulwark rail
etc. Fairlie
took the designers drawing and built the deck furniture for the yacht,
incorporating some of the traditional detail work for which they have become
so renowned. By the end of the project a very high percentage of the timber
visible on deck had been built and fitted by Fairlie Restorations
Jap
This
Cork Harbour One Design, one of eight or so built locally in Cork has just
undergone a six month structural restoration. This involved major work to
frames and planking, finishing with new spars, sails and deck gear. She was
shipped down to the South of France and is competing very successfully in the
Classic Regatta circuit in the Mediterranean.
This
yacht, now in her 106th year, has proved to be an exceptionally well
balanced sailing yacht.
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