Gaff Rigged 41ft Cutter 1890 - Sold

LITTLE WINDFLOWER, is a handsome gaff rigged cutter that has enjoyed the same ownership for over 20 years - a true family yacht that has looked after her crew on numerous cruises. These have included sailing the waters around Ireland, Brittany and Channel Islands, the English East and South coasts, Scilly Isles and the Baltic including Scandinavia and St Petersburg. By the same token it is very clear that they have conscientiously cared for her !

LITTLE WINDFLOWER has certainly had plenty of time to prove herself extremely capable at sea but with one of the most charming and cosy interiors you can ever imagine; a real gem Thus she is proving very hard to part with.

LITTLE WINDFLOWER was designed and built in 1890 by William “Foreman” Ferris for Carew Davies Gilbert of Trelissick House, St Feock near Falmouth. Ferris designed her as a larger version of a Falmouth oyster boat of which he had built several including “Harriet” “Five Brothers” and “Florence” (still sailing). His many other vessels include the famous schooner “Rhoda Mary” in 1868, then the fastest schooner in Britain.

Originally an open half decked boat she was used by the Gilbert family for fishing and local excursions. In 1913 after Gilbert’ death she was bought by the well known yachting writer Frank Cowper, who fitted her out with a cabin as a sea going yacht. He describes her in his books “Sailing Tours” and “Cruising Sails and Yachting Tales” and found her to be an exceptionally seaworthy yacht.

She had various owners between the wars and for a period was rigged as a ketch. During World War II she was owned by C S Blundell who was then killed in a destroyer action in the Aegean in 1942. In 1945 she was purchased by the redoubtable Dr T.A.A. Hunter who cruised her extensively and raced – for example in the RORC 1948 Belle Isle Race in which she defied extreme weather conditions to win her class.

Very unfortunately after a Biscay cruise in 1956 she sank in Corunna Harbour and was subsequently sold to George Marlow for a rebuild, crucially replacing the bottom planking with greenheart and renewing the keel and keelson. He spent many years completely renovating WINDFLOWER but never sailed her thanks to a late romance and marriage; instead selling her to John Richardson of the Elephant Boatyard who finished the refit and re-launched her in 1978. John sailed her to the Mediterranean through the Canal du Midi and spent two winters in La Palmas. Nick and Elizabeth Temple bought her in June 1986.

She was built on the estate at Roundwood Quay of local oak and American pitch-pine. Windflower has traditional carvel construction of pitch pine on oak frames and green heart bottom planks. The bright work on deck mahogany and afromosia

Charming traditional interior in 2 cabins with 7 berths. Taylor’s paraffin stove in galley area and large chart table and pilot berth opposite. Cosy saloon area features an arctic solid fuel stove with original delft tiles behind and William Morris designed covers on the settee berths. Starboard settee berth extends to form a double. There are brass oil lamps throughout the saloon with alternative electric lights. Forward cabin also accessible from the deck fore hatch contains 3 berths and sail storage with a separate bathroom. Bathroom includes Lavac WC and sink with teak surround. The engine is accessible below the main companionway.

- Mainmast: Pitch pine
- Topmast and bowsprit: Douglas fir
- 2 spinnaker poles: wood and aluminium
- Mainsail slab reefing 3 points
- Staysail reefing points
- Jib has Wickham Martin furling system
- Standing rigging renewed in 2002
- All running rigging is Terylene braid / Hempex 3 strands

- Mainsail: J Lawrence 1996
- #1 Jib: J Lawrence
- #2 Jib: Williams 1986
- Staysail: J Lawrence 2001
- Storm jib: Salterns 1992
- Asymmetric spinnaker: J Lawrence 1996
- Topsail: Terylene

- Main Anchor: 65 lbs CQR
- Kedge Anchor: 30 lbs Fisherman
- Chain: 150 ft
- Windlass: Simpson Lawrence
- Tender: 8’6” hot moulded Uffa Fox design, which sails and rows well
- Outboard: 2.5Hp Tohaitsu
- 6 x Warps
- Full length canvas cover in 3 sections
- Cockpit cushions recovered 2007

- Volvo Penta 55HP 4 cylinder indirect cooling (2002) under cockpit
- Diesel fuel tank: 25 gallon; range of 300 nm at cruising speed
- Consumption: approx 0.4 gallon / hour
- Cruising speed: 6 knots
- Engine hours: 850
- Single prop driven by direct shaft via Volvo gearbox
- Batteries 2: Engine; 110AH and Service; 140AH
- Fresh water: 80 gallons in 2 stainless steel tanks

- Simpson Lawrence steering compass
- Echo pilot Classic with repeater
- ICOM M40 VHF
- Garmin 28 GPS
- Large chart table Starboard
- Navigation lights all present
- Radar reflector

- Guardrails over bulwarks
- 4 x Safety Harness
- Inflatable Danbuoy
- 2 x Lifebuoys
- Flares: Offshore set
- 3 x fire extinguishers
- Fire blanket
- First Aid kit
- 2x Manual Bilge pumps

LITTLE WINDFLOWER has been slipped annually with a full refit including painting topsides and bottom, bright work and overhaul of rigging. Specific tasks undertaken include:
- bowsprit and topmast replaced (Douglas fir); 1991
- New bowsprit parts and Samson post from seasoned oak; 1998
- Replacement internal iron ballast with 3ton fitted cast lead and painting bilge spaces; 2000
- Complete replacement of running and standing rigging; 2002
- New 55 hp Volvo Engine; 2002
- Replacement of cockpit coaming; 2007
- Re-caulking and paying the main deck and coach roof; 2008
- Repair to coach roof coaming; 2008
- Complete rewiring of boat electrical systems including new GPS, Depth, Switchboard.