Chalmers 40 ft Gaff Yawl 1906 - Sold

CYGNET is an eye catching yacht with her long counter and purposeful spoon bow skillfully brought back to life by her current owner. Her structure is Burma teak planking, bronze fastened, and much attention as gone into restoring her gaff yawl rig in Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir (designed by the late Harry Spencer MBE in 2006) A rig that will take your breath away for its beauty under sail and something of rarity on a classic of this size. This vessel has been cleverly re-worked into a thoroughly usable and very beautiful family yacht.

CYGNET as originally named had been built in 1906 by the Burgoyne brothers of Kingston on Thames famous for their Thames A Raters and Royal Barges. Her designer and first registered keeper was a Mr G. Chalmers about whom, little is now known. He designed the boat to have a very shallow draft, circa 4 feet with a long keel and cast iron shoe through which fitted a centre board. Originally a gaff yawl she has been converted to Bermudan cutter rig, now reverting to her former configuration. She has raced in both guises and following her restoration won most notably the Jubilee Trophy in the RTIR of 2006 her centenary year.

Burma teak planking on oak frames with an Elm hog and all bronze fastened. The centre box has been reconstituted and installed with a stainless steel centre board which is raised and lowered on a simple pulley block and tackle increasing the draft from 4 ft 6 in to nearly 8 ft and thereby much improving her windward sailing ability.

Five berths and a hammock, saloon, heads, galley and focsle. The interior is the last area to be restored – all other work now having been done. She is fully usable albeit needing a repaint below. From the spacious cockpit a sliding hatch in the coach roof reveals companionway steps down to the main cabin. With varnished framework and furnishing the interior has a substantial feel but is nevertheless well lit with bronze fitted ports and skylights over good head room. There are quarter berths aft pot and starboard. Forward in the saloon are settee berths both sides with shelf space outboard and stowage below. A semi bulkhead gives way to the galley port side (with a choice of Taylors paraffin 2 burner hob and grill or a new alcohol stove) then forward - passing the heads with Lavac WC to port and a further berth opposite also with stowage under, lies the fore peak.

- Much new bronze work and fittings bespoke made by Moray MacPhail of Classic Marine
- Electric windlass
- CQR Anchor and chain

- Bukh 24hp engine new in 1998 regularly fully serviced and runs well
- KIWI feathering prop
- Shore power and battery charger
- Separate engine start and domestic batteries

- Navman 5600
- TackTick wind, speed, depth and log
- Simrad VHF radio

- Liferaft 6 man in a valise
- Lifebelt
- Jackstays
- Lifejackets

The rig was completely renewed in 2005 - 06 to a design by the late Harry Spencer MBE taking her back, in the absence of original plans, to what he believed was the original 1906 layout. All new spars have been made of Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce by Bob Snow Maritime Enterprises in Yarmouth. Many new bronze fittings and sails by James Lawrence in Brightlingsea have hardly been used and are beautiful in both concept and condition. The sail wardrobe consists of:
- Main
- Main top
- Mizzen
- Stay
- Jib and jib top