Yachts

C001: Josephine
C002: Cetewayo
C003: Frenesi of Clynder
C004: Undina
C005: Rebecca of Vineyard Haven
C006: Whirlaway
C007: Drumbeat
C008: Whooper
C009: Thendara
C010: Zoom
C011: Foglio
C012: Vanity V
C013: Talisker Mhor
C014: Pazienza
C015: Danegeld
C016: Mikado
C017: Elona
C018: Sensa
C019: Droleen II
C020: Corrie
C021: Lotus
C022: Mingary
C023: Dirk II
C024: Sceptre
C025: Thendara
C026: Outlaw
C027: Athena
C028: Bettine
C029: John Dory
C030: Swanilda
C031: Marigold
C032: Sally of Kames
C033: Monsoon
C034: Charm of Rhu
C035: Moonspray
C036: Firebrand
C037: Gluckauf
C038: Cereste
C039: Mitzi
C040: Roar for Joy
C041: Zahir
C042: Maria Hendrika
C043: Vivette
C044: Berenice
C045: Huff of Arklow
C046: Fairlight
C047: Iolaire
C048: Sibyl of Cumae
C049: Ilderim
C050: Dorothy
C051: Zaleda
C052: Dione
C053: Clarion of Wight
C054: Safir
C055: Shantih
C056: Eveline
C057: Shuttle
C058: Windflower
C059: Erica
C060: Cygnet of London
C061: St David's Light
C062: Leonie
C063: Tar Baby
C064: Caressa
C065: Tiger C
C066: Barbican
C067: A Day at the Races
C068: Kelpie
C069: Suzalah
C070: Rubicon
C071: Infanta
C072: Rampage
C073: Halcyon
C074: Thalassa
C075: Sinbad
C076: Lutine
C077: Twilight
C078: Alera
C079: Aeolus
C080: Nightfall
C081: Mossie Estelle

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Vanity V

Vanity V, the 1936 12 Metre, was the last of the ten 12 Metre designs built by the Scottish naval architect, and master builder, William Fife III between 1923 and 1936. By then Fife was aged 79 and had already achieved a legendary status with his yacht design and production.

Commissioned in 1935 for £4,000 by the property developer John R Payne, to race at Cowes in the prestigious America's Cup Regatta, Vanity V's performance was believed to have been a real disappointment. Payne demanded an unusual requirement from William Fife for her design however; he wished for a more aesthetic and comfortable interior design, demanding accommodation better than that offered on other Twelves, which he slated as no more than "glorified day boats - the saloon used as a sail locker". Fife defended the performance of his design, admitting the extra weight would surely slow her down in light winds, but that she would perform well in a stronger force.

Complaints from Payne about her racing performance, not to mention the "cheap and nasty" linoleum and the WC that, "filled up and overflowed all over the carpet", perhaps encouraged him to sell.

After the war Vanity V was bought by Sir William Shawcross, then in 1963 by Michael Boyle, who also owned Sceptre. Vanity V's defeat at the America's cup challenge brought an end to the 12 Metre Class and she was converted to a yawl for cruising. Industrialists from northern France, the Provost family, sailed her to Portugal and the Mediterranean under the name of Pinta II.

In 1997 Robert Daral and Jean-Paul Guillet found Vanity V alongside the wall at St Malo and began, with the pivotal assistance of yacht designer Guy Ribadeau Dumas, the massive project of her full, original and most authentic restoration.

Vanity V is the unique survivor of this incredible class of racing yacht; Alan Dykes has restored her to thoroughbred condition and returned to familiar waters of the Solent after 32 years on foreign seas.