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Purchased by sailing partners Roger Dann and Rowland Smith in January 2002, Leonie has since been subject to extensive restoration and upgrade, all undertaken by the new owners. From the outset the objective was to return Leonie to a strong seaworthy condition equipped for racing as well as cruising. The interior layout is new losing two quarter berths but gaining a more comfortable galley and nav station. Interestingly the engine has been moved forward to the centre of the main saloon (sited below the saloon table) an arrangement which offers better weight distribution, greater head room by the galley/nav station and to date no ill effects in terms of the need for a three part shaft arrangement. Leonie is also fitted for cruising with pressurised hot and cold water, shower (for those of supple body), gimballed paraffin stove and externally an electric windlass. To aid racing a suit of Quantum sails were added in 2004 including asymmetric spinnaker to which a cut down symmetrical spinnaker was added in 2005 along with slab reefing. With new electrics including plotter and a range of Cetrek instrumentation she is now both a beauty to behold and sail/race. 2006 will see a new mainsheet arrangement geared for racing and an adjustable mainsail outhaul. In addition we’re finally hoping for some pre-bend in the timber spars using a custom bow fitting to extend the forestay more than was possible before. Leonie is based on the river Orwell at Pin Mill (near Ipswich) and bears the pennant of Royal Harwich Yacht Club, particularly suitable since the RHYC Blue Ensign is defaced by, yes you guessed, a Lion. With a Class win (and 2nd overall) in the 2005
BCYC regatta the pressure is on for the Leonie syndicate to perform
again, something which we look forward to with our friends in
the BCYC.
Extract with kind permission ClassicBoat May 1999 issue: "Richard Seymour of King’s Yacht Agency has always loved Robb’s sheer line: "In my eyes the Lion class has the loveliest sheer line of all. Nicholsons, Buchanans, Laurent Giles, Parkers… they were all nice, but the Lion Class beat them all with just that perfect little ‘up’ at the stern and woh! those gorgeous overhangs. "Designed by Arthur C Robb, MBE the first Lion was built in 1950 and beat most of her contemporaries in that year’s Round the Island Race. This was a fine achievement considering the race was mostly to windward and she drew only 4’6”. She entered one other race that season and won, but she was primarily a cruiser. "Stebbings of Burnham-on-Crouch built the first to Lloyds 100A1. There was a deeper draught version at 5’6”, and the accommodation was interesting as there was a raised area under the doghouse with two quarter berths where in bad weather one could sit and look out the windows and still be close to the cockpit. A fold-down chart table lay over one of these berths and, typically for that era, the galley was forward on the port side opposite the heads. Then came a good roomy foc’s’le with two more berths. "The displacement is moderately heavy at 6 tons, and the hull lines show a long run, firm sections, a ballast keel of 2.5 tons and rather narrow beam. Construction was orthodox, typically mahogany on bent timbers (as Leonie), tongued-and-grooved cedar deck, canvas covered. All had tiller steering which was perfect as they are beautifully balanced and finger light on the helm. Early boats were 3/4-rigged and later ones masthead. There was also a yawl option.
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"Siandra (regularly featured in ClassicBoat magazine), built in Australia, won both the 1958 and 1960 Sydney/Hobart races. Lion owners included the John Lewis Partnership (Sabeema) and Major Richard Gatehouse’s Reflection, aboard which he tested his famously indestructible B&G instruments in the 1970’s. Production dwindled in the 1960’s although Bristows Book of Yachts claims 140 had been built by 1964 and a last few were made with GRP hulls and timber decks all in teak by Cheoy Lee in Hong Kong. "Today there are many Lions sailing in all
corners of the globe, most now fitted with modern diesels, new
sails and rigs. But believe me: when you see one for the first
time you won’t forget it."
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