Owner, Simon Field and Family.
Swanilda , is named after the lead ballerina in the ballet Copellia ,
and has had the same name from her launch in 1960.
She was launched in the spring of 1960 , built by Berthon Boatyard
Lymngton, to a CA Nicholson design for a Mr H S "Dick" Broom of
Buckinghamshire.
She was commissioned, under the then newly changed racing rules, as a
light weight class 2 racer,being rock elm frames on 3/4inch honduras
mahoghany, with a steel cage  frame amidships, her planking was thinner
than usual for her day, to save weight, hence her modest 12.7 tons ,she
was built to a Llyods classification designed to ensure quality in light
weight racers! and was one of approx 6 such boats launched to that
Nicholson design , that spring of 1960 , all built around the Solent.
She took part in the RORC season that year and along with almost the
entire fleet retired, becalmed, from the Morgan cup in 1960, but put in
a respectable 6th out of a class of 18 in the 1960 Cowes Dinard.
She does appear to have raced with the RORC for 1961 but raced in the
owners club races ,organised by the Royal Southern YC at Hamble ,  that
season , she was back for more RORC  in 1962 having shortened her rig to
mast head , and took part in the Cowes Dinard Class 2 gaining a 15th out
of 35 ! She did the usual Round the Island races and Solent races ,I
have some excellent Beken photos of her with Lutine and Sunmaid 2 , a
class 2 sister ship, on the line at Cowes in 1960 and 62`. seems she was
a trophy hunter !
Following another rule change she was pensioned off in `65 to the West
country where she spent many years around Dartmpouth and Torquay as a
family cruier racer .
She then moved up to the Medway area ,I found an amusing entry in an old
log I found on board, when clearing her out for her refit, detailing 
her trip East that Autumn , her then petrol engine  packed up off Poole
and she ran aground 5 times before being towed to the Town quay by the
harbour master , the log pitifully states , "decided to over winter in
Poole , will lay her up here "!!!
Following a spell in the Medway and on a mud berth in Rochester she was
bought and enjoyed by the Brock family who were keen members of the BCYC..
We are proud to be her 5th owners.
Swanilda was laid up in Cowes in 2008 by the Brocks, and we bought her
in late 2009 , she is now undergoing a full refit at Elephant Boatyard
Hamble , under the watchful eye of Tom Richardson and his craftsmen,and
using the original plans! she is  having some new planks to her lower
hull area ,however all agree, she is a testament to her builder as she
is in such fine fettle in all other areas,her steel frame / cage is in
remarkable condition , as are her frames and planking,   after 50 years
of the sea and require very little other than some maintaince .
She is also having some sympathetic rearrangement of her cockpit, galley
, heads and navigation station ,time she enjoyed 21st century
improvements !and to bring her in line with RORC requirements,with  some
general maintenaince before re emerging ready for the 2011 season in
full force and with her original  1960 3/4 rig.
She will be as good as new and ready for another 50 years .We hope to
have her back afloat and sailing this year to celebrate her 50 glorious
years but doubt we will be ready for Cowes Classic  .
My family and I are keen racer /crusiers and chose her for her
pedigree,her build quality, her traditional looks and powerful
preformance and look forward to BCYC events as well as RORC offshore
racing , maybe a Fastnet again ? and some long distance  cruising .
Her home port is again the Hamble River where she started life 50 years
ago this year.

YACHT DESCRIPTION

 

Owner:	S.R Field
Designer:	C A Nicholson
Class:	xxx
Year Designed:	1959
Year Built:	1960
Builder:	The Berthon Boat Co Ltd Lymington
LOA:  12.89 m 42.3 ft LOD: xxx m xx ft Beam: xxx m 10.1 ft Draft: xxx m 6.9 ft LWL: xxx m 31 ft
LOD/WL Ratio:	xxx
Displacement:	12.7 tonnes
Thames Measurement:	xxx
Hull Material:	Honduara Mahogany
Hull Construction:	Carvel
Hull Frames:	Rock Elm
Rudder:	Keel Hung
Sail Material:	xxx
Deck & Superstructure:	Teak
Superstructure Profile:	Semi Dog House,Long Coach Roof
Interior:	All wood cruising
Steering:	Wheel
Transom:	xxx
Rig:	3/4Bermudan Sloop
Engine Make:	Yanmar
Engine HP:	50
Engine Mounted:	xxx
Propeller:	Folding port side
Propeller Blades:	xxx
Mast Material:	Wood
Mast Configuration:	3 spreaders
Keel Configuration:	Long
Keel Material:	Lead , Iron