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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Undina

Thought originally to have been launched as 'Impeccable', Undina was designed by Phillip L Rhodes as sister ship to Josephine (BCYC-C001). Although these two yachts share the same interesting drop keel design, they were built by different yards. Josephine by H Heidtmann in Hamburg, 1954; Undina at Abbedking & Rasmussen in 1953.

The Trimmingham family of Bermuda, who owned a large number of lovely yachts over the years, owned Undina for some time. In 1984 however, as Undina, she came into the ownership of Ross Gannon who, with Nat Benjamin, founded the Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, which has become the renowned wooden boat yard on Martha's Vineyard. Ross owned Undina for nine years, and although she was in a dilapidated state when he found her, her original structural design and cosmetic make up was sound. The only alteration he made was the conversion of her rig from a 7/8 fractional to masthead sloop.

Whilst living on board, Ross advertised her for sale through Berthon International and her seductive shape caught the eye of Tim Blackman, who eighteen months previously had owned Bettine and was yearning to get back on the water.

A joint venture arrangement between Tim and his old school friend, Mart Coad, resulted in the purchase of Undina in early 1993. Ross prepared her for the voyage and an amateur crew from the UK flew over to sail her back.

After a twenty-eight day crossing she was in Lymington but with the recession biting hard the decision was made to put the boat on the market in 1994. John Swansborough bought and kept her on the East coast where he maintained her fine condition.

In 2001 she was up for sale once more and, with the direction of his local marina at Ipswich, Griff Rhys-Jones' family were introduced to Undina. After hunting for a classic yacht up and down the East Coast Griff looked at every wooden yacht available, but saw nothing to match Undina - so a deal was done.

The Staley yard at Faversham was commissioned to give her a complete refit over the winter of 2001 and in the early summer she emerged from the shed in beautiful condition. Griff sailed Undina across the North Sea and through the Kiel Canal to the Flensburg Classic Regatta, where she was the only British yacht participating, before cruising through the Baltic to St Petersburgh and finally back to Helsinki.