Vanessa

History

Originally called Latona, she was designed and built by Burgoine in 1902 for Mr Storey of the Thames Sailing Club. First sailed at Thames S.C. she later moved to Upper Thames SC. She was deliberately built relatively small so that, according to her sail area, she could race either as an 'A' Rater or a smaller slower 'B' Rater.  Her second owner Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope, a prolific portrait painter, renamed the boat Vanessa. Possibly after Vanessa Bell nee Stephen.  Vanessa was one of the first boats to move from the Gunter rig to the Bermuda Rig. The boat changed hands to a Dr Dunn, who spent many years restoring her. The boat was stored in a shed for some 25 years whilst the restoration work was carried out. Sadly he never did see the boat fully restored. Perhaps on saving grace was that the boat was not sheathed in plastic, so unlike a few other Rater like Surf whose wood rotted away under the plastic until there was nearly nothing left. Vanessa is still all wood

Changes in handicapping make if difficult for her to compete against the larger boats, but after recent work she has been back in the water and sailing fairly regularly, and sometimes showing flashes of real potential.

Currently she is being restored at UTSC and owned by Brian & Sally Reed. When she bought into Vanessa Sally upgraded the mast to a Carbon Fibre one.

Length 7.52m
Beam 2.09 m