WINDFLOWER

We are fortunate in having highly skilled boatbuilders capable of bringing custom designs to fruition. To see your own dream brought to reality can be a hugely rewarding experience and is a real alternative to buying a production boat.

‘Windflower’ is my second commission from a leading UK architect, and was launched by Upsons of Aldeburgh early in 2004. Designed specifically for use on the River Alde and the UK’s East coast she has twin rudders, twin ballast bilge keels, and an unballasted centreboard, resulting in a minimum draft of 54cms (21in) on a LOA of 10m (32ft 8in). Construction is of epoxy/glass sheathed strip plank cedar and the rig, designed for short handed sailing, features a self-tacking jib and fully battened main.

Other examples of custom design projects shown on these pages are the launches of Colin Henwood, the Broads yachts ‘Cirrus’, ‘Storm’, and ‘Moonshadow’, the Cockwell launch, the steam launch ‘Harlequin’, and the ‘John Nash’. There is currently great interest in motor barges and these are generally built to customers’ requirements, steel construction having minimum tooling and so lending itself to custom work.