Boats

Developed in California in the late 1960’s, the first European demonstration of a windsurfer/sailboard is believed to have been at the 1972 yachting Olympics event in Kiel. This windsurfer dates from 1973 and is believed to be probably the first to be imported into the UK. Manufactured by the Dutch company Ten Cate it was…

This windsurfer dates back to 1972 Although not an example of one of the earliest designs, it was produced by Windsurfing International Inc., the company founded by Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake which claimed to be the originator of the concept and which sought to patent the term ‘Windsurfer’ and various aspects of the design…

Merlin III is a part of a family of fast motor boats with good performance in all conditions, designed by Bill Maloney, beginning with the 12ft Sorcerer in 1961. It is likely Merlin III is one of a group 16ft plywood hulls built c. 1967. The inspiration for the design came from a study of…

Joy is a TV Times Dinghy, one of several examples in the Museum’s collection from the 1950s onwards of a dinghy sponsored by a newspaper or magazine. Other examples include the well-known Mirror (sponsored by the Daily Mirror),  Enterprise (sponsored by the News Chronicle) and the less well known SigneT (sponsored by the Sunday Times).…

Cosi Fan Tutte is the newest of three Flying Dutchman dinghies in the museum’s collection. Dutch Courage (BAE0006) is an early example from the 1950s, whilst Rodney Pattisson’s Superdocious (BAE 0022), from 1968, may be regarded as representing the zenith of wooden construction. The first plastic boats came into the class in around 1960 but they…