Classic Sailor

17/09/2025

Leigh Bawley Hilda Marjorie wins the Dick Norris Memorial Cup. Dick owned Stormy Petrel - the 1890 Whitstable oyster smack, he restored and sailed for more than 40 years out of Gillingham, Kent. He died last autumn aged 88.

The 2025 Colne Smack & Barge Match saw the introduction of the Dick Norris Memorial Cup which is awarded to the fastest traditional smack.

Dick was a staunch traditionalist who maintained his smack Stormy Petrel largely as built for over 50 years, passing on his knowledge of traditional skills whenever he could.

The committee would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Christine Norris for providing and presenting this trophy in memory of her late husband with the first recipient being Hilda Marjorie - pictured below at the 2025 Colne Match courtesy of Sandy Miller.

29/08/2025

Tuiga, the 1909 Fife 15-M, loses her mast on the second day of the XXI Copa del Rey in Menorca earlier this week. The 1909 Fife 15-M – campaigned by the Monaco Yacht Club, was laid over under full sail, in a 53 knot rain squall before coming about and then losing her rig while racing close inshore near the uninhabited Isle of Aire. Another Fife 15-M, The Lady Anne also suffered damage (to her bowsprit and spreader), in the bad weather on Wednesday 27th August.
Racing had been cancelled on the first day of the five day event, based in Mahon harbour. But on day two, the fleet of 49 vintage and classic yachts were able to set sail on a short course with the big class going out of harbour. Following the squall the Big Class race was suspended by the race committee and both the damaged 15s have retired from the event.
There were no injuries reported after the breakages but from this video it looks like Tuiga's bowman leaves the bowsprit, as the mast comes down.

08/01/2025

IN HELSINKI IN MARCH - AMONG SOME OTHER GREAT GUESTS...
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1106797237904603&set=a.569691614948504

LEO GOOLDEN TO SPEAK AT THE 2025 Classic Yacht Symposium 12th Edition

“Hello, my name is Leo and I am a boatbuilder and a sailor” Who doesn’t know the line that has been opening every Tally Ho video for over 200 episodes? Seven years ago, Leo bought the remains of a famous 1910 cutter named Tally Ho.

As he started restoring her, he documented the journey and developed a strong following, enticing new viewers into the world of classic yacht restoration. Today this YouTube community is the largest yachting related community in the world with over 500,000 subscribers and tens of millions of views.

Through the extraordinary quality of the craftsmanship of his team, his philosophy on preservation, his drive for authenticity and the way the work is documented, he set a new standard in the world of classic yachts. The support he gathered on YouTube and beyond made a success of a seemingly impossible restoration.

In Helsinki Leo will talk about what led him to Tally Ho in the first place, how the project became such a surprising success, and what its’s been like to actually sail Tally Ho. Finally, we will hear about what might be coming up next for Leo and Tally Ho!

The Classic Yacht Symposium is sold out. Please register at our waiting list. There is still a good chance for you to get in!

https://helsinkisailing.com/en/classic-yacht-symposium-2025/

For more information, please visit Leo’s YouTube Channel at:
https://youtube.com/?si=MRjfI1TGOmCq5QwH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sampsonboatco/

Website: https://sampsonboat.co.uk/

In partnership with:
I Robbe & Berking Classics | Raymarine | Kotka Yacht Store | United Bankers | Venehotelli | Climecon | Red Sky Yachts | Hilton Hotels & Resorts | Arctic Blue Beverages | Nokian Panimo Oy | Turun kaupunki - Åbo stad - City of Turku | Forum marinum |

Organised by:
| Helsingfors Segelsällskap | NJK Nyländska Jaktklubben | SPS Suomalainen Pursiseura | Merenkävijät ry | Suomenlinnan Pursiseura | Helsingfors Segelklubb | Brändö Seglare | Helsingin Työväen Pursiseura | Esbo Segelförening | Airisto Segelsällskap i Åbo rf | hamarinpurjehtijat | Turun Pursiseura | Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily |

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15/12/2024

This is sad news

An internationally recognised boatbuilding training college in Lowestoft is set to close its doors for the final time next week.

20/11/2024

So we met some Americans in Brest and they made a film about it...
https://classicsailor.com/2024/11/brest-festival-video/

17/07/2024

Last day at Brest, with our book of the event since 1992 going well...

17/07/2024

Last day at Brest with our book of the 32 years of the event going well...

09/07/2024

Who's going to Brest?
There's a British Village, of the Celtic Sea. See you there!

A photo essay of the book on Brest. It covers 30 years of the Brest Festival which held every four years (but not 2020) since 1992 in Brittany. Some 2,000 vessels – from canoes to Tall Ships take part bringing 10,000 crew into this operational naval port. The organisers expect anything from 750,00...