TOPIC:

Hi there



I am in the process of tracing the history of "This way up", through the Scottish web site I have found pictures and various results have shown what she was up to from 2001, when she was sailed by Jim Sinclair, but before Jim Sinclair had her I have very little history.



I have paperwork that shows in 1985 her home club was Forth CC, she was called "Clog Dancer" and registered to Paul Lennie.



Does anyone remember her when she was called "Clog dancer"?



The other question is was "Clog dancer" her original name as the paperwork indicates that she was measured on 29.4.81 by CJ Hibbert and built by JD Young and Son



I also recognise her as the boat www.albacore.ukf.net/SprayWax4.jpg



So what is the story behind the Spray wax sails and Paul Mitchell?



Any help would be greatly appreciated.





regards



Paul Metcalfe-Smith

6956

"This way up"

Hi there



First time I've looked at this site for months - what are the chances you'd be asking this today!



The original name was My Highland Queen (name of first owner escapes me). It was briefly renamed Clog Dancer when Paul Lennie had it but, based on the superstition that one should not change the name of a boat, the next owner, Derek Gibb, changed it back. He had the boat 1900 - 1994. My brother bought the boat from Derek in maybe 1994. He didn't sail it much - university then work commitments - so I sailed it with Will Howarth. We bought it from brother when it was obvious he didn't have any time to sail it.



The boat is a Young hull, built 1980/81 as you know. It was redecked and all the internal structure replaced in 1991. It is, I suppose, unique now, with the flared gunwales and inwales. Comfy to sail! When I owned it we took it Nigel Potter at Paintcraft each winter to keep it shiny and do the odd repair as necessary.



In advance of the Internationals at Torbay in 2001, we looked around for a bit of sponsorship. Long story, but we secured support from the hair products company Paul Mitchell. They put up the cash for some sails and also some branding based on one of their products - Spraywax. It was a bit of a fuss at the time because logos were not allowed in the class. We didn't use them for Championship races, but we made sure they were widely seen.



We sold the boat to Russell Wane in 2002. Blimey! Is it really 6 years ago!



Hope you enjoy sailing the boat.



Jim

Hi Jim

Many thanks for that information

I bought her last year (April 2007) from Dave and Margaret Norris, so I presume they bought it from Russell Wane., they did some events in 2005 with her.

We sailed her in Scotland at Loch Lommond last year and she will be coming back to Scotland for the Scottish Nationals in August

She is a comfy boat, we are still learning but the first time I sailed her this year it was like putting on a pair of comfy slippers!

She still looks well

Many thanks for the information.



Paul

Hi Paul,

I owned Clog dancer in the early eighties when I lived in Fife. The boat was bought by me from The Isle of Aron where it had been for a couple of years I think. I belive it was originally built for someone called David Urqhartt (spelling wrong I am sure) who was a well known Albacore sailor in Scotland and was originally called ....... Queen (can't remember the first bit).


Prior to moving to Scotland I lived in Wigan where had a new GP14 which I called Clog Dancer. (they had clog dancers in Wigan so I am told). This boat was well known as I lent it to Ian Southworth and he won the GP Nationals in it. I just liked the name so I re-registered the Albacore with a new name when I bought it and sailed it in Scotland being a member at Limekilns




In the mid eighties the mast broke when I was racing in Fife and damaged the deck to such an extent that the insurance company wrote the boat off. I purchased the craft back from the insurance compant as the hull and fittings were in good condition and sold it to a guy called Joe Swankie (a local Limekilns sailor) who had it as a long term project to replace the deck etc. I belive he sailed it for a number of years then sold it to Bro's Gibb (well known Edinburgh sailing family)



I was not in Scotland by then having moved back to England and having lost track of the boat. However Derek Gibbon present Albacore Chairman who also sailed at Limekilns during all that time may well be able to fill in the missing bits for you.



I hope this helps and if I came be of any more help let me know.



Paul

Hi Paul



Many thanks for the information.

We currently sail her at Ogston, but she will be going to Rudyard Lake next week



regards

Paul