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Just purchased Alb 5167 as my son and I's first boat. I've been trying to find out more about her but nothing coming up on Google etc.

I believe it's a Fosrite Plastics circa 1973 but can't see her anywhere, 5167 is etched into the hull so I thing the sail number is correct. I would love to know her name.

More importantly we're really looking forward to taking her out.

Can any of you helpful folk help with identification please?

Hello Paul

According to the RYA listing you are quite correct in that it is a Fosrite Hull. It also lists someone called "L Grecian" as the person who finished it, but that's a name that doesn't ring any bells with me. It was measured on 21st June 1973, and then issued with a certificate on July 18th. The name is registered as "March Past" so it might have taken longer than they anticipated to get it measured since April and May had gone past as well by then .

I'm afraid that's all I can find. There's no record of there ever being an entry to National Champs or anything, so that's it unless someone else recognises the boat.

Enjoy sailing her!

Thanks for taking the time to respond it is much appreciated. "March Past" fits with a suggestion from previous owner so I think you're spot on. Would L Grecian be the original owner or builder?

It could be either. At that time it was fairly common for bare hulls to be purchased from the boatbuilders and "finished" by other individuals, some of which were themselves smaller boatbuilders.

This is the only entry on the entire boat listing that mentions a finish by L Grecian, so if I were to guess I'd say that he was probably the first owner and wanted something a little different from the norm as delivered by Fosrite.

It's just a guess of course...

PS Back in the day the Albacore was used extensively by armed forces personnel, so the name might well originate from a service background.

Hi from 5198. Good to see another Fosrite around! We sail ours on the CVRDA ( Classic and Vintage Racing Dinghy Association ) circuit and occasional other race and have found it a boat we can rely on especially in stronger winds and more stable than the modern Albs.

I agree with your age estimate of 1973 - ours is the same. Ours must have been turquoise-green originally but is now dark blue with lots of white battle scars and white(ish) deck and interior.

Hope to race against you sometime.
Pat (and Sandy the helm)

Thanks for the reply guys, wouldn't be much of a race, our antics thus far look like a Benny Hill sketch!

Took her out for the 1st time last Saturday with my eldest which was great fun, looking up and seeing that huge sail fill and then feeling that acceleration was very addictive.

We sail at Dovestones Sailing Club but I think we might get about to Windermere/Bala etc next year. If you ever see up give us a shout.

Turns out that L Grecian was the original owner, he only ever sailed it at Dovestones SC. He then donated it to the club when he stopped sailing. The guy I bought it off swapped it for a GP as the club wanted a boat with a kite for training. So all in all it hasn't travelled very far since its birthday way back in 1973........

Hello from 5515, she is almost finished! She was at Wimbleball in Devon, now Lyme Regis. I have a nice Tiger Ply deck to look after. I am keen to get going on the vintage racing soon! Phil Rydin-Orwin.