Albert Strange MIST [Archive] - The WoodenBoat Forum

Thad

04-23-2006, 08:22 AM

I gor this e-mail from Dick Wynne:

A quick note to inform any potentially interested parties: I have learnt
through the grapevine that the Albert Strange yacht MIST (c1900), written up in
the Clay/Miller book, appears to have been beached and abandoned by her owner
at Gareloch in Scotland, where she is at some risk (if it has not already
happend) of breaking up completely. Unsuccessful attempts to buy and restore
her were made by ASA members some ten years back, to no avail, and the result
is this ignominious likely end.

I gather that further information is available from these two people:

James Hill (to contact owner) - 01436 - 810047
Mike Henry (who phoned up with the information) - 01436 - 810533

A quick approach may save her, but it doesn't look too hopeful unless she was
run up at high water springs!

Dick Wynne

04-24-2006, 05:57 AM

Thad, I have since heard that MIST has been placed (using an excavator or something) inside a larger abandoned hulk above the tide line, where she may survive long enough for a rescue to be effected, unless the owner carries out the threatened break-up for scrap. At least one ASA member is prepared to stump up the rumoured £100 to buy her as a holding operation pending a permanent home, however there may be complications, eg local regulations or charges etc associated with her being where she is, in other words one might be buying a legal liability. Difficult to get to the bottom of this from a few hundred miles away. I called Iain Oughtred who has some W Scotland boatbuilding contacts who may be interested. Watch this space.

Thad

04-24-2006, 06:02 AM

Thanks for the update.

Rick Starr

04-24-2006, 07:30 AM

Watching with interest; unfortunately nothing to add beyond that. Good luck, Mist.

Dick Wynne

04-25-2006, 06:16 AM

Latest info I have: MIST has been moved inside an abandoned ship's lifeboat above the HWL, and has suffered some theft & vandalism, mainly limited to removal of anchronistic s/s fittings. A member of the Albert Strange Assoc is planning to see her around 3 May with a view to the Association securing her for the short term pending a new owner being found who is prepared to restore her. This of course depends on her present condition, but she is rumoured to be planked in teak. We plan to post photos of her in happier times and today, and drawings here & elsewhere in an attempt to draw that benefactor from cover. For those with a copy, MIST is described and illustrated in the book 'Albert Strange on Yacht Design, Construction and Cruising' by Jamie Clay & Mark Miller, published by the Albert Strange Association. This is a rare opportunity ... etc !!!

Thad

04-25-2006, 06:33 AM

BTW MIST is 26'6" x 20' x 7'1" x 4' displacing 3.5 tons canoe stern gaff topsail yawl over 1.58 ton iron ballast.

Dick Wynne

05-06-2006, 06:38 PM

Here are some photos of MIST (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickw/sets/72057594127356234/) whose rescue is now under way by a consortium of members of The Albert Strange Association.

http://static.flickr.com/29/141601750_fd8a11800c.jpg

John Hobson, our man on the spot, is organising transport for her from Scotland down to Scarborough, where shelter awaits. Her last few years include two months on the bottom of the loch followed by ten years largely unattended on a barge and finally depositing on the beach. She was recently lifted into this lifeboat for a measure of protection by local boatbuilder Jim Hill, to whom we are extremely grateful. Her hull, 100 years old, is in remarkable condition. The coachroof is not the original, which had no doghouse. More when I get it.

pcford

05-06-2006, 06:49 PM

Good luck guys!!!

Thad

05-06-2006, 07:40 PM

Looking such a mess she looks quite good to me. Thanks Dick.

JimD

05-06-2006, 08:29 PM

A noble effort. Good luck with her.

bamamick

05-06-2006, 08:50 PM

she once was, and what she could be once again given the proper love and care.

This should be a no-brainer. Best of luck to whomever takes this project on.

Mickey Lake

Bill Perkins

05-07-2006, 10:45 AM

What a shame .

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/pbd98fdfd64cb9879620103a3f39807e3/ef1d2886.jpg

Russ Manheimer

05-07-2006, 11:08 AM

Dick,

Looking forward to seeing the rebirth of a true classic. What are her scantlings? I imagine she was built by a good yard and of first class materials to retain that shape over the years of her neglect.

Speaking of classics, any recent progress on Constance? What will her interior look like?

Russ

Dick Wynne

05-07-2006, 01:39 PM

Dick,

Speaking of classics, any recent progress on Constance? What will her interior look like?

Russ

Spartan! See today's update in Building / Repair...

Dick Wynne

05-15-2006, 02:25 AM

Latest on MIST is that we could use some practical help in lifting her from where she is (inside a lifeboat at the HW mark) into a cradle (we are making) on hard standing a few yards away across and up the stony beach. There is a floating Hiab crane available in a few weeks but this appears to tie us into a local yard which is not convenient and is anyway beyond our budget. I have circulated Clyde-based yacht clubs in case any sympathetic member has access to a mobile crane or similar, possibly a truck equipped with a Hiab would be able to get down there:

http://www.hiab.com/hiab/hiab-com-uk.nsf/hiab-all/136F193FD6C4121AC1256D90004F4998/$file/hiab-pohja2.jpeg

If anyone reading this happens to fit the bill, please send me a message!

Dick Wynne

06-03-2006, 05:35 PM

This week MIST was dragged by a farm tractor some 200 yards along and up the beach, still inside the old lifeboat, to within feet of the road, and within reach of a truck with HIAB crane. A triumph for the dogged perseverance of our man on the spot Jim Hill.

http://static.flickr.com/55/159567352_1604c1dc41.jpg

She still looks pretty solid:

http://static.flickr.com/55/159567353_f1d5ef09ed.jpg

But that inappropriate cabin top will have to go!

http://static.flickr.com/54/159567356_d524df238d.jpg

JimD

06-04-2006, 09:08 AM

A worthwhile effort for sure. Thanks for keeping the forum posted.

pcford

06-04-2006, 11:26 PM

Great! Keep on pushing!

Jay Greer

06-05-2006, 04:50 PM

What a sweet set of water lines and a superb midship section!! Wow how about those diagonals!!! Go for it with all your heart!!!!!
A thing of beauty is a joy forever!
JG

Dick Wynne

10-25-2006, 05:32 PM

http://static.flickr.com/89/279377176_6e5b3a549d.jpg

Today MIST was lifted from the old lifeboat onto a cradle built by indefatigable local boatbuilder Jim Hill, and trucked away to safety and ultimately some new owner who will restore this 100-year-old boat to her original glory. As you can see, she withstood the lift, hung onto her keel, and appears to remain fair. We were keen to get her out of the way of November's HW spring tides which, with unfavourable winds up the loch, could have done for her. More pictures here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickw/sets/72057594127356234/).

htom

10-25-2006, 06:11 PM

I won't look half that good when I'm 99. Thanks for the update, and blessings on her and her rescuers.

Thad

10-25-2006, 06:22 PM

Excellent!!

gert

10-25-2006, 06:25 PM

Congradulations

StevenBauer

10-25-2006, 07:15 PM

Great news, Dick. Thanks for the update.

Steven

Bruce Hooke

10-25-2006, 08:00 PM

Excellent! Well done to all involved.

RodB

10-25-2006, 08:17 PM

What a great save. Thanks for all the photos.

Hey Dick, first time I've seen your launch photos. She's beautiful...a really beautiful Wenda....

RodB

John B

10-25-2006, 08:52 PM

Good news.
I really must do a road trip and find sheila II.

Thad

10-26-2006, 04:44 AM

John, oh do, oh do.

Dick Wynne

10-26-2006, 06:33 AM

Good news.
I really must do a road trip and find sheila II.

John, (you may already know this!) S-II's owner has her safely in a shed at Hamilton NZ, I'll post some snaps later. Not a lot of work has been done to her I believe since her grounding and planking damage a good few years back, and apparently the owner intends to squeeze in another boat project and a circumnavigation before starting on her in earnest. It would be VG to see her on the water again though!

Dick Wynne

10-26-2006, 06:39 AM

Hey Dick, first time I've seen your launch photos. She's beautiful...a really beautiful Wenda....

RodB

Thanks Rod, I have to agree with you! Fabian Bush did a wonderful job.

Andrew Craig-Bennett

10-26-2006, 07:05 AM

I should not be looking at this thread!

I notice that an earlier owner had been to the trouble of replacing the rudder with one of modern form.

Would like to know what the plans for her may be.

Dick Wynne

10-26-2006, 03:23 PM

I should not be looking at this thread!

I notice that an earlier owner had been to the trouble of replacing the rudder with one of modern form.

Would like to know what the plans for her may be.
Well we have temporary undercover storage organised, and are looking for a sympathetic new owner. Copies of the original drawings are available, plus much original bronzework, to support a fairly authentic job (otherwise why bother, as there are many less expensive ways to acquire a 26ft wooden yacht!). She is available free, but (we hope!) for her recovery costs.

P.I. Stazzer-Newt

10-26-2006, 05:02 PM

Given the recent "Little Local Difficulty" it might be nice for the US navy to make amends.

Dick Wynne

10-26-2006, 05:47 PM

I just heard that we have (probably) secured that sympathetic new owner / restorer, so you're (equally probably) off the hook ACB! If confirmed, she is Woodbridge-bound anyway, and will have much good AS company...

John B

10-26-2006, 05:55 PM

Good news.Excellent.

I met Russ ( Sheila II) a few years ago when he had the Yum Yum and know she's in Hamilton but just haven't been there.
When she went up onto the seawall in Hobson bay in the early/mid 80's the owner was absolutely devasted. Just couldn't even look at her. As I've probably related before , I stood on the road with my upper body through her bilge inside her looking around at the devastation. She was a mess and a write off IIRC. The next owner , Mike, had the dream but never did anything much over 10 years or so and Russ bought her what?... 7 to 10 years ago I would think.

Thad

10-26-2006, 05:55 PM

It will be nice to see her sailing again! Thanks.

Andrew Craig-Bennett

10-27-2006, 03:26 AM

Thanks, Dick.

Line me up as "first reserve", if you like.

I'll drop Peter a line, too.

Dick Wynne

10-27-2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks, Dick.

Line me up as "first reserve", if you like.

I'll drop Peter a line, too.
I dunno, you wait six months, then two come along at once!

But yes, a pleasure to.

Dick Wynne

10-27-2006, 02:35 PM

Someone just sent me a whole lot more pictures of the recovery, they're all here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickw/sets/72057594127356234/), or make a nice slide show (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickw/sets/72057594127356234/show/)