Finding "Helen of Howth" and/or "Ann Gail" and/or "Moonface"

[HeatherGreer]

Hi
I'm trying to locate the present whereabouts of my late father's boats, all wooden, all kept by him and cruised extensively from Howth, Co Dublin.

The first boat I remember was the Moonface, a gaff cutter. I know my father sold her to Christo Gore-Grimes some time in the 1950s, and I know nothing more of her.

The next is Ann Gail, which my father bought in the 1950s and kept till around 1961/2. She is a 42-foot yawl, used to be Eau-de-Nil (pale green), built by Skinner of Malahide, Co Dublin, and a fine, classic, long keel vessel.

Finally, Helen of Howth, a 54-foot yawl designed by John Kearney and built by Tyrrels of Arklow (Ireland). Long-keeled, with a 7-ton lead keel and a 3/4 ton bronze centreboard. 4" English oak frames, planked in 1.5 inch pitch pine, decked with 1.5" Burma teak planks. Extremely strong, we cruised and raced her extensively. She raced in the Fastnet around 1962/3, and in a W-E Transatlantic race. She was sold to a Gerry Kavenagh of Howth, and kept by him in the Mediterranean for a few years, before he sold her (I believe also to an American.

There was a sad (for my father) closing chapter to one of these boats. I saw a magazine report about how an Irishman had sold a wreck of a boat to an American, and she was so bad that she had to be taken up the St Lawrence with an outboard, filled with mud...truth was, the 'professional crew' wrecked her at the mouth of the St Lawrence, and she became almost a write-off. But I did hear that she was subsequently restored.

Any info would be really welcome.

Thank you!

Heather

[skuthorp]

Helen of Howth

Pic from book: To sail the Crested Sea by P M Nixon
Book here: https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/a...2-a48200ea7151

This publisher may also be of help
https://peggybawn.wordpress.com/2013.../summer-of-42/

I reckon I've seen a comparatively recent reference to this boat.

20G Yacht; Original owner P H Greer
Photo credit: Unidentified photographer, from book 'To sail the crested seas' by W M Nixon

[HeatherGreer]

Thank you very much, skulthorp!

I actually have that book, and I know the reference to Helen of Howth in it, and indeed I know the author, who's a Howth Dublin sailor as I was; I'm in the west of Ireland now (Cleggan). That photo was taken back around 1963 when my father owned her; it was taken by Beken of Cowes at the finish of the Fastnet race.

So I guess I'm seeking more recent connections. Both Helen of Howth and Ann Gail certainly crossed the Atlantic to new owners, and it was after that that I lost contact with them.

Thanks anyway.

[isla]

Not much help here because the final destination is uncertain..

From a list of boats built by Skinner, Malahide, Co. Dublin

1952 Ann Gail 42ft 12g tons;
Original owner C J Richardson; Sold to P Greer, Howth in 1954; Sold to America (possibly Canada)

http://www.offscotland.plus.com/Boatyards/Malahide.htm

[isla]

"Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels mentions sailing Ann Gail on Lake Michigan..

This link takes you to the page..

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...0yacht&f=false

[moikenny]

Hi Heather

I lived next door to your family home on Greenfield Road for 15 years, 1 year in Grasmere and 14 years in Marianella. I remember as a young kid of 11 or 12, hearing a tractor start up next door, then appear on the slipway outside your dry dock (and its swimming pool blue walls), then putt putting out with the empty trailer to the channel of Sutton Creek and leaving it there for full tide. In the afternoon or the next morning, when the tide went out again, I remember seeing the Helen of Howth sitting pretty in the trailer and your team of tractor and men putt putting once again across the sand to tow her back to her winter lodgings. The final act of the winch system bringing Helen perfectly into the narrow bay was really impressive.

The Helen of Howth was synonymous with Howth Yacht Club, the club's jewel in the crown. When I realised that I was living next door to it I was very surprised. With regards to your father, I only met him once and that was when he was flipping out because of the noise we were making with our own tractor albeit a tractor lawnmower. We had removed the cutter and were racing up and down the long driveway of Grasmere - Perry was not impressed.

Good luck with your search.

Regards

Michael Kenny
-------

I'm trying to locate the present whereabouts of my late father's boats, all wooden, all kept by him and cruised extensively from Howth, Co Dublin.

The first boat I remember was the Moonface, a gaff cutter. I know my father sold her to Christo Gore-Grimes some time in the 1950s, and I know nothing more of her.

The next is Ann Gail, which my father bought in the 1950s and kept till around 1961/2. She is a 42-foot yawl, used to be Eau-de-Nil (pale green), built by Skinner of Malahide, Co Dublin, and a fine, classic, long keel vessel.

Finally, Helen of Howth, a 54-foot yawl designed by John Kearney and built by Tyrrels of Arklow (Ireland). Long-keeled, with a 7-ton lead keel and a 3/4 ton bronze centreboard. 4" English oak frames, planked in 1.5 inch pitch pine, decked with 1.5" Burma teak planks. Extremely strong, we cruised and raced her extensively. She raced in the Fastnet around 1962/3, and in a W-E Transatlantic race. She was sold to a Gerry Kavenagh of Howth, and kept by him in the Mediterranean for a few years, before he sold her (I believe also to an American.

There was a sad (for my father) closing chapter to one of these boats. I saw a magazine report about how an Irishman had sold a wreck of a boat to an American, and she was so bad that she had to be taken up the St Lawrence with an outboard, filled with mud...truth was, the 'professional crew' wrecked her at the mouth of the St Lawrence, and she became almost a write-off. But I did hear that she was subsequently restored.

Any info would be really welcome.

Thank you!

Heather[/QUOTE]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Boats that cross the Atlantic often fall off the radar. If Winkie Nixon doesn’t know, nobody does.

[Katalina]

Hello Heather!

My name is Kathleen Ann White (maiden name) I was born March 17th 1961. My sister Elaine gave me your info for my birthday present tomorrow, St Pattys Day. My dad Jack White sailed with your dad on the Ann Gail in 1961! My mom was pregnant with me at the time. I was to be their 9th child at the time. 3 more children after me. My mom is still alive. She gave my dad her blessing to sail the route as long as he waited till I was born. Its an Anniversary Its been awhile but I believe the owner , Hybells from Grand Rapids Michigan owned the yacht after 1962. I beleive his son is still alive. I will do some research. Im reaching out to you to see if we can connect. my user name is Katarina but my name is Kathleen.

Hi
I'm trying to locate the present whereabouts of my late father's boats, all wooden, all kept by him and cruised extensively from Howth, Co Dublin.

The first boat I remember was the Moonface, a gaff cutter. I know my father sold her to Christo Gore-Grimes some time in the 1950s, and I know nothing more of her.

The next is Ann Gail, which my father bought in the 1950s and kept till around 1961/2. She is a 42-foot yawl, used to be Eau-de-Nil (pale green), built by Skinner of Malahide, Co Dublin, and a fine, classic, long keel vessel.

Finally, Helen of Howth, a 54-foot yawl designed by John Kearney and built by Tyrrels of Arklow (Ireland). Long-keeled, with a 7-ton lead keel and a 3/4 ton bronze centreboard. 4" English oak frames, planked in 1.5 inch pitch pine, decked with 1.5" Burma teak planks. Extremely strong, we cruised and raced her extensively. She raced in the Fastnet around 1962/3, and in a W-E Transatlantic race. She was sold to a Gerry Kavenagh of Howth, and kept by him in the Mediterranean for a few years, before he sold her (I believe also to an American.

There was a sad (for my father) closing chapter to one of these boats. I saw a magazine report about how an Irishman had sold a wreck of a boat to an American, and she was so bad that she had to be taken up the St Lawrence with an outboard, filled with mud...truth was, the 'professional crew' wrecked her at the mouth of the St Lawrence, and she became almost a write-off. But I did hear that she was subsequently restored.

Any info would be really welcome.

Thank you!

Heather

[shortboot]

Howth Helen doing?

[Stiletto]

Kathleen, The post immediately preceding yours was made in 2021, and the original was posted in 2017.
This may mean that the person your reply was intended for won't see it.

[Canoeyawl]

There may be an email contact under the original posters profile