Dr. T. Harrison Butler

[Ruaridh]

Hi,
I used to participate in this forum a few years back when I had my Folkboat; I received great help and know it to be a good bunch of people. I've recently got back into sailing somewhat commercially so apologize if I'm bending the rules of the forum!
I've become involved with the yacht that Dr. T Harrison Butler built for himself in 1935, Vindilis, and thought she would be of some interest to the members here. You can see pictures of her and read more on my website here: http://www.westcoastyachting.co.uk/b...lis/index.html
Apart from being a particularly fine classic, what makes her so interesting is that Dr. Butler himself wrote at some length in the yachting publications of the time about his various designs, including analysis of Vindilis immediately before and after she was built. All of these articles are still accessible and make fascinating reading. As many of you will know, some were compiled into a book - Cruising Yachts, Design and Performance which went into print after his death.
Dr. Butler enthusiastically endorsed the (new at the time) Metacentric Shelf theory which tied with his goal of perfect balance at all points of sail. In the days before computers this was difficult to calculate but he seemed to have a natural feel for it, making for very sweet-handling yachts.
Vindilis herself is in fine fettle, having had a major rebuild in 2002, although her interior still requires re-fitting (all the better for those of us who like to see the important bits!!).
Obviously she is now for sale (hence my earlier apology) but with the locations involved I hope you'll forgive this posting, I often used to see links posted to boats for sale on ebay so surely not much different.
All the best,
Ruaridh.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

http://www.aandrwayboatbuilding.co.uk/restoration.html <<<< Favourite waste of time?

[PeterSibley]

Ruaridh ,
you have excellent taste ! I was looking at her on a sale site last night .Delightful .

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Harrumph!abuseofforumforcommercialpurposesoutrageo uswhatis
theworldcomingtoIdontknowtheyouthoftodayshownoresp ect...

Hello Rory,

Very nice. Hope you have told Joan Jardine-Brown that she is for sale - frankly the ideal buyer would be a member of the HB Association.

So she finally got the bronze floors, 74 years late (see "Cruising Yachts, Design and Construction" by Dr T Harrison Butler - she was built with iron and her sister ship had bronze) .

I must get round to doing Mirelle's on her next big refit.

[johngsandusky]

She's a beauty, no doubt. Thanks for the link.

[JimD]

[outofthenorm]

I have always thought that Vindilis was just about perfect. She would have all the same sailing characteristics I've come to love in my Englyn, but with a longer water line, more sail area and larger capacities. If I were a younger man, and boatless, I'd be on a plane tomorrow.

Have to say that I would put her back to being a proper yawl.

I have exactly these floors in Fiddlers Green. Galvanized iron, still in perfect shape after 48 years in fresh water - and I've just seen them from both sides . - Norm

Fiddlers Green
Vindilis