Daisy Belle

Current boat name

Daisy Belle

Boat class

7330

Sail number

n/a

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Length (m / ft)

4.38 / 14ft 5in

Beam (m / ft)

1.79 / 5ft 10ins

Leeward

Keel

Masts

Lug and mizzen

Rig type

Lug Yawl

Propulsion

Sail

Designer

William Brabyn

Design date

c.1885

Date of build

c.1885

Place of build

Truro, Cornwall

Present use

Museum/NMMC

DAISY BELLE was built by William Brabyn of Calenick Creek, near Truro about 1885 for Mr Joe Nichols of Devoran. She was built specially for racing but also used for light fishing on the Fal. She was a fast boat and 1913 came second in the Cruisers Under 18 ft class at Mylor Regatta. Joe Nichols sailed her until shortly before WW II when she was sold. During the 1950s Mr Nichol's son found the boat in poor condition and bought her back and had her restored. At this time or later, her rig was converted to Bermudan. She was restored to her original build specifications in the Museum's workshop by Ralph Bird in 2004. Daisy Belle began life racing and fishing around Falmouth before retiring to more leisurely use. Her name was inspired by the 1890s popular song ‘A bicycle built for two’. She remained in the ownership of the Nicholls family until the museum acquired her in 2001. She was found to be remarkably fast, and a racing report from Mylor regatta in 1913 shows her as having come second in the cruisers under 18ft class. She was also very quick to go about, but that operation required the shifting of large amounts of ballast from leeward side to windward. In the 1950s Daisy Belle was discovered in a sorry state of repair in a Falmouth creek, and was nearly cut up to make a garden seat. Fortunately the family member concerned had second thoughts so she was repaired and altered. The rig was converted from lug and mizzen to bermudian, a steel centreplate was added, and a centreplate box was built to house it. At some point a foredeck and side decks were also added. When the Museum acquired Daisy Belle the decision was taken to remove all non-original material and restore her to her former configuration and rig. The decision was also taken to make her part of the Museum’s historic floating collection. She has now been restored as closely as possible to her original form under the expert guidance of local boat builder Ralph Bird. The fore- and side-decks have been removed, as has the centre plate and box. Broken and rotten ribs have been replaced with ones more characteristic of boats from the Fal, and her rig has been restored to the original lug and mizzen form. GH Sept 2015