Key details
- Current boat name
- Star
- Function
- Service
- Type
Dimensions and specifications
- Length (m / ft)
- 7.92 / 26ft
- Beam (m / ft)
- 2.13 / 7ft
- Leeward
- Keel - long
- Masts
- one
- Rig type
- gaff cutter
- Propulsion
- Sail/engine
Design and build
- Designer
- Edward Wade
- Design date
- 1907
- Date of build
- 1907
- Place of build
- St Helens, IOW
Current status
- Present use
- Sailing
History
STAR is an unusual boat with a very interesting history. In 1907 she began life as a training cutter at Osborne House, an RN pre-Dartmouth nautical college on the IOW. In 1921 the college closed and STAR was sold into private ownership on the IOW until 1939 when she became the property of Stanley Lewis in Fambridge on Crouch, Essex and remained on the east coast with a series of owners in Tollesbury, Maldon and West Mersea until 2007. She won a cup in the 1966 East Coast Old Gaffers Race.
In 1955 an important restoration was carried out at the William King shipyard in Burnham-on-Crouch, and in 1986 STAR was bought by Christopher Fittock who carried out a lengthy but less professional restoration lasting until 1990. (see docks for details)
In 2007 Star was bought by Michele Ivaldi and moved to the yard of Fratelli Constantini on Lake Maggiore, Italy where she has undergone further restoration. (see CB 248,Feb.2009)
2/12/2013 NRJ