Bubbles

Current boat name

Bubbles

Boat class

7648

Number

3

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Length (m / ft)

4.27 / 14ft

Leeward

Centreboard

Masts

one bamboo

Rig type

Gunter

Propulsion

Sail

Designer

Burgoine Alfred

Design date

1912c

Date of build

1903

Brief history: first owned by G.A.Wales (address Old Park Farm, Enfield) who sailed her 1902-1908 (Source Jamie Campbell scrapbook of EDP cuttings) Number 1 was H.R. Nicholas Everitt's 'Pick-Me-Up' (famous man locally in Lowestoft) Number 2 was E. Hick's 'Wave' (neither though to be extant). BUBBLES bought and very successfully raced in Norfolk by Miss Cristobel Clark (1907). Her Brother, R.O.Clark, started an early motor cycle dealership in Norwich. Both her father and brother were involved in the beginnings of the Norfolk One Design dinghy, built by Herbert Woods. BUBBLES originally lugsail, but a match was sailed on the Broads in 1911 to settle a £50 wager on the superiority of the Norfolk lugsail over the sloop rig favoured in the West Country. Frank Morgan Giles helmed his west of England 'Firefly', beating the Norfolk lug rigged dinghy 'Irene' in 4 races out of 5. The Norfolk Restricted class agreed to allow a Gunter rig, but no jib, with 140 sq. ft. in one mainsail. This is as 'Bubbles' is now rigged. Owner Nov 2012 BUBBLES is believed to be a unique example of the 14ft dinghies which were built and raced to the Yare & Bure Sailing Club Rule prior to WWI. More research is in hand to establish if there are any other early survivors from the Yare & Bure Sailing Club Restricted Class 14ft dinghies. GH Nov 2012