Key details
- Current boat name
- Femme Fatale
- Boat class
- 7071
- Sail number
- 28
- Function
- Sports and Leisure
- Type
- Dinghy
Dimensions and specifications
- Rig type
- Bermudan sloop
- Propulsion
- Sail
Design and build
- Designer
- Uffa Fox
- Design date
- 1947
- Date of build
- 1949
- Place of build
- Unknown
Current status
- Present use
- Sailing
History
The cotton sails and what is believed to be an Egyptian cotton spinnaker were with the boat when it was discovered with the spinnaker using beautifully made lightweight tapered spinnaker sheets. The Trakmark deck was there along with the unique cockpit cover which sits on the deck over the coaming to keep the weather out when the boat would have been left on the water. The final feature found was the cassette rudder which dropped through the stern deck, International Canoe style. Early Fifteens had this feature but Femme Fatale is, to date, the only boat besides the prototype to use this feature giving a uniquely shaped rudder blade.
- Graham Lamond (Flying Fifteen blog)
After being found Femme Fatale was lovingly restored but suffered major hogging issues from being dry sailed and was subsequently sold to her third owner who made various modifications such as large mahogany structural additions and conversion to centre main to make sailing her more straight forward, but still maintain all of the parts of the boat to possibly return her to original condition if required.
As of now she is pride of place among the large fleet (30+ boats) of Flying Fifteens at Burton Sailing club taking part in Sunday racing, cruising and occasionally exhibited on open days.