J M Soper 61 ft Gaff Schooner 1932 - Sold

VERA MARY’s lines enhanced by her unobtrusive low profile deck superstructure are more than a match for the American schooners of her size and vintage. Joseph Soper her designer was known for his racing yachts and rugged cruising boats tending to rather greater beam than was usual at that time. VERA MARY’s interior reflects that extra volume with good spacious accommodation and a saloon worthy of a much larger vintage yacht ! VERA MARY was famously purchased by King George V and given in appreciation to his sailing teacher and friend Sir Philip Hunloke. Need we say more ?

The yacht was designed and built to the order of industrialist G.M Hamilton Fletcher, Royal Yacht Squadron member and personal friend of Joseph Soper. The brief was for a comfortable, fast but also representative cruising yacht – “a gentleman’s ship” and to build to the highest standard at a renowned shipyard. All the designer’s plans, calculations etc and those of the shipyard are preserved. The yacht was certified at Lloyd´s * A 16. Launched in April 1932 her owner christened her VERA MARY – judiciously in honour of his wife. In short order she was racing during Cowes week that year – attracting the attention of Frank Beken, who was to take numerous pictures of her over time.

It was in 1935 that His Majesty King George V bought her to present VERA MARY in appreciation and gratitude to Sir Philip Hunloke his long standing friend, sailing teacher – and skipper of his own yacht BRITANNIA. Thereafter she has had a series of owners – sailing mostly in the Atlantic and the Med. Around 1990 she was seen by international yachtsman Chris Law, then seeking a project and he, determined to devote his energies to restoring her, was fortunate in securing the vessel. He was to preside over her substantial restoration, which as faithfully as possible preserved all that was original and good – stripping out all that was unauthentic and or unsound. While some frames had to be sistered or replaced the original planking was found in remarkably good condition so mostly preserved. Otherwise wherever replacements were needed they were acquired or fashioned as faithfully to the originals as could be achieved. Her teak deck has been renewed during restoration. Some considerable documentation exists with respect to the restoration including articles from the yachting press.

- Teak 2 inch planking above waterline
- Pitch pine 1½ inch planking below waterline
- English elm keel and dead wood
- English oak ribs and deck beams
- Naval bronze fastenings, keel bolts, rivets, reinforcements
- Teak 1 ½ x 2 ½ inch deck planking
- Teak superstructure and interior joinery
- Substantially restored in Rostock 1988 and 2000 / 2002 including new decks

- Most of the interior is original except fwd of saloon; rebuilt and altered - but to the original style
- 9 berths in 5 cabins; owner\'s, saloon, crew, ladies and fore cabin; equipped for 10 people
- Owners – or ladies double cabin aft with companion from cockpit (original)
- Hanging locker to port
- Head with Lavac WC, basin and shower to starboard
- Double folding doors to saloon area amidships with companion fwd (original)
- Saloon with settee berths each side
- Table offset to starboard
- Stowage lockers to port and under
- Corridor forward to Head compartment, Lavac WC, basin and shower
- Hanging locker
- Companionway steps lead up starboard and fwd to deck above
- 2 x Berth guest cabin starboard
- Doorway fwd to Galley to port
- Gas cooker
- Refrigerator
- Sink with fresh water tap
- Guest cabin to stbd (original)
- Access to fore peak and deck above

- Oregon pine masts and spars
- Rig by Spencer Rigging Ltd., Cowes and Peter Lucas Dartmouth
- Sails by John McKillop, Kingsbridge, Devon, 1995
- Mainsail 764 sq ft / 71.00 sq m
- Foresail 396 sq ft / 36.80 sq m
- Jib No. 1 185 sq ft / 17.20 sq m
- Jib No. 2 105 sq ft / 9.75 sq m
- Fore staysail 187 sq ft / 17.40 sq m
- Jib topsail 94 sq ft / 8.75 sq m
- Main topsail 143 sq ft / 13.30 sq m
- Fore topsail 86 sq ft / 8.00 sq m
- Genoa staysail 355 sq ft / 33.00 sq m
- Yankee jib/drifter 549 sq ft / 51.00 sq m
- Trysail 277 sq ft / 25.75 sq m
- Working Sails about 1,771 sq ft / 164.50 sq m

From aft deck
- Nickel bronze fairleads mounted over anti chafe plates at each quarter
- Large bronze mooring cleats; I each port and stbd
- Large main sheet horse
- All ash cheek blocks for main
- 2 x Bronze Highfield levers
- Large cockpit with varnished coamings around cockpit adjoining trunk cabin
- Schooner style Helm wheel and steering box
- Bare teak cockpit seating lifts up to access lockers
- 8 x Belaying pins port and stbd mounted on bulwarks
- 2 x Bronze Lewmar 40 stay sail sheet winches mounted fwd on trunk cabin
- 2 x Bronze Lewmar 40 jib sheet winches mounted either side of main Mastervolt
- Lewmar 42 fore main sheet winch at base of main mast
- Fore main horse abaft main mast
- Raised hatch with skylight mid deck to access fwd end of saloon
- 2 x Ports and 4 x Lemon squeezer lights in deck
- Bronze mushroom vent
- Skylight over galley and fore cabin
- Varnished teak table to seat up to 8 persons and 6 x chairs set up between the masts
- Teak deck box containing 2 x gas bottles
- 2 x Large bronze vents
- Stainless steel pin rails either side at base of fore mast
- Bronze winch abaft fore mast for stay sail
- Stainless steel pin rails at base of shrouds p & s for throat and peak halyards
- Running back stays for fore main lead aft to mid deck cleats both sides
- Simpson Lawrence 24 V anchor windlass
- 48 Kg CQR anchor and c 200 ft 60 m ½ inch / 13 mm chain
- 28 Kg CQR anchor and c 260 ft / 80 m ½ inch / 13 mm chain

- Thornycroft 4 cylinder 150 HP turbo Diesel
- Volvo hydraulic engine drive offset to port
- Eccentric shaft with three blade fixed prop
- 12 V / 24 V board power supply system
- 220 V power supply
- 64 gallon / 290 litre diesel tank
- 176 gallon 800 litre fresh water tank
- 44 gallon / 200 litre black water holding tank

- Philips Magellan GPS APN 5 and reserve
- FAX Shipping forecast system
- Sailor UKW radio equipment by
- Steiner 7 x 50.binoculars
- Sea charts and area book.
- CD and tuner in saloon and ladies cabin
- CD basic equipment
- Deck loudspeakers

- 1 x Arimar 8 person life raft
- 1 x BFA Marine 12 person life raft
- Automatic life jackets
- Lifebelt and Lifelines
- Signal pistol plus ammunition
- Fire extinguishers

- Clinker 12 ft / 3.60 m McNulty 4 - 6 person sailing dinghy with lug sail fixed in davits to port
- 1 x 9 ft 3 in / 2.80 m rubber dinghy for four persons and Johnson 5 HP outboard

- 1988 at Rostock
- 1990 at Hamble Yacht Services
- 2000 - 2002 at Rostock