National 12 - find out more...
 
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - HRO

#1
Boats / Re: N28 Libertas
19 Mar 2024, 10:13
An update on the life of N28 Libertas from owner Henry Crawly, March 2024:

I offer an alternative brief history of this vintage boat built in 1936 for my father Jim Crawley (died 2003) who to the best of my knowledge acquired it from Uffa Fox or a fellow boat builder, and sailed it before and after the war in Burton Cups.  It was named Libertas after his mother's name.

The boat has been at Blakeney SC since early 1950's, in which my family all learned to sail.  She now sits at my home near Blakeney, but hasn't been in the water for 20 years.  She has the original wooden mast and cotton sails, and a covered transom unlike N1 Gipsy.

I only offer this information having checked out the website, and was surprised to see an entry for N28 by Ken Goddard who had tracked N28 to Paul Handley who had restored her in 2008, or a boat with the same name and number, which is mildly confusing.  Boats change names and registrations sometimes, but l would be intrigued to understand this mix-up.  I'm happy to provide photos if of interest, and more importantly would be happy to hear from any restoration enthusiast who might need a project, and the free offer of N28.  It will otherwise sit in our barn feeling a bit unloved.  The boat is in pretty good condition but not yet in racing trim!

Henry Crawley    henrycrawley53@gmail.com
#3
 Eileen O'Reilly
It was sad to learn this week that Eileen O'Reilly, honorary secretary of NTOA 1972 to 1980, had passed away last Saturday, 13th January 2018.
Eileen always an ardent supporter of the Class, was an enthusiastic crew with amongst others, Nigel Boschi and John Bugbee, and supported the running of the Association within the Thames area, she was at that time living in Isleworth, and then as NTOA honorary secretary.  On retirement Eileen moved to Worthing and later to Devon.  Her affection for the Class continued maintaining to the end associate membership of NTOA, always keeping in touch with Class affairs by the newsletters and circulations of Class activities.
The Class's foray to France in the mid 1960's had Eileen much involved with its pre-event NTOA organisation, as for two years a National Twelve open meeting at La Baule and then La Rochelle was held.  In 1987 Eileen presented to the Association an award, the Eileen O'Reilly Trophy, to the crew of the winner of the Inland Championship.  It was perhaps appropriate that the Association Trophy, awarded to the winning helm at La Baule and La Rochelle, later re-inscribed as the Ivor Williams Trophy, had become the trophy for the winning helm of the Inlands. 
Eileen's involvement with Burton Week evolved as honorary secretary administering NTOA activities with the host club and seeing to the detail of the shore proceedings.  It was the early days of computers too in the permutations of the final results, Eileen keen to see pen and paper laid aside as this new opportunity to finalise 130+ boats appeared.  Individual helm punched cards were the means, put into race finishing order, and driven some miles to a host club member's office having the necessary machine to compute the Week's final order.  Eileen was well pleased with the outcome.
At this time our thoughts are with Eileen's family and her son's Anthony and Simon.  The funeral service will be at Exeter and Devon Crematorium on Friday 9th February 2018 at 3pm and afterwards at Armada Court, Topsham, Devon.  In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Cancer Research in Eileen's memory. 
Michael Brookman
n12 Bottom Banner