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The Wild Duck

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		This page is devoted to all the Barbicans and Atlantic Clippers that we have knowledge of. We hope to include photos of them as they come forward! We also understand there was a 30ft version?? anyone got any more info??? Yes says Peter of 'Viking Lady' again, The designer of the B 30 was John Sharp. As it happens a set of moulds and a completed hull are for sale in Plymouth at the moment (July 2008) £12,500, seems good value? They were built by Barbican Yachts, Plymouth and later by Armada Plastics Cornwall. The moulds were based on the Halmatic 30 hull but not the coachroof, that shape is different in window shape at least. A new Facebook page set up for Barbican owners, if social media is your thing!

		Barbican 33s

		Barbican 33 from the original brochure... anyone got a complete one we can reproduce? Yes says Brian, hopefully he will soon send it in so we can reproduce it here. Bob has beaten you to it Brian, unless your one is different of course, it may well be as you have a colour pic on the front of yours... I hope to separate some more of these designs out onto their own pages as time goes on and we get more and more. As we have a few Barbicans now, this will soon be on top of the list of jobs! The hull was used previously for that 'Black Pig' copy by Phillips of Dartmouth. See further down the page for the Atlantic clippers. This hull design and mould is still around somewhere, anyone else seen it for sale recently. Maurice did not approve of what Phillips did to his centreplate , they dropped the 'L' shaped 'safe' design. As a result you will not find the Barbican mentioned by MG in his writings anywhere, he did approve of the bilge keel version and would have approved of what builders did subsequently. So many had reported problems with the plate, that in later years the sensible decision was made by the builder to do away with it! Many owners have copied this, the sensible ones! Sad to say recently one owner has gone to great lengths to replace his plate and wrote it up for PBO. He ignored the advice of the PBO experts and of other owners and replaced it with a galvanised plate with stainless fittings, a real recipe for corrosion. Who is this man? The man who claims to run the old eoa! Sad he would not ask for advice, it's free. John You are spot on with your description of the centre board. Because of this concern about the plate dropping if the cable snapped, ours is designed in an L shape with a welded piece fastened onto the top of the plate. The plate casing comes right up into the saloon and up to the top of the saloon table. It has a cover which is easily hinged up to reveal the haul up cable attachment. The L attachment prevents the plate dropping too far (about 45 degrees max) and it can be easily reattached from inside the saloon. It is the centre board pivot bolt which is causing problems as it is under water and is inside a pair of fibreglass tubes running from the centre board casing to the outside of the hull. I think it must have a crack as it started letting in water and came very close to sinking the boat just after Easter. Scary! It was sealed up with goo and is awaiting a major inspection next winter. There might be a similar arrangement on other MG boats? I would be interested to compare notes. Justin
	We are indebted to Bob in Holland for the scans of the Barbican leaflet on the right here. Bob is the proud new owner of the Barbican 'Zeegenoot' below.	Sorry one of these pages is corrupted, if anyone has a copy they can scan so we can post it...? These scanned copies of a slightly different brochure from Gary. Gary has kindly converted these so I can post them! Gary is the new owner of 'Tempus Fugit' A Hull drawing has come to light, courtesy of Paul with 'Driftwood'. Hoping for a better quality copy later. Thanks to Paul for all these.

		'Zeegenoot' Bob's new acquisition. She looks well cared for Bob. She is a bilge keeler and sails in Zeeland waters.

		After a total motor failure Bob has organised a new motor and is fitting it ready for next season, when he hopes to sail over to see us! Look forward to it Bob.

		Bob has just contacted us with pictures and details of the new motor, he has chosen a Yanmar 3 cylinder 30 hp . She is fitted with a 3 blade 16" prop on a new 25mm stainless shaft. speed now 6 knots at 2800 revs. Neat installation Bob!

		November 2018, This picture in from Pierre and Els who are now the owners. She has changed names yet again. Billy Can Too, to Zeegenoot, to Carpe Diem, now to Orion! Berthed in Belgium now! They have just joined us and we hope they can send copies of other photos too, in one she is aground bolt upright on her two bilge keels!

		Pierre and Els with their 'Orion', showing her ability to dry out. MG approved of this version! Sadly when the L shaped centreboard was removed he removed his name from the centreboard design, you will not find the Barbican in any of his writings.... He would have approved of the ones with centreplate removed though!

		'Viking Lady' A Barbican 33. The new owners, registered with us, Ray and Peter sailed her back to the River Exe, her new home, from Northumberland. Is there a log for the Newsletter there!? These pics are of her when she was for sale in Northumberland. She is one of the bilge keel versions of the Barbican, there could not have been many made. Maurice preferred this design, as the 'L' shaped centreboard he designed was not fitted to the other version. The boat builders found it restricted their accommodation. The Barbican 33 is based on the earlier Maurice Griffiths designed "Atlantic Clipper" hull, but with a much more traditional and attractive coachroof. They were first built in 1979, and were semi-custom built by Barbican Yachts of Plymouth to a high standard. (Maurice did not design the upper-works on the Atlantic clipper, just the hull.) The hull and deck are GRP. The full length ballast keel has a keel hung rudder and twin steel bilge plates, which allows drying out. Whilst Barbicans are certainly not racing machines, they are not slow. They have a good record of long-distance cruising, and for quality construction. The interior fit-out is, as might be expected, with solid deck fittings, designed for safety and comfort at sea, as well as when moored. The last pic to the left was sent in by Karen who was bird watching in September 07 and caught Viking Lady making good headway in a full gale! Powerful craft you have there!

		'Ellen Grace' another Barbican?. Who owns her? What length? News just in, July 08 from Peter of 'Viking Lady'. She is a Barbican 35 designed not by MG, but by Holman and Pye. We will leave her on the pages so all know in future. Peter says she is actually moored a few miles away from his home, in Watchet Harbour! November 2011. Update. I saw the photo of Ellen Grace and the accompanying script from which I gather that more information about her is needed! I bought Ellen Grace in the Spring of 2009. She was indeed berthed at Watchet at the time. In July that year I sailed her to my home port of Waldringfield on the river Deben in Suffolk. For the past two Winters I have been working on her very hard, to bring her to my requirements. I still have much to do, but she is "getting there"! As to her provenance, she is, as you say, designed by "Holman and Pye". However, I think she is a very typical "Kim Holman" design. The hull was originally designed in the very early `70s by Kim Holman, with a ketch rig. This was a composite boat, with wooden coach roof on fibreglass hull and decks. This design was called the "Super Sovereign 35" and was built by Upham`s Yard in Brixham, (at the time, Kim Holman`s brother was running the yard I believe). Kim lived and worked from Maldon, but was originally from the West Country. Then Kim Holman designed a new taller rig for the boat as a sloop, on the same hull, and this is the Barbican 35. Unlike the composite Super Sovereign 35, the whole boat is made of fibreglass. She is an excellent very powerful sea boat, and lives up to the typical East Coast description of Kim Holman: "He never designed an ugly boat, nor yet one that did`nt goo!" Ellen Grace is: 35ft O.A. 26ft L.W.L. 5ft draft - long "full length" keel, 10ft beam 7,4 tons Displacement. John Castell John we are greatly indebted to you for supplying this information, a fine boat indeed! John

		'Red Dawn IV' 33ft Owned by Rodney and Elizabeth Leaper. Were involved with the other lot, until they collapsed in 2017, shame really. A Barbican centre boarder. Snapped sailing in company with the EOG on it's way to the Southend Air Show May 2005.

		She has a very nice hull line and nicer behind! You will not find the centreboard version mentioned in any writings by MG. He told me he was upset they changed his 'L' shaped centreboard to one that could fall through and cause problems.. Trouble is the case for the MG version got in the way inside for the builders... Can understand MG's annoyance though. The Bilge keeler is slightly more sedate, but MG liked that one! The owner of this boat published an article in PBO, describing how, against all the expert advice from PBO, he replaced the mild steel pin with a more exotic material, sadly this will corrode twice as fast. Read the article below about replacing pins properly!

		Well we were half expecting it. The last MG boat or YM owner maybe in the old assoc., selling up. June 2016. Still trying to sell 2018, far too expensive !

		'Shumara' Barbican 33 with centreboard. Just been purchased by Brian, who has now joined us. He says the only mods will be hull and deck treatment and rigging renewal. Look forward to the gleaming new paint, and new pics soon! Maybe the centre board will come out later!

		These pics courtesy of the previous owner. what a smart looking vessel! A credit to you sir!

		'Tide Time' Peter who owned her is now resident in France.

		June 2011. Peter has just contacted us to inform us he has part exchanged her for a Beneteau in the Med and that she is now up for sale there. We hope the new owner comes forward soon. good sailing Peter.

		February 2016, we have heard from the new French owner, André-Pierre Cassan He is waiting to shift her to her new moorings and has sent some details in for us. I have had to edit it slightly as it was translated from French and some meanings were lost! Hope I made it make sense André!

		I acquired “Elysara” Barbican 33, a 1983 built centre-board version, in September 2015. Her name is “Tide Time”. I arrived in the United Kingdom to find she was ready to sail: radar, GPS, Navtex… . her last owner, a lone sailor, had made a major refit on her between 2012 and 2013.

		A newlypainted non-skid coating on the bridge deck, and a stainless anchor protection plate fitted at the bow. The bridgedeck, the winches, hatch, the mainsail are equipped with new protective covers and the companionway is covered by a new sprayhood. For ease of use.. A bathing platform with retractable ladder is fitted at the transom. A length of netting on the guard rails. An electric anchor winch with remote control A lazy jack system fitted An autopilot, a Plastimo AT . New ropes and halyards For safety The electrical circuits and the food storage were tested - Three new life jackets Electrics - New batteries with splitters and parralleing switch, two batteries : 220 amps and a battery for engine start: 100 A/h controlled by a battery splitter and with a Battery charger: a Victron Pallas 12V 25 Amp plus 2 photovoltaic Panels of 80 W on a stainless rack Electrical circuit 220volts : - electric Control panel with independent circuit breakers, voltmeter, ammeter For comfort and looks New covers and cushions New radio and speaker New WC and tank for waste water New lighting fitted with LEDs: Navigation lights: Riding light interior Spot lights Propulsion Engine :- BMC with Standard Bowman cooling. power 36hp. restored in 2012, new preheating plugs, new injector nipples. greaser with pump . Sails in a good state For navigation - New Compass for navigation: Plastimo Contest 101 New V H F a fixed Navicom RT550 AIS – ASN New V H F a portable Navicom She is very well equipped. She has kept her name, ‘Tide Time’ and her old home port. I am waiting till spring to sail her to France. She is securely moored thanks to new shock absorbers on the mooring ropes. 2021 sold and now in France.


		'Siffleur' A Barbican 33 but in reality she was moulded by Phillip and sons and was one of three that were not fitted with the top moulding, but fitted out by the purchased, Bob Whistler. A centreboard version, (It appears that Phillips and Sons were responsible for altering MG's L shaped keel). With only an outboard Bob sailed her all around the south coast of the UK and to France. Sold on she had a motor fitted. a BMC 30hp. Sold on a couple of times the current owner found her in the UK and shipped her across the pond...

		She is now in America, sailing from San Francisco after her current owner Philip, shipped her there in 1996, purchasing her in Levington Suffolk. With winds in the area frequently between 15 and 30 knots he says he has not sailed a more sea kindly boat. I can believe that. Nice looking boat!

		This long keel Barbican 33, as opposed to bilge keel or centreboarder, was spotted for sale on the web, October 2008, by John Stevens. I have been told also that the 'long keel' simply relates to the centreboard version without the board. Good option I should think, but I also wondered if this version was any 'deeper' in the keel? Anyone know? Yes we have heard from an owner. The long keel has exactly the same length and depth keel as the others, but no centre board, nor bilge keels. Sails as fast with no hassle!

		The boat is 'Noss Packet', and is also for sale on our 'For Sale' Page! What a great picture of a great boat!

		'Hasimara' John Eastwood's Barbican 33, off the Isle of Wight. She also a long keel without that troublesome non MG centreboard. She is berthed on the river Vilaine. Seen here at La Crouesty, cruising South Brittany. Welcome to the EOG John. See the Barbican 'Tide Time' above, another boat based in France....

		'Hasimara' in La Crouesty, at the entrance to the Golfe du Morbihan.

		'Cinabbar' , belonging to Mike & Sue Parry-Evans... currently for sale. Get the name, I didn't, it's an anagram, very clever! Our thanks to John Eastwood, owner of the Barican 33 'Hasimara'for more information and photos.

		These two Barbicans 'Cinabbar' and 'Sea Witch' owned by Mike Barclay, in the Auray River, Golfe du Morbihan, in summer 2006. The latter was previously called 'Patra of Wight' and was originally White with a green sheer strake. Again thanks to John Eastwood. I like the wheelhouse!

		'Sea Witch' in the Odet river near Benodet.

	Brian the owner.builder.	'Patra of Wight', now 'Sea Witch'. An update for your website. I came across your website whilst talking through and explaining about Arthur Ransom’s Peter Duck – moving on to Grandpa’s boat (my father’s) He fitted out Patra of Wight from scratch, had her hull increased in thickness when she was moulded to make her stronger in heavy seas. Patra of Wight is in fact now called Sea Witch. Patra of Wight- Dad’s second yacht named after a slate sailing ship from North Wales where he kept his first boat. Patra sailed to North and South of France, Northern Spain, around Ireland, Sweden, Holland, Norway and up to part of Finland. As your website says – Patra, now Sea Witch is now in France. The new owner has been in contact with my parents who live on the IOW She was a lovely boat and responded well in a force 5-6. We loved her dearly Patra of Wight was based in either Yarmouth, IOW, Portsmouth and also few years in the Beaulieu River. We did have a rod and a hole so if the centreplate got stuck, a poke did the trick. She was rarely hauled out – our boats were kept in the water all year and it was all hands on deck for the spring scrub and paint in one tide either against the posts in Yarmouth or against the quay in Lymington. My Brother says he helped to attach the plate. Yes - a lot heavier but built to cross the North Sea and for Dad to sail her single handed. Happy days ! The plate worked – it was wound up on a cable – don’t forget she was new and my Dad was a dab hand. She was leant against the wall a couple of times a year so it would need to work. I will check with the family on any other snip-its No osmosis that I know of and it was rife at the time – I can remember all the conversations going on and I’m not up to date with that now but at the time, if I remember correctly – by keeping it in the water the hull was less exposed to frost ? I’m sure there’s more known about it now. (Yes nowadays GRP boats are better out of the water for 6 months of the year!)

		I will discuss and if I can find out any other info I will let you know. I’m attaching two other photo’s – sorry – they have us in them ! Shows the original Dog house or whatever it is which has been updated and you can see the tan sails and some of the interior on the other. I think that metal pole had something to do with the centre plate. Happy sailing Isobel


		'Nomad' ( she has the taller mast), is owned by Richard & Sheila Butler, and is moored in Brixham, here she was in Port Louis, opposite Lorient, 2006.

		'Awake of Parkstone' This boat is for sale, May 2009, see the For Sale page.

		Barbican called 'Last Barbican' is, or was it the last one? Keith Worsell is the owner, January 2011. She is the long keel version, the builder not fitting that troublesome centre plate that caused MG concern. John spotted this Barbican on his 'Fiddling Around' trip, in Scarborough 2013.

		This at present un named Barbican, ex 'Diana II', shown here in Haslar Marina whilst enroute from Cornwall to Essex April 2011, in the hands of new owners Nigel and Heidi. We are going to see more of this boat. She has the centreboard and the owners are well aware of the possible problems, so will be interesting to hear how she performs with and without it.

		Seen here showing her MG pedigree!

		Outside the cockpit is beautifully crafted in Teak

		Inside more Teak, but nicely varnished with loads of locker space and a book shelf for that copy of the 'Magic'!

		Nigel, Heidi was hiding! Very pleased with his boat. Not sure how the centreboard is going to help as Nigel admits to forgetting to use it. Now I hear it is stuck in the up position.. wonder if it will stay there? We are still waiting for a decision on the name....

		October 2011 and a chance encounter at Heybridge basin lock.

		See the name has still not changed then! Nor apparently will it!

		April 2014 and Diane II is ready to put back in the water!

		With one of the biggest cranes I have seen launching our boats! Nigel said it looked very small up there!

		For Sale: SOLD!! Barbican Mk II, 'Diana II' 1992 Barbican 33 Mk11 Maurice Griffith design. Designed to sail the N Sea and with its lifting centre board access the creeks of the E Coast too. Fine example with teak joinery. Velour green upholstery in good order. Lifting centre plate. V berth with infill double. Clever arrangement of doors enable the head shower to be expanded with secure closure from saloon allowing ensuite. Large hanging locker opposite heads forming connecting corridor between forward cabin and saloon. First owner ordered yard to apply additional lay-up to the hull, this already rugged craft is probably strongest of this marque! Min draft 4 feet max with centre board down 8 feet, Teak and holly striped cabin sole. Galley to starboard when entering companionway, gimballed stove with oven, twin stainless steel sinks. Pressurised hot and cold water. Chart table and quarter berth to port quarter. Comprehensive instrumentation. Large two leaf teak saloon table on centre line with linear seating to port and starboard. Stowage under with cave lockers to rear of backrests with hinged cupboards each side of saloon at deck level. Opening Lewmar ports with curtains. Large opening desk hatch in saloon just aft of mast. 3no 90 ah batteries, Adverc controller, also solar panel to keep batteries topped up. Ebersbacher warm air heating (D3) Shore power to Truecharge 20i battery charger. Golot head sail furling, fully battened main sail, sails tan colour. Primary winches are Anderson 40 st Halyard winches also Anderson, 10's. Beaching legs. Solar panel etc held in store by owner. Full engine service and new gear cables March 2015. Rope cutter – price drop to £29,995 (Inc VAT) SOLD 4/16 Waiting for the new owners, Richard and Maria Herbert, to step forward and take a bow. If Ernie had come up I was looking at this boat! John

		Barbican 'Avalon'. Found in Mariners Farm yard in Kent this spring, 2010, when collecting the WildDuck Tarka.

		The owners said they had done away with their centreboard after the normal problems and fitted a bow thruster for extra maneuverability. The result was the perfect solution!

		I have always liked the transoms on this design, not hard to see why! This could be my 'Dream Ship'

		October 2017 and the new owner of this lovely craft has joined us. Welcome Phil! Now based at Gillingham.

		A plea for help! Can any one help, please mail Gary. I need to know if the centreboard, on the Barbican 33, is slotted to fit over the pin or does the pin pass through a hole in the board? On most centre boarders, the board has a slot to slide over the pin, so as to make for easy removal. I need to remove the board, on my Barbican 33, when she comes out of the water. Barbican 33 'Rose Emma' Gary Griffin sologg at btinternet.com As far as I am aware the pin passed through a hole and the pin has to be removed before the plate can be removed too. Avoid dissimilar metals if renewing or are you removing plate and filling in the gap, many have. One I saw, 'Avalon', also fitted a small bow thruster to assist in tight corners, said it worked a treat and they were pleased to do away with the troublesome board! John October 2011

		'Eileen Naomi' A Barbican with a difference! This boat has Maurice's proper design of Centreplate! The hull and mouldings were finished off by the owner, to the original drawings! The 'L' shaped plate than cannot fall out! Justin has enclosed a few pictures that may help others.

		2 photos as promised. very similar, choose whichever is best. they should show clearly the shape of the welded bars. The pictures are looking down into the casing and you can see the top of the centre board itself at the bottom of the casing, which is horizontal and in the up position.

		Your question about the tube. Yes, there is one each side normally buried under loads of folded lead sheet. To give you some idea about the size: width of casing 11 cms

		Depth of casing to top of centre board 88 cms Inside length of casing 73 cms Depth of water from top of casing 20 cms when afloat Outside dimensions of triangle with welded bars 85 x 45 x 68cms (68 cms is the vertical length).
		I could write a short article if you would like. Hopefully these pictures gives you an idea of how it is. You can see the top of the L in the pictures. The centre board was taken out a few years ago for replacement of the pivot bolt (made from mild steel, not stainless) and de-rusting and painting. The access holes for the bolt on the hull are fibre glassed up as a precaution against water ingress in the bolt tube. (boat almost sunk when a crack developed on the tube). Centre board goes down at a max angle of 45 degrees before the top of the L hits the end of the saloon box (see photo with board in down position) . I use an old motorcycle tyre section jammed in to cushion the top of the L where it hits the saloon box (See picture "centre board cable" where you can see attachment to L and nobbles on tyre). When fully raised the board disappears completely inside the hull. In raised position the top of L is very close to the pull up pulley on the photos. Pull up wire (note- needs to be replaced) goes straight up onto deck and is led into cockpit via a pulley. ( It is very heavy!) Centreboard is brilliant to give early warning of shallow water. Used on many occasions! Justin
		And here is Justin's article, thought this the best place to print it! This is the story of my yacht, a Maurice Griffiths designed ketch called Eilean Naomi, which has a hull which was used in the Atlantic Clipper and Barbican designs. The history of this boat is interesting as it was purchased about 1970 as an empty fibreglass hull from a boat yard in Dartmouth and was towed up to Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales behind a Land Rover. The boat is 33ft long with a very solid galvanised steel bowsprit and a drop down centre board . The history of the building of the hull is that the Golden Hind was being built in 1968 by Hartwells of Plymouth, who commissioned Maurice Griffiths to design a bigger version. Maurice Griffiths did the design, but Hartwells then went out of business, and Phillips on the River Dart at Kingswear took up the design, and radically changed the superstructure to produce the Atlantic Clipper. The Atlantic Clipper, was being built at the Phillips yard in 1975 with a rather strange superstructure and a poop deck. When the Hartwell team split up, having produced hundreds of Eventides and the early Golden Hind 27 and 28 versions, one of the team moved to Plymouth. Terry Erskine Yachts, as he called himself, producing the Golden Hind for many years, 31ft at first and later a smaller 26ft, which was a copy of the Eventide 26. He also produced the Barbican yacht. Maurice Griffiths did not design the structure of either the Barbican or the Atlantic Clipper (he would not have wanted to be associated with either!), but the Barbican was more like the boat he wished to develop, Some loose hulls were built, which remained as Maurice Griffiths had designed, and were sold for home or local boatyard completion. One of these was used for Eilean Naomi and was fitted out in Hawes, to be more or less like the original Maurice Griffiths yacht design. It is a bit of a cross between the Barbican and the Atlantic Clipper and is a ketch with a rear cockpit, centreboard, and bowsprit. One of Maurice Griffiths trade marks when it came to centre plate design, was that the plate often had a 'stop' shape built into it to prevent it dropping right down, with a means of accessing the lift gear in the event of a broken wire. He would design the casing to be lost inside the boat, as part of a bulkhead or table. This is exactly how Eilean Naomi is now. See pictures of the saloon with the lift up lid over the top of the centre board access. Because of this concern about the centre board dropping if the cable snapped, my centre board is designed in an A shape with steel bars welded onto the top of the board. The board casing comes right up into the saloon and up to the top of the saloon table. It has a cover which can hinge up to reveal the haul up cable attachment. The welded steel bars prevent the plate dropping too far before the top of the welded bars hits the end of the saloon box (about 45 degrees maximum). The cable can easily be reattached from inside the saloon if the cable breaks. I use an old motorcycle tyre section jammed in to cushion the top of the welded bars where it hits the saloon box (See picture "centre board cable") where you can see attachment to the welded piece and the nobbles on the tyre). When fully raised the board disappears completely inside the hull, with the top of the welded piece very close to the pull up pulley. The pull up wire goes straight up onto the deck and is led into the cockpit via a 3:1 pulley. (It is very heavy!) The centre board pivot bolt can cause problems as it is under water, but inside a pair of fibreglass tubes running from the centre board casing to the outside of the hull. See picture of one of these tubes on the starboard side. The top of the centre board steel welded bars can be seen in the pictures. The centre board was taken out about ten years ago for replacement of the mild steel pivot bolt and derusting and painting of the centre board. The best material for the pivot bolt is mild steel which rusts at a predictable slow rate. The bolt has been changed twice in 30 years as far as I am aware. Stainless steel could corrode faster than mild steel will rust. There may be exotic materials like titanium that could be used, but they would not be cheap. There may be advantages fitting a suitable anode on the plate itself if a thin enough one could be found. This would avoid galvanic corrosion between the centre board and its bolt, and any other different metals elsewhere (on shore or on other boats). The access holes for the pivot bolt on the outside of the hull were sealed up with sealant originally. They are now fibre glassed over as a precaution against water ingress in the bolt tube. One year I tried to loosen the nut on the pivot bolt when the boat was out for the winter. I did not succeed, despite a two metre lever on the box spanner. My efforts cracked the fibreglass tube, and it started letting in water after launching, and came very close to sinking the boat. The centre board is brilliant to give early warning of shallow water and has been used on many occasions! I was told the story of Eilean Naomi tacking up narrow Scottish sounds with shallow banks on each side. The signal when to tack was when the centre board hit the mud and you could see the pull up cable moving on deck. Care is needed to close the centre board cover in the saloon during the winter lay over. I had several generations of mice who had a lovely time in the bilges and lockers living off last season’s food left on the boat. The centre board started to become floppy on its bolt last year, and was thumping gently on the centre board case. The solution is to have a securing catch to hold the centre board firmly in the UP position when the boat is resting. My thanks to John Williams for his assistance in the preparation of this article particularly with the historical side. Justin


		2014 and being launched, centreboard just visible!

		Barbican 'Sivota' found on Harbour Yachts web site for sale, looks a well cared for boat..

		The bilge keel Barbican, 'Santana', seen sailing here in May 2014 with owner and member Bill on the helm. Bill was a GH owner for many years you may have seen his beautiful 'Francis Fletcher' on the east coast. Picture by Steering Group member Nigel, from his Barbican!. Bill is extremely pleased with the performance of his Barbican, even with the sometimes sneered at bilge keels.! Maurice regarded this design as a good one, he did not like what the builder did to his safe centreboard. As a result the barbican is not mentioned in his writings. Shame, I think it a great looking boat and blocking up the plate is not difficult! Were I to buy one it would have to be the bilge keeler, all those special drying harbours and creeks it open up! Footnote. Message from Bill, he has really enjoyed the Barbican with it's bilge keels, reckons its faster than his GH31 but of course a bit more tender. Easier to manoeuvre in tight spots but of course not as steady on the helm at sea. Seems he has tested it well, 11 trips to the Netherlands in the last 7 years! Trying to get to an EOG event soon! and a PS. You'll be pleased to know hats are always still doffed and ensign dipped at Bench Head!

		'Passer-by' Spotted in Leavington May/June 2014 by Nigel and Heidi who were in there in their Barbican. Can the proud owner step forward!

		'Passer-by' The owner, Andy has just joined us. Love the colour and the self tacking staysail and cutter rig. Resident Leavington now and cruises east coast and Channel.

		The Barbican 'Chime of Deben' owned by Steve Ball. Sadly Steve tried to join whilst the enrolment page was down and though we have communicated we have not heard back, suspect he is off sailing! See Chime's voyages here:- www.chimevoyages.wordpress.com

		'Petronia', seen her is the Mediterranean, she is moored in Spain and owned by new member Bill Cowan. Awaiting more info re keel type, sail no. etc.


		This rather different Barbican was photographed by Nigel, ex owner of Barbican Diana. Seen at Wolverstone May 2017. Believe the owner to be Avril. Get in touch and we will forward your request for info to the membership.

		Rather smart. Never seen another rigged this way, wonder how she sails and what keel she has...

		'Solitude' a lovely Barbican owned by new member Marcus and sailed from the Solent. This boat was built by Bill Beavis the Sailing writer, from a hull supplied by Philip and Sons to the original MG drawings, (others at the time were fitted out by the yard as Atlantic Clippers) Bill did a Great job on the cabin. Hoping for copies of the drawings Marcus has, to offer to others refitting these beautiful boats.


		Someone has entered a Barbican 33 in the 2022 Golden Globe.??? https://goldengloberace.com/skipper/2022/arnaud-gaist/ I'm sure that all other MG owners will cheering for Arnaud!
		Info from Chris of the Barbican Katana of Beaulieu.


		'Tempus Fugit' Barbican 33 owned by new member Gary, July 2020.


		The Barbican 'Driftwood' formerly Anista.

		Seen here sailing of Mylor where she is now berthed, owned by new member Paul Nov. 2020

		Paul is looking at up grading the old mainsail and checking the pivot pin on that centreplate!


		Chris's 'Katana' ashore in France. Like the two bikes alongside, the tenders for Chris and his partner!

		'Katana' again with 'Tide Tide' just to the left in the picture ... Escorted by Chris from one French port to another.


		'Barberry' Owner Kerry has just joined us February 2024. Though based in Northern Ireland she is at present in Greek waters. a beautiful example. She is fitted with a bow thruster and one day that plate may be removed!

		In sunny waters!

		The comfortable and seaman like interior.

		This boat is a credit to her owners.


		Atlantic Clippers Advert from 1974, look at the price! Information sheet on the Clipper, courtesy of John Stevens.
		The following brochure found by Kieran and kindly sent in for all to view. Kieran's Clipper, 'Sparkle of Scolt II' moving from Liverpool to Douglas boatyard on the Ribble shortly. July 2021.

		The owner of 'Siffleur' reckons there were 54 Clippers made and another 3 sold as bare hulls, including 'Siffleur', not a bad total.

		'Solest' An Atlantic clipper built by Phillip and Sons of Dartmouth and based on a hull by MG. Not too sure about that stern cabin?? I know M.G. had doubts. But hey, it was OK for the 'Black Pig', so why not! This boat was spotted on E-Bay April 05, I have left a message on the owners telephone....

		The hull design went on to be the basis of the Barbican, but M.G. was not too pleased when the centreboard was altered to a wire pennant, not his 'L' shaped board.

		There is a lot of TLC needed, but it could look a character boat if someone cared... November 2007, update.. Olly has just been in touch, she was purchased by his late father and now he is trying to sell her, could be on our pages in the near future. If you have a lot of energy and pennies to spare she could make a good solid cruising boat, with a difference! I would love to see her painted with fake gun ports and a parrot on the stern! Feb 08 update, Olly has sold her via our pages...

		Another Atlantic Clipper, hard to realise it has the same hull as the Barbican! They all had centreboards I believe.

		Out of the ether comes a mail from the owner, Tony Jackson! We now have a name for her, 'IT' Sounds a little odd, but I hope Tony will tell us more. We believe she sails the west coast of Scotland. Another boat for a Skye Meet? 'IT' sports a slightly different wheelhouse now, looks good too.

		An Atlantic Clipper, nice hull, still not sure about that aft cabin! Another found by J. S. on the web, this time in Holland.

		Another Atlantic Clipper, this one for sale in Plymouth, October 2007.

		This Atlantic Clipper was sent to us by Hoo Marina in Kent, she was up for sale there, January 07. Now no longer listed, sold maybe? Yes and here is David the new owner! Hi John, The last clipper on the site is 'Louan' from a couple of years ago when she was for sale by the previous owner, I attach an up to date photo, (left!) but will provide a better one when we get her sailing again in a couple of weeks. Regards, David

		'Louan' afloat and with her new Beta 35 motor installed. Home port Ramsgate, any other Atlantic Clippers owners out there like to get in touch?

		Sailing well and with a clean wake no doubt. Like the teak grating on top of the bowsprit/cathead!

		2013 'Louan' sailed with reefs in and a bone in her teeth!

		Atlantic Clipper 'Night Cap'. Christopher has just joined us, September 2010, and sent these 4 pics in.

		This is Norway! Chris sails here here. His father bought the boat in 1983 and she is kept near Oslo. Looks like all the family enjoy her!

		The former owner was a chap called Lutken, who sailed her to Norway from the UK.

		You have to say the scenery and surroundings are a bit different to our muddy creeks!

		Hello, I have an Atlantic Clipper which I keep at Hythe near Southampton. I would love to get in contact with other owners with a view to fitting an effective wind vane. Can you help? Mark mark.p.symons at exxonmobil.com

		Atlantic Clipper, 'Wilhelm Gruff' a very nicely turned out version of the design! Owner Mark is reluctantly selling her. See the Boats for Sale page of the site.

		I have to admit that the stern cabin is growing on me! this one looks quite luxurious! Tip from Mark.... Yep, the board will stick if pulled all the way up into the box but if allowed to poke out of the box a little they do not jam. I used to keep the old girl at Kemps Quay, a mud berth and once I learned this trick it never jammed again.



		'Cossack' an Atlantic Clipper, seen here in the UK before the owner and member, Giorgio Marsiaj , sails her away to France and through the canals to Italy and beyond! Very smart boat!



		'Existence'. An Atlantic Clipper owned by Victor and family, they are preparing it for a major trip in Croatia and have asked many questions about the stern gear, drop plate, etc., which we are going to print as a separate page to be accessed from here. Will take a little while to collate. We have started a page on the builders and restorers section for the correspondence! Click here to go there. Sold and sold again, a Canadian sailed her for a year or so.....

		April 2017 and she is now under new ownership in Florida with new member Andrew...


		'Bandolero' An Atlantic Clipper moored in France. 2013. Owner New member Graham from Wiltshire.


		'Woe Wei' Atlantic Clipper from Sweden. bought in June 1999, build in new engine Vetus 32 hp. major refit new electric ,sails, rigging plates on the hull, yacht legs, repaint 2 component. refastened the bulkheads, refurbish the interior etc I have sailed 25000m since 1999 with her. The whole Baltic. Norway. From Holland to the Azores and back, Shetland. Faroe, Orkneys, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. She is a little special, not fast, but secure in all weather. I sail mostly single handed. She is easy to handle. I am open for questions about modifications I have made greetings harm knol bruins. mail me at:- hknolbruins at gmail.com

		'Melia of Norwich' This Atlantic Clipper was fitted out from a bare hull by Dick Lamb. must be one of the three we heard about, she has the later drop keel though, not the MG L shaped one. The result is the normal beautiful hull and it is topped off by a really sympathetic wooden cabin and cockpit.

		Not sure I have ever seen a better thought out and built timber version. Toby the owner has recently joined us, April 2016, and he sails her in the Netherlands. the number of owners who live in the UK and sail there! Having sailed over there a couple of times I can see the attraction. We are now waiting for another picture when she is out sailing with the new sails set!

		Melia of Norwich: in a class of her own? As a ‘new boy’ amongst Eventiders I offer this note in case it interests other members sailing Clippers or Barbicans. I have the lovely, dated, glossy illustrated brochure for the Clipper, shown being enjoyed by a young couple (he in flares, she looking like a pop star of that era: think Cilla on a day out with one of the Beatles). I also have the plans and specification. (Please have them scanned and share them with us Toby, this is what owners need!!) Philip & Son Ltd moulded the hull as order no. 00246 dated 24^th April 1974. Complete with deck shelf and centre plate hung in case with tubes glassed in, it cost the first owner, a dentist in Brundall, Norfolk, £1,353. He built the rest himself over the next four years, giving the hull ample time to dry out. That centreplate is not the design favoured by MG but I must say that it has given little trouble over the 23 years that I have sailed the boat. It does not intrude into the saloon at all. It once warned me, sailing under Orwell bridge, that I was scraping the bottom of the river. Once in Andijk harbour I forgot to lift it on arrival and it stopped me from reversing to leave! I once had to poke it down, using a long steel rod that I bought for the purpose. I try to remember never to pull it right up. That seems to help. I certainly would not be without its help in reducing leeway. The pivot hole has been refurbished. The bearing weeps a little but not much over the entire season. The first owner did not buy the Clipper upper moulding, preferring to build the vessel from scratch himself, the wooden deck being flush with the hull moulding. That has robbed us of some headroom but in return we have a boat that is very easy to board from a pontoon and has much less windage. The builder may have been influenced by traditional Broads cruisers in designing the solid mahogany sides to the main and aft cabins and the coamings for the centre cockpit. The result is a boat that looks ‘classic’ but is better suited to family cruising than to corporate entertainment. We have re-engined, with a Nanni 4150, giving 37.5 hp (which I really value in tight spaces). We have upgraded the steering and all the deck hardware and re-modelled the main saloon, installing Eberbächer heating, fridge etc. The year before last we had Coppercoat put on professionally: it seems to work. We have also significantly increased the sail area carried. First I put on a new bowsprit, recently replaced with ‘bull bars’ in stainless steel. Recently I replaced both booms. I looked at an article by Pat Wilkins on ‘Good Hope’. The design seemed so similar to the Clipper/Barbican hull form that it changed my thinking as to what sail that hull might carry. The new mizzen boom now overhangs the stern, making us nearly 40’ over spars (don’t tell the harbourmaster). The old, substantial, gap between the end of the main boom and the mizzen mast has been reduced to the minimum by installing a longer main boom. A new suit of sails from Jeckells proved quite a challenge to fit this month and I await with trepidation my first chance to see if I have now over-canvassed the vessel. Melia is cutter-rigged, with a removable baby stay from which we fly smaller headsails. Going to windward in lighter airs adding the jib seems to improve the ‘slot’ and make the genoa work harder. It is worth half a knot at most. For light airs we have a cruising chute and a mizzen staysail. For a bit of fun, idling along outside the Bay of Kiel when there was a parade of sail in town, we managed to fly genoa, jib, mainsail, mizzen staysail and mizzen all together. We didn’t get anywhere very fast, and were going the wrong way, but it was interesting for a crew of only two. For more normal conditions the fact that the sail area is divided between two masts reduces sail areas and makes it possible for me to carry on sailing where I might not otherwise be able to handle a large genoa or mainsail. Our cruising ground at the moment is the Ijsselmeer, based on Stavoren inner harbour. We’ll buy a burgee. Give us a wave if you see us. Sadly we shall miss the main rally this year. Toby.

		Atlantic Clipper 'Mariking' in The Algarve Portugal, owned by new member Jaap from the Netherlands. May 2018.



		SOLD: Atlantic Clipper, 'Cidre' 1970s Atlantic Clipper for sale. Centre board Version. Have owned for several years with the dream of launching, sailing, and living abroad. Circumstances have changed and I am unable to complete this project. The sails are in great condition, I don’t know the make. I never got the equipment promised when I got her, there’s just the original radio, which still works. A Seavoice 12 channel, 1970's vintage. There’s two anchors and 'lots' of chain, a electric winch, which I’ve never had working. In the gallery there’s the original Flavel gas cooker. There are various buoys of all shapes and sizes. (Fenders?) She has not been in the water for awhile. Never in the 6 years approximately I’ve had her. I've replaced most stop cocks. The hull is sound and drop plate okay and still moves. It’s in original condition with very little changes. (Will need updating.) Perkins 4108 Engine has not run for a while. Starter motor removed for reconditioning and storage. Dave Ellis. Location: Ashore Southport sold 2020.

'Viking Lady' A Barbican 33. The new owners, registered with us, Ray and Peter sailed her back to the River Exe, her new home, from Northumberland. Is there a log for the Newsletter there!?