Description

A unique opportunity to acquire one of the earliest classic yachts afloat.

Sorceress a 60ft Gaff Cutter designed and built by Arthur E Payne in 1878 for Captain Lynch Staunton a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Captain Lynch Staunton also owned Mermaid 1860 built by Arthur Paynes father Alfred.

Sorceress was launched in the year of Alfreds death so one could imagine her being on the cusp of the evolution of yacht design with Arthur Payne going on to produce yachts such as Cariad, Javelin, Wayward and Artemis.

At 60ft LOD 13ft Beam and 9ft 6ins Draft, Sorceress is a very handy size, constructed of Teak and Pitch Pine on Oak frames, Bronze fastened, her hull is in remarkable original condition, still copper sheathed and a stunning shape. With very little information to hand her new rig was drawn from many references to contemporary yachts of the period resulting in a sail plan of 80ft along spars and 80ft to topmast.

Currently an ongoing project needing attention to decks, Spars, Rigging and Systems, she benefits from a hydraulic drive system with only 36 hours and new main and staysail by James Lawrence, both cut in narrow verticle panels and hand finished.

All in all, a very realistic project, ashore in Ipswich at present.

Specifications

Location Map