Member Model – Peter’s Winford Pond Yacht

Last update showed the 1925 Winford Pond Yacht I was just starting to restore. I am pleased to report it is now complete and working.

Fortunately all the parts were there and only a new deck had to be made with an antiqued finish to replicate the damaged original. The metal hull and wood keel were finished to original colours the lead keel original finish. Further research revealed the additional sails were part of the original kit – “A” (as rigged on my model) for light winds, “B” medium winds and “C” strong winds . The sails are simply hooked into screw eyes in the spars with adjustable hoist tension on the (forward ) jib sail hoists. The jibs have a boom with a sheet that slides along a “traveller” as with the mainsail). The bowsprit spars are removable and sized for each jib sail and boom. The main boom suits all 3 main sails with attachments for same. The original “automatic steering” is enabled by tensioning the rudder tiller arm with a rubber band and the “main sheet” (adjustable rope that lets the boom in and out ) attached to the outboard arm of the rudder – as the wind forces the mainsail out the sheet pulls the rudder to steer down wind to hold a fixed straight course as sailboats tend to self steer up into the wind and stall requiring the rudder to be pulled away to offset the action and make the boat sail in a straight line. These models were raced in a straight line course where people on the far bank would rescue the boats when they made shore. I will be conducting “sea trials” shortly at Spencer’s pond. It also makes a wonderful, interesting display model at home and for our outdoor events when we eventually resume them.

The dimensions of the yacht are: Length 32″, beam 6.75″, Overall height 44″, and draft 6.5″. It weighs 4 lbs.