Ted Brewer & The Duchess of Devonshire

[svHannabel]

Just thought I'd share a cool sailing yarn for all the Ted Brewer fans out there. Ted crewed aboard a Luders/Brewer (himself) designed 45' sloop to Bermuda back in 1964. As many do, they encountered some weather along the way. You can read the story here.

[Blue Stocking]

I knew the Duchess of Devonshire well. Sailed on her, and led the crew when we removed her teak over steel deck planking in '67, IIRC.
4mm brass machine screws into a steel deck corroded away and the deck started lifting.
Put it back with 1400, 1/4-28 stainless machine screws, and new bungs.
The lady referred to might have been Diana, Sir Bayards sister, and wife to Kirk Douglas, and mother to Michael.
Sir Bayard is arguably Bermuda's most famous sailor, competing in many Newport/Bermuda races. Before this boat he had a sistership to the famous Finisterre, which was dismasted, but still got here, in an earlier race.
He, and his descendants, are still large and respected in the Island's legal fraternity.
This Duchess's replacement, a Fastnet 45 I think, is now famous as The first "Morgan's Cloud" Of John Harries fame. Sailed on her, as well.

[Max Sail]

Old thread.., but for posterities sake, I'll leave this note,

I learned of the Dutchess through a craigslist ad for a project boat in 2013. She was on the hard in a lumberyard in Chicago. I didn't go and actually see her, since it was clearly far more project than I could handle, but the owner did send over some interesting photos and some history on the boat. I hope she's still there waiting for some well heeled Chicago sailor to take on her restoration, and hope she isn't cut up for parts and scrap, would be a shame!