Magic Dragons run out of Puff

[Mike Burch]

Older members of this forum who cruised the Pacific and read the yachting magazines in the later part of the last century may remember the yacht Magic Dragon and her zany live-aboards, Michel (“Shelley”) and Jane de Ridder.

Sad to say, Jane died on Thursday 25 March 2021, and Shelley a day later. They had moved ashore in New Zealand a few years ago, dogged by ill health and increasing immobility, until the pains of old age finally caught up with them. Shelley was 91.
Shelley had the plans of Magic Dragon drawn to his specifications, and as one might expect from a man whose individualism had got him expelled from his Belgian kindergarten at the age of three, his home of the next several decades had some unusual features.
The most obvious departure from accepted practice was the odd-looking reverse sheer, which gave his 46-footer the internal space of a bigger boat. Less obvious was his home-brewed self-steering, which utilised a trim-tab on the rudder, and was a thing of wonder that could steer Dragon in almost any conditions.
Dragon’s fridge was classic Shelley. It was a large domestic gas-powered fridge, mounted on a pivot which gave it the freedom to stay upright as the boat heeled. Its potential for pulping any passing kneecap was moderated by a shock-absorber liberated from the front suspension of a Morris 8. Typically Shelley—brilliant, original, effective and almost free.
For many years, Jane wrote articles for the yachting press, always readable and entertaining, though in recent years her output had ceased. She was also a radio ham—VE0MCG/MM—and made many friends on the air.
In accordance with their wishes, Jane and Shelley were cremated without ceremony. Their ashes will be scattered at Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands. The world—and not just the sailing portion of it—will be the poorer for their departure.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
(Tennyson)

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Mike,

Thank you for posting this. We had many happy hours with Shelly and Jane over the years, and for years, they were role models for us, too. I remember the counter he built for Chris and Dick from Chataqua at their place on Kawau Is. We will remember them for their individuality and their great joie de vivre.

Rest in peace, dear old friends.

Ann

[gamayun]

A very nice tribute to such an interesting couple who, by the sounds of it, lived their lives authentically and fully. May we all be so lucky.

[wolfgal]

to live, love, sail, invent, and die together... what a beautiful couple Shelley and Jane must have been!

can imagine them on their Magic Dragon... such a beautiful image to share, for us to keep!

thank you

[GordMay]

[Jim Cate]

The Magic Dragon has gone home to Hanai Lei...

Shelly and Jane were friends, fellow cruisers and to be honest, our role models for so many years. They exemplified much of what I believe to be the best parts of the cruising community. It has been sad to follow their descent into ill health as they aged... the occasional notes from Shelly over the past few years were really hard to read dry eyed. We and the cruising world are the poorer for their passing, and Ann and I miss them.

Fair winds on your final passage, old friends, and a snug anchorage when you arrive.

Jim

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by gamayun

May we all be so lucky.

Thanks, Mike.

[bcboomer]

"The most obvious departure from accepted practice was the odd-looking reverse sheer, which gave his 46-footer the internal space of a bigger boat."

I have zero marine design knowledge but this seems like it might have positives besides the space improvement. Initial form stability and a longer waterline come to mind.

Has anyone else built this design? Why not?

[Mike Burch]

Originally Posted by bcboomer

"The most obvious departure from accepted practice was the odd-looking reverse sheer, which gave his 46-footer the internal space of a bigger boat."

I have zero marine design knowledge but this seems like it might have positives besides the space improvement. Initial form stability and a longer waterline come to mind.

Has anyone else built this design? Why not?

Reversing the sheer has no effect whatsoever on waterline length. And by raising the centre of gravity of the hull it could even make the yacht slightly more tender.

Yes, other boats have been built with reverse sheer. It is particularly common in power yachts, but still rare in sailboats. Magic Dragon was sympathetically designed and was therefore not an ugly boat, but badly done reverse sheer on a sailing yacht lacks the grace one expects of a yacht's most important curve, and just looks wrong.

[boatman61]

Fair winds into the setting sun..

[wsmurdoch]

Thank you Mike.

Bill

[MandB_Insley]

Yes, many thanks Mike.
Jane and Shelly were our dear friends and we might not have learned of their passing for some time if not for your post.
We spent some great times throughout the Cooks and Tonga during the late 80's with "the Dragons" and kept in touch for some years afterwards.
As mentioned Magic Dragon was an amazing design; including among other things a locker big enough to hold a Honda 55 scooter - which naturally fit perfectly into their custom built nesting dinghy for shore excursions. Bev recalls one wild ride hanging on for dear life with (tour guide Shelly) around the beautiful island of Aitutaki. Or having some of Jane's delicious Poisson Cru! Jane and Shelly were inseparably and quite simply the finest of folks! Always ready to share what they had and help anyone fortunate enough to cross paths with them.

Mark and Bev Insley

[Jim Cate]

^^^^
Mark and Bev.... how great to see your names pop up here on CF, despite the sad occasion. Welcome to the forum... we hope to hear more from you.

Jim

[JPA Cate]

Hey, Mark & Bev,

Long time no hear. Sounds like you've got a great new boat! Lovely to hear you're still sailing!

....Remembering Bev's birthday in the Golfo de California!

Ann

[Dsanduril]

So wonderful to hear names I haven't heard in so long, and so sad that this is the occasion for hearing them.

"We’re built to cruise for but a while upon this trackless sea, until one day we sail away into infinity". Voyage well.