Added to an edited post. And thanks for the compliment.

But a fuller story now.

Believed by past owners to have been built in 1860 at Restronguet, Fal estuary, either as a yacht built on oyster dredger lines of the period (see EJ March �Inshore craft of Britain in the days of sail and oar� vol 1) , or converted shortly afterwards to a yacht. History is very vague here..
I�ve transcribed to notes left to me by her previous owner, Michael Wright.

A brief mention in �swatchways and little ships� on pp70, bottom paragraph;

�The Alert �� was to be met all over the east coast often in company with Cleone, a long lean black straight stemmed yawl about the same size, a perfect period piece of the 1860�s, usually sailed singlehanded by her bachelor owner, neither yacht having an engine in those days.�

Earliest entry into Lloyds register of Yachts was in 1911/12, owned by C.L Falwell.
1915 � (1921), owned by H. Magniac, sailing from Burnham on Crouch.
1927 � 1950, owned by Mr S. Kiver, out of Burnham on Crouch, Tucky Brown�s Yard.
1951 � 1955, owned by C.W. Ellerby, out of Burnham on Crouch.
1955 � 1957, owned by B. Lucas. She apparently spent long periods at anchor, at Wrabness on the Stour and later in the saltings at Manningtree. She was in quite a dilapidated state. Much kit missing and used by local children and others as a �floating playground�. She was involved in a collision with a larger vessel and had damage to her starboard deck and bulwark. She was recovered from the saltings and taken to Holbrook creek. Here, she fell over and filled with water (sunk) at least once.

1957. owner P.Kerridge , out of Burnham on Crouch.

1958 - 1979, owner H.Ballam. out of Woodbridge. She was transferred to Melton Dock where much of her missing kit, including the missing mizzen were found. Work was done by Melton Boat Yard between 1958 and 1963. Deck repairs and the Garboard strake replaced on one side. During one lift out, the lifting cradle fell, and broke off the stem head. Survey carried out for Mr H Ballam by Francis Jones and Partners 1974.

1979, owner Mr M J Wright. She had been in a run down condition for some years in a mud berth near Melton Quay. Following some emergency repairs, she was sailed to Southwold, thence to Beccles the following year where she was craned out and installed in Michael Wrights garden for a complete rebuild, starting 1980. The rebuild took some 12 years!
Cleone was relaunched completely restored alone by Michael Wright in 1992, and made her maiden voyage to France to feature at Brest �92.

Substantially, during the rebuild, Michael raised the deck by two planks, giving her more space and headroom. The rudder, deck and coachroof were all replaced, yet apart from the garboard strake all hull planking is original, and some oak frames have been doubled, and replaced. All Concrete and scrap iron ballast was removed, frames and hog, and keelbolts checked and found in good order before the mixture was replaced. The interior joinery is all new, and new gear and suit of sails furnished. Michael also installed a Petter Mini Twin as her engine.

The Wrights moved west to Devon and Cleone was based in Dartmouth from 1992 and spent the next years cruising the West Country for probably the first time in the 130 years since she was built. Wintering for the last few years at Nash Holden�s yard at Old Mill creek.

May 2006, bought by me, Mac McDonald from M J Wright. Now based on the River Exe at Exmouth.

I replaced the Petter with a Beta 20hp diesel in June, and plan some minor cosmetic and internal refurbishments over this winter 2006/7, into 2007 and won't now go back in till April 08! I fitted a new Anchorman manual capstan on the foredeck. I have the original wrought iron and oak windlass, but the barrel of this is now very warn, and the size of it makes a real trip and injury hazard on the foredeck, so is being retired on the grounds of personal safety!

A host of other upgrades, mostly minor, mainly being cosmetic will follow. The cockpit sole is being raised to make it self draining, and easier to climb out of. This will free up space for a diesel tank under, which will allow the old tanks to come out of the cockpit lockers and provide vast stowage for sailbags of which I have many. All new electronics, etc. Oh, and a deck recaulk - did I mention that? Not looking forward to that one in the next few weeks.

I will be back afloat for April, even if I'm still doing the varnishing! I had hoped to get to Peel for the fest., but my summer is going to be too busy for very long voyages.
At least, thats what the SWMBO tells me!

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