Boats

David has owned a variety of sailing and motor boats since he started sailing as a young boy.

One of his first contracts in the 1970s was to build police boats on the Thames. His yacht brokerage sold motor boats and yachts to celebrities and yachtsmen around the world. During the 1970s he campaigned Solings, representing Great Britain on numerous occasions, and as an Olympic trialist in 1971 and 1975. He raced Darings in Cowes for many years, and later was a fierce competitor in the Dragon class.

Destroyer

Univ Barge

David has owned and restored an interesting collection of motor boats, as well as racing yachts. His first motor boat was the 26’ wooden Little Vanity, a tender to the classic Vanity. He bought the motor yacht Trevega in 1987, Trevega was designed in 1961 by Arthur Hagg. She was built for speed in the 1960s, with innovative features for the time, such as expandable fuel tanks and concave frames. Trevega was the prototype for the Queen’s Barge which hung on Britannia; Britannia always honoured this connection by dipping her ensign to Trevega, if Trevega came alongside.

In 1999 David bought Auriga, a 60’ steel Cammenga, a little ship moored in Genoa. He sailed her back to England, and began a programme of restoration. Prodigious his 54’ Nelson was a familiar sight on the Solent for many years.

Auriga

JAP

David raced the classic yacht JAP winning the Panerai British Classics twice outright. Later he raced her in the Med winning a first, second and third in St Tropez.

David donated JAP to the Royal Cork Yacht Club in 2021. The RCYC set up the JAP Foundation which enables members to compete on JAP in Classic racing worldwide.

Seaward 35

David purchased a Seaward 35 in 2021, built in 2011.

On the Thames he runs a wooden boat built by Ian Richardson in the Orkneys, made of larch on oak, with a clinker hull.

Orkneys Clinker Boat on the Thames