Aeolian 28.  Built in Leicester (Percy Road) 1950. One on the very early models produced for a Dr Wilson who sailed it on Windermere.

Atomic Betty 13544

My mean lean racing machine, has a higher maintenance  need than my other two wooden boats..

Kyle Lea 2910

This is the boat I use for cruising. Built in 1956 (a home build).

The GP14

Originally designed by Jack Holt in 1949, the GP14 is easily recognised by the distinctive bell on the mainsail. This is thought to be either a reference to the legendary bells of Aberdyfi, North Wales, where Jack Holt is alleged to have designed the GP14 or, perhaps more likely, it relates to the original manufacturer Bell Woodworking.

The idea behind the design was to build a general purpose (GP), 14-foot dinghy which could be raced, cruised, rowed or to which you could even attach an outboard motor if you wanted to! Nowadays, you are most likely to see the GP14 being used to race competitively, train people to sail or occasionally just enjoying a casual cruise around a lake, estuary or coastline.

The GP14 is used for all levels of sailing, from training beginners through club racing to competing at regional, national and world events. As a relatively stable boat it is ideal to learn to sail in and is sailed by people of all ages and abilities. For competitive racing there is a wide tolerance of all-up crew weight.

The boat was initially designed with a main and small jib as a comfortable family dinghy. This is still available and can be particularly useful when using the boat to teach sailing or for lighter crew weights, but more commonly the boat is seen with the full rig of mainsail, genoa and spinnaker.

DAWES GALAXY - Fully loaded with tent etc. Pic taken on a wet day on Skye - how unusual is that!!!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain