Published 11:00 on 12 Apr 2025
Congratulations to all those involved in the brilliant win of the Spirit of Tradition Sailing Award in London last week. Laerling (Designed by Paul Spooner & Jim Dines, and built at Downs Road Boatyard, is a 52ft (15.8m), Gaff ketch. Her name means Apprentice in Norwegian, because she was built by apprentices at Downs Road for a client.
She's a mix of new and old, with a traditional steel hull based on Colin Archer and other designers, hybrid propulsion, and redundancy in almost everything for adventure in far-flung places. It's a tremendous win for the yard, but also for Maldon as a whole, as it places focus on Maldon as a boat building hub of excellence. Well done, all!
Peter Collings
Laerling - Classic Boat Magazine © Copyright The Chelsea Magazine Company
Last updated 20:42 on 12 April 2025