Saturday 27 February 2010

Yacht Vixen built circa 1952

Vixen arrived in Durban on her first circumnavigation,the place is Durban in 1958,the original owner,Jim Stark was aboard.

Vixen on a chain mooring in Durban in 1958,these black and white pictures were supplied by David Cox,he tells me the late Norman Oliver took them.

Vixen arrives at HBYC on sunday 14,02,2010,it was 6.16pm and they had just sailed around from FBYC past Cape Point,Vixen is now 58 years old.She and her crew sailed off to St Helena isle on wedensday 24th February,2010,Bon Voyage!


Inside Vixen,the next two pictures are from the web site of Les,the guy who spent five years restoring Vixen,well done Les,you did a good job.





Some words from Les (schinck?) at Design Kraft,USA.

VIXEN is a 1950 design by John Atkin; 34’7” on deck, 32’ waterline, 43’ overall, 13 tons, gaff cutter, 1950. She was built by Joel Johnson at Black Rock, Connecticut in 1952 of eastern white cedar on oak frames. Her original owners, James and Jean Stark, circumnavigated 38,000 miles taking five years. William and John Atkin based the hull shape on the Colin Archer lifeboats from Norway. There were a handful of prior owners, the last brought her thru the canal and took her up to Alaska. They brought VIXEN to Port Townsend in 1989 where I saw her for sale at Point Hudson.

In 1990 I pulled the boat and started her rebuild. Five years later she was re-launched with new engine, gear, fuel and water tanks; 100 % re-framed, 50 % re-planked, new floor timbers, major stem and stern post repairs; all new interior, new cuddy cabin, new bow sprit, all new wiring, lights, new running rigging…”on and on” as they say.

VIXEN was in the 1995, 1997, and 2002 Wooden Boat Festivals. We sold her in 2003 but bought a 45’ salmon troller, Sockeye, in 2002, which was also in the 2002 Festival…what were we thinking?

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