Frank Wightmans book The Wind Is Free surfaces

This mail came in yesterday, it left a question at the end, what was it about?

Hello,

I hope I am not intruding on your time, but I

'navigated' my way to your email address in

my search to find the owner/restorer of

Frank Wightman's "Wylo".

The several websites didn't make a direct link,

but I think you are the gent in question.

Please let me know as I have something

that might be of interest to you.

Best regards,

James

The copy looks to be in fair condition, what is special about it though?

Thank you for writing me so quickly Roy.
One of my activities here is as a collectible
books dealer and just today in a stroke of
serendipity I bought a copy of
"The Wind is Free" by Wightman.
A very nice though used copy, without a jacket, but,
 . . . signed "F.A Wightman" on the half title page.

One of the things I've always tried to do is not
just put books up for sale, but to research ones of
unusual or special interest - and try to place them
where they would be best appreciated.

The book has been signed by its author, for which James adds a value today of U$100, thats a bit rich for myself, yes I would love to own this book !

If anyone wants to buy this book and before its put out for sale, please contact me and I will put you in contact with the seller.

You can view Franks boat in this link http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/2009/01/wylothe-original-that-frank-wightman.html

 

Roy

 

Hi Roy,

 

Thanks for sharing some info on Wylo and Frank Wightman.

 

I bought a book many years ago in a second hand shop in England titled "The wind is free" and of course you know who the author was. I joined the Royal Navy and read the book whilst serving on a minehunter as a Clearance Diver. I have tracked down and read another book, "My way leads me seaward" and have re-discovered my interest in the whole life story of Frank and Gray. Is there any kind of information available on his life story, or is there any kind of official society that you know of (especially in the cape area) that would have any idea where to start. I guess there must be links to his publishing house or biographer but any searches I have made bring me back round the houses to the same few links!!

 

I see that a restoration project was started which is great, because if Wylo is allowed to just fade away it would be a sad loss, she deserves to be preserved as do his fantastic books! Someone would be missing a trick if she is not to be seen again.

 

I thank you for your time and hope that you can point me in the right direction towards a little more info.

 

Fair winds,

 

Gary Jackson.

 

P.S. I have visited The Cape before and would love to return one day. Where is Wylo and would it be possible to see her with my own eyes??

Thanks again for your time.

A South Afican i550, more pictures

These progress pictures came in two days back, Will has his hull built now and looks to be moving onto the seats and then the decks.

The standard boat uses sixteen sheets of 6mm okoume marine plywood, Will took a few more to allow him some variations if needed.

 

CKD Boats cc supplied all of the plys and the CNC work to cut them, Will sourced the rest of the materials where he lives.

 

 

This is hull #1 i550 built in South Africa, there is interest in more being built.

 

Roy

 

 

Stone Form information in Cape Town, South Africa.

Stone Form is now on our web site.

Try this link http://www.ckdboats.com/stoneform.html you will find a link there to ideas on installation also.

Yes,this is flexible but the face is real stone!  The standard sheet size is 600mm x 1200mm.

We are gathering information of what glues to bond Stone Form tiles to floors, Stone Form sheets to counters and walls, these will be available pre packed when you order.

http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/2013/05/introducing-stone-form-flexible-stone.html
Roy

Wills i550 progress with our kit

The progress since I last looked is remarkable!

Will has had problems with using epoxies in the fierce heat they experience where he is building, we always give advice when those materials are purchased from us, I am not sure who was his supplier?

June has been about crawling around inside the boat cutting the bunks to size and prepping the bilges for epoxy. I am not friends with the heavy 450GSM biaxial tape I am using. So many air pockets to sort out. I have found out (far too late of course!) that cutting the edges off the tape length ways with a rotary cutter significantly improves the quality of the taping. Also, the cooler weather is allowing me the luxury of wetting the tape out first, leisurely filleting and then applying the tape, spiral rolling and adding peel ply and spiral rolling again. This has, mostly, raised the quality of my glass work as the tape is very heavy and prone to trapping air. On the few occasions I have felt able to use the lighter 200GSM tape it has been a breeze, maybe I should have used more?!

Words above by Will, my advice is not to use glass tapes that are so heavy, often hand cutting biaxial cloth sheeting gives you a much more flexible material?

http://471.sailspace.org/wp/

We have local boat builders who can assemble our kit for you.

Roy