For the first few months in 2025, our ‘featured boats’ will be smaller gaffers and our January 2025 boat is ‘Cachalette’. She was built by East Coast Gaffer Steve Yates in his garden high above the River Derwent in Derbyshire and launched in 2010 on a local reservoir. She’s named after ‘Cachalot’ the ‘big boat’ Steve was restoring at the time, an East Coast ‘featured boat’ in 2023. The cover photo is by Sandy Miller, taken during the 2024 OGA Deben Rally.
‘Cachalette’ at Ipswich Wet Dock, 2010 Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ on the River Deben, 2022 Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ at the Tidemill Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ at the Queen’s Jubilee, 2022 Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ on the River Deben, 2018 Photo: Beverley Yates
‘Cachalette’ is designed by Iain Oughtred and the instruction manual for the ‘Guillemot’, design no. 54 states she is: “A strong, stable and very capable boat along the lines of a 19th century ship’s boat or large yacht tender. She floats on her designed waterline with three adults aboard and can take a great load of gear as well; she’ll carry five people for a moderate distance in suitable conditions. Two plus two children might be a comfortable maximum for pottering about. The Guillemot has been designed for owners who need a more burdensome hull with flatter floors, firmer bilges and higher freeboard. She will not be as light and fast, but is a lot more steady in the water and less ‘flighty’ than the Acorn Skiff. She is finely modelled and performs very well indeed for a boat of this type, whether rowed or under sail. She can happily take a light outboard as well. Two optional sailing rigs are show: the basic standing lug is the simplest to set up and handle. The gunter sloop gives a more interesting sailing performance; it is set up with traditional simplicity, and the short spars are easily stowed out of the way. There are no battens to complicate the handling of the mainsail.”
Hidden away amongst the trees in his back garden, ‘Cachalette’ began to take shape, above the workshop where he was also making a new rudder for ‘Cachalot’ amongst other projects. Launch was planned for 2010 and a suit of sloop sails was ordered from James Lawrence. After musing for a few years about alternative sails, Steve drew up plans for a lugsail He made a new mast and spars, taking delivery of a new lugsail from Jeckells in July 2023.
‘Cachalette’ on the River Deben, 2023 Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ on the River Deben, 2023 Photo: Beverley Yates‘Cachalette’ on the River Deben, 2011 Photo: Beverley Yates
‘Cachalette’ took part in the OGA East Coast River Deben Rally, 24 – 27 May, 2024. Watch the video on YouTube.
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