Our featured boat for November celebrates her 100th anniversary in 2024. In the same family for 52 years, Victoria looks back on some happy memories. Her skipper 50 years ago, John Beale brings a us a report of the 1974 OGA Heineken Rally.
On 1 June 2024 ‘Lindy’ was in the Walton Basin, surrounded by her friends including ‘Bella Ropha’ and ‘Cobweb’ to celebrate her 100 birthday. A lovely evening was enjoyed remembering voyages, meeting friends and looking back over the 52 years she has been in our family. To mark her centenary, a book has been written outlining her history. ‘Lindy’ was built by David Hillyard in Littlehampton. David Hillyard was actually born in Rowhedge and did his apprenticeship in Wivenhoe. She was one of his first yachts to be built. We understand she was a show boat at Olympia, and an Irish man bought her and called her ‘Graineog’. In 1927 she won the Estuary Cruiser design competition and in 1930 her name was changed to ‘Lindy’ and she was registered in London.
Andrew and I are the 9th owners. There have been a number of interesting owners in between. In 1944 ‘Lindy’ was purchased by the future Vice Admiral, Sir Lancelot Bell Davies, who collected her from Littlehampton. He rigged her as a fishing vessel so he could take her out to sea, he had also been able to access charts so he knew where the mined channels were and managed to sail her to Gosport. He did get spotted by a Royal Naval ship on the way, but he stood his ground. In the 1960s she was owned by an accountant in Cambridge who regularly wrote for the yachting press, sadly we have not been able to find these articles. Finally of course there was my father, John Beale. Under his ownership he cruised extensively around The Netherlands, Friesian Islands both Dutch and German. During John Beale’s ownership was when ‘Lindy’ first became introduced to the Walton Backwaters and a certain John Fleming. John was a huge ‘Lindy’ fan. He was probably responsible for all sorts of voyages, mishaps and was hugely generous in making sure that ‘Lindy’ was looked after and loved. As children we enjoyed a number of cruising holidays with the Flemings on ‘Widgeon’. Just imagine, six girls, two non-sailing wives and two boats!
I first ventured on board ‘Lindy’ when I was a child in 1971. I could walk into the fore cabin standing up. Every holiday was on board and ‘Lindy’ was gradually adapted for a family of four. I spent nearly every weekend sailing on ‘Lindy’, there were trips with ‘Widgeon’ (built 1901) and ‘Cobweb’ (another Hillyard). It was an idyllic childhood for my sister and me. Looking back it is hard to believe that we both shared the fore cabin. By the time of our last holiday on ‘Lindy’ both my sister and I were adults. We had suitcases on the coach roof and spent alternate nights on the main cabin floor, the other one of in the fore cabin. As well as her extensive cruises, she has a bit of a racing history. She won the Stone Plate once at the East Coast OGA Annual Race as well as a number of other prizes. She was also a regular at the Snowball Trophy, Walton & Frinton Yacht Club, when there was sufficient water to sail around the club. In 1974, she sailed to the Netherlands to join the OGA Heineken Rally.
Having been in the family 52 years she has provided much pleasure, but has always made us felt safe and secure. She has looked after us and been a huge source of comfort. When you sit on board with the oil lamps glowing, you can just marvel at the craftsmen who built her.
Words and family photos: Victoria Burgoyne
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