Iseult 

 (ex Prudence)

An Invited Friend of the Harrison Butler Association
1909 Ashton & Kilner built Yawl designed by Sidney Burnett 

A Unique Yacht Who's History Is Now Better Understood
Pat Dawson, the Boat Register Editor at the OGA, has been in touch to let me know that Iseult is not based on the Poole Pilot of 1908 as previously thought. Instead it would seem that she should be considered a 'one-off'. Following a tip from Pat, I've tracked down Iseult's lines which, it transpires, were published in the May 1909 edition of Yachting Monthly. The article there does indeed confirm that she was a wealthy man's 'project' where Sidney Burnett was instructed to draw the lines “in accordance with my ideas”. Pat knows Iseult very well and writes, “My husband Dick and I sailed on Iseult for many years before we bought our own boat Lone Wolf, which is based upon the lines of a Poole Pilot. Having helped Iseult's then owner, Joe Lester, antifoul her many times I can assure you that Iseult lines are different to those of the Poole Pilot.” Pat also adds that the counter stern was added in 1927.
Much Money Spent To Rescue A Grand Old Lady
Iseult has only just made it to 2016, largely thanks to a recent owner spending large amounts of money, almost £100,000, to tackle some difficult but necessary repairs to the hull and equip her with a new suite of sails. I've recently been in touch with Tim Frearson - his company, Traditional Shipwright Services, did some of the work on Iseult before the project was put on hold as the money ran out. He tells me that Iseult recently sold (I'm guessing for around just £15,000) and that the new owner is busy doing some remedial work before she will leave Poole. Incidentally, Tim believes that his boat Reprieve is a Poole Pilot Cutter.

Iseult Statistics
Built : 1909 by Ashton & Kilner, Poole
LOA : 41' 6"
LWL : 30' 6"
Beam : 10' 6"
Draught : 6' 3"
Displacement : 14 tons TM
Lloyd's Register : N° 128583
National Historic Ship N° 756
OGA Boat N° 1909
MMSI : 232005748
Signal Letters : 2HAT, MZJU8, MALR8

Iseult off the Isle of Wight before her restoration began
Photograph by Keith Allso

Iseult Custodians & Home Ports 
Jan Anderton (?-2018...) Poole, England
Lester Family (2013-2016...) Poole
Joseph H Lester (1964-2013) Yarmouth, IoW
Major Aubrey E Pickwoad (1962-1964) Yamouth, IoW
T Taylor (1960-1962) Poole
PH Cox Martin MBE ARIBA (1959-1960) Poole
Cdr HG Dobbs OBE RN(ret) (1958) Poole
Kevin M O'Riordan (c1946-1957 ) Poole
Air Marshall WSG Mitchell (1938-c1946) Hamble
Sir John Holder (1929-1938) Poole
Maj BC Windeler (1928-1929) Poole
Col AMB Gage (1921-1928) Poole
Prof FW Lanchester (1911-1921) Poole
Norman Deakin (1909-1911) Poole

# Fascinating Facts
# KM O'Riordan crossed the Atlantic in 1950 on Vertue XXXVwith Humphry Barton
# Fascinating Facts

Iseult Links
• The Yachting Monthly article from May 1909 containing Iseult's lines
• Iseult: Comprehensive history at National Historic Ships
• Iseult For Sale (Since Sold)

Page last updated : September 2018

Top of page