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The Gaff Rigg Cyclone sail plan of 1919.
Built in 1923, Kandoo was fitted with the Marconi (Bermudan) Rigg
rather than the Gaff Rigg of the 1919 design.
At the time this was revolutionary and controversial cutting edge technology.
Robert Griffiths has kindly sent me a scan of a letter Harrison Butler
wrote in 1925, published in Yacht Sales & Charter, in which he argues passionately
about the merits of the new Marconi Rigg, mentioning Kandoo as an example of
where it's been installed with success.
Kandoo's Restoration, 2007-2018 : Project For Sale
Murray East has been in touch with photographs and news of Kandoo, which he's been restoring for the last eleven years in a shed in Kent. He writes, “Due to business and family commitments, I have come to the hard conclusion that I am unlikely to have enough free time in the near future to complete the restoration of Kandoo. I would therefore like to offer the boat to someone with the time and dedication to finish her off. Much work has been done; a new marine ply deck with GRP cloth covering, new toe rails and rubbing strips, a rebuild of the cockpit with self draining lockers in marine plywood and teak seating and the start of an internal fit out with two bunk sides in Oak. Kandoo has a new rudder with bronze rudder gear by Colin Frake, and a new Keel shaped and fitted, but with final fairing off and scarfing of frame heels to be completed. I have keel bolts and lots of fastenings as well as other general fittings. I have done a large amount of work to her, and spent a considerable sum of money. I could keep her, as is, with the hope that I will someday get the time, but she deserves to be sailing... The fittings and fixtures alone are worth a fair bit, as is the lead keel.. I'd rather sell her to someone who will get her finished than scrap her and sell the fittings (sensible offers). If anyone is interested in taking on this boat with unique heritage and provenance, please feel free to get in touch: 07888714982, MurrayEast1@aol.com”
Murray adds that he is presuming that it may be difficult to find a suitable new owner for Kandoo, and if that is the case, he'll happily keep her and chip away as and when he can !
Kandoo's English Channel Gale
In 1928, Harrison Butler wrote; “Kandoo was caught in a moderate gale half-way across the Channel. Her tiller was carried away and the decks swept. The mainsheet block came out of its strop and the masthead shrouds came out of the notch in the spreaders. She got involved in Alderney race and her crew, tired out, hove her to and let her sail herself back to England while they slept. They awoke to find Kandoo inside the Dartmouth Mew-stone!”
I particularly like this story because of how Harrison Butler concludes it; “I mention these facts to show that the Cyclone model is eminently seaworthy”. Clearly, the boats sales pitch of 1928 was very much about selling 'adventure' and 'exploits' rather than the modern emphasis on 'health and safety'.
Name Change
Originally called Kandoo, she became Possum in 1952 until at least 1975. She's now Kandoo again, although I don't know the year in which the name was changed back to the original.
Kandoo Statistics
Built : 1922 by CJ Coxen of Portsmouth
LOA : 22' 0"
LWL : 20' 0"
Beam : 7' 5"
Draught : 3' 5"
Displacement : 4 tons TM
Lloyd's Register : N° 185191, Southampton
Kandoo Custodians and Home Ports
Murray East (2007-2018...) Kent, England
Bryony & Laurence Hebson (?-2001-?)
Eric & Margaret Thompson (past owners)
Bill Lamb (?-1984-?)
GL Davies (1970-1973-?) Whitby
Alan Norris (1967-1969) Hartlepool
James M Murray (1965-1966) Hartlepool
Lt Cdr CH Hayward VRG RNR ret (1961-1964) Whitby; Brough
Mrs DL Hill (1958-1960) Poole
SN Chapman (1957) Southampton
Geo H Burton (1951-1955) Southampton
RE Gatehouse (1951) Solent
Jocelyn H Drew (1949-1950) Chichester
Dr Stanley (1948) Bursledon
Air Commodore Sir H Broadhurst KBE CB DSO DFC AFC (?-1947) Bursledon
Dr Ian AM Paton (1939-?) Bursledon
Admiral Sir Edward Charlton KCB (1928-1938) Portsmouth
Miss Audrey Charlton (1927) Portsmouth
AGH Macpherson (?-1923-1926) Portsmouth
Admiral Sir Edward Charlton KCB
Kandoo's custodian in the 1930s
Kandoo Links
° None found (March 2018)
Page last updated : March 2018
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