Veritia

(ex Barbara of Polvarth, Harry B)

An Invited Friend of the Harrison Butler Association
Waterbug One Design by JW & A Upham 

Veritia moored just above the Crinan Basin on The Crinan Canal.
(The 'barge board' along her side for passage through lock gates)

Veritia : Shipshape Waterbug
In 2017, James Young sent in an update about Veritia. He wrote, “Since taking custody of Veritia in 2014 she has done some 1000+ miles of assorted passages in the Clyde and Oban areas. A new Jib has been acquired and a large amount of restorative work done. For example, her hull was stripped down to bare wood by hand and the garboard strakes re-caulked before repainting. Her King Plank and an internal half-bulkhead have been replaced in Oak. The foredeck has been recanvassed. All the Pig Iron ballast has been removed and painted to seal it from bilge water. Shore power has been installed and all lights replaced by LEDs. Yard work has included the installation of new rudder pintles and the replacement of the cutlass bearing. The deck has been repainted and Le Tonkinous used to freshen up the varnished woodwork”. From the photograph James has sent in, above, she certainly looks an exceptionally tidy ship now.

Veritia on the cover of Rhu Marina's Handbook, 2019

Older History
Charles Chambers, who owned Veritia between 2008 and 2014, writes “She was lying on the Helford when I bought her from Bill Turner. He worked in Gweek Quay as a fitter, so she was always lifted there in his ownership, and I refitted her there before sailing her to Plymouth for the first season and then on to Brightlingsea. She was certainly a good seaboat - slow but very strong, even in a gale going upwind”.
“I removed her guardrails (which looked out of scale) but as a result frightened myself greatly that first season sailing alone from Cawsands Bay across to the River Realm entrance. She was a very roly boat in a cross-sea going downwind - it was almost my first and last solo passage”.
“From Brightlingsea I sailed her all along the east coast - from Harwich to St Katherine's Dock at Tower Bridge - and spent winters at Prior's Yard in Burnham-on-Crouch. I entered the Suffolk Harbour Classics Regatta and the East Coast Regatta a few times. We always finished - but one year, at the Suffolk event, two hours after everyone else. She was taking water through a damaged porthole and was almost awash before we realised what had been slowing us down. We won the Spirit Flask for the skipper most in need of a stiff drink...”

Veritia was called Barbara of Polvarth between 1962 and 2000, then Harry B until 2009, before reverting to her original name.

Graffitti - From Yachting Monthly, October 1951
During the evening of August 18th, the 5 ton sloop Veritia developed engine trouble off the north Coast of Guernsey and was eventually towed to the safety of St Peter Port by a local pilot boat. Veritia is owned by Comdr. James but was on loan to Lieut A Harrison who was cruising with his wife.

Veritia Statistics
Built : 1939 by JW Uphams of Brixham, Devon
LOA : 24' 6"
Beam : 8' 6"
Draught : 4' 6"
Displacement : 6 Tonner
Lloyd's Register : N° 166919

Veritia Custodians
Louise & James Young (2014-2019...) Silvers Yard, Rosneath, Argyll and Bute
Charles Chambers & Florence Preux (2008-2014) Brightlingsea, Essex
Bill 'Tops' (William Henry) Turner (2000-2008) Helston, Cornwall, England
Adrian John Grigg (1995-2000) Mavagissey, Cornwall, England
Christopher Mario Davies (1994-1995) Falmouth, Cornwall, England
Mr Alan Hill (1993-1994) Cornwall, England
Mr PM & Mrs JM Johnson (1987-1993) Gweek Quay, Cornwall, England
Hannes Peter Grauel (1982-1987) German North Sea Coast
BI May (1973-?) Polvarth, St Mawes
Gordon Simpson (1962-1972) Polvarth, St Mawes
Reginald Guy Willcock (1957-1961) Brixham
Cyril Charles Maudslay (1955-1957) Brixham
Major Charles St J Colthurst RA (1952-1954) Brixham
Comdr Leslie Howard James OBE RN(ret) (?-1949-1951) Brixham
Bowmaker Limited (?-?) Brixham
Group Captain Eric Burton (?-1947-?) Wooton Creek, Isle of Wight, England

Veritia Links 
• Veritia was SOLD by Classic Yacht Brokerage in September 2014 
• The Waterbug - A Derived Design ?, HBA Journal 75, New Year 2016 
• Veritia's Artistic Locker Catch, HBA Journal 77, Summer 2016 
• Pedigree of The Waterbugs, HBA Journal, Autumn 2016
• Harrison Butler on a T-Shirt, Crusing Yachts, Summer 2017 

Page last updated : December 2019

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