Yachts
The construction of luxury motor yachts in the 1960's would further enhance the Berwick yard's reputation.
Photo: Courtesy Anne Elson.In the early 1960's demand for fishing vessels that had been the main source of employment since the late 1950's tailed off. The yard was forced to look to other markets for orders. It was during this period that Fairmile would establish a world-wide reputation for the production of steel displacement luxury motor yachts.
Between 1962 and 1966 Fairmile constructed a total of eight yachts for UK and overseas buyers. The first of the Berwick luxury yachts was the 73’ Tia built for a Mr. T. Dunk of the charter firm Kilbrannon Marine Ltd., Barrhead. Powered by two Gardner Marine Engines, Tia left the Tweed in March 1962.
Name
BuiltOfficial
Number
Tonnage
No.
length/beam/draft
TIA 1962 301464 94.66 557 73.5x19.6x7.5 2 x 4SA 6cyl Gardner diesels GOLDEN HART 1963 305027 63.68 568 65x16.5x7 2x6cyl Ajax diesels ISLAND WATERS 1963 304628 117.43 570 82x20.3x9.8 2x6cyl Caterpillar diesels TANIT 1962 304298 94.97 571 73.6x19.6x9.25 2x4SA 6cyl Gardner diesels ALBACORA 1963 304545 99.08 575 73.5x19.5x9.3 2x6cyl Gardner diesels BABETTE II 1965 307937 98.94 581 80.1x19.5x8.5 2x8cyl Glennifer diesels TAVIT 1966 308861 98.72 585 80x19.5x8.6 2x8cyl Glennifer diesels LANESRA 1968 334272 153.26 635 98.5x22x7.7 2x6cyl Daimler-Benz diesels THELMA M. III 1972 334278 97.78 666 76.1x19.5x5.7 2x6cyl Gardner diesels Source: Lloyds Register of Yachts (Thanks to Philip Simons)
The success of this vessel saw more orders quickly follow. Between 1962 and 1965 a further five yachts were constructed in succession. These were Golden Hart, Island Waters, Tanit, Albacora and Babette II. Of these vessels Golden Hart was the odd one out in that she was a twin-masted steel-hulled sailing ketch described in her general arrangement plan as a 'motor sailer'.
Buyers of Fairmile yachts came from Britain, the United States and Europe. Island Waters was built for an American owner, Gurney Munn and Albacora for a Frenchman a M. de Cheris. Tanit was the first of three Berwick-built yachts that were to be ordered by a UK customer, Mr. John Bett the other two being Tavit and Lanesra.
Photo: D. Redfearn Collection.For reasons unknown the owner of Golden Hart requested that the building of the vessel should not be publicised. The hull and superstructure was built at Berwick but fitting out was completed elsewhere. Babette II, was constructed for a Spanish nobleman, the Maques de Paul and was launched at Berwick in October 1964 by his fiancee Barbara Kalachnikoff, the future Maquesa.
In August 1967 the biggest yacht to be built at Berwick took to the Tweed. Lanesra, measuring 98’ 6 and powered by twin 240 horse power Mercedes-Benz engines was built for a Maltese-registered company, Bahhar Marine (Malta) Ltd.. Lanesra had the distinction of being the first yacht to be built at Berwick with twin rudders. The observant reader will note that Lanesra is ‘Arsenal’, spelt backwards. The vessel’s name was attributed to one of her owners being a fan of the club. Lanesra was to be the penultimate yacht to be built at Berwick, the final vessel being Thelma M. III in 1971.
So what happened to the Berwick-built yachts? The first of the Fairmile yachts, Tia was to have a sad end. Only eighteen months after leaving the Tweed Tia caught fire and sank after an engine room explosion 100 miles off Lisbon while returning to the UK from the Mediterranean..
Photo: Courtesy of Rigo Yachts International.
In 2006 the yacht Virginia G was listed on the Rigo Yachts International website as having been built at Berwick in 1966. From the build list this vessel can be identified as Tavit which was launched in 1965 but not completed until 1966. The vessel can be positively identified as the former Tavit by comparing features of the hull (including the position of the portholes, hawsepipe on the bows and rubbing strake) with those shown in the 1966 colour photo below.
Photo: D. Redfearn CollectionThe vessel was extensively overhauled and refitted in winter 2001. External modifications to the yacht have included the construction of a cowl behind the bridge and a remodelled upper deck and superstructure. The vessel appears to have been re-engined at some point with Gardner engines. In 2006 Virginia G was based in Viareggio, Tuscany and was available for charter. The former Tavit has since underwent a further name change. In 2008 the yacht was listed on the M-Yachts charter and brokerage website under a former name Atrevida.
The former Berwick-built yacht Albacora seen here as Taora.
Photo: Courtesy of Camper and Nicholson's.Another Berwick-built yacht still in service is the former 73’ Albacora. Originally built for a French owner, a M. de Cheris, Albacora was launched on14th November 1962 and completed the following May. Since then the vessel has underwent several changes of ownership and was later known as Taora and then Dersou. In 2006 the vessel sustained serious fire damage and is now understood to be undergoing restoration and modification.
The final yacht to be built at Berwick was Thelma M. III that was constructed for an American businessman Mr. L.G.F Di Varmo who planned to use the vessel as a floating home for him and his wife. Although launched in May 1971 a contractual dispute that was eventually resolved through an out of court settlement meant that the yacht did not leave Berwick for the United States until the following July. In 2006 the former Thelma M III was still based in the United States and registered as Steel Magnolia having undergone a seven-year complete restoration and overhaul.
The 1965 build, Babette II remains in service having undergone an extenstive refit in 1999. In 2007 the vessel was advertised for sale (click here for details).
The biggest of the Fairmile yachts, Lanesra, was at one point owned by an American businessman and based on the West Coast of the United States. Since leaving Berwick the vessel has underwent three major refits and at one time was used for oceanographic research. In 2008 Tiffara was based in Chile, South America and employed as a luxury cruise vessel providing bespoke cruises that combine the natural beauty of Patagonia with fine food and wines. More details click here.
The Motor Yacht Tiffara (ex Lanesra). In 2008 the vessel was employed as a cruise ship and based in Chile. As can be seen by comparing these pictures with the 1968 picture of Lanesra above,, the vessel has undergone significant modification during her lifetime. Photos: © Max Morales, Courtesy Andes Wines. The yachts built for American owners were fitted with what were known as 'flopper stoppers'. These were a type of stabilising device comprising of a metal plate suspended and lowered into the water on the port and starboard sides by davits or poles. They were effective in reducing the amount of roll in a swell when underway or at anchor. Other vessels notably Lanesra were fitted with fixed stabilisers or were engineered in a way that would allow them to be fitted later.
Witness testimony from former yard workers who sailed on the yachts during trials and delivery trips (including down the North Sea, through the English Channel and Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean) confirms that the Fairmile yachts had excellent sea-keeping qualities. This is no surprise as their hulls were derived from the successful 'Fair Isle' trawler design.
It is known that at least one yacht built to a Fairmile design was constructed at the Gideon Shipyards, Groningen, Netherlands.
Thelma M. IV (left) underway on trials in 1971. In 2006 the vessel was still based in the United States having been re-named Steel Magnolia (right).
Photo: (left) © Ward-Philipson, Photo: (right), Courtesy of Carol Dayton.
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