Jol Byerley's Sept 05 Letter from Antigua
What better way to start this month’s piece than to give you the entire front page of Andrew Robinson’s brochure about his company, Woodstock Boat Builders Ltd.
“ Woodstock Boat Builders was founded in 1990 by Andrew Robinson who trained at the prestigious International Boat Building Training Centre in Lowestoft, England. In 1998, he was joined by Vincent White and together they are offering a service regarded as the most dynamic yachting refit service in the Caribbean. The Company is known throughout the luxury yacht industry for its high quality workmanship, reliable and efficient service and aesthetically pleasing designs. Whether you need a full refit, an innovative new design or minor repairs to match your existing ambience, we at Woodstock have the team to put your mind at rest and complete the project efficiently to prime standards.”
So there you have it! Andrew himself is a scholarly looking young man whose business has grown by leaps and bounds in a very short time. He sometimes has as many as 60 employees working on his various projects, which have included Shamrock I, Timoneer, Unplugged, Talitha G, Morning Glory and Victoria of Strathearn.
But to me, perhaps the most exciting thing is that Woodstock are actually totally rebuilding the beautiful Fife designed and built 6-metre Nada. I remember her when she first came to Antigua and I was lucky enough to sail her in several Thursday races. Of course, she was fairly old having been designed and built by Fife’s wonderful yard in 1929. Just about everybody fell under her spell but nobody started to rebuild this beautiful little ship. Her last owner, Paul Deeth, came very close but when he sold his hotel the dear boat somehow became a victim of a bulldozer and most people thought it was the end. Despite the boat having a broken lead keel, Andrew had her moved to his boat yard complex close to the shores of Falmouth Harbour in Antigua. Then, bit by bit, he acquired as much information as possible from the British Six Metre Association, and with Aussie James Brooks as the foreman builder, the little that remained was pulled apart and a brand new but authentic Six Metre to William Fife’s lines began to take shape.
Now, I haven’t been as excited as this since my old friend and neighbour Billy May on the banks of Norfolk’s River Thurne told me that he was building his own boat to race in the summers. She was going to be called Kestrel and was entirely different from the very traditional designs of the Norfolk Broads and Rivers. It turned out that Kestrel won just about everything she went in for but unfortunately I was to leave Norfolk for the Mediterranean and then Antigua in the West Indies. I only saw Billy once or twice after that, but what a beautiful little boat she was. Clinker or Lapstrake-built with a fairly modern Bermuda rig, Kestrel was a flyer.
So now, our own Andrew Robinson - in whom I have the upmost faith - is rebuilding the epitome of 6-metre grace, the William Fife Nada. She could be ready in November or December and I really hope that I will be around when she takes to the water. Andrew hopes that this is just the beginning and that many traditional yachts will be built by his first class team a stone’s throw away from the calm waters of Falmouth Harbour. Other islands of course have tried to get into the building of quality yachts but, rather strangely, this most laudable attempt has never really succeeded. But with a little bit of luck, and holding in mind that some of the world’s most beautiful vessels will be tied up at Falmouth Harbour’s three marinas, Woodstock Boat Yard will most probably get the exposure it requires when it comes to rebuilding the Six Metre Class.
Woodstock actually started in 1990 with a small shack and a bag of tools. And a Tee shirt that boldly proclaims, “What wood would Woodstock stock if Woodstock would stock wood.”
It seems really hard to believe that all the islands of the Caribbean are under a hurricane threat this year. Why? Well, because I remember only too well that in the days of Mollihawk, Caribee, Ron and Lord Jim I used to carry on chartering throughout the summer months and seldom if ever had a darn thing to worry about. Even recently, Judy and I would take our Dehler 34 Hightide down to Venezuela’s long and lovely coast and again never had any worries. Then suddenly along they came. One after the other and I don’t mind admitting, you wouldn’t catch me out going for that sort of little cruise in summer time. So I wonder, is this sort of thing going to change? Because it’s too busy in the season to use ones boat isn’t it?
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