William Fife III SIBYL OF CUMAE

Historical

Designed by William Fife III and built by Fife & Son, Fairlie, Scotland in 1902 to the 36 ft Linear Rating Rule of 1900, as ENSAY for J. Stewart Clark and was as far as is known, one of only four such on the Clyde. The other three EILEEN IV were owned by Sidney Mason, FALCON FIFE owned by Joseph A Leckie and BARABEL owned by Charles McIver. ENSAY was ister ship to Nyama no. 488 and both 65% reductions of Lucinda no. 490. Originally she was a gaff cutter with three open cockpits and carried a crew of up to eight hands for racing. This was changed most likely in the 1930s in Ireland when a Bermudan Rig and coachroof assembly were fitted. The vessel was laid up in Ireland during the war years and this is the reason that the five ton lead keel was not lost to the war effort. Just after the war SIBYL was purchased by Major Nicolay and Lita Edwards and kept at Loch Goil in Scotland.

By 1908 she is shown on the Register owned by Arthur E Nicholson and home port Queenstown. Then in 1912 she was sold to Mr Atwell Allan and renamed SIBYL. She remains in the Register under his name until 1929 when there is a gap before she re appears in 1935 having been acquired by Mr T Goobie. It was he who had the bowsprit removed, shortened the boom by 6 ft and the gaff by 5 ft, reducing the sail area to 1,120 sq ft.

Post War in 1945 she changed hands again to Mr Henry Donegan, Vice Commodore of the Irish Cruising Club – and much of the information contained in the ICC’s Sailing Directions is apparently attributable to his cruising SIBYL off the local coast. Meanwhile he had her measured up for her RORC rating (45) and raced her in the Kingston Cork Race. Sadly he was later to drown in an incident in which his dinghy capsized – he was a non swimmer. A similar occurenceovercame her next owner Mr McDonald – the yacht then passing into the ownership of his brother, who had no interest in boats of any sort and left her neglected for 2 years in Ringsend Basin, Dublin. Around that time inn 1950 her next owner was looking for a suitable boat and was shown a picture of SIBYL on a slip in Dun Laoghaire. He and his business partner Commander Jens Jensen were enthralled by the picture and quickly endeavoured to have her hauled out for a survey. They could find nothing amiss and promptly agreed to buy her for a price that wasn’t much more than the value of the lead in her keel

Restoration

From 1985 to 1988 this vessel was completely restored, rebuilt and stripped down to the bare hull with deck, coachroof and ballast keel removed. All the original planking and steamed timbers were in good order and retained with a new deck and coachroof fitted to the same 1930s style. One ton of lead was cut out of the ballast keel to compensate for the engine, tankage and other creature comforts to be fitted for modern day cruising and the rig put back to the 1930s Bermudan Sloop arrangement. A deal of steel reinforcement was added in way of the mast to minimise the rigging strains on the 100 year old structure. She is double planked Cedar and Mahogany on oak ribs.

The deck, coach, roof and cockpit were also completely renewed and small foot-rail with capping added.

Every winter the mast is removed and stored under cover with all rigging etc; the vessel laid up under cover in her own steel cradle.

Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):

Owner/Guardian: (1902 – J. Stewart Clark
Owner/Guardian: (1908) – Arthur E Nicholson, Queenstown
Owner/Guardian: (1912) – Mr. Atwell Allan
Owner/Guardian: Major Nicolay and Lita Edwards
Owner/Guardian: (1935) – Mr. T Goobie
Owner/Guardian: (1945) – Mr. Henry Donegan, Vice Commodore of the Irish Cruising Club
Owner/Guardian: (1980s) – John and Dorothy Merrett. complete restoration – converted back to the 1930s Bermudan Sloop