Sail Number:
ex; Ceresio
Type: Keel Ketch
George McGruer TALISKER MHOR Specifications:
LOD: 54’7″ / 16.64m – LWL: 54’7″ / 16.64m – Beam: 12’8″ / 3.86m – Draft: 7’5″ / 2.25m – Displacement: 20 tons – Designer: George T. McGruer – Original Owner: – Original Name: Ceresio – Year Built: 1973 – Built By: Peel McGruer & Co., Clynder, Scotland – Hull Material: Wood – Flag: United Kingdom (GB) – Club: – Location: Marine Traffic
Historical:
Sandeman’s historical comments – Struck by sister ship CUILAUN’s beautiful lines and teak construction an English east coast trawlerman was inspired to own a yacht of the same design – leading to his commissioning CERESIO. Unfortunately he was to fall ill and he was not to realise his dream. Colin Tindal, a member of the Clyde Yacht Club bought her, renaming her TALISKER MHOR, TALISKER; the name of his previous yacht and MHOR \’big\’ in Gallic given the larger dimensions of this, his new boat.
She sailed under Tindal’s ownership to the Caribbean and back and was then bought by an Italian Doctor Luigi Greppi in Gibraltar. In his ownership she cruised the Med for a few years – and truth be told was rather neglected. As Steve Sands, the present owner recognised in 1994 – and still protests, \”She needed to be sold\”.
Alan Buchanan then in his late 70s surveyed her – and recorded; \”The McGruers really knew how to plank boats in those days\”. This seal of approval was enough of a go-ahead and the sale was clinched.
Steve Sands sailed her back from Italy to the UK and immediately had her lifted for some TLC; just as well given that whilst trying to wrench off some rubber hoses the sea cocks came off in his hands! Many months of labour later TALISKER MHOR was re launched. Steve had worked especially hard on the rigging; putting in roller furling and slab reefing which made it easy to sail the boat with just two pairs of hands.
Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):
Owner/Guardian: (1973) – Commissioned as CERESIO
Owner/Guardian: (1983-1985) Colin Tindal, renamed her TALISKER MHOR
Owner/Guardian: Dr, Luigi Greppi, Gibraltar
Owner/Guardian: (1994-2009) Stephen Sands & Lexa Hillard, Beaulieu, England.
Owner/Guardian: Edward & Sally Benthall, Dartmouth, Devon, England.
Ceresio was commissioned by Mark Hellyer, a merchant in Hull. He sailed Ceresio in the Western Isles every summer throughout the 1970s. When not at sea she was kept on blocks at Mc Gruer’s boatyard in Clynder.
During WWll Mark had been the young captain of a minesweeper in the North Sea. Many of his crew were former wartime minesweeper captains. He was a great seaman.
Ceresio was commissioned by Mark Hellyer, a merchant in Hull. He sailed Ceresio in the Western Isles throughout the 1970s.
During WWll Mark Hellyer had been a young captain of a minesweeper operating in the North Sea. He had an enduring love of the west coast of Scotland . He was a great seaman.