Houri, 6mR

Houri is a wooden 6-metre racing yacht built to the First Rule in 1911, and has sail no GBR 3.

She was designed by Arthur E. Payne, and built by Alexander Macdonald & Co., Ferry Yard, Woolston, Southampton.

“Houri” was the last International Rule yacht designed by Arthur Edward Philip Payne, and the first of two built by Alexander MacDonald & Co. at the Ferry Yard, Woolston, on the East bank of the River Itchen, roughly where the Itchen Bridge now stands. She was commissioned by a young Edward John “Jack” Baker of Hasfield Court in Gloucester, and his tutor and friend Harold Richard William Wintle FRGS. Originally the pair were reportedly planning to build a Seven Metre.

Through a number of her previous owners, “Houri” has links (some more tenuous than others) to a number of well-known people, places and events:

Edward Baker was the son of William Meath Baker, of Hasfield Court. He in turn was a close friend of Edward Elgar, and is said to be the subject of the fourth of the Enigma Variations, entitled WMB.

Later, she was owned by the one-time British representative to the America’s Cup committee, Major Henry Maitland Kersey DSO (see http://www.angloboerwar.com/DSO/k/kersey_hm.htm), who lived at the same address as Phileas Fogg. He was a close acquaintance and business associate of Sir Hugh Andrew Montagu Allan CVO (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montagu_Allan), and a director of the Allan Royal Mail Line. Subsequently, he appears to have been instrumental in the takeover of the Allan Line by Canadian Pacific (see http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/cp04.html). Sir H. M. Allan’s wife and two of his three daughters were aboard the RMS Lusitania when she was torpedoed and sunk off The Old Head of Kinsale during the First World War.

Shortly before the Second World War, she came into the ownership of Fredman Ashe Lincoln, a prominent member of Jewish society, a well-known Queen’s Counsel, a member of the RNVR, and latterly a conservative MP. His son is now Senior Rabbi at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York. There is a short biography, and a very good photograph at http://www.dangoor.com/72page24.html and his obituary can be found at http://www.oldhabs.com/Obits/Lincoln_FA.html

Unfortunately, Houri’s short racing career was less than illustrious. Initially, Harold Wintle put this down to a mixture of bad luck, poor equipment, and a poor mainsail. So firstly, to redress the issue of luck, she had her original Sail Number changed from L-13 for the 1912 season. She then had a new suit of sails from Ratsey & Lapthorn, the originals having been made by Cranfield & Carter. As for the issue of poor equipment, one can only speculate. However, towards the end of her first season, she had a particularly bad day, about which Wintle commented, “Each day she carried away something, and then finally her mast”.

Lloyds Register holds only a first entry report, and no drawings are known to exist. Beken of Cowes holds three photographs, all taken in 1948 (Plate Nos. 28312, 28313 & 28314). At the time of writing, the owner also has the original sail cutting templates from the Cranfield & Carter archive.

History

Year acquired: 2000; Current owner: Mr David Seer,

Year: 1985; Previous owner: Peter Sillet
Year: d/k;  Previous owner: Maj. Henry Maitland Kersey, DSO
Year: 1965; Previous owner: Leonard C. House
Year: 1957; Previous owner: Donald P. Bunday
Year: 1945; Previous owner: Mr. Harrington
Year: 1936; Previous owner: Fredman Ashe Lincoln, Q.C., R.N.V.R.
Year: 1932; Previous owner: D. F. R. Evans & R. W. Aldridge
Year: 1912; Previous sail no: changed
Year: 1911; Previous sail no: L13; Previous owner: Edward John “Jack” Baker & Harold Richard William Wintle, FRGS

Dimensions

LOA: 33′

LWL: 22′ 4″

Draft: 4’2″

Auxiliary power

None