Traditional Techniques

As with many classic yachts, Cariad has endured highs and lows since her launch in 1896; she’s been through periods of winning trophies at the finest regattas, hosting royalty around her saloon table, and taking adventurers on round-the-world voyages. However, more than once, she has sadly fallen into disrepair in corners of remote boatyards, abandoned to the elements, and a far cry from the glory she was launched into. This year, Spencer Rigging has played a part alongside a dedicated team spanning the continents to bring Cariad back to life and take to the waves again.

A little history

When first launched, Cariad was the largest yacht that Summers and Payne had ever designed and built. As her masts were first stepped in Southampton Docks, it was clear she was a thing of beauty to thrill on the water and turn heads on the shore. Her first owner, The Earl of Dunraven, saw out the 19th Century sailing Cariad in the Mediterranean and the Solent and in 1898 she won the Vasco da Gama Cup, a 10,000nm race from Lisbon around the Cape of Good Hope to India.

Further stretching her sea legs, Cariad was renamed Fidra for her first circumnavigation sailed by Sune Tamm from Sweden, she then became based in Cape Town with owner Henry J Wenborn, who returned her name to Cariad I. After the Second World War, Cariad I was taken by her then-owner, South African A.W. Flitton, to the Caribbean and then on two further circumnavigations. As the 1960s and 1970s came around, Cariad sailed primarily out of Durban and made headlines in the 1971 Cape2Rio race as she limped into Table Bay after getting caught in a storm and a crew member washed overboard but was thankfully recovered.

In the 1980s, following several years of chartering in the West Indies, it was decided to completely gut Cariad I, a process starting in Antigua and completed by Southampton Yacht Services. Refreshed, she returned to competing at Cowes Week in 1983, before her next owners took her to the Mediterranean.
The Pacific beckoned again in 1987, and Cariad was acquired by the Japanese Corporation, embarking on an epic voyage to reach Japan. The trip took its toll and subsequently, Cariad I was left abandoned in Taiwan in 1993 as the corporation was falling into bankruptcy. The Japan Charter Yacht Association stepped in to save her with funds raised from their members and extensive repairs were carried out in Singapore including replacing the broken main mast brought all the way from England. She became the flagship for several years, before she was once again left to the elements, discovered derelict in a Bangkok anchorage in 2005 by a British businessman Stuart Williamson. It was hoped he had the money and passion to restore Cariad and the project commenced in 2006 in Thailand led by Des Kearns. Tragically for Cariad, after the 2008 financial crash, Williamson was forced to sell, and more neglect followed. From 2008 to 2021, Cariad lay without maintenance in Raffles Marina, Singapore, and her condition continuously deteriorated. “12 years in the water without drydocking took its toll.” said Des, project manager for the 2006-2008 refit. “To describe the devastation to our previous workmanship, the word disappointment is an understatement.”

Re-building a thing of beauty

In 2021 shipping magnate Tim Hartnoll rode in on his white horse and rescued Cariad I. Once again, Des Kearns found himself with the opportunity to work with a passionate owner with the funds and dream to restore the magnificent yacht to her former glory. “Projects like this bring out the best in people because they are doing something exciting and worthwhile.” Says Hartnoll. “It attracts enthusiasts but being an enthusiast and a skilled artisan is not enough. The person must be an artist as well. If the team en masse are not artists, the project will fail.”

Cariad was returned to the PSS Marina in Thailand and Des Kearns set about assembling and reassembling his artists, many of whom had been involved in the previous refit. Expertise came from all across the world including British Naval Architect Paul Spooner and Australian Boat Restorer Mike Howett. Highly skilled local labour once again picked up their tools. From seeing much of their work undone following the 2006-2008 refit, Des vowed to ‘Build Back Better’ to give Cariad the best opportunity to have a long career on the ocean waves again. Her full restoration has been meticulously documented at cariad1986.com providing a fascinating insight into the materials, techniques and workmanship that has gone into the project.

When it came to the rigging, working on the longest and oldest gaff ketch in the world was always going to be a sizeable task, with the team at Paul Spooner Design working closely with Spencer Rigging to develop a faithful and durable plan utilising traditional techniques.

Twenty different assemblies were commissioned, from the bobstay to the topmast forestay, each hand-measured, cut and finished with fittings. In total, nearly 450 meters of rigging was completed, using a combination of 1×19, 1×36 and 7×7 stainless steel wire. On the spans and forestay strop the wires were hand spliced, served and leathered using traditional techniques in order to retain the historic look of this wonderful classic yacht.

An award-winning result

As the project neared completion and Cariad took to the waves with the stunning backdrop of the islands of Thailand, it was clear all those hours the team had spent on her paid off. The result was a majestic sight, just as intended when she was first launched 127 years ago. In February, the judging panel of the coveted World Superyacht Awards visited Des and his team, and Cariad was nominated in the Rebuilt Classic Yachts category. Winning the award was the icing on the cake for Des Kearns and the team.

Looking ahead, the owner’s overall plan is to race Cariad in the Mediterranean classic regattas, and a potential round-the-world voyage may be on the horizon again fuelled by Kym Clayton, granddaughter of Al Flitton who owned and circumnavigated on Cariad from 1952–1954.