Star Turn!

Classic and vintage sailing enthusiasts have a treat this summer, as among the Ovington Smoothy Flying Fifteens, Winder Solos and the other latest racing designs on Llangorse Lake, a historic sailing dinghy, the Hamble Star can be seen.

My Dinky Do, Hamble Star no.82 – a 14ft mahogany planked dinghy with a hard chine and original cotton sails on a sliding gunter rig, was built in 1949. Owner, Pete Smith, bought and reconditioned it recently.

“I was looking for a vintage boat to restore  and was delighted to find this beautiful boat online. It was a pleasure to work-on, and it sails beautifully.”

The Hamble Star class was originally designed in 1926 by Luke Bros for the Hamble River Sailing Club. The original cost was £37 complete – but a pair of oars and rowlocks were extra.

Star no.1 was built in 1950, for Captain Nelson - (no, not that one!) – who was HRSC’s second Commodore – he allowed the Scouts to use it and other cadets followed-suit. It's owner, A.Cooper, won the Hamble Championships in both 1953 and 1954. 

In the 1950s the Star was HRSC’s largest racing fleet – over a dozen racing regularly. Later the Stars were built in Fareham – the highest registered no. being 115.

No 82 was inherited by A.Cooper's daughter, Elizabeth Dolan, who carefully dry-stored it for over half a century.

Speaking about the fate of the Hamble Star class, Pete Smith says, “Their demise can be put down to the introduction of marine-ply and GRP in dinghy-building,” adds Pete, “But not this one!”

The Hamble Star class remained active at Erith YC on the Thames – where there were 14 still at the club in 2015.

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