Classic Seaview Mermaids
The first Seaview Mermaids were designed in 1907 by G U Laws from Burnham. Laws went on to win the gold medal in the 1908 London Olympics in a 6-metre yacht that he designed, built and helmed, an achievement that has never been repeated. Whilst the two events may not be directly connected, the racing pedigree of these early Mermaids cannot be in doubt.
Gaff-rigged, bowsprit, spoon bow and a long boom, their slim lines and long counter represent the peak of Edwardian yacht design and development. With exceptional speed and superb seaworthiness, the first Mermaids gave the club modern racing. The evolution of the Sea View yacht club owes much to this early design.
It is believed that there were eight yachts built between 1907 and 1910 at the famous Woodnutts yard, St Helens Duver. Curiously, the yachts were not built as a one design. They differed from each other in scantlings, weight and sail plan
The Great War and its unprecedented destruction of young life brought Edwardian yachting to an end. However, by the beginning of the 1920s, the members of the club began to think about replacing the 1907 design with a more modern boat. In October 1921, the members of the Medway Yacht Club agreed to purchase 7 Mermaids for the not inconsiderable sum of £630. Lily No 1, Halluf II No 2, Scuttle No 3, Violeta No 5, Naomi No 6, Mimosa No7 and Seamew No 8 were sailed to Portsmouth loaded onto open wagons and taken to Kent, where they re-named and raced until 1949 as the Jewel Class.
There are two 1907 designs still owned by members of the club. One is the original Halluf II with green topsides. The other is a 1994-build called Mizpah with white topsides.
Halluf II is not only distinguished by her pedigree, she also has a successful racing record. After 1949 however, when the Jewel class was discontinued, she deteriorated, and was purchased in the 1970s by Gayle Heard, the well-known East Coast sail-maker and yachtsman, who restored and raced her with a superb record. She trounced all the East Coast gaffers, so much so that they banned her from their races. Forced to race against the Bermudan rigged classics, she trounced them too. By 1997 she was again in a sorry state. Fortunately for the club, she was found by N Lykiardopulo, returned to the Isle of Wight and restored. Her racing success continues.
Mizpah has also enjoyed racing success. She has won the Round the Island race Jubilee Trophy for classic gaffers on four successive occasions from 2001 to 2004; she raced successfully in Falmouth week winning three out of five races and coming second in two, winning overall, and she has won numerous class races at the Old Gaffers festival in Yarmouth, as well as the Otter Cup in 2006.
The 1907 Mermaid was replaced by the 1922 Bermudan design of Alfred Westmacott, a renowned yachtsman and naval architect who lived in St Helens. A number of members have restored 1922 Mermaids and these can frequently be seen sailing and racing in the Solent.
