This maritime resoration project is centred on the UK heritage yacht “Saunterer”, which was built by Charles Sibbick in 1900 and which is based in the United Kingdom. She was fully restored over ten years ending in 2018, and has since undergone further work to reinstate her original gaff rig sail plan in 2025/6.
Described in “Yachtsman Magazine” in 1900 as a “fast cruiser”, she still has her original double oak frames, elm and teak hull, and yellow pine deck, constructed from the finest materials imported to Cowes at the turn of the 20th Century from around the world. SAUNTERER was built by renowned yacht designer and builder, Messrs C Sibbick & Co., of the Albert Yard, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England as a “wooden yawl” with sails supplied by Ratsey & Lapthorne of Cowes. She was built to be immensely strong, with a sail area of 1,600 ft², and was launched on 27 March 1900 being unconditionally certified to Lloyds Classification 18A1 on 4 May 1900. She was expected to last for 18 years.
The yacht was initially owned by John Simpson of Ty’r-afon, Hampton Wick London SW from 1900 until 1906. SAUNTERER was then sold to Captain LEG Oates of Gestingthorpe Hall, Castle Hedingham, Essex, whose interest in the sea, and his various adventures on board, he recalled to his companions during the ill-fated British Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole in 1910-1912. After his tragic death on 17 March 1912, she was passed to his younger brother B.W.G Oates of Messing, Essex who owned her until 1918. Charles Sibbick also died in January 1912, bringing to an end the earliest chapter in her history.
In about 1918 she was sold by the Oates family to Thomas Belt of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and it is thought she left the Solent from that date. From the end of WW2 she was owned by two further families – the Kaylls (1944 -1960) and the Sutherlands (1960-2009) – and was last certified to Lloyds Classification Class 100A1 in November 1971 (thought to be the oldest vessel at that time to have this classification).
After some 20 years out of commission her restoration began in 2009 under new owners Guy and Chloe Savage, and was completed under the current owner, Iain Rawlinson, between 2013 and 2018. She returned in 2014 to the Beaulieu River – 4 miles from where she had been launched 114 years earlier.
As well as sailing, SAUNTERER works by raising awareness for her affiliated organisations and is a living memorial to Captain Oates and Charles Sibbick. The Saunterer Collection is an archive of her long history – seeking to build up an archive of documents and photographs showing her unique history.
She is entered in the The National Historic Ships Register, and the Register of British Ships.
Saunterer has an important place in the maritime heritage of UK. This is now being built up for the benefit of associated organisations and charities. Now that her restoration has been completed Saunterer represents an innovative and active channel through which awareness of charities and affiliated organisations of all types can be raised.
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