Shepherd Archives - Amokura: a classic boat archive

Captain Richard Carr MBE MC (c.1919 – 1977)

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George Millar DSO MC (1910-2005)

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George Millar owned Amokura from 1954-60. He was well-known as an author particularly for Maquis which chronicled his exploits in WW2 behind enemy lines – he escaped from a prisoner-of-war camp and on return to London promptly enlisted with the Special Operations Executive, deployed in occupied France. His other books included Horned Pigeon, A White Boat from England, and Oyster River, which described a summer cruising the French Gulf of Morhiban with his wife Isabel aboard Amokura. Millar’s cruises aboard Amokura are described in the RCC journals of 1954 and 1956 and his life is described in colourful detail in wikipedia and obituaries in the The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. It is also worth reading George Millar’s letter to David Japp in January 1996, which describes his purchase of Amokura and refers to his friendship with later owner Richard Carr.

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Fred Shepherd (1869-1969)

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Frederick (or more often, Fred) Shepherd was best known as a designer of cruising yachts. He worked for Arthur E Payne and later Lory and Cornwallis in their London offices before setting up his own practice in 1899 in Norfolk Street off London’s Strand. In 1921 he moved to Swanwick on the River Hamble in Hampshire and in 1926 became a partner in Frederick Shepherd and Morgan Ltd which opened the Swanwick Shipyard to build yachts. This was short-lived and he soon returned to London re-establishing himself at 199 Piccadilly as a designer, broker and surveyor. In 1934 Shepherd took on Fred Parker as a pupil. Parker, in his early twenties at that point, had just completed his apprenticeship as a shipwright with Berthon Boat Company in Lymington. The pair worked closely together during the remainder of the 1930s and they collaborated particularly closely on the design of Amokura and Maybird. Indeed Maybird’s design drawings include pencil-note conversations between the two. After Shepherd’s retirement Fred Parker went on to design around 30 more yachts many of which were built at Moody’s yard at Swanwick. Fred Shepherd continued to be based in Piccadilly until September 1939. When war broke out he shut the London office and effectively retired to Kings Somborne in Hampshire. Click here for details of other Shepherd-designed yachts.

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Yachts designed by Fred Shepherd

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Fred Shepherd was a prolific designer completing the designs of over 80 yachts during his career. So the listing of his designs below is far from complete. If you have more information about any of these boats, or indeed any Fred Shepherd designs which are not mentioned – please do get in touch via the contact page.

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Letter from Uffa Fox to Fred Shepherd, October 1946

webmstr — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 23:30:10 +0000

Uffa Fox is a legendary boating character best known as a boat designer and builder. Websites uffafox.com and wikipedia provide good summaries of his life and achievements. An image of this letter is already included on this site. Unfortunately it is not the clearest of copies – so here is an easily-read plain text version, for easier digestion! Uffa Fox Yacht Designers & builders Medina Yard Cowes England Telephone: Cowes 555 Telegrams: “Uffa Fox, Cowes” 12th October, 1946 Fred Shepherd, Esq., M.I.N.A., Carn Brear, King’s Somborne, Hants. My dear Sir It was indeed a great pleasure to meet you again after all these years, and to see you looking so fit and well. I am under way with another book, and wonder what designs you have that you would like me to put in it. Could you turn this over in your mind, and then send them on to me? Prints will do us well, for, as you know, we trace all our plans up, to get a uniform style of plan throughout the book. A chapter I should very much like to write is: The Work of Fred Shepherd, through the past (say) 50 years, and wonder if you have a range of plans and thoughts that would paint this picture. The boat I have in mind to start the story is CORAL, which you designed and built in 1901, and I wonder if you have any of her plans about? It really does not matter if they are a bit tattered and torn, as we can stick them together and retrace them. Then, 40 years after, comes the AMOKURA, a most marvellous ocean racer; and I believe Moody’s are building one to your design this year. So in those three boats you spanned 45 years. Congratulations! I think this would make a marvellous chapter, and do hope and trust you can think this out; and possibly I could get in my car one fine day, drive up to see you, now you are so close, have a yarn, and look over your plans and thoughts, and return. Say Wednesday next, 16th? If I caught the 7.50 boat, I could be with you at 10 a.m., so we could have a couple of hours’ yarn, a bite of food, and I should return with a sheaf of plans immediately after lunch – or later, if you thought best. Hope this will fit with your ideas of things, and looking forward to meeting you again. Best wishes, Yours ever [Signed on behalf of] Uffa Fox P.S. I just have to dash off to London to a Y.R.A. meeting, we hope you will excuse my not signing this letter. A few suggestions:- CORAL 65 tons NEBULA 50 tons THANET 52 tons OTTER 19 tons (or SCOLOPAX 20 tons) AMOKURA and 1946 Moody boat &c., &c.,&c.

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1969: Pictures taken whilst the Carr family owned Amokura

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1999: Following the IBTC refit

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1997: IBTC refit – key improvements

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1939: Amokura features in The Yachting Monthly article “New designs”

webmstr — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 06:00:31 +0000

This article originally appeared in The Yachting Monthly in February 1939. You can access a copy of the original article here. A Fast 50ft. Yawl Shepherd-Designed 23 Ton Cruiser LOA………………………………..50.75 ft. LWL………………………………….38.0 ft. Beam…………………………………..12 ft. Draught…………………………………7 ft. Lead keel…………………………7½ tons Sail area …………………….1,020 sq. ft. MANY experienced cruising yachtsmen have a preference for the yawl rig, despite the contention that it is not so close-winded as the cutter. But many assert that a yawl sailing with the mizzen stowed is more comfortable in a hard breeze than a cutter of the same size with the main- sail reefed down. A fine example of the modern fast cruiser of this type is now under construction by A . H . Moody & Son, Swanwick Shore, near Southampton, to designs by Fredk. Shepherd, M.I.N.A., for Major E. S. Harston, of Wyndham Place, London, W.1. The owner required a speedy vessel having the maximum possible accommodation in a 50-footer, and suitable for both cruising and handicap or ocean racing on occasion. The plans, which are reproduced, should satisfy these conditions very well. The lines are sweet and easy and promise plenty of pace. Although not based on the metacentric shelf system, the hull has in fact an almost straight and excellent shelf, and in profile the yacht is undeniably a good-looker. The overall length is 50 ft. 9 in., the water- line length is 38 ft., the beam 12 ft., and the draught 7 ft., working sail area 1,020 sq. ft. Now in process of being framed up, the hull is constructed of 1¼ in. pitch pine on grown oak frames, spaced 21 in. centres, with one bent timber of American elm between each pair of frames. The decks and the deck fittings are of Burma teak, and the interior woodwork will be carried out in light waxed oak. Delivery is to be at the end of April. Installed below the floor of the bridge deck is a 4 cylinder 12-36 h.p. Gray petrol motor fitted with 2 to 1 reduction gear, and accessible by means of a flush hatch in the floor of the deck shelter. Ventilation of the engine space is arranged by means of cowl type inlet and mushroom type extractor vents, and two fuel tanks, each of 20 gallons capacity, are located under the side decks aft. The fresh water supply of 120 gallons is carried in two inter-connected tanks below the cabin flooring amidships. There is 6 ft. 1 in. headroom throughout the accommodation, inclusive of the fo’c’sle, where there is one built-in and one folding cot berth, and a concealed lavatory for the crew. A spacious galley, equipped with an Electrolux refrigerator, is placed between the fo’c’sle and the saloon, which, in addition to the settees, has Pullman type beds. A sliding door at the after end of the saloon leads to a wide lobby, having a bathroom and lavatory on its port side and a single berth on the opposite side. On the starboard side of this […]

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1997-2000: Refit at IBTC Lowestoft

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1939: Report in The Motor Boat and Yachting

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1951: Mystery photo!

webmstr — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 23:41:21 +0000

In the early stages of compiling this website, Beken’s photos of Amokura were one of the first materials to surface. These have many attractions – their timeless style, the insight into the past, and the delight of seeing Amokura’s original, graceful, tall rig. One picture, however, has stumped Beken. Here it is, in an April 1951 publication. It shows Amokura in Groves & Gutteridge’s shed in Cowes. Beken have searched high and low but can not locate the original – so this rough photocopy is all we have. What a shame to miss out on the detail concealed by this photocopy. What other boats were in the shed? What state was Amokura in, during those post-war days? Had she already swapped the tiller she was fitted with at launch for wheel steering? We fear these questions may never be answered… But needless to say – if you have any answers, or even tenuous clues – please do get in touch via the contact page.

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1988: Cruising in the Caribbean

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1953 Cine film: Amokura racing at Abersoch

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This film was kindly shared by Sir Roger Boyle. He describes the film as follows: ‘My father and his brother (both doctors in the Manchester area) used to escape from family duties to sail on various yachts moored at Abersoch. There were some old eight metres of which Aspasia was the most well known, later renamed Emily. There was a small fleet of West Solent One Designs and a couple of other famous craft. There was a ‘double-ender’ by the name of Iris (seen in the movie) and Cohoe, made famous by Adlard Coles who won a transatlantic race in her.’

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Milena – 1929 Fred Shepherd ketch

webmstr — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:44:53 +0000

An 89′ ketch built by White Bros. For many years she has been based in Cannes having been run as a charter boat and more recently raced extensively on the Mediterranean circuit. Milena is owned by Jacques Anderruthy who acts as skipper when she is racing. In September 2012 Milena suffered a broken mast during the Cannes Regates Royales-Trophee after losing her backstay during a squall.

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Letter from Harry Spencer to David Japp, November 1995

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Letter from John Leather to David Japp, July 1996

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Dear David Yacht AMOKURA Many thanks for your letter and renewed invitation to see the AMOKURA again when she arrives at Lowestoft. I look forward to this after so many years and expect to bring with me an old friend you may know; Bernard Hayman, late editor for many years of the Yachting World magazine and someone who also knows the AMOKURA from her racing days. I think Bernard sailed against her in some races long ago. Regarding the photo of her on the slip at the Lower Yard of The Rowhedge Ironworks Co.about 1950. It was one of several taken at the time by the late F.J. Armes, a very good marine photographer from Brightlingsea. His widow still lives there, over eighty and I believe rather crotchety as I tried hard last year to see the vast number of negatives and prints she still has at her home, kept in suitcases, but without success. I fear the lot will one day be thrown out and burned, as so often happens. I will try to get the whole lot taken in to The Nottage Institute at Wivenhoe, which besides its educational maritime functions has a large collection of local maritime items gathered over many years. As I am to become one of its Trustees in autumn, having first been a pupil at its naval architecture evening classes in 1943, I may be able to influence this. If I think of other things regarding the AMOKURA before we see her, I will let you know. Do tell me when it is suitable to visit. Best wishes John Leather

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Owl – 1909 Fred Shepherd gaff ketch

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Beeleigh – 1913 Fred Shepherd gaffer

webmstr — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:56:43 +0000

Beeleigh, a Fred Shepherd-designed gaffer, was built in 1913 for a Bernard Durkin who apparently kept the boat for many years. She then passed through many hands before she was acquired by a Geoffrey Pannell of Huddersfield, Yorkshire sometime in the 1980s or 90s in a rather sorry state. She was extensively restored at Staniland Marina, in Yorkshire during which the coach roof was modified and and a Bermudian rig was put in. The boat was acquired by a Michael Hedger of Christchuch in 2001 when she was changed back to a gaffer. Possibly due to ill health the boat was only sailed a few times after the rig changed until it was acquired by a group from Lymington in 2011. Some work was necessary to get the boat back in full working order, with some new sails and fitting of rigging to take a large topsail. Beeleigh took part in a number events in 2012 and is expecting to have a full season in 2013 for her centenary . Beeleigh is 36ft 4in on the deck with a 10ft bowsprit and is 47 ft from the deck to the topsail. The photograph above is being used on the cover of a book being published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Old Gaffers Association. With thanks to Tim Redburn, one of the current owners, who got in touch via the contact page and provided this information and photograph.

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Horace Morgan (1905-1971)

webmstr — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:37:00 +0000

Horace Morgan owned Amokura from 1960-69. He had a distinguished career as a civil engineer, and was profiled in New Scientist in 1959. This was shortly after he had become senior partner at Sir William Halcrow & Partners, a leading firm of consulting engineers which still exists today as Halcrow, part of CH2M Hill. During WW2 he led projects to build underground defence bunkers for the government and install floodgates in the London Underground network as a precaution against bomb damage. After the war he had a succession of overseas assignments, then in the 1950s designed UK power stations and invented a new method of underground tunnel construction. He used this technique in the construction of the Potters Bar railway tunnel and the London Underground Jubilee Line. British Transport Films later made a series of films about the Jubilee Line project referring repeatedly to Morgan’s innovative construction methods, which are understood to have reduced the construction cost by around £3 million. Morgan then spent much of the 1960s in the highlands of Scotland working on hydro-electric power projects, and for much of this time Amokura was based at Corpach near Fort William where she was used by Halcrow staff as well as Morgan and his family. The 1960s redrawn plans shown on this website are tracings of Fred Shepherd’s original plans, most likely completed by trainees at Halcrow during idle periods (see cabin sections, stem and keel drawings & beam plan and rigging & sail plan) As well as sailing Morgan enjoyed fishing, shooting and – like the owner of Amokura who preceded him, George Millar – foxhunting. Around 1950 Morgan fractured his skull whilst hunting – coincidentally Millar had also suffered a hunting injury which he described at the start of Oyster River. The Institute of Civil Engineers published an obituary to Horace Morgan in its journal Proceedings (Vol 49 p 590). Unfortunately this is not currently available online. The video below shows Amokura departing from Mallaig in the 1960s, possibly en route back to her mooring at Corpach. The ferry which appears in the video is the Loch Seaforth which ran between Stornaway, Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh.

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