Major Sir Ernest Harston Archives - Amokura: a classic boat archive

Major Sir Ernest Harston – Who’s Who Entry

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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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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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1940s: A stylish toast to a race competitor

webmstr — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:38:12 +0000

James Harries, Sir Ernest Harston’s grandson, recounts: The other story I know comes from my cousin Brig. Jim Grear. He arrived in the UK just after the war and crewed Amokura quite a few times. Sadly, Jim passed away a few years ago, but told the story of how, in one particular race, Sir Ernest found himself overtaking one of the more famous yachtsmen of the time. Jim says that Sir Ernest suddenly dropped down to the cabin to re-emerge a few minutes later in RTYC blazer and cap carrying a very obvious cocktail glass with a very obvious liquid substance. Holding the tiller in a nonchalant manner as they passed to windward, he called across a mischievous greeting to the other boat. Being to windward, the reply wasn’t clear. With thanks to James Harries who kindly used the contact page to get in touch and recount this story

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1946: First yacht into Cherbourg after the 1939-45 war

webmstr — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:31:55 +0000

Recounted by James Harries, grandson of Sir Ernest Harston, who kindly got in touch through the contact page: “There is a story in the family about the first Cherbourg race after the 39-45 war. Sir Ernest claimed that they were first into Cherbourg and that they got a huge welcome as the first of any British yachts to enter the harbour. This was probably ’46 as I seem to recall Cherbourg harbour remained in an awful state until after the war, because of the bombing and fighting.” With thanks to James Harries for providing this information

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1953 Cine film: Amokura racing at Abersoch

webmstr — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:29:03 +0000

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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Ownership history

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1969: The Carrs welcome Sir Ernest Harston aboard

webmstr — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:05:41 +0000

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1947-69 Photos by ‘Beken of Cowes’

webmstr — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:34:23 +0000

These photographs were taken by Beken of Cowes, the renowned marine photographers. Click on any image to see a larger version. The first shows Amokura competing in the 1947 Cowes to Cherbourg race. The photograph was taken near Cowes on 23 May 1947. The race, which continues to the current day, is now run in late August or early September jointly by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the Yacht Club de Cherbourg and the Royal Yacht Squadron. Normally the race starts at 7pm on a Friday, allowing faster crews to aim for breakfast in Cherbourg on the Saturday morning and enjoy a full day there before evening celebrations! The race is normally the last in the RORC UK summer race series. The second and third pictures show Amokura off Cowes on 25 June 1949 and 21 July 1951, in both cases competing in the Morgan Cup which is a similar race to Cowes-Cherbourg. It now takes place annually in June. Every other year, when the challenging Fastnet Race takes place in August, the Morgan Cup is one of the key practice races in the run-up. The same yacht clubs organise the Morgan Cup as the Cowes-Cherbourg race, with the addition of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) which – coincidentally – has Amokura included in its collection of wall-mounted half-model yachts. The final picture was taken on 23 June 1969 shortly after Amokura was acquired by Richard Carr. He took an early decision to re-rig her with shorter, aluminium masts replacing her original wooden rig and this photograph is believed to have been taken almost immediately after the rig was completed. The photograph, taken off Cowes, shows Amokura competing in the Cowes to Deauville race which continues to the current day, now organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, the Royal London Yacht Club, the Junior Offshore Group (JOG), RORC, Deauville Yacht Club and Yacht Club de France. The 2012 race took place in early June and marked its 50th anniversary. All photographs on this page are copyright Beken of Cowes, reproduced here with permission.

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1940s-50s: Happy crew on board Amokura

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1939: Sea trials

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1939: Family and friends on board after the launch

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1946: “We Should Have Had The Poisson” by Ernest Harston

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