Owners Archives - Amokura: a classic boat archive

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

webmstr — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:39:17 +0000

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George Millar DSO MC (1910-2005)

webmstr — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:36:45 +0000

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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Interview with George Millar

webmstr — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:55:11 +0000

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Major Sir Ernest Harston – Who’s Who Entry

webmstr — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:04:41 +0000

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Fastnet 2023 videos

webmstr — Thu, 18 May 2023 12:11:35 +0000

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Fastnet 2021 videos

webmstr — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:53:07 +0000

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Yachting World (October 2019)

webmstr — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 17:01:39 +0000

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Fastnet 2019 videos

webmstr — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 16:02:37 +0000

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1980s? Monfalcone, Italy

webmstr — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 06:00:24 +0000

This photograph is believed to have been taken at Monfalcone in Northern Italy. Amokura has a white hull which marks a change from the black she is believed to have had during the ownership of Ernest Harston and George Millar, and the dark blue seen during the Carr’s tenure. The photograph is undated but perhaps dates from the early 1980s before the Pulver brothers embarked on their extensive renovation? The yacht ahead of Amokura looks quite modern so perhaps this does fit in with the photo being taken in the 1980s…

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1970s? Flying the White Ensign

webmstr — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 06:00:34 +0000

This picture shows Amokura at anchor flying the prestigious white ensign. The white ensign is the preserve of Royal Navy ships, Trinity House vessels escorting the reigning monarch, and (in Amokura‘s case) members of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Two of her previous owners, George Millar (who owned Amokura from 1954-60) and Richard Carr (from 1969-79), had this distinction. This picture shows Amokura with the aluminium masts fitted shortly after Carr purchased her in 1969 so it likely dates from the 1970s.

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1969: Pictures taken whilst the Carr family owned Amokura

webmstr — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 06:00:35 +0000

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1999: Following the IBTC refit

webmstr — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 06:00:11 +0000

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1997: IBTC refit – key improvements

webmstr — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 06:00:44 +0000

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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

webmstr — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 04:00:23 +0000

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1939: Report in The Motor Boat and Yachting

webmstr — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:50:54 +0000

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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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1988: Cruising in the Caribbean

webmstr — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 21:06:28 +0000

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