Velsheda (yacht)

Velsheda is the name of a sailing yacht, which was built in 1933 by Camper & Nicholsons yard in Gosport according to the rules of the J- class. Your sail number is J -K7.

The client was the American businessman William Stephenson, owner of a chain of British Woolworth stores. Stevenson named the yacht after the first syllables of the names of his three daughters, Velma, Sheila and Daphne.

Today the Velsheda is in possession of the Dutch businessman Ronald de Waal.

Formation

Before Velsheda Stevenson had been the White Heather II, which he had rebuilt in 1930 after the J- Class rule. When racing this ship, however, was against the modern constructions not competitive and so he let design by Charles Nicholson a new ship. The lead of the keel of the White Heather II was melted down and reused for the keel of Velsheda.

The design was on the cutting edge of technology: The riveted mast was made ​​of aluminum, the sails were made of terylene fiber and the deck fittings included winches for sail handling. His time was far ahead of the Rod Rigg, but had so much stretch that even a fraction of the mast was to be feared from a moderate breeze.

Sporting successes

Between 1933 and 1936 the Velsheda sailed into different races, among other things, against the J- Class yachts Britannia, Endeavour and Shamrock V. In 1934, she won over 40 races, including the Group achieved a speed record at the regatta from Southend to Dartmouth. They also competed in Torbay, Swanage and on the Solent. During this time the Velsheda would operate under the command of Captain Mountfield.

1935 Velsheda was modified for the first time; the bug was slimmer in the water line and the rear has also been improved. The following year, she won the King's Cup at Cowes Week. The crew consisted of 16 men, which were increased when racing to about 30 men. The additional crew was required primarily for sail changes and remained the rest of the time mostly below deck.

After reconstruction in 1983, the yacht sailed occasionally at the annual Round the Iceland - regatta around the Isle of Wight. In 1999, she met then in the Caribbean, also restored the Endeavour and Shamrock V.

In the sinking disappeared

After the Second World War, the Velsheda was first used as a houseboat on the River Hamble. The hull sank deep into the mud and was thus protected against corrosion.

Restoration

1984, the hull was then lifted and restored by Terry Brabant. The Velsheda received a steel pole and a limited interior. The original character was largely preserved - so no machine was installed. Below deck there was the trade, the owner's cabin aft, and the sail load as well as more storage space for accessories in the bow. Brabant operated the Velsheda in charter service on the south coast of Great Britain and occasionally in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Later she was sold to a Swiss owner. Still in operation, the charter Velsheda ran in the early 1990s off the east coast of Britain at low tide due. The ship could be salvaged without further damage. The new owner wanted to overtake the ship from the ground up. However, he could not raise the necessary money. The Velsheda was finally moored in Gosport and remained there until they could be sold.

1996 bought by the present owner Ronald de Waal, the Velsheda and commissioned in 1997 Gerard Dijkstra them from the ground up again. Only the torso remained. The aim of the restoration was to build a fast and luxurious Regatta ship. The deck was now made ​​of aluminum and was covered with teak. For the rig modern materials such as carbon fiber for the mast and boom and high-tech fabrics were used for the sails. The interior has been designed from the finest materials. In the original state, came in for little consideration. In addition, for the first time an engine was installed.

In 2001, Elizabeth Meyer was assigned to the ship to continue to modernize. The work was carried out at the Royal Huisman Shipyard

Criticism

The restoration of the Velsheda has the original state in many aspects not restored but greatly changed. Originally the ship was geared for regattas. The interior - as far as she was present at all - was sparse and functional. Today, the interior is comfortable and luxurious. In order to achieve the highest possible sailing performance, modern materials have been used over the deck, which were not available in the original construction.