BLUE SHARK [ex HANDA II]

‘Fishing Cruisers’ or ‘Motor Fishing Yachts’ were all the rage in post second world war England. Among new designs for all manner of yachts up to 100 ft / 30 m reviewed in the 1959 edition of Yachting World Annual, were no fewer than three fascinating and attractive 30-35 ft examples, but none to such a high quality build specification as A. Franklyn Pool’s Fred Parker-designed BLUE SHARK, planked with teak on a longitudinal frame of teak, and replete with a fish well in her large and deep cockpit. This second boat to the design originally began life in 1961 as HANDA II in the ownership of Lady Mary Grosvenor, younger daughter of the 2nd Duke of Westminster. Forty years later she was in need of restoration, but her almost all-teak hull offered a superb base to work from, while that deep, safe cockpit, and cosy accommodations, were just what her present owner was looking for in a pocket classic motor-sailer for coast and canals. A decade later she was ready, with improved space, comfort, and all the modern conveniences nowadays taken for granted but not often available in a classic motor-sailer of this size. BLUE SHARK is an enchanting delight.