Kingfisher is a replica of Dad’s original Silver Mist (built in the late 1950’s). Sam and I took her down to the bay this afternoon, to see what’s what. She is now secured above high water mark, awaiting a new generation of mariners.
Perhaps ‘weight’ and ‘substance’ go some way to explaining a subtle difference between the original vessel and her replica. Bowsprit (and polish) aside, my boat looks much the same as the ‘Silver Mist’ of our photograph; and yet – so it seems to me – there is not the same sense of solid integrity. ‘Silver Mist’, we could say, was a working boat born of vision and circumstance; and my own creation, a simple pleasure craft….
From Silver Mist and Beyond: My Father as Mariner
Looking good! Can you still sail it?
We have the sail, dagger-board, rudder – and inclination! I will report.