Help Needed: Where Are All The O'Brien Kennedy-Designed Lymington Slipway 5 Tonners?

17th October 2022

An O'Brien Kennedy-designed Lymington Slipway 5 Tonner. The prototype won the Round the Island Race in the late 1940s

We've a plea for help from Darren Fowler in the Channel Islands:

"I am currently restoring the Lymington Slipway 5 tonner "Sardrette", 182817, first registered 27/7/51 in Guernsey.

There is very little information available on these boats; I have read your article and also O'Brien Kennedy's autobiography "Not all at Sea".

I am writing to see if you have any additional information or perhaps contacts that may be able to help further.

Of the 18 boats believed to have been built, I have identified 13 by name; of these, I am only aware of Sardrette and Joanne of Kyle still in existence, although there could be others. Any help in this would be gratefully received"

Quite a challenge - the Lymington Slipway 5 Tonnner Sardrette in need of serious TLC in the Channel Islands. Photo: Darren Fowler

The Lymington Slipway 5 Tonner was and is a super little boat, way ahead of her time when successfully introduced in the late 1940s. But with post-war austerity still stalking the land, she never got the chance to show her full sales potential, even if the prototype did win the Round The Island Race. Darren refers to Joanne of Kyle - she was last reported in Scotland in a restoration which had stalled owing to the owner's illness. And there used to be a well-kept example which was laid up every winter at MacDonald's Boatyard at Greencastle in Donegal on Lough Foyle. But beyond that, here at Afloat.ie we know nothing further of Lymington Slipway 5 Tonners still extant - can anyone help?

The Lymington Slipway 5 Tonnner was one of O'Brien Kennedy's best designs

Published in Historic Boats

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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