Shipbuilding was a major industry in Portaferry on Strangford Lough in the 1800s. Jump forward until 1973 when the Ruffian 23 was designed by the late William P Brown in 1972/73 and primarily built by his brother, the late Dickie Brown, plus local Portaferry workers.
The anniversary of this significant leap forward in small boat design will be celebrated in a big event organised by Portaferry Sailing Club from the 15th to the 18th of June. Heather Kennedy (nee Brown) has compiled a fascinating record from memories and paper cuttings. She says some small details may not be absolutely accurate!
The first boat, Muffin was built and finished by May 1973 when she was taken to the Belfast Boat Show in the King's Hall. She was then launched and took off on her racing career.
With the help of McComb Plastics over 200 yachts were built during the 1970s and early 1980s by Weatherly Yachts, a company established by Billy and his brother Dickie' initially in Portaferry, and later in Dublin and then in Baltimore Co. Cork. Fleets exist racing today in Dublin Bay, Carrickfergus on Belfast Lough, Hong Kong, Clew Bay and Wicklow.
Ruff 'n' ready (6014) and Bandit Photo: courtesy Brown family
Bluenose was the second one built, and with Muffin, they cleaned up most of the Irish Sea/Clyde races for their size that season. By August 1973, Muffin, Bluenose and Scruff all took part in the Quarter Ton Cup in Weymouth with moderate success but certainly raising their profile and filling the order books.
The boats were renowned for being a good sea boat, very capable in the Irish sea conditions, hull shape and an overlapping headsail giving good upwind performance and off the wind with masthead spinnaker, they were lively. Four or five crew easily sail these little boats.
Boats were built and sold in completed form and staged kits with hull, deck and some internal structures fitted so, allowing owners to complete themselves to an agreed specification.
In 1975 nine headed to Hong Kong, where there is now a fleet of 12-14 racing regularly. Ruffians were exported to Iceland and England, but Southern Ireland was the biggest market.
Champagne (Duncan Sclare), sailing in Mayo (Duncan Sclare) Photo: courtesy Brown family
Weatherly continued producing boats (approx100) until around 1977/78 when a combination of increases in Vat rates and consumer uncertainty caused orders to dry up. The advancement of plastic (fibreglass) boats affected a lot of wooden boat builders at this time, and although Ruffians are fibreglass, companies like Beneteau and Jeanneau started to produce boats at a much faster rate than the craftsmen at Weatherly could.
They did receive a LEDU award. LEDU was a Local Enterprise Development Unit which incorporated an Export Start scheme. Heather thinks that Weatherly Yachts received the award for export/local production).
The moulds were subsequently sold to the boat builder, BJ Marine, in Dublin and then onto Baltimore in West Cork, where production continued. It is thought that about 200 were built.
The boats remained as a One Design with some differences for inboard/outboard engines etc., but racing has always been keen and close. Weatherly Yachts workforce was largely Portaferry people, and a few are still around today. (There is an Ulster Television (UTV) clip showing work in the fibreglass stage).
The boats have been cruised and raced all over and around Ireland. There is a fleet of about 10 in Carrickfergus on the north shore of Belfast Lough, and 10-14 in Dublin Bay plus in Wicklow, Baltimore, Schull, Skerries and Cork.
Ruffian 23s competing for national honours on Dublin Bay in 2021 with Ripples (left) and National Champion Bandit Photo: Afloat
The Regatta will welcome seven from Carrickfergus, 11 from Dublin Bay and possibly one or two being trailed across from the West coast. At least 100 visiting crew are expected, and it is hoped that more past and present Ruffian owners and crew will be attracted by this gathering.
The Irish Ruffian Association has been involved with PSC form the start in working out the schedule and drumming up support from boats. It will be a very special event for Portaferry as a lot of people knew the boats or people involved with Weatherly in the past. Various club members have owned Ruffian 23s over the years - Scallywag, Roosky, Rikki Tikki Tavi, Mjolinar to name a few.
Portaferry and Strangford lough has probably not seen as many as 20 Ruffian 23s together before so the club hopes that weather permitting, it will be quite a spectacle with possibly a spinnaker start or finish in the Narrows. The new trophy is a 3D-printed half model of the Ruffian 23. Heather says, “I know my Dad (Billy) and Uncle (Dickie) will be looking down”.
Portaferry Marina on Strangford Lough where the Ruffian 23 class will celebrate its Golden Jubilee in June
Full details of the activities can be found on the Irish Ruffian Association website Events — Irish Ruffian Association (ruffians.ie) and more on the Ruffian 23 Facebook page. More information for the event and booklets are available from Heather Kennedy [email protected] or from Portaferry SC [email protected].
