J Class “Velsheda”

Paul achieved a unique double and fulfilled a boyhood dream of not only designing and making a complete suit of sails for the restored J-Class classic “Velsheda” (she was in the Guiness Book of Records for many years being the tallest single masted yacht in the world) and also skippering her for a year: “Sailing her in her original condition without an engine and practically no winches was quite a challenge”. Her vital statistics: 123ft overall, 125 tons, 16ft draft, 2 sets of running backstays and needing 20 fit and willing souls to hoist the mainsail. And still is the source of many tales. Credit must go to Terry who rescued this icon of the glamorous yacht racing scene of days gone by and thereby almost single handedly kick started the mega yacht boom.