1939 – 1948 Oliver Hook
Gadwall was originally commissioned for Oliver Hook in 1939, a keen Animal writer who wrote extensively on breeding and welfare as well as traveling through Africa and pioneering wildlife photography.
Oliver was the architect in the main extension of his home at Camp Hill Cottage in the 30’s, which still stands today in the new forest where he was active in fighting for the welfare of Badgers up until the late 60’s
Seeing through the completion of Gadwall after the war Oliver launched her in November of 1946 and sailed her through to ’48.
1948 – 1953 W.L Stephenson
‘Bill’ Stephenson is one of the world’s most famous sailor’s and America’s Cup protagonists’. His fortune from founding Woolworths in the UK and global presidency supported his love of sail.
Famously commissioning ‘Valsheda’ one of the great J’s from his friend, Charles Nicholson, it was never his intention to race the Americas Cup, instead, he raced her against “Britannia”, “Endeavour” and “Shamrock” between 1933 and 1936 then lay Valsheda up in the mudflats on the Hamble. Valsheda won over 40 cups in her first year of racing, yet Bill only kept and maintained her for just over 2 years.
W.L Stephenson stepped down from the chair of Woolworths in 1948 and stepped back from big yacht racing. In doing so he purchased the Xyris Class Gadwall, and set into regularly sailing with Charles Nicholson in the Xyris class Cinder, Gadwalls Sister. During his ownership of Gadwall he was appointed Commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, and thus Gadwall was sailed under the Commodores Pennant. Bill continued in this and other sailing roles up until failing health meant the selling of Gadwall and famously his failure to attend the Jubilee Celebrations.
Bill ‘The Yorkshire Bruiser’ Stephenson passed away in 1963 aged 83.
1953 – 1954 Clifford B and Francis R Stamp
A Joint ownership, appears a couple of brothers bought Gadwall on a whim from W.L. Stephenson and sold her on the very next year.
Clifford Broad Stamp famously wrote “A Game of Seven Days” and was a prolific author through the 40’s and 50’s. Writing mainly about Science and Religion, ontology and spiritualism. In 1953, the year of purchasing Gadwall, Clifford and his wife Daisy published “Revelation and demonstration for you.”
Clifford, Francis and Daisy only sailed Gadwall a hand-full of times, it is unclear why.
1954 – 1959 Geoffrey D. Lock MC M.B.E.
Major Lock was born in 1889 and fought in both world wars with the Devonshire Regiment, rising swiftly from Second Lieutenant through to Major he was awarded the Military Cross for exemplary gallantry on the field of battle.
Geoffrey bought Gadwall in ’54 at the age of 65, again retirement age, and sailed her for 5 years, replacing the sails with a new suit from Ratsey and tidying up her timber.
Geoffrey sailed Gadwall under his own flag, a red octagon on a blue background, as registered under Distinguished Flags of Yachtsmen from 1954 onwards.
At the age of 70 he sold her on and remained in Rainbow Wood, Summerset until his death in 1984.
1959 – 1964 J.G. Edmiston
John Graham Edmiston of Greatfield, Beaulieu bought Gadwall aged 51, he was a company Director with offices on 46 Lowdes Square, London, however, we are not sure what the business did or of the business name.
J.G. held Gadwall for 5 years moving her up to Buckler’s Hard where he lived and keeping her to a high standard, in 62 a new suit of Ratsey sails was commissioned, next year in ’63 John installed a new Watermota Petrol engine, a marinized version of the Ford 100e engine.
He went on to sell her next year in ’64. and J.G. Edmiston passed away, Jan 20th, 1966 aged just 58, only 2 years after selling Gadwall.
1964 – 1969 Graeme M. Hamilton
Little is yet known of G. M. Hamilton, other than he lived in fashionable SW7 at 35 Petersham Place in London and played Cricket for the Warickshire Pilgrims.
1969 – 1986 David L. Trahair
David being of Yoeland House, Yelverton moved Gadwall back down the coast to Plymouth.
D.L Trahiar was the principal player and owner of a family baby food business and brought Farley’s Rusks to International export during his time there.
David Sold the Farley’s Company to Messrs Glaxo Laboratories Ltd in 1968 and with his share bought Gadwall, handing over the company in a 5 year deal. In 72 a substantial refurbish of Gadwall saw a new Bukh engine installed, which is retained today.
David retired in ’73 but retained a substantial share of capital in the company.
The next decade saw Gadwall sail extensively, with David and his Wife always out of Portsmouth.
Disaster struck the business in 1986 when the company’s reputation was destroyed overnight, by an outbreak of salmonella. The remaining business was sold off to Boots the Chemist and the Plymouth plant was shut down with the loss of 295 jobs.
Gadwall was sold on, again due to ill health and Mr. David Ladner Trahair died on December 30th, 2000, at the age of 83. He was survived by his widow and three sons.
1986 – 1988 Ian Barlow
Ian Barlow fell for Gadwall after seeing her advertised in Mashfords Boat Yard early in 1985. Alistair Easton ( Which still exists as Kings Yachts in Beaulieu, Bucklers Hard ) was the broker and had Gadwall advertised for £7,750.
Ian being an artist and designer at the time could only afford in the region of £4000 which was rejected by Alistair however he did refer the offer to the owner, David Trahair, which was also rejected.
Gadwall was left in the yard rapidly deteriorating, as was David’s health, after a year of repeated attempts and David now infirm the deal was struck at £4000 as no other interested party had stepped forward. To Mr Trahair’s character Ian reports that not only did Mr Trahair include in the sale everything else, liferaft, waterproofs, chandlery etc Mr Trahair also paid for the upcoming survey and Lloyds registration fees and handed her on in best condition an ailing man could.
Ian repainted and varnished Gadwall, relaunching her in a few months of work, and sailed her regularly around Plymouth Sound, out and around Eddystone Lighthouse.
Gadwall joined the Torpoint Mosquitoes Sailing Club, and was regularly raced single handed on the Tuesday night Races.
The next year Ian became involved in a shop-fitting business with a friend which took off and he simply didn’t have time to dedicate to Gadwall, so she was reluctantly sold onto a broker who snatched at the chance.
1988 – May 24th – June 29th Michael William Mead
Michael Mead of Wooden Ships Brokerage took on Gadwall, collecting her from the hard at St. Germans Quay, in a rush and a tissy to get going Michael sailed her out trying to make the Tamar and promptly run her aground into the mudflats. Where she sat through a tide until refloating herself.
Wooden Boats quickly brokered a deal with Taffy Harris and delivered her up to Roa Island.
1988 – 2016 Frederick James Harris, “Taffy”
Frederick James Harris, or “Taffy” Harris of Roa Island was a Naval Architect, Surveyor.
2016 – 2020 Nigel Armand Attard
Hayling Island
Mooring application 2017 With Rob Herron of POG – Gadwall was moored on mooring WW19.
Dec 2020 Steven James Moffat
Portavadie Marina