For years she lay forgotten in a Portuguese fruit shed but now she’s the toast of connoisseurs of craftsmanship. Ierne, an 8-metre yacht built by William Fife in 1914, has won the Restoration of the Year Award from Classic Boat magazine. Her owner Huw Jones was presented with this prestigious Award at this year’s London Boat Show. Blakes Paints coatings have been used throughout her restoration and Norman Curtis, National Sales Manager for Blakes Paints commented: “The workmanship on Ierne is stunning, the yacht looks absolutely beautiful and she’s a worthy winner of the Award”
It took Huw’s boatbuilder, Joe Irving, eighteen months to painstakingly restore her and the work has been carried out to meticulous standards. Classic Boat magazine praised the ‘purity’ of the restoration and Huw is particularly pleased because he has been a fan of the magazine for many years and says Ierne was up against some stiff competition for first prize. Since her rebuild and launch in April last year her appearances at the Fife Regatta and Classic Regatta at Cowes have drawn much admiration – not least because of her colour scheme.
“We used Blakes Brilliant Enamel on her topsides and chose a beautiful cream colour which is perfect for her classic looks. A lot of people have asked me where I got it from and Joe the boatbuilder says every wooden boat owner who has seen her wants the same colour now!” Below the waterline Blakes Hard Racing black antifouling has been used in contrast and Huw adds that the blend of satin finishes below decks and high gloss varnishes on the brightwork above has produced a craft “which is like something out of a 1920s Hollywood film.”
“The support I have had from Blakes throughout has been unbelievable,” Huw continued, “Norman has been so good in helping me with the project and the support I’ve had from Martin Ingram in the technical department has been great.” He says he has enjoyed the restoration so much he is even considering taken on a second restoration project now Ierne is finished. Next year he plans to race her in more regattas and she is also going to be appearing on television with Griff Rhys Jones at the helm for a documentary about industrialisation and rivers. Griff himself is a big fan of classic boats. “They filmed for half a day and Griff loved it and said he had a great time,” said Huw. “The TV crew have given me all the helicopter shots of Ierne sailing and she looks wonderful.”