HISTORY & DESCRIPTION:
Rakes Retreat , ex: Estrellita , ex: Little Star was built for Captain Guy Baxendale of Framfield Place, Uckfield, Sussex in 1934, to a design by John I Thornycroft, a well known and respected naval architect with yards in Southampton and Hampton on the River Thames.
Estrillita returned to Thornycroft’s yard in Spring 1934 to be lengthened by 4ft with the addition of a canoe stern replacing the original transom. In the late 1930’s Lewis Clayton of Fair View, Castle Bromwich bought Estrillita. I n 1940 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a harbour patrol vessel in the Rochester and Chatham area, manned by a Petty Officer, Coxwain, Able Seaman and mechanic. Lewis Clayton was paid £12.50 a month for the use of the boat. She was de-commissioned in 1946 and bought by H A Dipple of Upton House, Thanet, Kent.
After only a few years ownership Estrillita was sold to H E Wesson of Cannon Street, London and re-named Little Star . In 1955 Mr & Mrs R Squire of Sunnycove, Kingswood Creek, Wraysbury bought the boat moving her on the the River Thames.
In 1958 D L Davis of Lotus, Pharoah’s Island, Shepperton briefly owned Little Star before selling in 1960 to the television presenter and personality Hughie Green who re-naming her Rakes Retreat . During Hughies time at Thames Television filming Opportunity Knocks he moored Rakes Retreat at Teddingon and lived aboard.
In 1965 Hughie Green sold the boat to Kenneth Ashley of Braemar House, Teddington. Felicity Bridges of Bedford Square, London became the next owner in 1972 followed by Dr. Goodburn of Meadway, London in 1975. Walter Smith bought Rakes Retreat in 1980 selling to Keith & Vicky Jones of Gunnislake Cornwall. They stationed the boat at Torpoint where she was sold in April 2002 to the current owner.
Now registered as an historic ship all Rakes Retreat’s original plans / records, river trial photographs are kept at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Carvel pitch-pine planked hull all copper rove fastened to steam bent oak timbers. Internal iron ingot ballast. Teak laid deck. Mahogany superstructure, toe-rails, hatches and stanchion rail cappings.
Raked straight stem, round bilges, long straight keel and canoe stern.
Extremely original accommodation in a quality Edwardian style splendour, with mahogany joinery throughout.
Twin 45hp four cylinder Perkins 4107 Diesel Engines, quarter mounted.
105hp Perkins 6354 Diesel Engine, centreline installation in 1997.
Three bronze propellers. 200 gallon fuel capacity.
Bermudian ketch rig with sruce main and mizzen. Three cotton / terylene sails.
Twin Berth Fore Cabin
Galley with stainless steel sink unit, Electrolux 12 / 240 / gas fridge. Twin burner gas cooker with oven and grill. Pantry and crockery lockers.
Saloon with L shaped settee to port converts to double berth. Drop-leaf table, lockers to starboard. 7kw Chesapeake diesel heater.
Wheelhouse with port side helm position, morse engine controls, central instrument console. Kent clear view screen. Admiralty binnacle compass. Huson 60 VHF radio. Sounder and Log.
Aft Stateroom with heads compartment to starboard with original Baby Blake marine WC. Washbsin to port. Two generous berths to port and starboard. Lockers and central chest of drawers.
Stern Lazerette housing fuel and fresh water tanks.
INVENTORY:
45lb CQR Anchor with 50 metres of half inch chain
Lewmar 24 volt windlass
Two bilge pumps, automatic and manual
Lifebuoys
Warps
Boat Hook
Winter Cover
BROKERS NOTE:
An attractive and largely original motor-yacht formerly owned by television personality Hughie Green.
Good sized period motor-yacht are becoming much more difficult to find, once refurbished an ideal vessel for coastal cruising or for exploring the inland waterways of Europe. Rakes Retreat is a now a major project and not for the feint-hearted, however she does retain a largely original period interior and has great potential.
Does Opportunity Knock for you?
GUIDE PRICE: Sold
LYING: Afloat – Kent
VIEWING: Through the agents –
CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE 01905-356482
info@classic yachtbrokerage.co.uk
