Dorothy: back at sea after 10 years of restoration

The beginning of Dorothy's story

In 1897, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, W.H. Langley thought about purchasing a boat not for pleasure - he needed a fast boat for work trips and regattas.

Dorothy's drawings

At the same time, European-style sailboats were gaining popularity in British Columbia and Victoria. About two dozen boats were made according to drawings brought from Britain. Among these boats was the heroine of this story - Dorothy.

For British Columbia, such boats were perhaps even too European. Particularly notable was the long stern without a pronounced transom. This feature would soon become a hallmark of most classic yachts of the time.

W.H. Langley aboard Dorothy, 1902

For more than 40 years, Langley remained the owner of the boat. He repeatedly struck gold at regattas and simply had a pleasant time sailing his beloved Dorothy. However, in 1944, Langley sold his boat. It is at this moment that another long journey begins Dorothy.

Twenty long years of waiting

From 1944 to 1964 Dorothy has had six owners. Unfortunately, little information has been preserved about the operation of the boat during this period. Some owners tried to preserve the former beauty of the boat by carrying out timely maintenance and repairs. Others belonged to Dorothy with less enthusiasm.

Over these 20 years Dorothy even temporarily changed her name and became known as Jimbojack. In addition, the boat barely survived a severe fire, which completely destroyed the deckhouse roof and the engine.

Unfortunately, the greatest threat to her was the indifference of some of her owners. Like any other wooden boat, Dorothy required special care. The environment was particularly harsh on the natural body materials, which led to severe wear and tear by 1964. With holes and rotting rigging, she was discovered on a pier in New Westminster by Chuck Charlesworth.

Bringing Dorothy back to life

After Charleswater bought the boat, its gradual restoration and restoration began. To be honest, the restoration process took a bit of time, and three successive owners tried to complete it. However, by the 1990s, the boat had regained its former glory.

In 1995 Dorothy was donated to the Maritime Museum of British Columbia (MBMC). Until 2003, she proudly flew the flag of the Maritime Museum's fleet, but she was pulled out of the water and placed in dry dock.

The previous owners really brought Dorothy in order, but the hull and supporting structures required serious restoration. For the first time in many years Dorothy got a chance for a decent restoration of the hull. 

Long-term restoration of Dorothy

On the balance sheet of MMBC, except Dorothy, there were two more ships. Restoring one of them - Trekka – was the work of the widely known shipbuilder Tony Grove. In the process of working on Trekka, Tony found out that Dorothy also needs renovation.

Tony Grove during the Dorothy restoration

Grove carefully examined the boat and came to the conclusion that the problems were much deeper than it seemed at first glance. Dozens of repairs carried out, the use of various metals that negatively affected the wood, as well as a rotten keel indicated that Dorothy is in a deplorable state. It might look decent on the outside, but the internal structures were too worn out.

After finishing work on Trekka, Tony Grove took Dorothy under your own control. For almost ten years, he carefully looked after the boat, carrying out gradual restoration and replacement of parts.

By the summer of 2022, the restoration was finally completed. In 2024 Dorothy was awarded the Classic Boat Awards for Best Restored Sailboat Under 40 Feet.

Dorothy continues to serve the British Columbia Maritime Museum, participates in regattas, exhibitions and festivals. Moreover, excursions are held on the boat for young yachtsmen and future sailors as part of a program to attract young people to sailing.

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11.05.2024