The story of the restoration of the legendary boat Maiden

Maiden (Virgo) Is a bureau designed Farrah 58-foot on which Tracy Edwards and her all-female team finished second in their class in the race Whitbread Round the World Race 1989-1990 (subsequent race names: Volvo Ocean Race, The Ocean Race). The boat recently underwent a complete refurbishment before embarking on a round-the-world tour to raise awareness and funds for girls' education under the logo The Maiden Factor.

Few yachts (and even fewer skippers) are truly famous. Famous enough to be recognized simply by name. Maidenthat is - and that is Tracy herself.

Maiden and her all-female crew became famous in the 1989-1990 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Her cocky women's team has become famous beyond the British sports press alone. From the blessing of the boat by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York to the finale and triumphant return to the Solent in 1990 as a two-stage race winner (crew wearing swimwear), Maiden has consistently made headlines as one of the most celebrated yachts of the era.

But after the race, while Tracy Edwards herself remained in the spotlight, Maiden was sold. And 24 years later, after a series of resales, this aluminum boat was found languishing somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Maiden was abandoned in the marina Eden island, Mahe Island, Seychelles, where it collapsed into oblivion. When Edwards heard about the condition of the boat, she launched a crowdfunding campaign to reclaim Virgo home. The campaign attracted a lot of attention and more than £ 40,000 was raised - many people donated literally a few pounds to restore the yacht.

It took about three years to raise the necessary funds and transport the yacht to Britain on a cargo ship - she could not go on her own. The boat got to Humble in 2017, where she underwent a comprehensive recovery, before embarking on a three-year circumnavigation in late 2018. Much of the cost was covered by the princess Hayyi bint al-Hussein - the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan, who at one time sponsored the participation Maiden in the race.

Tracey Edwards attends a meeting with Princess Hayya of Jordan Bint al-Hussein, whose family supported Maiden in the 90s and is today.

This yacht was designed Bruce Farr and took part in the race for the first time Whitbread round the world race in 1981-82 under the name Disque D'Or III. Then she participated in a solo trip around the worldBOC Challenge  in 1986-87 Tracy Edwards took her to Humble from Cape Town that same year. As the crew sailed from Southampton up the Humble River, the boat almost sank.

Initial repairs in preparation for the race Whitbread in 1989 it was whipped up and very budgetary. For example, her famous gray did not match the colors of the sponsor, the airline Royal jordanian airwaysbecause the team partially used paint, not the one they needed, but the one that they managed to get for free.

This time, all tones and shades are sustained. However, the boat still carries many echoes of the past. Howard Gibbons, who was at that time a manager Virgins, returned to manage her recovery.

Amelia Ralphs, a team engineer and one of the key contributors to the restoration of the boat, recalls: "I think one of the coolest things about this project is that there are so many people around, manufacturers and ordinary people, to invest their time and energy here."

Original boat specification Maiden

She points to a custom bow hatch that the French company Goiot made in exact accordance with the original. “We have not paid anything beyond what we would have paid for a normal hatch - Goiot I have invested in what we are trying to achieve with this project. "

The reconstruction sought to achieve a certain balance. On the one hand, keep the authentic spirit Virgins, on the other hand, to bring it into line with the realities of our time. During its world tour, the boat will take on board guests who have paid for their participation - both for day sailing and for crossings. Therefore, it must meet modern safety and environmental requirements, be easy to operate, be suitable for PR and marketing activities as well as for ocean crossings.

In addition to the deck, I also had to tinker with the rigging, since the runners and large grottoes, so beloved by the racers Whitbreadare not very suitable for corporate sailing.

Instead of this Maidenhas a fractional rig with positive sweep spreaders made Marine Results and Seldén... Yacht designer Tony Castro was also involved in most of the restoration work.

Otherwise, the boat is strikingly close to the original design. “It's really unique because the yacht is very old-fashioned - and very functional at the same time,” says Ralfs. "Its depth makes it really safe, you feel calm in it."

Gaze

Much of the rig is in its original location. For verification, Ralphs uses a surprisingly detailed model made by one of the fans. Virgins.

“This model was in a museum and then moved to my kitchen. And I was very worried all these months so that nothing happened to her, - says Ralphs. "The model is so valuable because it shows details that you won't find in any photograph."

The location of the winches is almost identical. Only two winches have been removed and 14 remain on deck.

On the high seas the team will consist of 9 members, in coastal voyages - 12, permanent core - 3 people. Ralphs says it takes eight pairs of hands to turn the fordewind. On deck, there are analog instruments, matched as precisely as possible.

"Compasses Plastimo - the last two such black compasses that I could find all over Europe, in two different countries. We needed them, because that was the original color scheme. "

The entire hull and deck underwent long-term abrasion to remove 30 years of build-up of paint, fillers and everything else - and get to the metal itself. The deck itself did not require much work - unlike the hull. The elegant sloping transom has been almost completely redesigned and the keel has been significantly offset. It turned out that the skeg was almost completely rotten - and it was removed.

In accordance with the standard

Internal work required both getting rid of corrosion and upgrading the yacht to modern safety requirements. Watertight bulkheads were added to the rear of the sail and galley pantry, as well as fireproof bulkheads in the engine compartment.

Although the interior changes were minimal, the number of berths was reduced from three tiers to two as Maiden will walk more with a crew of 9 than with 12-14.

A pilot seat has been added next to the chart table. All analog devices are duplicated by electronics from B&G, Inmarsat and Mastervolt, including 4 cameras on the deck.

One place will definitely be the envy of teams traveling around the world - Ralphs calls it "the library." This is a comfortable spot right under the steps, with a seat, booths for personal belongings and a locker.

There you can, for example, store sunglasses, or all sorts of things, or just collect your thoughts before going on watch - it is separated from the living space by a new sealed door.

Specification boats in Maiden

Length overall: 17.71 m (58 feet)
Length at the waterline: 15.24 m (50 feet)
Width: 5.02 m (16 feet)
Draft: 3.20 m (10 foot)
Displacement: 21,773 kg (48 feet)

And even if Virgo is no longer a racer, but her voyage around the world - from Great Britain to India, then to Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, through the Northwest Passage down to Uruguay, around Cape Horn, back to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal in both directions, transatlantic crossing to Britain and then final return to Jordan will be an amazing adventure.

We also have our own legendary yacht. This is "Hetman Sagaidachny", where the team of independent Ukraine took part in the Whitbread Round The World Race in 1993-1994. under the command of Eugene Platon. It was subsequently sold. For many years, Yevgeny Platon has been trying to attract the attention of the public and sponsors to the fate of the boat - and to return it to Ukraine. About Ukraine's participation in this prestigious round-the-world regatta, "Hetman Sagaidachny" and Yevgeny Platon, "Interparus" will tell in one of the upcoming materials.

Author: Helen Fretter / Translation: Dmitry Bushuev

18.06.2019