Sailing Yawl “Dawn”
Dimensions:
LOD: 34.5ft LOA 48.5ft LWL: 27.3ft Beam: 8.5 ft Draft:5.9ft *sourced from Lloyds Register of Yachts 1980.
Reg’d No: 120206 (#3 in 1905) Reg’d Tonnage: 9.5
Port of Registry: Falmouth
The sailing yawl Dawn was designed by Gilbert Umfreville Laws, a partner of J A Youl in the design and shipyard business of Laws Youl & Co at the Burnham Boat Building Company at Burnham on Crouch, Essex.
Gilbert Laws (below) (Jan 8 1870 - Dec 3 1918) artist, sailor and naval architect had learnt his trade in yacht design as a student of Albert Strange (1855-1917) the famous yacht designer, artist, sailor and writer. Besides being a successful designer Gilbert was a first rate helmsman winning the gold medal in his own design at the 1908 Olympics. His 6-metre yacht “Dormy” was placed respectively 1st,2nd and 3rd in the three race event held off Ryde, Isle of Wight.
G U Laws
The design concept of the ‘canoe yawl’ theme was continued by Gilbert from his early tutelage with Albert Strange. The Canoe Yawl Association describes the style as being a slim, easily-driven, decked hull with a stem at each end and carrying a yawl rig. Laws’ designs were a continuation of Strange’s concept combined with his own development from days as a youth paddling canoes. The low aspect ratio of the yawl rig suited the narrow beam better than would a single-mast: its divided sail area much assisted helm balance, manoeuvrability and progress in strong winds combined with no need for a paid hand. The sail area may be rapidly reduced in a strong blow by reefing the mainsail down to leave a ‘jib and mizzen’ configuration for safe, well-balanced progress. Such a style was particularly developed in the 1880s at the Humber Yawl Club. The sails may be of any fore-and-aft type, and in any combination, and whether the mizzen is before or behind the rudder post (the technical definitions of ketch and yawl) is of no consequence to the Association rather it is more a matter of sail distribution and proportion. The association considered the canoe yawl as a subtle combination of hull and rig proportions which, in general, could not be achieved by conversion from other design types such as a sloop or cutter as in such circumstances it was thought unlikely that the hull would suit given its beam and the need for the mainmast to be relocated. Such an exercise, with no guarantee of success, was deemed to be ill-advised. It was admitted that for a given building cost the canoe yawl provides less capacity and accommodation but greater length than a sloop or cutter. Its relative unpopularity in the commercial marketplace was due to its lesser capacity and higher mooring charges but was deemed ideal for those not wishing to sleep 4-up in a smallboat and who avoid marinas where possible. Rather for those demanding beauty and performance in their boat with the most appropriate rig for the single- or short-handed sailor across the full range of conditions likely to be encountered — including those where many sloops or cutters would be unmanageable, then the rig was deemed ideal.
Dawn was built at the yard of W E Thomas in Falmouth. According to the 1891 censusThomas was born in Ruan Minor(?) and was living at 2 Arwyn Cottage with his sons Bertram 25 and Thomas 21. Thomas’ yard was well known for its design and build of Quay Punts but was eventually closed in n after which the property was developed to include the present Falmouth Maritime Museum.
In1924 an engine was fitted.
Operation Dynamo
Dawn sailed to Dover in May 1940 with a small volunteer flotilla led by the Dartmouth steamferry to join ‘Operation Dynamo’ but in fact poor weather delayed their arrival to permit full participation. Dawn’s participation at Dunkirk is set out in David Devine’s “The Nine days of Dunkirk” published in 1959. This action is further substantiated by Mr A J Gush of 8 East Street, Chard, Somerset who’s correspondence dated 16.11.86 wrote of confirming her prescence with the then owner in Solihull.
Owners of Dawn have included:-
1906 H S Algar of 2 Kingston VillasRomford and who by 1938 lived at Lusaka, Kirby Road, Walton, Colchester. Believed to have been a friend of G U Laws and who commissioned the build.
1909 Albert John Gush of Axminster,Devon. B 1874. In the 1881 Census he was in the Devon & Exeter Hospital, in1901 he was on board HMS Wanderer in Gotland Harbour. In 1911 he was living with his mother at 10 Bridge Street Lyme Regis and his occupation was stated as‘fishmonger’ after his mother. He married Julia Anne and died in 1922 at LymeRegis aged 48 when his occupation was a ‘coach body builder’. Dawn appears to have been sold from the estate.
1923- 1954 John Roger Gregory of LittleRavenswell Kingswear. Born 1893 and died Kingswear 1980.
September20 1954: Thomas Aird Burnley Murray,was born March 16 1912 in Toronto Canada. Thomas lived his working career at 3Moorland Court, Lawn Road, as a civil engineer. At Doncaster Aero Club hegained Aviator’s Certificate #16766 on a British Aircraft manufacturing Swallow,with a Cirrus Minor engine. Subsequently he lived at Woodcombe, Chivelstone,Devon.
May12 1958 Robin Anthony Parker, Gara Mill House, Slapton, Devon.
Jan26 1962 Lawrence Gilbert Turner, Dittisham Court, Dartmouth.
November11 1965 John William Andrew Griffith,12 Fore Street, Kingswear
September18 1968 Brian Wynyates Smith, TheMoat House, Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire
May26 1980 Noel Lockhart Peck, ThreeWells Cottage, Castle Farm Lane, Lytchett Matravers Poole.
1985 Raymond Glynne Humphreys, Severn Starts Cottage, Chivelstone, Devon.
National Historic Ship Register
Dawn is on the Register of National Historic Ship’s, certificate number 2361.