The life of N1551 Salty. Design: , designed by: in
From Ken Goddard
I first came across N.1551 "Salty" and her owners, the Misses J.& A. Simpson when competing in the National 12 races in the Royal Torbay Y.C. Regatta Series of 1967. The boat was called Salty, possibly because this is the name of the sandbank which dries out in Teighmouth harbour. (The ladies lived near Newton Abbott).
Salty and her redoubtable ladies were seen again in the National 12 races at the Royal Torbay and Royal Dart Y.C. regattas in 1970. I remember rather ruefully the Torquay regatta, which was held in the notoriously fickle winds in the middle of Torbay. In "Tackspayer" I thought I had got the race sewn-up but Salty slipped past in the almost windless last 50 yards!
Salty was seen again in the Brixham Regatta of 1971, but this was a rather windy affair and the ladies were seen to retire.
I last saw Salty a few years later in the informal, fence-less dinghy park near the higher ferry at Dartmouth and it looked as though the boat had not been used for a while.
Ken Goddard
For sale on "marketplace" July 2024. Located in South Molton.
Text and pictures from advert below.
"Salty" is a National Twelve (sail number 1551) built in Exmouth, Devon, by Rowsells in 1957,and the firm is still in existence.
This boat was originally a racer but can be sailed quite safely, single handed or two up, pottering about in calmer waters. She has built in buoyancy in fore and aft compartments.
She was originally sailed around Teignmouth and the River Dart (Royal Dartmouth Yacht Club is still shown on her stern).
Reference to the National Twelves website reveals some history from around 15 years ago. Having declined from her former glory she has since been renovated and restored.
The boat now comes with a fully functioning combi trailer (launch trolley and road base), a spare wheel, full weatherproof cover, alloy mast, two mainsails, jib sail, two rudders (one folding and one fixed) and two tillers with folding extensions.
Further pics from the advert of July 2024
more pics