101 On Saturday, 22nd June 1935, Mrs Bond launched the beautiful new ship bearing her name into the Firth of Forth, Scotland, at J. N. Miller & Sons’s St Monans yard. The large, 20 metre schooner had been commissioned from Fred Shepherd – one of Britain’s leading designers of characterful and spacious fast cruising yachts during the late 19th and early 20th century – by Ella’s husband, 30-year-old Surrey textile design firm director and Royal Thames Yacht Club and Royal Ocean Racing Club member William Ronald Somerville Bond, during the winter of 1934/35. It was her beautifully appointed mahogany accommodation that particularly caught the attention of the press on launching day. Auxiliary power came from a 5-cylinder 47 hp Gardner diesel engine which, as Gardners do, gave sterling service into almost the 21st century. Her sails were made by the then leading sailmaker Ratsey & Lapthorn. Her builders had gained a reputation through the 1920s and 30s for building to a fine standard at very competitive prices; they had been doing that, principally for fishing and other commercial vessels, since the 18th century. The fact that much of Ella’s structure remains as built at St Monans in the 1930s speaks volumes about her builders – and Fred Shepherd’s specifications and concept. During the last years before World War II, Ella raced and cruised out of the south coast of England. She was no stranger to North Sea waters in her early years, as again in more recent times. Racing, she won the Cruisers Class of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 1937 Coronation Regatta, and in 1938 HER NAME IS BOND – ELLA BOND. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL, FRED SHEPHERD DESIGNED STAYSAIL SCHOONER OF 67 FEET ON DECK, LAUNCHED IN 1935. AND HAVING BEEN SAILED FAR AND WIDE, SHE IS ALSO A WELL-KNOWN YACHT AMONG CLASSIC BOAT LOVERS. NOW THE CHANCE HAS ARISEN TO BECOME THE NEW OWNER OF THIS OUTSTANDING YACHT, WHICH IS FOR SALE THROUGH ROBBE & BERKING CLASSICS. TEXT: DETLEF JENS AND IAIN MCALLISTER
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