Blandford Siren

[Nessa]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sailing-dingh ... 3aa6df95d8

Strange little thing, never seen one before.

[Rod]

Interesting. I don't know much about Percy Blandford but he seems to have been playing around the same design space (chine designs) as Jack Holt, though obviously with not near the same success in getting dinghy classes off the ground. The design reminds me of the 16' French pram-bowed design which seems to be maintaining a class association (the name escapes me at the moment).

[Rod]

Found it. The French Caravelle class.

[Rupert]

This was the big sister to the Goblin, which sold kits in very large numbers. 1850 by 1970 according to his book. Not sure how many sirens were sold, but maybe more than we might think, as they come up every now and again. The smallest of the range, the Gremlin, I've sailed, in Aberystwyth harbour of all places. Went ok for a tiny boat. Over 12000 sold apparantly, which is surprising. Very clever construction used by all three.

[neil]

I was rummaging in the maritime section in Foyles a few years ago and came across a few very dusty Blandford books for 50p each, always worth a good read.

For those of you on Facebook there's The Percy W Blandford Appreciation society, https://www.facebook.com/groups/42265674352/