Originally named ‘Dewdrop’ she has also been named ‘Juva’, ‘Mary Falconer’ and ‘Mary Jennifer’ over the years.
Information from Mike Evans:
“She was built for the Earl of Shaftsbury to race on the Lochs of Scotland as an Open Boat “J” Class. Sometime before she was purchased by John White, decking and a dog house were added.
My connection with Alpen Rose goes back to the 1970’s. At that time she belonged to an Electronics Engineer – John White and was laid up at Rowhedge near Brightlingsea. John White worked at the NMR Laboratory of Cambridge University – he worked along with Sidney Brenner in the DNA Nobel Prize Winner Sir Francis Crick’s Research Team. My Work brought me into contact with John White.
Along with a couple of colleagues I formed a syndicate with John to put Alpen Rose back in the water. After a Winter long overhaul at Rowhedge we sailed her to her moorings at Hamble – a routine we carried out for many years at the start and end of each Sailing Season. At Hamble she was moored alongside the then UK Prime Minister Ted Heath’s “Morning Cloud” – the one eventually lost whilst racing in the Tasmanian Sea. On numerous Saturday mornings we would “rub shoulders” with Ted Heath and his Racing Crew when they were preparing for some Race/Practice.
Alpen Rose’s weekend activities were mostly trips across the Channel and back, weather permitting. We had to be very aware of the weather as Alpen Rose had no engine – a pure sailing machine – interestingly she was faster in light winds than Morning Cloud – we could easily pass her on our way out of Hamble! Although we always sailed her with the weather in mind – occasionally when caught out, she was able to handle “Very Heavy Weather” like a true Lady of the Sea.
The syndicate remained sailing her for about ten happy, adventurous and fun years – the last time I saw her was sometime in the early 1980’s at Chichester – hence my amazement at discovering she now is in a lake in Switzerland.”
