Built for F Ivan Carr she was to be the last yacht in which William Fife III contributed to the design and she was completed during the Second World War.
“She remains the least altered of all Fife’s designs, and a formidable competitor on the Med racing circuit.
Solway Maid is of significant historical importance, being as she is the very last yacht to be designed by the great master William Fife III and also built at his yard at Fairlie. After his death the yard continued to exist, but never again was the combination of his design genius and master craftsmen found in the same vessel,” Edmiston.
Ivan Carr died of a heart attack in 1974 and ‘Solway Maid’ then went into the ownership of his “2nd wife, Marjorie H Carr who continued many wonderful years sailing the Scottish Lochs.” In 1988 Solway Maid was bought by only her second owner in her 48-year life, Rodger Sandiford.
She is a regular on the Mediterranean regatta circuit, has been to both Fife regattas and is usually seen with her ‘mothership’, MY Istros.
At the Jubilee Regatta in the Solent in 2001 she was one of the unfortunate casualties of the strong winds that were encountered on the first day and her 1940 spruce mast was brought down. A sad day for all but after a fine scarph by the infamous Spencers Yard she has been continuing to compete in the regattas ever since.
Quotes courtesy of Andrew Carr
Thoroughly refurbished during 2011 & 2013 as follows: (Edmiston)
Structure
The hull of the Bermudan cutter “SOLWAY MAID” consists of mahogany planks on L-shaped 316 L stainless steel frames and wooden frames. 90% of the steel frames were replaced during the restoration works. The shell was then thoroughly caulked and coated externally with single component MIGNON paint after the laying of primer and the bottom was treated with white antifouling. The yacht is now painted in white. The yacht was sealed internally with epoxy primer and then coated with polyurethane paint. The entire deck structure was carefully reconditioned and the deckhouse was thoroughly rebuilt. Mast, boom and rigging were removed, fully overhauled, serviced and varnished . The chain plate ends located amidships on port/starboard sides were reinforced by welding new stainless steel bearings into the eyelets. The shroud plates on the mast top were reinforced and welded where necessary. The supporting base at the mast bottom was also thoroughly renewed by building a steel keel matching the existing one. Also the keel bolts and nuts for the lead keel were renewed during the restoration works. Even afloat, the bilges are now found completely dry. In particular, the bilge well situated below the engine was not only dry, but also clean and free from oil and/or Diesel oil leakages. The yacht is equipped with 2 x bilge pumps: No. 1 hand- operated pump (original tting arranged in a new position, more easily accessible); No. 2 automatic electrically operated pump (newly supplied).
Interior
All yacht interior fittings – including furniture – were disassembled, freshly painted or varnished and set back in place. Structural improvements aimed at reinforcing the interior/accommodation sole were also carried out. All bronze water inlets and drains were renewed and connected to one another with an anode-to earth system.
2021 – Listed for sale with Edmiston for €450,000.
