| Owner
David Murrin's initial objective was to reconstruct Cetewayo so that she
could be sailed for a couple of seasons prior to a complete renovation.
The massive task of bringing Cetewayo from a bare rotting hull with only
a few internal bulkheads to a seaworthy vessel began in the December of
1989. |
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It
was eight solid months in a Pembroke yard before she could make her 'maiden'
voyage from Wales round to Plymouth for further work. During this passage
she encountered her first major test during a gale in the Irish Sea. Despite
the extreme conditions, she performed superbly and set the scene for three
years of cruising and gentle restoration. 1993 was to be the next major
waypoint for Cetewayo.
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After
a season of racing in and around the Solent the decision was made to optimise
her racing potential by competing under a system entitled 'CHS' (Channel
Handicap System). To make the most of this system Cetewayo began a continuing
programme of restoration and innovation with improvements being made year
on year.
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The winter
of 1995 saw over 800 crew hours put into the hull alone with a newly shaped
keel, new cockpits and improved race instrumentation. Succesive winters
saw further massive refits including a new engine, a complete rebuild of
the transom rudder and steering allowing extra winches to be installed facilitating
the use of higher performance Mylar race sails. |
| This is
in addition to the intense maintenance requirements of any wooden craft.
Cetewayo's latest addition is a suit of state of the art kevlar race sails
one might more commonly see on a Whitbread 60 as opposed to a long slim
hark back to the fifties complete with wooden mast and boom. But that is
the trademark of this boat. She is one of a kind. |
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