Morning Cloud

Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.[1][2]

The yachts

No. 1

Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34, length 34 ft., year of launch 1969. Edward Heath won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with this boat in the same year.[2] She was sold in December 1970 to Stewart Benest of Jersey, who renamed her Nuage de Matin. She sank off Gorey Castle, Jersey, on 2 September 1974, after the seas took her from her moorings.[3][4][5]

No. 2

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 42 ft., hull material wood (mahogany), constructed by Lallows[1] (UK), year of launch 1971. Heath used the boat in the Admiral's Cup of that year as part of the winning British team.[6] At least two copies of the boat were built under licence from him.[7]

No. 3

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 44 ft. 9 ins.,[8] hull material wood, constructed by Lallows[1] (UK), year of launch 1973. It was used in the Admiral's Cup of that year, but Heath was only on board for the Fastnet race because of other commitments.[9] It was lost at sea on 5 September 1974 when it was hit by a large wave while en route to Cowes from Burnham-on-Crouch.[4] Heath was not on board. Two of the seven crew drowned.[1][10] It was insured by Lloyd's of London. This was only three days after Morning Cloud I (see above) sank.[3][4]

No. 4

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 45 ft.,[11] hull material aluminium, constructed by Allday Aluminium of Gosport, year of launch 1975.[12]

No. 5

Designed by Ron Holland, length 44 ft., hull material composite,[1] year of launch 1977.[13] In the 1979 Fastnet race (which was part of the Admiral's Cup) it lost its rudder and failed to finish. Heath sold the boat in 1983.[2]

References
  1. Jeffery, Tim (30 May 2008). "Article ''Morning Cloud rises again''". Blogs.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  2. Laven, Kate (23 December 2009). "Sir Edward Heath made history 40 years ago by winning Sydney Hobart Race". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  3. Prime Minister Heath's Racing Yacht Sinks, Palm Beach Daily News - 12 Sep 1974, Bea De Holguin Cayzer, "Buzzing with Bea", via news.google.com.
  4. "Heath Yacht – Search for Sailor Stops". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1974. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  5. Heath loses two yachts, Peter Cole-Adams, The Age - 4 Sep 1974, via news.google.com
  6. "1971: Admiral's Cup triumph for Heath, Admiral's Cup website". BBC News. 11 August 1982. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  7. "www.morningcloud.se". morningcloud.se. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  8. Sparkman and Stephens
  9. "1973: German Consistency, Admiral's Cup website". Admiralscup.rorc.org. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. "Heath's Yacht Sinks", Reading Eagle, Google News, 3 September 1974, retrieved 10 March 2011
  11. Sparkman and Stephens
  12. "Ajax Yacht Pictures". Ajaxyachtpics.blogspot.com. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  13. "1979: The Aussies thrive in the heavy air, Admiral's Cup website". Admiralscup.rorc.org. 13 August 1979. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.

Photographs of Morning Cloud
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