Original Vintage Photograph

NOT a modern reproduction or digital copy


SP01 - 08 - Original Photo 5x3 inch - Racing Yacht - White Heather II

White Heather II

White Heather II was one of five yachts in the phenomenal Big Class racing fleet during the mid to late 1920s, the precursor to J-Class. Together they were affectionately known as ‘The Big Five’ with the other four legendary yachts of the time being: ‘Lulworth’, the Kings own yacht ‘Britannia’, ‘Shamrock IV’ and ‘Westward’ who joined the big five in 1925. With their speed and breathtaking sail area, together with the Kings own yacht, they would attract the elite of 1920s society.

White Heather II was a successful yacht and won many races since her launch in 1907, she was later converted to rate as J-Class in 1930 by Camper & Nicholson yard, which helped establish Nicholson’s reputation in big racing yachts. White Heather II was among just three others, ‘Astra’, ‘Candida’ and the Kings yacht ‘Britannia’, to be converted.

Owners

1907-late 1910s: Myles Burton Kennedy (1862–1928) - Proprietor of Roanhead mines and chairman of the North Lonsdale Iron & Steel Co.

Late 1910s - late 1920s: Sir Charles Allom (1865-1947) - Commodore of the Royal London Yacht Club

Late 1920s to early 1930s: Samuel James Waring (1860 -1940) - Lord Waring, Chairman of Waring and Gillow, after merging with the famous Gillows Furniture of Lancashire in 1897. Also held a position as Commodore of the Royal Albert Yacht Club.

Early 1930s: William Lawrence Stephenson: Nicknamed the English Mr Woolworth he established F. W. Woolworth & Co. Ltd in Britain between 1909-1948. Soon after acquiring White Heather II he had her scrapped in order to have the successful J-Class ‘Velsheda’ built in 1933. Velsheda was so named after his three daughters: Velma, Sheila and Daphne. The lead from White Heather II’s keel was melted for the keel of Velsheda.


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