Integrity is a timber-built sailing boat based upon yacht designs of the late 1880s. She was designed and built by Stirling and Son Ltd in Plymouth, UK.
Her vital statistics are 43ft (13.1m) LOD, with a weight of 23 tonnes. Her length over the spars is 60ft (18m) as she has a long bowsprit extending forward and a boom that projects over the stern. She has a topmast that can be sent aloft in fine weather or housed against the main mast in windy weather. She also carries a square sail for downwind work. She is traditionally built and rigged with a minimum of electronics and systems. The underlying essence of the boat is one of functional aesthetics.
After a number of years of what could be termed extended sea trials and fine-tuning close to her base in Plymouth, she has gone north. The fine tuning included installation of a coal- and peat-burning stove, copper sheathing of the entire hull under the water and understanding what tools and spares would be needed for voyages that are beyond support.
There are three principal attractions of sailing in the north: the scenery is beautiful; all decisions are significantly consequential; and there is no one else there.
Integrity’s current base is North Iceland from where, every year, she undertakes short incursions into the Arctic. Always sailing with a crew of five, the first part of each voyage is necessarily a passage in order to reach the selected remote shore. A crew of five allows for a steady watch system of two hours on and six hours off while at sea. A crew of five also allows three people to enjoy a shore party while two stay on board in order to move the boat if the wind changes or if ice becomes a problem. Furthermore, five on board seems to be a flexible arrangement in terms of being able to cope with problems.
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Classic Boat.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Classic Boat.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Need For Speed
Saving lives at sea has always been bound to the speed of rescue, from the first rowing boats to the 60-knot, all-weather motorboats of today
ROW YOUR BOAT
There has been a steady rise in recreational rowing over the past few years, and the choice can be bewildering. What’s the right boat for you?
Traditional Tool
JOINER’S NAME STAMP
Classic misuse of a word
Real classic ownership involves rot, rust and reward
SCUD MISSILE
Herreshoff’s newly-restored Bar Harbor 31 Scud lit up the classic racing scene in the Med in 2020 with a double win at Cannes and Saint-Tropez
BOSUN'S BAG
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR THE TRADITIONAL BOATER
DOUG LEEN - Tugboat man
Vietnam vet, park ranger, dentist, small-craft conservator and tugboat skipper.... meet Ranger Doug!
CHANCE TO SAVE AN Albert Strange yawl
Chances at Albert Strange ownership don’t come up often, and Sheila II is the quintessential Strange – and one with a great history, too
AFFORDABLE CLASSIC Salcombe Yawls
A friend and I once decided that walking might make a change from sailing. So we set forth to walk from Branscombe to Bigbury, a 100-mile stretch of the south-west coastal path marked by knackering climbs and knee-wrenching descents.
Cardiff, Wales - Save The Elena Maria Barbara!
A rare, 18th-century schooner replica, restored to the tune of around £1 million, could be abandoned if a buyer is not found soon.
