Name Kelpie

KELPIE was built in 1903 by J G Fay (later taken over by Camper and Nicholson) and designed by Alfred Mylne as a Solent 38 foot class to race with the 52 foot Linear Raters.  She was classed as a 12 Metre and raced with the 12s well into the 1920s. 

In 1914, it is believed that KELPIE was involved in the Erskine Childers’ plot to run guns into Ireland to use against the Irish Free State government.  600 carbines aboard KEPLIE were transferred to a fishing boat off Howth and she slipped away undetected.  Childers was captured and executed much later in 1922. 

In 1939 she was safely kept on the river Dart - many yacht owners were encouraged to give up their lead keels for the war effort. After a string of South Coast owners she returned to the Dartmouth where she benefited from 15 years of careful renewal and thorough maintenance.

During the 1960's she was sold to Newton Ferrers Sailing School and believed to have suffered from an internal fire when the majority of the interior was destroyed.

The boat was later restored by Adrian Stone in the 1980's and bought by city financier Brian Keelan.  A RSJ was inserted (as the keelson) to strengthen the keel and stem. Later a substantial amount of weight was taken out to help with a major restoration of her.  Undertaken by Fairlie's yard in Hamble this included a new rudder, stem and sternpost.  The restoration took 2 1/2 winters to complete.  She has since raced in the Med and the channel where she has achieved considerable success, winning her class in a number of regattas, including the Channel regatta, Mahon, and St Tropez.

In December 2020 it was reported that KELPIE was undergoing conservation at The Elephant Boatyard, Southampton.