Name Hypatia

HYPATIA was built as a shoal-draught centreboard cutter, by Watkin & Co of Blackwall in 1896.  She is named after the female Greek philosopher and mathematician who met an untimely end.

Her centreboard was removed in 1905 when in Hull, where she lay during the First World War.  In 1933, she was sold to Russian Major General Bogratani, at which time she was removed from the list of registered British vessels. During the Second World War, she was in Moody's Yard and avoided having her lead keel removed because she was in a mud berth.

She was purchased by a resident of the Isle of Wight in 1947 and converted to ketch rig. A new owner bought her in 1973, and completed the conversion by changing the mizzen from Bermudan to Gaff rig.

A Mercedes diesel was installed in 1978, replacing an unreliable petrol engine from a Bullnose Morris. She made regular cruises to the Continent, and was moored for 22 years in Veere, Holland, but is now back on the East Coast where she has previously, regularly raced.

In 2022, HYPATIA's owner sadly passed away. The current owner bought her in 2022 and is in the process of returning her to a more authentic condition in line with the original design. This involves returning her to an original cutter rigging system, removing the galvanised pulpit, pushpit and guardrails, and a return to tiller steering, instead of the current improvised wheel steering. She is currently based in Ipswich.