English
TRADITIONAL GENTLEMANS MOTOR YACHT
LADY CHRISTOBEL was designed by the well respected naval architect Fred Shepherd and built by A H Moody & Sons of Swanwick Shore, Southampton for Sir Maurice Jenks Bart LLD (1872 – 1946) the 604th Lord Mayor of London from 1931 -1932. Sir Maurice was High Sheriff of London from 1930 – 1931, became a Knight Bachelor in 1931 and a Baronet in October 1932.
LADY CHRISTABEL, launched in 1938 was named after Sir Maurice’s first wife Martha Louise Christabel Smith. In 1936 the first LADY CHRISTABEL was built, a 32ft motor-yacht designed by Guy Shelley, later re-named LADY LOUISE when the Moody built vessel was launched. In later years the spelling of Christabel was changed to the present Christobel.
After a few short seasons enjoying their new motor yacht in Poole as members of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, LADY CHRISTABEL was requisitioned by H M Government for auxiliary patrol in June 1940. There is some speculation the vessel took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk but this is not proven as the boat does not appear on any of the official lists.
After the war and the death of Sir Maurice, R L Robinson of Sonning on Thames acquired LADY CHRISTOBEL. She remained in his ownership for three years before Leslie Yeowell of Southampton bought the vessel. In 1957 LADY CHRISTOBEL was sold to M Clouzy of Bournemouth and moored in nearby Christchurch Harbour. Joint owners T Greaves and J Sanderson took ownership in 1967 initially mooring LADY CHRISTOBEL at East Bridge and later at Farndon. The boat remained in their ownership throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
LADY CHRISTOBEL features in the book The Moody Legacy with several photographs of her launching in 1938
Carvel constructed hull, pitch pine planking, copper fastened to oak timbers and structure. Teak laid decks on marine ply sub deck, oak deck beams with steel hanging and lodging knees. Mahogany superstructure with fibreglass sheathed flybridge and coachroof. Large aft cockpit with teak joinery. Raked, flared high bow with pronounced sheer forward making her dry in a seaway.
Principally original interior offering four berths in two cabins with varnished teak and mahogany fittings. Enclosed centre WHEELHOUSE with helm to port, two engine cases. Aft LADIES CABIN with settees to port and starboard, lockers and shelves and double doors opening to aft COCKPIT. Seating to port and starboard, central teak grating table and grating sole. Side lockers and twin doors to stern lazarette. Stainless-steel canopy frame and canvas cover
Flybridge helm with captain and navigator seats. Gas bottle lockers. Deck stepped timber mast.
This boat is in need of a full restoration although the hull is beleived to be sound Current mooring could be avaliable by negotiation