Golden Vanity - History

Summary | Accommodation | History | Specifications

Golden Vanity was built in 1908 for the artist Arthur Briscoe. He wanted a seaworhty yacht that could be handled by a man and a boy, so turned to Sanders & Co of Galmpton, the same yard that built Leader and Provident. Golden Vanity was the smallest boat built by the yard, and although never intended for fishing, she had the same strong construction and seaworthy shape as her larger cousins.

Arthur Briscoe used the boat to follow the fishing fleet, sketching the smacks and documenting the last days of commercial sail. They sailed extensively in the English Channel and the North Sea, regularly visiting France, Belgium and Holland. Erskine Childers was a friend of Briscoe, and sailed regularly aboard Golden Vanity.

Golden Vanity has had a long and interesting history under a number of owners. One of the most notable is Peter Crowther, who owned her during the seventies. He covered many thousands of miles in her, including several Atlantic crossings. He completed the 1972 single handed Trans-Atlantic race in a record time of 88 days! By the time he sold her she was in need of major work.

By 1981 Golden Vanity was lying derelict in Brixham, rotting away, with fresh water in the bilges and covering the engine. A group of friends heard about the boat, fell in love with her, decided to restore her and the Golden Vanity Trust was formed with the intention of restoring the boat. Progress was initially slow, but she was eventually re-launched into the Dart in 1988.

She was used for sail training, taking local youngsters to sea, and competing in many Tall Ships races, being overall winner in 1995. In 1999 she became part of Trinity, and continues to be used for sail training with young people. In addition, she can now be chartered for group holidays, and is used for RYA training.