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The Norfolk Broads Forum

Nov-04-2012 Kenmure

We are the current owners of Windlass for the last 16 years. She was built in 1926 and our research has shown us that she was the first yacht in the world to be fitted with an electric inboard motor back in 1928. She was known as The Ghost Boat of the Broads as she could move along mysteriously when there was no wind. She was originally named Kenmure by Captain John Muir Donaldson MC, who paid for the boat to be built for the princely sum of £400.The yacht was named Kenmure after Kenmure House in Kenley, Surrey where he was born and which still exists today. He was an electrical engineer and was awarded the MC for bravery in the Battle of the Somme. He sold the boat in the 1950s to Truman's of Oulton Broad and then after a few years she was sold to Eastwood Whelpton who named her Windlass. She was sold back into private hands in the early eighties. We returned her to the original name 14 years ago after learning of her history and have gone to great lengths to return her to originality, though unfortunately a return to an electric motor is beyond us due to the complexities of the boat safety scheme. The main saloon used to be full of car batteries under the bunks in Captain Donaldson's day, something that would never be allowed now.We would greatly value email copies of any photographs you have as we have a comprehensive history but photographs of her in her hire days are scarce. If we are launched in time in April when you are on the Broads, you must come and be reunited with her!

PM sent. Brian and Joy Eady

Nov-04-2012 BarnacleBill

I also had at least one family holiday on Windlass in the early '70s. We hired other EW boats (Bootlegger and one of the Spindrifts) in the same period and I don't remember specific details of Windlass, but the skipper (Dad) spoke highly of her when I showed him your article about the restoration in the RCC mag a few years back. Dad's no longer with us but I think Mum still has his slide collection; there may be some of Windlass in there and if I ever find them I'll let you know...

I've seen her on the river a couple of times, and the restoration looks very nice. Is she the only Broads yacht to retain mast hoops?

Nov-04-2012 Kenmure

Line drawing of Captain Donaldson, plus bill for building Kenmure for the 1926 season.

Nov-04-2012 Kenmure

Captain Donaldson sailing on Horsey Mere in 1946 and unknown location, you can just see the tops of two heads (Captain Donaldson now mayor of Saint Albans and his cousin Jessie Miller his Lady Mayoress) in the well cooking in the primus locker. We were lucky enough to trace her to Australia still alive aged 102 and her son sent us these photographs.

Nov-05-2012 Kenmure

Extract from the log of Kenmure generously donated by Captain Donaldson's second cousin John Miller now deceased: 77 cruises from 24 April 1926 to 25 May 1953 totalling 5136 and three quarter miles. Coincidentally it's 87 years to the day that C&G Press received the £25 deposit to start building Kenmure. The annual river toll was £1 then. Photograph of John Miller sailing Kenmure's dinghy which alas has not survived.

Nov-05-2012 Kenmure

For interest here is an extract from Kenmure's log from 1936. It would seem you could sail right up to Honing Lock in those days.

Nov-06-2012 Kenmure

... here is a picture of Kenmure House in Kenley where Captain Donaldson was born and after which he named the boat and also his long-term house in St Albans where he lived when he owned the boat.