The Victoria Shadow Association

 

Louise

 

'Louise' is a cutter-rigged Frances 26 now owned by John Raine and shortly to be sailed to her new home berth at the  Woolverstone Marina on the River Orwell. She was the second of the Westerly-Victoria's, that resulted from the merger of Victoria Yachts with Westerly, and as such was moulded and built at Waterlooville before being transported to Warsash for final fitting out and commissioning in 1994. John Raine is her third owner; the previous two being David Suttle, now owner of Victoria 34 'Verity' and Anne Grubb, now our Chair Yachting, with all three of them remaining members of our Association. 'Louise' used to have light green sprayhood, sail covers and stripe on her hull, hence the comment about new blue colour scheme.

'Louise' ashore at Brightlingsea. Note the new blue colour scheme.

 

John and Anne were photographed at Wivenhoe during the recent East Coast Social. Arnold Robinson, between them, owns the cutter-rigged Victoria 26, 'Shikara'. John supplied the new photograph of 'Louise' and said, "...anyone interested will now note ‘Louise’ sports a different colour to the sheerstrake and new canvas work.  I have kept the name in order that she is still recognisable as Anne’s boat and it would be a shame if Association members failed to recognise her simply because she has moved through her green phase and into her blue era." John may be contacted by e-mail at: rigbyraine@ntlworld.com

John Raine, Arnold Robinson and Anne Grubb