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50 Golden Years of Gaffers

The first Old Gaffers Race was held in the Solent in 1959. 

In those days, no Yacht Club would allow these traditional boats to race in their fleets as they were seen as old-fashioned and slow.  

 

In the last fifty years, with the help of the Old Gaffers Association,
 which was set up in 1963, old boats have been restored, new boats designed and built and Gaffers are really on the map!

 

The Solent is one of the largest and most active areas for Gaffers and the Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival is its most popular event.

 

In 2009, Yarmouth's best known

Old Gaffer reached her 100th year! 
 

 

This is Iseult, a fine gaff yawl built in 1909, which is moored in Yarmouth Harbour and has been owned by the same family for over 40 years.

 

She is a classic example of a well designed, well built yacht

lovingly tended over the years and fit for another 100!

 

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