Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.[1][2]

The yachts

No. 1

Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34, length 34 feet (10 m), year of launch 1969. Edward Heath won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with this boat in the same year.[2] She was sold in December 1970 to Stewart Benest of Jersey, who renamed her Nuage de Matin. She sank off Gorey Castle, Jersey, on 2 September 1974, after the seas took her from her moorings.[3][4][5][6]

No. 2

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 42 feet (13 m), hull and deck material wood (mahogany), constructed by Lallows[1] (UK), year of launch 1971. Heath used the boat in the Admiral's Cup of that year as part of the winning British team.[7] At least two copies of the boat were built under licence from him.[8]

No. 3

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 44 feet 9 inches (13.64 m),[9] hull and deck material wood, constructed by Lallows[1] (UK), year of launch 1973. It was used in the Admiral's Cup of that year, but Heath was only on board for the Fastnet race because of other commitments.[10] It was lost at sea on 2 September 1974 when it was hit by a large wave while en route to Cowes from Burnham-on-Crouch.[4][5] Heath was not on board. Two of the seven crew drowned.[1][11] It was insured by Lloyd's of London. This was within 24 hours of the sinking of Morning Cloud I.[3][4][5][6]

No. 4

Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 45 feet (14 m),[12] hull and deck material aluminium, constructed by Allday Aluminium of Gosport and Camper and Nicholsons (yard number 1390), year of launch 1975.[13][14]

No. 5

Designed by Ron Holland, length 44 feet (13 m), hull and deck material aluminium,[1] year of launch 1977.[15] In a Channel Race during the British team trials it lost its rudder (it was a new carbon fibre prototype). In the 1979 Fastnet race (which was part of the Admiral's Cup) it was turned upside down by a large wave after rounding the Fastnet Rock at 0100h but despite suffering some damage and shock to the whole crew it was still able to finish. Heath was on board for all races of the Admiral’s Cup, including the Fastnet Race. Heath sold the boat in 1983.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jeffery, Tim (30 May 2008). "Morning Cloud rises again". Blogs.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Laven, Kate (23 December 2009). "Sir Edward Heath made history 40 years ago by winning Sydney Hobart Race". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b Cole-Adams, Peter (4 September 1974). "Heath loses two yachts". The Age. Melbourne. Page 1, column 1. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via Google News. LONDON, September 3. — The British Opposition Leader (Mr. Heath) has lost two yachts in 24 hours. Two men are believed drowned after his yacht Morning Cloud II capsized and sank off the Sussex coast late last night.
  4. ^ a b c Eder, Richard (4 September 1974). "Heath Yacht Sinks, Drowning Godson". The New York Times. Page 4, columns 4-6. Retrieved 12 November 2023. LONDON, Sept. 3—Former Prime Minister Edward Heath's racing sloop Morning Cloud capsized and sank in a gale last night in the English Channel off the Sussex coast.
  5. ^ a b c "Heath Yacht—Search for Sailor Stops". World News. The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 September 1974. Page 5, columns 4-5. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via Google News. LONDON, Wednesday. — Coastguards abandoned last night an air and sea search for the missing crewman of Mr Edward Heath's yacht, Morning Cloud, 24 hours after it overturned in a gale.
  6. ^ a b Cayzer, Bea De Holguin (12 September 1974). "Prime Minister Heath's Racing Yacht Sinks". Buzzing with Bea. Palm Beach Daily News – via Google News.
  7. ^ "1971: Admiral's Cup triumph for Heath, Admiral's Cup website". BBC News. 11 August 1982. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  8. ^ "www.morningcloud.se". morningcloud.se. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  9. ^ Sparkman and Stephens
  10. ^ "1973: German Consistency, Admiral's Cup website". Admiralscup.rorc.org. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  11. ^ "Heath's Yacht Sinks". Reading Eagle. 3 September 1974. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via Google News.
  12. ^ Sparkman and Stephens
  13. ^ Dear, Ian (19 December 2001). Camper and Nicholson: 200 Years of Yacht Building. Quiller Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1899163649.
  14. ^ "Ajax Yacht Pictures". Ajaxyachtpics.blogspot.com. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  15. ^ "1979: The Aussies thrive in the heavy air, Admiral's Cup website". Admiralscup.rorc.org. 13 August 1979. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.

External links

Photographs of Morning Cloud

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1974
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1976
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