About the Memory 19

The Memory is a 19 foot gaff rigged sloop in the image of the small inshore working craft found on the East coast of England in the early part of the Twentieth Century. She was originally designed some 27 years ago by Tony Robinson RINA for himself and his family. He was inspired by the refined shapes and practicality of the small, shoal draft fishing smacks of Brightlingsea and so the Memory has the ability to dry out on a mooring, run up a beach or onto a trailer, making her ideal for fun as well as providing a stomping good sail.

While the hull is GRP, it is a far cry from the usual modern plastic boat, the hull even being moulded with carvel planking lines! The rest of the boat is very traditional in appearance with wooden spars and fit out. The Memory carries 500 kg of ballast giving a 50% ballast ratio enabling it to stand up well to its sail area of 317 square foot with all sail hoisted. With her centreboard raised, she can access creeks and beaches not accessible to all!

Not all Memorys are old…..: the original boats were built between 1976 and 1980, but in 1998 Greg Dalrymple form Salterns Boatbuilders Ltd. acquired the moulds and began producing the Memory 19 again at Salterns Boatyard on the Hamble. The new boats have stronger decks and various other improvements but in essence they are the same as the early boats. Greg can produce you an open boat or a cabin version for those who need their cruising comforts.

Over 110 Memorys have been built and are now well proven classics in their own right; safe, easily handled yet fast boats with numerous wins to their credit in Old Gaffers' Association events.

In the "open" Memory the accommodation is modest but practical with two full sized berths and some storage in a vee formation in the snug little cabin under the foredeck. The cockpit is large and deep. Cabin versions are also built, which allow for galley, loo etc. without (usually) unduly compromising the cockpit size.

The Memory has been fitted out in many different ways over the years. Those from the first phase were kit boats. These were moulded to a lesser standard than the modern boats (the GRP decks can be suspect) but the hulls have, by and large, stood the test of time well and are very strong. The fits-outs varied depending on the owners' skill but maintenance modifications and the intervening 25 years can be more telling! Specifications for the modern boats can be seen on www.salternsboatbuilders.co.uk

In these pages, you will see various and miscellaneous pictures showing Memorys moored, under sail - racing, cruising, pottering, playing and on the beach. The Owners' Association is active and friendly, and owners can also join the Old Gaffers' Association for racing, fun and social events.

We hope that you can get a feel for what the Memory is all about from these pics. If you can't you probably need to buy one of your own!