Masterhand

Painting – Oil on Board
60 x 45 cm

The painting depicts the gaff rigged sailing trawler Master Hand running into port ahead of worsening weather conditions. The jib halyard has been eased as the jib is hauled in along the bowsprit, and crew are standing by the main gaff peak and throat halyards ready to lower the sail once Master Hand turns into the harbour entrance.

The painting was inspired by an excellent book I purchased some twenty years back called Sailing Trawlers by Edgar J. March which included plans for the Master Hand which I originally used to build a model of the trawler.

In 2017 I received an email from Clive Lawford saying “I thought that you might be interested in a page from my web site on the Master Hand. It was my grandfather who gave Edgar March permission to go on board to make his fantastic drawings and sketch’s. The boat was later owned by my great uncle. The page can be found at www.claxtonhistory.co.uk/master-hand.html

Specifications:

Built Rye by G&T Smith in 1920
Registration: At Lowestoft L.T.1203
Loa: 78 ft 9 in
Beam: 18 ft 6 in
Draft: Aft 9 ft 6 in
Registered tonnage 46 tons
Rig: Gaff Rigged Ketch