Angus Primrose
Encyclopedia
Angus Primrose was a designer and naval architect whose best known designs for around the world races included the Gypsy Moth IV of Sir Francis Chichester
and Galway Blazer II (1969) of Commander Bill King.
Primrose is presumed to have drowned during a gale "some 180 miles off the South Carolina coast" which sunk his 33 ft yacht (a Moody 33), the Demon of Hamble.http://www.rendcombian.org.uk/1981/page5.htm
Primrose is notable for his contribution to designs that changed some of the thinking behind cruising yachts. His Moody 33 (mk 1) centre cockpit design originated from his work in 1973 with A H Moody & Sons Ltd at Swanwick near Southampton. The boats were built in production by Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd, and led to the development of successive models: Moody 30, 36 and 39, all built at Plymouth. The custom Moody 42 was built by Moody's firm in Swanwick, with a centre cockpit and aft cockpit/deck saloon variants. In 1972 Angus Primrose designed the Warrior 35, built by Trident Marine Ltd. The long keel hull was also developed in various forms as the aft cockpit Challenger 35 and the deck saloon version the Voyager 35.
Obituary courtesy of the Old Rendcombian Society newsletter 1981.
Angus Primrose (1938 - 1944) - October 1980
The following article is reproduced from 'The Times' with due acknowledgements:-
Mr. Angus Primrose, a British yachtsman, was presumed drowned last night after being swept from his sinking
yacht in heavy seas off the United States. The last person to see him alive was Miss Erica Dodson, a British
dental surgeon, who said he sacrificed himself for her. Mr. Primrose, aged 53, made sure she was safely on a
life raft as his 33ft yacht, the 'Demon of Hamble', was caught by a storm. "He went for another raft, which fell
on top of him", she said yesterday. "That was the last I saw of him. The yacht then went down." Miss Dodson,
aged 34, from Redhill, Surrey was spotted by a United States navy ship yesterday, drifting 180 miles off the
South Carolina coast after four days on the raft. The tragedy happened as severe gales swept the area, which is
close to the 'Bermuda Triangle', a region renowned for mysterious disasters.
Mr. Primrose, an experienced ocean yachtsman, and a well known yacht designer, sailed the Demon of
Hamble across the Atlantic this summer in the Observer single handed race, finishing thirty fourth. He was
joined by Miss Dodson and intended selling the boat once they reached Florida, according to Mr. Bill Dixon,
an assistant at Hamble, Hampshire boatyard.
The following account, by the yachting correspondent of the 'Daily Telegraph' is reproduced with due
acknowledgements:-
Angus Primrose was one of Britain's leading yacht designers and an experienced ocean-racing yachtsman. He
was married with two young children and lived at Burlesdon near Southampton. He had spent several weeks in
Newport after the single-handed transatlantic race because of his involvement with the Lionheart Challenge for
the America's Cup. During the 1976 transatlantic race, Mr. Primrose was forced to retire after his yacht
capsized and was dismasted. He was co-designer, with the late John Illingworth, of several internationally
successful ocean racers, including Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV.
Francis Chichester
Sir Francis Charles Chichester KBE , aviator and sailor, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for becoming the first person to sail single-handed around the world by the clipper route, and the fastest circumnavigator, in nine months and one day overall.-Early life:Chichester was born in Barnstaple,...
and Galway Blazer II (1969) of Commander Bill King.
Primrose is presumed to have drowned during a gale "some 180 miles off the South Carolina coast" which sunk his 33 ft yacht (a Moody 33), the Demon of Hamble.http://www.rendcombian.org.uk/1981/page5.htm
Primrose is notable for his contribution to designs that changed some of the thinking behind cruising yachts. His Moody 33 (mk 1) centre cockpit design originated from his work in 1973 with A H Moody & Sons Ltd at Swanwick near Southampton. The boats were built in production by Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd, and led to the development of successive models: Moody 30, 36 and 39, all built at Plymouth. The custom Moody 42 was built by Moody's firm in Swanwick, with a centre cockpit and aft cockpit/deck saloon variants. In 1972 Angus Primrose designed the Warrior 35, built by Trident Marine Ltd. The long keel hull was also developed in various forms as the aft cockpit Challenger 35 and the deck saloon version the Voyager 35.
Obituary courtesy of the Old Rendcombian Society newsletter 1981.
Angus Primrose (1938 - 1944) - October 1980
The following article is reproduced from 'The Times' with due acknowledgements:-
Mr. Angus Primrose, a British yachtsman, was presumed drowned last night after being swept from his sinking
yacht in heavy seas off the United States. The last person to see him alive was Miss Erica Dodson, a British
dental surgeon, who said he sacrificed himself for her. Mr. Primrose, aged 53, made sure she was safely on a
life raft as his 33ft yacht, the 'Demon of Hamble', was caught by a storm. "He went for another raft, which fell
on top of him", she said yesterday. "That was the last I saw of him. The yacht then went down." Miss Dodson,
aged 34, from Redhill, Surrey was spotted by a United States navy ship yesterday, drifting 180 miles off the
South Carolina coast after four days on the raft. The tragedy happened as severe gales swept the area, which is
close to the 'Bermuda Triangle', a region renowned for mysterious disasters.
Mr. Primrose, an experienced ocean yachtsman, and a well known yacht designer, sailed the Demon of
Hamble across the Atlantic this summer in the Observer single handed race, finishing thirty fourth. He was
joined by Miss Dodson and intended selling the boat once they reached Florida, according to Mr. Bill Dixon,
an assistant at Hamble, Hampshire boatyard.
The following account, by the yachting correspondent of the 'Daily Telegraph' is reproduced with due
acknowledgements:-
Angus Primrose was one of Britain's leading yacht designers and an experienced ocean-racing yachtsman. He
was married with two young children and lived at Burlesdon near Southampton. He had spent several weeks in
Newport after the single-handed transatlantic race because of his involvement with the Lionheart Challenge for
the America's Cup. During the 1976 transatlantic race, Mr. Primrose was forced to retire after his yacht
capsized and was dismasted. He was co-designer, with the late John Illingworth, of several internationally
successful ocean racers, including Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV.
See also
- Commander Bill King
- Galway Blazer II
- Gypsy Moth IV
- Seal 22http://www.parkerseal.org.uk/about/seal22.aspx
- Sparkle commissioned by the SPARKS CharitySparks (charity)Sparks is a children's medical research charity. Their sole remit is to fund research across the whole spectrum of paediatric medicine. Their vision is a world where all babies are born healthy and stay healthy.- History :...
to take open up sailing for disabled people
External links
- Seal Class yachts. Images and descriptions of this class of yachts designed by Primrose between 1970 and 1981.