Mayfly 144 – Driftwood

May 2020:

I’ve been meaning to mail you for ages, Spring before last my Mayfly suffered a tragic accident, a car landed on it! It took 14 months for me to get insurance payout, however my dinghy, trailer and dolly are now sitting abandoned. I have neither the time or inclination to repair “Driftwood”. The hull is intact but with one fist sized hole and the Transom damaged. The mast is shattered. All other fixtures etc. are good….

Well I advertised her free to collect and I’ve been inundated! I am in Exeter, She’s going to a chap in Totness for his grandkids to sail in Salcombe, so staying local. I really wish I had the inclination to fix her up, but I’m guessing her new owners will love and care and that’s Gotta be good for a grand old lady like this! (Rob Dixie, May 2020)

Spring 2011:

I’m the proud owner of my first sailing dinghy. Its a Mayfly, hull number 144, sail number 42. I’m looking forward to meeting/talking to anyone with knowledge of these lovely little Dinghies and any info there may be about the class. The hull number (144) is on the inside of the transom and was obviously “built in” at time of build and I wonder if that would tell me anything about her age etc. She took to the water several times at the end of last summer, and has helped me as a novice sailor no end, letting me get away with mistimed manovers and taking my mistakes in a forgiving way, she truly is a beautiful little dinghy! Next I hope to get some pictures of her under sail. She is based in the Exe Estuary.

Rob Dixie (spring 2011) (email: robdixie@seaflymemories.org.uk)