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1963-2008

The Alison's buy Leila and take her to Great Yarmouth. Seen here sailing off Yarmouth with family in the 1980's and 1990's. Those red Jeckell's jibs are pretty small!

She has a major refit around 1990 but Mr Alison sadly dies in September 2003, and his widow Pam gifts the boat to The Leila Sailing Trust in August 2008. Her current Perkins 4108 40 HP diesel engine was installed in 2008, secondhand from a refrigerated van.

From John Alison, son of the previous owners, "Pictures taken around 1990, between Yarmouth and Lowestoft. My dad is seated wearing a dark blue top. The guy standing is Gordon Long, who was on destroyers during the war. He still comes into the firm once a week to clean!" Photos belong to Neal Duffield, who's on the helm, back turned.

1968 - Leila was acting as committee boat for Gorleston Sailing Club's Enterprise races. Whilst leaving harbour one Sunday in August, the engine stalled due to clutch failure. The sails were hoisted but the Gorleston lifeboat was alerted unnecessarily and proceeded to collide with Leila's stern, damaging her timbers. Leila sailed to her chosen race position and anchored, but a wind shift required her to re-anchor as a new start line was set. It was decided that a tow from one of rescue boats was the best plan, however this resulted in a bent anchor and damage to port bow planking and bulwarks. (From a copy of an insurance claim and Jeckells sailmaker)

Some before and after pictures of her Yarmouth refit during the Queens Jubilee 1977.

The crane used was the permanent dock crane opposite the social security office on the Yarmouth North quay. It was removed about 1985.

Eastern Daily Press, OCT 12, 1963

YACHT TOWED TO LOWESTOFT

Lowestoft Lifeboat was called out yesterday after coastguards had seen a 12 ton yacht, the Leila, flying distress signals a mile from the port.

On board were a young Kirby Cane couple, Mr and Mrs W Alison, who were on their first trip in their newly aquired yacht. They had bought it at Ramsgate and sailed on Thursday night for Yarmouth.

"We were motoring along off Southwold," Mr Alison said, "when the propeller became fouled by a piece of floating fishing net. We hoisted the sails and got as far as Lowestoft, but found that sailing the boat was too much for just my wife and myself and so we lowered away the sails and signalled for help.

Lowestoft lifeboat was quickly on the scene and towed the disabled boat to a berth in the yacht basin.

Picture - Mr W Alison on board his yacht Leila