Charm — A Classic Venture Family Yacht

Charm measures LOS 36ft 6in (11.1m) with an LOD of 33ft (10m), a beam of 7ft 8in (2.3m) and a draft of 5ft (1.5m); she was built in 1922 by EL Woods and for decades has been berthed on swinging moorings in the Walton Backwaters, Beaulieu River and other Solent anchorages. Major restoration phases included replacement of roughly 30% of the planking, new keel bolts, renewed deck planking and sheathing, rebuilt cockpit, a shortened mast reinstated to a gaff yawl rig, and installation of a Beta diesel—work that required careful logistics, temporary storage in a barn near Maldon, and planning around tidal windows for coastal transits.

Design Origins and Early Commissioning

The Suffling brothers — HJ and Norford Reeve Suffling — commissioned a larger development of their earlier yacht Venture at the end of World War I. They collaborated with designer Albert Strange, who completed the hull lines and sail plan before his death in 1917; Harrison Butler praised the drawings as “a finer piece of work.” The Sufflings, practical timber merchants from Great Yarmouth, favoured a yawl rig to suit a narrow, easily driven hull that performed well under headsail and mizzen.

Venture itself was built by A Wooden in Oulton Broad and launched in 1920. The decision to scale the design by a simple multiplier produced Charm, completed in 1922 by EL Woods at Cantley. The larger hull brought increased displacement and seaworthiness without sacrificing the handling characteristics that made Strange’s lines celebrated among classic cruiser enthusiasts.

Charm’s Voyages and Early Owners

Norford Suffling cruised Charm extensively; his logs include a passage from Lowestoft to Falmouth and back, illustrating the boat’s capacity for long coastal cruising. An advertisement in The Yachtsman in March 1925 offered the original Charm for sale at £500, described as “an ideal cruiser… exceptionally well built.”

• Engine retrofit: Under Cecil Houghton the yacht received an Ailsa Craig Kid Junior 6–8hp petrol engine; motoring trials reported a 7mph average in adverse conditions.
• Rig changes: Postwar owners converted Charm from a gaff yawl to a Bermudan sloop and later returned her to original rig form during restorations.
• Notable owners: Herbert Thomas; Herbert Barge; Gavin Peterson; Rear Admiral Philip Phillips (for his son Lindsay); Murray Harris; Donald Dalby; John Hall; Derek Smeeton; John Mullen; Richard Child.

Restoration: Practical Steps and Challenges

By 2000 Charm had endured decades of neglect. Russell Read purchased her as a retirement project and engaged professionals for the structural program while taking on many tasks himself. Key interventions included renewed frames and planking, replacement of keel bolts, reconstructing the cockpit and interior, reinstating a gaff yawl rig by shortening the mast, and installing a reliable Beta diesel engine. The project required phased funding, relocation of the hull for winter storage, and coordination with specialist workshops for spars and rigging.

Primary repair tasks

• Replace ~30% of hull planking and scarf joints
• New covering boards and deck sheathing
• Keel bolt renewal and frame repairs
• Rebuild cockpit and refit interior joinery
• Mast and bowsprit renewal, new sails by North Sea Sails

Recent Ownership and Active Use

Subsequent owner Robert Westling maintained Charm on the east coast, upgrading deck fittings to bronze, redesigning the gammon iron and boom crutch, and replacing running rigging. The present owner, Reuben Powell, brought Charm to the Solent and Beaulieu, renewing the mast and bowsprit (spruce by Collars) and commissioning new sails and a spinnaker. Reuben has raced Charm in regional regattas and reports reliable performance even in 20+ knot conditions, praising the design’s sea-kindly behaviour.

The Venture Family: Current Status

Members of the Venture family illustrate diverging fates for classic yachts: Venture (1920) is in commission based in Marseille; Charm II (1925) crossed the Atlantic in period and was later reported broken up; Sea Harmony (1937) is believed to be under restoration in Maine; a different “other” Charm (1927) remains active on the Orwell. These different trajectories underscore the logistical and financial demands of maintaining wooden cruisers across decades.

Why the story matters to sailors and charter operators

Charm’s lifecycle highlights practical issues for owners, fleet managers and charter operators: sourcing original drawings for authenticity, coordinating winter storage and haul-out windows, the cost and availability of traditional materials (spruce spars, bronze fittings), and the time needed to make a historic yacht both safe and comfortable for guests. For those in the charter market, classic yachts like Charm can become unique experiences on an itinerary—offering heritage value alongside traditional sailing performance.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course, placing no limits on a good life and letting clients find a vessel that suits their preferences, budget and taste.

Forecast: the preservation and active sailing of classic yachts such as Charm has modest global impact on tourism but strong local influence on maritime heritage, coastal economies, and niche charter markets. Start planning your next seaside adventure and make sure to book the best boat and yacht rentals with GetBoat before the opportunity sails away!

Highlights: Charm exemplifies how a single hull can connect design pedigree, hands-on restoration and active cruising; owning or chartering such a vessel involves maintenance cycles, dockage and mooring logistics, seasonal provisioning and local knowledge of tides and harbours. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process—learning about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colours, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

Summary: Charm’s life from a 1922 EL Woods build to a restored, actively sailed classic demonstrates the intersection of yacht design, coastal logistics and the pleasures of cruising. The saga covers hull specifications, refit programmes, mast and rig decisions, propulsion conversions, and the realities of moorings and regatta participation. For anyone passionate about yacht charter, boat rental or sale, the Charm story reaffirms the value of careful maintenance, experienced captains and considered itineraries. Platforms that offer transparent listings, full make and model data, owner ratings and clear booking processes help match sailors and holidaymakers with the right vessel—whether a day charter, a lake cruise, or a superyacht voyage in marinas from the Solent to Clearwater. GetBoat.com supports this by offering a global, user-friendly solution for booking or buying boats, yachts and sailboats with clarity and convenience. Set sail.