Thunderbird 28 - U.F.O. an update

[Martin The Talker]

I cannot remember who asked, but I have news about U.F.O., the Thunderbird 283 once owned by Tim Powell.

Tim tells me that he did, as I thought, buy the boat from the late Merick Lewis, & he ran it in some Bahamas races, before shipping it back to the UK.

Birdham Shipyard, where TP later kept Tramontana II, did the work of cutting off the cabin & rebuilding it to a flush deck, with new cockpit surround for him.
Tim used it, as I guess most people "of an age" know, for the first Round Britain Race in 1968, & raced it until it became outclassed.
I think he then raced "Canadian Moppie" after that.

He says he sold it (UFO), & last heard of it somewhere on the South Coast, with the foredeck damaged, & generally left to rot.

If anyone has any more up-to-date news, it would be good to hear.

[Delta28]

Hi Martin

That would be me then.

http://boatmad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16922&page=3

Thanks for the info

Would still like to know if anyone has any news...

Photos: Graham Stevens / Boatmad Gallery

[littlenige]

T B-C is also very keen to find this boat.

[Martin The Talker]

T B-C is also very keen to find this boat.

Tim (P) did not say whereabouts on the South Coast he had heard she was lying.
My guess is that all info' is quite old now, so anything could have happened to her.
Can the spies out there keep an eye open perhaps ?

[Jon Fuller]

Tim used it, as I guess most people "of an age" know, for the first Round Britain Race in 1968

Do you mean '69?

[FLYING FISH]

Do you mean '69?

How would you know that,your not an old man yet,although you might feel it after your CTC trip round the bay.

[Jon Fuller]

How would you know that.

I've watched your films!

[Martin The Talker]

Do you mean '69?

Yes, I do John !
Whats a digit between friends ???

[Delta28]

Whats a digit between friends ???

You might be probing a bit too hard there...










Sorry...couldn't resist!

[Martin The Talker]

You might be probing a bit too hard there...










Sorry...couldn't resist!

Not me guv !

[littlenige]

Just heard from Tim. He believes that the hull was sold to someone in Spain many years ago - you know what that could mean..........let's hope it didn't go the way of those glorious Shead hulls down Gibraltar way!

[Delta28]

Hi Nige,

Last mention of her that i could find was the '74 C-T-C Programme...

Called UFO UP-FRONT ( Somewhat lacking in taste, as a name for a distinguished boat... and yes, I know I can talk when it comes to good taste..) with a race number of 1000 (that's what it says..) Owner / Driver given as Sir William Piggott-Brown / Michael Taylor

Must be her though... Builder / Designer given as Thunderbird USA (should that be Formula?) / Walt Walters... Colour: Blue L.O.A. 28' Engines / Total HP: 2 Holman Moody / 800 h.p.

Don't recall seeing her there though. Not at scutineering or the start..

[Delta28]

Nah, just looked at the photo; ...it's "Formula 283 by Thunderbird"


P.S. We ought to have a UK version of "Old Farts Forever" ..feeding someone a line there...

[FLYING FISH]

A couple more pics that havn`t seen daylight since those glory days.

[Delta28]

Great pictures Graham.

You got any more stashed-away like that..?

Especially of any green-coloured boats... you know, ones with an "open-plan" deck layout...











Tin hats on...! Take-cover!!!

[FLYING FISH]

Great pictures Graham.

You got any more stashed-away like that..?

Especially of any green-coloured boats... you know, ones with an "open-plan" deck layout...











Tin hats on...! Take-cover!!!


When the green goddess ceases to become open plan,I`ll post some more.

Always like to toss the odd carrot to the workforce.

[Delta28]

When the green goddess ceases to become open plan,I`ll post some more.

Always like to toss the odd carrot to the workforce.


Point taken. Should be able to show some progress soon...

[FLYING FISH]

Point taken. Should be able to show some progress soon...

Excellent! I shall be looking for any hint of modelmaking on aerial views.

[Delta28]

Ouch..! (..or even.. aarrgh!)

Well, I've gotta have something for Santa to put in your Christmas stocking...

[FLYING FISH]

New release.

[Martin The Talker]

New release.

Thats a good shot Graham - I rather preferred the boat WITH its cabin than without !

[FLYING FISH]

Thats a good shot Graham - I rather preferred the boat WITH its cabin than without !

Yeah! if I make a bleached out copy of the pic,you could add it to your scrapbook of `Eggshell blue boats of the World`.

[Pacific Marlin]

Now Now.

[Martin The Talker]

Yeah! if I make a bleached out copy of the pic,you could add it to your scrapbook of `Eggshell blue boats of the World`.

You're getting rather cutting with your remarks Mr S !
Not what I would expect for a moderator.
Anyway - if UFO was eggshell blue (Unbleached) in your view, I would get my eyes checked Graham !
Eggshell blue is much paler, as I am sure Ian from Wellow will confirm !
My preference for the cabin goes back to first seeing the boat in TQ in '65 when Merrick was second, not too far behind Brave Moppie & her 2-stroke Detroits ! (See another thread)

[FLYING FISH]

You're getting rather cutting with your remarks Mr S !
Not what I would expect for a moderator.
Anyway - if UFO was eggshell blue (Unbleached) in your view, I would get my eyes checked Graham !
Eggshell blue is much paler, as I am sure Ian from Wellow will confirm !
My preference for the cabin goes back to first seeing the boat in TQ in '65 when Merrick was second, not too far behind Brave Moppie & her 2-stroke Detroits ! (See another thread)

You poor old devil,all the banter getting too much is it.Ban the moderator is what I say.Fancy the tag,you`d love it.Think of the power?

[Martin The Talker]

You poor old devil,all the banter getting too much is it.Ban the moderator is what I say.Fancy the tag,you`d love it.Think of the power?

No ! I don't want "power" any more Graham !
I just want to merge into the crowd !
Anyway - who said anything about banning anyone ?
Keep up the good level of banter.

[Delta28]

Keep up the good level of banter.

Bally ten-penny ones dropping in the custard!!

Cabbage crates coming-in over the briney?

[Delta28]

Ok, so Uncle Ian had better explain to the young 'uns again...

RAF WWII pilots had their own coded language that was , rather like rhyming-slang, meant to be unintelligible to others; It could be used amongst themselves on a day-to-day basis, or (more importantly) over the airwaves.

Unnecessary radio conversation was strictly forbidden as it could give-away your position / altitude or other vital information to an enemy , so it may well be that they developed this to confuse the enemy... and their own plotters!

Those of you "of a certain age" will remember this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rKYL0tW-Ek


And a modern, up-dated take on it by Armstrong and Miller:


http://hicksdesign.co.uk/journal/the-new-banter


Enjoy!

[Delta28]

This one's quite good too (including a reference to "Ginger"!)...

Others available to the right...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiTaqgbXuVA&feature=channel

[FLYING FISH]

Archives have been opened again.

[Martin The Talker]

Archives have been opened again.

Very Good Graham !
What year & publication please ?

[FLYING FISH]

Very Good Graham !
What year & publication please ?

Can`t be specific Martin,because all the ads I amassed have been taken from the various mags and stored in a separate file.

I would think it was MB &Y,at around 1970/71,when it was being sold on to Capt F.Barker and renumbered 65 for the 1971 season.

[Martin The Talker]

Can`t be specific Martin,because all the ads I amassed have been taken from the various mags and stored in a separate file.

I would think it was MB &Y,at around 1970/71,when it was being sold on to Capt F.Barker and renumbered 65 for the 1971 season.

When TP eventually sold on the UFO replacement, Canadian Moppie, I belive that Capt. Barker bought that too, & retained the No.65.
Just a useless piece of info' !