A BUILDER'S YARD HALF MODEL FOR TED HEATH'S RACING YACHT MORNING CLOUD II, WINNER OF THE ADMIRAL'S CUP, 1971

the 30in. hull carved from the solid with polished topsides, gold painted below the waterline, white deck with cutaway mast, simple cockpit inscribed on splash rail MORNING CLOUD, mounted on white display board with brass plate inscribed MORNING CLOUD II / Built by Clare Lallow, Cowes / For Rt. Hon Edward Heath / Launched 10th April 1971 -- 12 x 36in. (30.5 x 91.5cm.); together with an invitation to the launch with RSVP to 10 Downing Street; black & white photo of the yacht at sea by Beken of Cowes; a framed print of the 1971 Admiral's Cup by Roger Taylor; and a book: Edward Heath, Sailing. A Course of My Life (1975), signed by the author

(A lot)

Trevor Mackett (1946-2023) yacht builder at the Clare Lallow Yard, Isle of Wight, and thence by descent.

The second of five yachts all named Morning Cloud built for Sir Edward - universally known as Ted Heath - between 1969 and 1983, the first four all designed by the prolific American yacht designer Olin Stephens and built by the Clare Lallow Yard at Cowes. Heath, Prime Minister between June 1970 and March 1974, remained an enthusiastic yachtsman throughout. Having won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1970, he rapidly commissioned his second yacht in 1971, represented by this model, and won the Admiral's Cup that year, it's thought a further two examples were built under licence.