Morning Cloud
Encyclopedia
Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath
to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.
, length 34 ft, year of launch 1969. Edward Heath won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
with this boat in the same year.
of that year as part of the winning British team. At least two copies of the boat were built under licence from him.
because of other commitments. It was lost at sea on 5 September 1974 when it was hit by a large wave while en route to Cowes
from Burnham-on-Crouch
. Heath was not on board but two of the seven crew drowned. Just two days previously, the first Morning Cloud yacht Heath had owned was wrecked off the coast of Jersey
.
, length 44 ft, hull material composite
, year of launch 1977. It lost its rudder and failed to finish in the 1979 Fastnet race
in the Admiral's Cup. Heath sold the boat in 1983.
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.
No. 1
Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34S&S 34
S&S 34 is a cruising and racing fibreglass monohull sailboat class. It was based on a design by Olin Stephens from Sparkman and Stephens after a commission from British yachtsman Michael Winfield following by a 1967 IOR rule change....
, length 34 ft, year of launch 1969. Edward Heath won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
with this boat in the same year.
No. 2
Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 42 ft, hull material wood (mahogany), constructed by Lallows (UK), year of launch 1971. Heath used the boat in the Admiral's CupAdmiral's Cup
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not...
of that year as part of the winning British team. At least two copies of the boat were built under licence from him.
No. 3
Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 45 ft, hull material wood, constructed by Lallows (UK), year of launch 1973. It was used in the Admiral's Cup of that year, but Heath was only on board for the Fastnet raceFastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
because of other commitments. It was lost at sea on 5 September 1974 when it was hit by a large wave while en route to Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
from Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies on the north bank of the River Crouch.-History:Historically, it has benefited from its location on the coast - first as a ferry port, later as a fishing port known for its oyster beds, and most recently as a...
. Heath was not on board but two of the seven crew drowned. Just two days previously, the first Morning Cloud yacht Heath had owned was wrecked off the coast of Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
.
No. 4
Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, length 44 ft, hull material aluminium, constructed by Allday Aluminium of Gosport, year of launch 1975.No. 5
Designed by Ron HollandRon Holland
Ronald John Holland is a yacht designer, who came to prominence in the 1970s with his successful racing designs, and is now best known for his superyachts such as Mirabella V and Ethereal...
, length 44 ft, hull material composite
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
, year of launch 1977. It lost its rudder and failed to finish in the 1979 Fastnet race
1979 Fastnet race
The 1979 Fastnet race was the twenty-eighth Fastnet race, a yachting race competition held since 1925, generally every two years. In 1979, it was the climax of the five-race Admiral's Cup competition, as it had been since 1957....
in the Admiral's Cup. Heath sold the boat in 1983.
