Dream Weaver 1973-2000

History of previous owners 1973-2000

“Dream Weaver”, a Westerly Renown ketch, was originally named ‘Blue Cielo’ when she was owned by William Elgie of Gosport, Hampshire. She was built during the latter half of 1972 receiving her Hull Moulding Certificate on 23rd November 1972. She received her British Tonnage Certificate on 24th January 1973 and was first registered in the British Registry on 5th June 1973. Her hull was navy blue originally. William G Elgie, (universally known as Bill), was the Landlord of The Jolly Roger Inn at Hardway, Gosport. His sailing area was the Solent but due to pressure of work didn’t keep her for long. 

Launch Day of Blue Cielo at Camper & Nicholson’s yard in 1973
(Photos courtesy of William Elgie)

The next owner was Capt. John Berkeley Harries of London. He registered his ownership on 24th October 1974 and paid £13,700.00 for the yacht.

The next owner was Barclays Bank Ltd. of London. They registered ownership on 12th July 1976 and paid £11,000.00 for the yacht. The yacht was used as a Barclays Bank sailing club boat.  On 24th September 1976, Barclays Bank changed the name of the yacht to ‘Syal Crab’ that is Barclays spelt backwards! She visited Cherbourg 24th August 1977. We are reliably informed that the yacht was well maintained by the club even if she was left a little untidy.

The next owner was Ian Barclay (bank manager!) of Selling, Kent. He received a good survey report on the yacht. He registered ownership on 28th May 1982.

Ian Barclay sailing ‘The Crab’ on the east coast of England in 1986 (Syal Crab)

For information of the yacht’s history with photographs during Ian Barclay’s ownership click on ‘The Crab‘.

The next owner was Brian & Susan Merralls of Faversham, Kent. They registered ownership on 27th May 1988 and paid £12,500.00 for her.  Brian Merralls – a local sailor and musician with the trad group “Smack Alley” and his wife Susan bought ‘the Crab’ and with their children cruised extensively in the same area, as the previous owner, of the Medway and the Swale in Kent and also Calais and Holland until Brian became seriously ill and very sadly died. ‘The Crab’ was sold up the East Coast, ending the yacht’s association with Faversham.

The next owner was James Gray and Anne Wilson of Great Totham, Essex. They registered ownership on 12th December 1994. Cruises were made to Holland and Belgium. Following a partial circumnavigation of the British Isles, the original Volvo MD2 engine ceased up coming into Troon, Ayrshire. A new Yanmar 27 HP engine (3GM30F) was installed on 2nd November 1999.

The current owners are Elizabeth Evans & Douglas Locke, of Carrick Castle, Argyll. The ketch was purchased on 16th April 2000 for £27.600.00 and ownership was registered in the name of Elizabeth Evans in the British Registry (Register of British Ships Part III) on 20th June 2000 changing the name of the yacht to “Dream Weaver”. During 2001 the yacht had a complete refit bringing her up to modern 2000 standards spending £11,000 on a new wardrobe of sails, rigging, safety equipment, navigation electronics, wind generator, autopilot, fridge, hot water system and very many other features suitable for ocean sailing. Her hull was repainted white prior to visiting the Mediterranean.

An account of each of the yacht’s main voyages for the years 2000 onwards are recorded in ‘History’ by the individual year with photographs in the Gallery. These records come from the detailed logbooks kept for the yacht, newsletters and photographs taken during each voyage. Although only the main voyage of each year is recorded on this web site, the yacht is used at weekends by the family. Douglas Locke is the partner of Liz Evans and he holds an Offshore Yachtmaster Certificate as the skipper of Dream Weaver.

In 2003 Dream Weaver was surveyed for insurance purposes and received a glowing report as being ‘far above average’ in condition and was professionally valued at £30,000.00, excluding removable items.

On 4th July 2005, following engine troubles originally caused by petrol being put into the engine in Portugal in 2002, we replaced the engine with a new Yanmar 29 HP (3YM30) and a larger propeller.  In the winter of 2005/6 an Eberspacher D3LC Compact Diesel Heater was fitted to heat all three cabins with hot air and in 2007 a Raymarine A65 Chartplotter was installed.

Coppercoat antifouling was applied to the hull in 2009 and when taken out of the water overnight in 2011 after almost two years on our swinging mooring, there was just a light slime on the hull that hosed off easily.