Comments
Designer's Comments
Rummer was designed with a view to producing an easily-handled fast cruiser
for a crew of four/five. The RORC rule was carefully considered, as there is
little doubt that she will be entered for the odd race. With this in mind, a
shallow draft beamy boat has been produced, with short spars; both these items
are an advantage when cruising on the East Coast.
Owner's Comments
As a boy, a friend of my father’s used to pass on to me his old copies of ‘Yachting Monthly’, and I remember now studying the line-drawings of those beautiful classics of the 1950’s, with their long fine ends and elegant sheer. They were the last of a line of development in boatbuilding, just before the dawn of the age of new materials – especially glassfibre - and all the new design-possibilities they offered.
When I was ill my brother carved a model of one, with white topsides, varnished deck and navy-blue underwater. When I saw Tumbler in 1991, my dream had come true. She is strongly built by a local builder and I’ve talked with some of the men who built her. Of Holman’s designs they say “He never drew one as didn’t look good and he never drew one as didn’t goo well!”
Dunboys Ireland
Tumbler has lived up to her reputation. Everywhere we have gone she draws admiring glances, and people row across to say “She’s a Rummer isn’t she?” Once we had learned she would look after us through most things we decided to tackle some longish voyages. Every year or two as work allowed we took off 2 or 3 months in the summer and have explored the ‘Celtic fringes’ – SW coast of Ireland, The Scillies and West Country, the Brittany Coast (twice taking in the Brest/Douarnenez festivals); and South to the Spanish coast, almost to Portugal, and all along the Galician, Asturian and Cantabrian coast. Also up into the Baltic – to St Petersburg, Finland, Estonia and Latvia in one trip, and down the East coast of Denmark on another. Each time making stops in the Friesian Isles and exploring the Dutch inland waters too.
Most recently over three years we circumnavigated the English/Scottish mainland, overwintering on the W coast of Scotland, and exploring the highlands and islands, particularly the Outer Hebrides. And of course we’ve had summers in home waters with snatched holidays in the East Coast Rivers and Holland.
Tumbler has looked after us well through all this – and we’ve had our share of heavy weather. We have tucked her into hundreds of strange ports and lonely anchorages and she has always handled impeccably with people watching. We’ve learned to reef early in strong weather and she’s rewarded us by being comfortable, controllable and quick. Her equipment is simple and strong and reliable, and we’ve never had any serious problems.
Moored for the night with amenable company her ample cockpit is a favourite place for people to gather.
We’ve had the excitement of fast passages – to the North of Denmark in 3 days, and to the Fastnet Rock in only a little more. Also the tedium of motoring the entire length of the East Coast of Scotland and England in windless/foggy
conditions – 8 days and we ran out of books to read!
Tumbler has been almost a member of our family – a main focus through the winter, usually with some jobs to tackle on top of the regular fitting out. And then most summers planning a cruise, getting friends and family to crew, arranging for others to join us, getting the stores together and setting out. It has been a great time, with many good memories, many new friends made along the way, and many good homecomings.
But now the time has come for us to move on, and we have no doubt in Tumbler’s ability to move on too.
Broker's Comments
Pure Class!
Tumbler is a real classy lady. Her owner has maintained her well and she has
repaid him by taking him comfortably and reliably over much of the coastline of
northern Europe.
Look after her and I am sure that she will look after you.
Adrian Espin
