LIVELY - Jack Holt's little YACHTING WORLD RAMBLER centreboard cruiser.

I bought LIVELY (Y.W. Ramber #30)in 1976. She was a half decked open boat then, with original Holt layout and rig. I completely redesigned the sailplan with larger, self-tacking jib and smaller mainsail, moved the centreboard about 50cm aft, and squeezed 2 berths into a small cabin. I had many years of fun with LIVELY until 1994, when she was laid up during the building of Blue Lightning. After Blue Lightning was sold, I fitted out LIVELY for sailing again in 2005, after an 11-year layup ashore.
I acquired a mooring on the River Deben at Felixstowe Ferry, and I thought that Lively would end her days afloat on this beautiful Suffolk river. However, left on a mooring each summer she deteriorated, so I laid her up in my garden in 2019.

2013. I have been contacted by LIVELY's original builder and owner, who now lives in Australia. Apparently LIVELY is not quite as old as I thought, having been built in the early 60s. That still makes her about 50 years old - truly venerable for a modest little plywood boat. An article about the building of LIVELY appeared in the Dinghy Cruising Association magazine - view it HERE.

2019. LIVELY is now in retirement ashore.

2024. LIVELY is now over 60 years old and has been laid up in my back garden under a tarpaulin for the last five years. But I have plans to renovate her this year and get her in commission for 2026 for one last cruise along the Suffolk and Essex coast of England.

2026. The renovation of LIVELY is taking longer than expected, due to other commitments. The plan now is to re-launch her in spring 2027.