Custom Kim Holman East Coast

A classic 31ft Kim Holman design yacht, built in 1962 by Tucker Brown Yacht Builders (Burnham on Crouch, Essex), 9ft beam, 6.15ft draft.
“Bright Morning” was designed by Kim Holman for his friend Mr. Richard (Dickie) Bird as a 21st birthday present for his son John. Richard Bird was a very keen and wealthy yachtsman, as well as Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham on Crouch. This superb yacht was purpose built for cruising and racing.
Bright Morning remained in the ownership of John Bird for 45 years, before passing into the ownership of Howard and Robert Bryson in 2007 and to the current owners in 2012. Built of mahogany on steam bent oak frames and copper fastenings she is “a true classic blue water sailing yacht”.
She is a well maintained boat in near original condition with some modern equipment to facilitate safe handling, navigation and comfortable cruising. Now lying at Shotley Marina, Suffolk.Viewing highly recommended.
 
CONSTRUCTION:
Built in 1962. Carvel wooden construction of mahogany planking on oak frames. Transom stern, long keel with ballast keel through bolted and keel hung rudder, self draining aft cockpit with tiller steering, masthead Bermudan sloop rig and 4/5 berth internal layout in two cabins with around 5’10” maximum headroom.
Considerable works commensurate with a boat of this age undertaken by previous owners including: New welsh rock elm floors amidships replacing original galvanised steel straps, also beneath pillars supporting deck-mounted mast step integrated into bulkheads. Some new steamed oak frames and fastenings forward of the mast starboard side and new hanging knees and repairs to deck beam and deck immediately aft of forehatch. New keel bolts. New drive shaft, propeller and deep sea gland, new seacocks.
Bright Morning” was the first Holman 31 following on from the design of the Stella, but larger and followed closely by the Twister and the North Sea 24. She has obviously been a much-loved boat and remains cosmetically in superb order. She has been a successful club racer and cruising boat and has won several West Mersea regattas. She is an extremely attractive design and her current owner has copies of the original design drawings.  She is reluctantly on the market as the current owner is no longer able to make best use of her and wishes her to find a new home where she will receive the care and appreciation she deserves.