A friend of mine here in Lymington has acquired Avion number 156. Does anyone have any history on her or know anything about her?
Another winter project!

Jack Holt designed and built, Dilly design, built 1947. I'm sure that Tony Lane will be along soon with a fuller history. Should have a tall 25ft rotating mast I would have thought if original - but may have been cut down at a later date.  Possibly a lead tipped centreboard lowered by block and tackle!!! Roll decks and stern deck too.  Ribbed of course (pre number 500).

156 'Avion' was owned by Les Brain, a very successful sailor from Midland SC. He won the  1953 Championships at Cowes in 214 'Diabolo' with his crew Peter Easton and they won the Championships again in 522 'Magician' in 1955 at Plymouth.

Hi Garry and Tony. According to the Year Book 'Avion' was built in 1948. I suspect she may have a conventional centreplate. In my article about the origins of the class I suggested that all boats built in 1948 had conventional centreplates. 'Aideen' no. 164 was built that year and she certainly did, as did 'Lucky' no. 177. 

The only advantage of the origional sliding forward plate that I'm aware of was that the slot in the keel was shorter causing less turbulence.

100% correct Robert - 1948 - I misread the page!!  It would be interesting to know when they stopped the original lowering type of board.  111 has it.  I don't know of any survivors between 111 and 156 so I guess it can be narrowed down to that.

It also seems common to have modified these early centreboards to the conventional types as well later in their lives. Merlin in Falmouth clearly shows the alteration.

I guess that modification to Merlin was done just before Beecher Moore brought her out of reirement in 1963 to race her with great and humbling success with his wife Bobby at Ranelagh for a few winter series. That's in the days that Ranelagh raised well over 20 Merlins every Winter race and average every other Saturday and Sunday October thru March, and nearly 100 for open meetings.