To coincide with the feature in October's MBM on the 25th anniversary of Howards' Way, we've tracked down Sea Gypsy, the Sealine Ambassador 285 that starred in the show's closing credits
Will the real Sea Gypsy please stand up?
One of the most memorable scenes from Howards’ Way is the closing credits from series three onwards, which features a Sealine Ambassador 285 called Sea Gypsy, which comes perilously close to hitting a sailing boat as it cuts straight in front of its path.
Many boats claim to be the original Sea Gypsy but MBM now believes it has tracked down the actual one.
The boat – still called Sea Gypsy – is currently kept at Val Wyatts, in Wargrave on the Thames. The current owner of the boat, Tony Revell, told MBM, “I bought Sea Gypsy in November 2009. As far as I know, she was sold in June 1999 via a yacht broker at Penton Hook Staines. After this she was moved to Bray Marina, where she was kept until 2002. She was then moved to Shamrock Quay where until 2006 she was used for cruising around the Isle of Wight and the Solent.
By the time Revell came across her she was out of the water in Shamrock Quay and in a poor state of repair. Since purchasing her last year, he has spent a lot of time and money restoring her to her former glory.
“After I bought her we fitted two new engines, the same as the old Volvo AQ225 petrol V8s, and had the two Volvo SP 290 drives re-conditioned,” he said. “I also stripped all of the interior and refitted it due to water damage from a leaking hood.The hull has been buffed and polished and she now has a new roof. The name has been updated with new transfers.
“I moved her to Val Wyatts in Wargrave in June of this year and we use her every week, her first voyage being to the Henley Regatta in July. It is amazing how many people know her from Howards’ Way and it is often mentioned when we pass through the locks on the Thames.”
Sea Gypsy also appeared in the pages of MBM way back in June 1987 when we put it through its paces in a boat test.
VIEW VIDEO To view the closing credits, which feature the Sealine Ambassador 285 click here.
DOWNLOAD THEME TUNE To download the Howards’ Way theme tune to your phone click here.
The full Howards’ Way feature appears in our October issue, in the shops on 16 September.
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