Bermuda Rigged. BR Series

 

Introduced in 1931, the BR series provided a good quality "Racing" yacht that was more affordable to the public. With a range of six models, BR/1 12", BR/2 14", BR/3 16", BR/4 18", BR/5 21" & BR/6 24" with hollow hulls and Bermuda rigged sails. Models BR/1 - BR/5 had collapsible sails while BR/6 had the tube type mast mount and fixed bowsprit. The hulls were varnished with an enamel painted blue band above the waterline, the decks were plank lined and varnished. Tapered spars, varnished and fitted with brass ferrules. Wooden lead weighted keel.

1933 Brass deck badge fitted.

1934 Hull colour changed to green enamel above the waterline. BR/1, BR/2 & BR/3 models discontinued due to the introduction and popularity of the MK series. Other models retain their numbers and specifications.

1939 Yachts are given names, BR/4 Shooting Star, BR/5 Meteorite, BR/6 Planet. Shape of hull and keel changed. Deck fittings change to fold down mast brackets on smaller models, Planet fitted with tube type mast mount. The hulls above the waterline are now in various colours blue, black, red & green. The lead part of the keel is painted silver. Bow names are gold block lettering with black outline. Catalogue showing sails having oval series emblems.

1940 Brass deck badge changed to early transfer type with red star.

1942 onwards, specification stays same then disappears from catalogues. Deck transfer now later type.

1954 Series reappears with model numbers changed and larger addition, BR/1 Shooting Star 18", BR/2 Meteorite 21", BR/3 Planet 24" & BR/4 Comet 27".

1960 BR/1 Shooting Star now discontinued, the other three models remain unchanged.

1967 Brass ferrules and bowsies changed to white plastic, bowsies retain same shape.

1971 Polyurethane lacquered decks. The hulls above the waterline are now in colours BR/2 black, BR/3 red & BR/4 green. Ferrules and bowsies now made in white plastic. Catalogues now showing the 5 pointed STAR sail emblem.

1977 Lead keel now painted to match colour above waterline.

1988 Range now fitted with yellow sails and squared off stern.

 

BR/2 Meteorite BR/3 Planet BR/4 Comet

 

BR Fact.

If you were wondering why some later BR series yachts have a white hull as most are varnished, the later hull is made from Obeche wood which has a tendency to stain blue / black when exposed to air, this happened frequently after the hull had been hand carved and left on the shelf for the next process. To save wasting hulls, the stained ones were painted white and in a way makes them "Harder to get" than the varnished versions.

The black, red, green paint for the later BRs was not the usual Humbrol but made by Valspar.