Date: Friday March 9, 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (The auction will close on Saturday, March 10, at 6 p.m.)
Location: The National Rowing Hall of Fame in the G.W. Blunt White Building at Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, Connecticut, 06355.
Cost: $100
To register: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=natrowing&id=3
Proceeds from this event will be used for projects related to Rowing History and The National Rowing Hall of Fame and Exhibits.
The highlight of the evening will be the auction of Hart Perry's Thames pulling dinghy, donated by Gill Perry and the Perry family.
This boat once belonged to famous Oxford Blue and Olympic champion Don Burnell (1875-1969), father of renown oarsman, Oxford Blue, Olympic champion, and rowing journalist Dickie Burnell (1917-1995). Hart bought the dinghy from Dickie around 1968, when Hart became a member of Leander Club, Don and Dickie Burnell's club in Henley-on-Thames. Hart then brought it home to Connecticut.
- Burnell-Perry Thames-Built Pulling Dinghy, "Corpus Leandri"
- Length: 10ft.; Beam: 4ft. 2in.; Draft: 1ft. 3in.
- This clinker-built boat was made in England possibly by Hobbs of Henley-on-Thames or Wyatts of Wargrave, probably in the 1930s, or maybe earlier (there is no boat builder plaque in the boat). There are some uncertainties about what kind of wood has been used, but a qualified guess is cedar on elm, six planks per side. The stern is mahogany whereupon is painted "Corpus Leandri" (the motto of Leander Club is "Corpus Leandri Spes Mea"). One sculling thwart, adjustable stretcher, stern seat and small bow seat, both with backrests in mahogany, and accompanying old velvet cushions. Two floorboards (2x2 floorboards), and a pair of bronze swivel rowlocks (oarlocks) and rudder with lines. Although the dinghy is in good condition, the thwart, footboards, and inside will need to be re-varnished before the first outing of the season. The dinghy's sculls' blades, which were used by Hart Perry, are painted in Leander cerise.
- Starting bid: $5,000
If you are not able to attend the silent auction in person, you are welcome to contact auctioneer Tom Sanford, who will accept your bids from 12 p.m. Friday March 9 to 6 p.m. Saturday March 10 via email or phone: [email protected] or 860-319-6254.