S/Y EFAKI is a Mirage 28 built in 1977 by Thames Marine (UK) 

S/Y EFAKI is a member of the SNAPDRAGON & MIRAGE ASSOCIATION

S/Y EFAKI is a member of the Piraeus Sailing Club (I.O.P.)

Red RUM

I read an amazing story about the Red Rum Mirage 28 while on a google search for other Mirage's web pages. It is really something and I got permission by Scott Baillie to include it here since the original place that he posted, is not available anymore. Enjoy the story of Red Rum:

Scott Baillie’s Story

I felt compelled to write an article for the Club Newsletter, having received the Hoo Ness Junior Award, and, more recently, participated in the Queenborough Rally. I attended my first AGM in December and was most surprised to leave proudly clutching the Junior Award. I couldn’t wait to show it to my parents and it now hangs prominently in our hall for everyone to see. My thanks to Di Mannion and Tony Cottis for all their help and support.

I have been a member of Hoo Ness Yacht Club since May 2000 and I am slowly getting to know members and appreciate how friendly and helpful many have been. My downfall is that I am, at times, a bit shy and tend to wait for people to begin a conversation with me. My Mum says “You are a boy in an adult world” -  but I am catching up!

My Granddad was originally responsible for me taking up sailing. He began by building a sailing dinghy in his lounge (!) and my Nan used to drape her clothes-horse around it to hide the embarrassment, but my Granddad insisted on sitting in the boat to watch the TV. When it was completed, my Granddad had to enlist the help of their neighbors to remove the lounge window to get the boat out. He went on, some years later, to build a Mirage 28 which he called “Red Rum”, but which he subsequently sold  in 1994.

Sadly, my Granddad passed away in 1999 and I have been trying ever since to trace “Red Rum”. I have searched on the internet, and scrutinized the River Medway and even been to Brighton Marina in the hope of tracing her. I currently have a poster-sized photo of her in my study. I have become obsessed with tracing “Red Rum”.

When I was 8, my Nan and Granddad insisted I did the RYA course at Thamesmead and I was thrilled to receive my certificate from the Mayoress at Woolwich Town Hall.

When my Granddad died, I worried the life out of my family for a boat. I wanted to carry on the legend of my Granddad. Eventually, my Nan gave in and said she would by me a boat, but I didn’t want a Topper - I wanted a sailing cruiser!

I was 14 when I proudly owned a Pandora and joined HNYC. I worked on the boat, painting, rewiring, fitting a sink, an electric bilge pump, making cushions, curtains, lockers and shelves. I named it “Grandad’s Pride”.

She was launched in April last year and I was finally free to sail.  I introduced my friends to sailing and we have spent many weekends on the Medway . They are now talking in sailing terms like they’ve done it all their lives!  One of them now owns a Miracle dinghy, which he keeps at Wilsonian SC and is participating in the Hoo Freezer in February.

I took part in the Hoo Freezer last year and thoroughly enjoyed assisting on a safety boat. I intend participating this year and am insisting on my friend Jayson helping. He is also now a member of the Club, but is more a ‘fair-weather sailor’ who doesn’t like getting his hands wet. It has been known for his Mum to pack rubber gloves for handling the mooring lines! Sorry Jayson!

However, having used the Pandora for nine months, I decided I would like to have a boat with an inboard engine and separate heads, and I began looking for a boat with both these features.

In November, I managed to find a Contest 25 at Gillingham Marina. I quickly looked at her on a Sunday morning and went to meet the owner the following Saturday accompanied by my Mum, Dad and Jayson. I had an A4 sheet of questions to ask the owner. I was about half-way through when I asked, “Why are you selling the boat?” He replied, “because I have bought another one”,   “Oh, what have you bought?” I asked. The reply was “a Mirage 28”. I couldn’t help myself, “what is she called?”. The reply was “Red Rum”. I couldn’t believe it – it was a surreal moment. My Mum and Dad were amazed and I was shaking with disbelief. We tried to explain to the owner the history of Red Rum and the sentimental importance of it to me. He has since let me go on board Red Rum and has promised to take me for a sail on her this summer. I just feel I was meant to find Red Rum – it was fate. I sincerely hope I will one day be able to own her.

Once again, my Nan has helped me buy the Contest, until the Pandora is sold. Well, I have been painting, fitted a new toilet, made curtains and cushions and have insulated the inboard engine with noise insulation. I have called it “Grandad’s Pride II”!

By mid-January. I was ready to go, but had reservations at going through Gillingham lock on my own. Tony Cottis came to my aid (thankfully) and we tied this experience in with joining the Rally to Queenborough. Jayson accompanied me and we followed Tony there, but had to return through the lock on our own. We were so pleased when we had achieved the trip, the lock and reversed the boat into the mooring at Gillingham Marina (where it will remain until the end of March). We both felt we had accomplished a lot that day and enjoyed the social side of the trip immensely.

Last summer Jayson and I volunteered to do the night patrol  and Tony Slater kindly allowed us to assist him. We were engrossed in hearing Tony’s amusing anecdotes (whilst he downed suitable refreshment!) as well as gaining a lot of local knowledge and advice. We are very keen and willing to do it again this year, on our own, or with another member.

I would like to get more involved in Club activities generally. At the moment, I am trying to balance my time between sailing and schoolwork, as I am doing my GCSEs this year. I would like very much to go on the Easter Cruise with the Club on my boat. This will be the first time I will have ventured out of the River Medway and will feel more confident if I can trail other members.

I intend doing the shore-based RYA Day Skipper course when my exams are completed and I would like to take part in Club cruises and races.  In the meantime, I am very willing to crew for members, as I feel this will boost my knowledge and self-confidence. Sailing is my first love. When I come home and tell my Mum some of my experiences she says, “well it’s certainly problem-solving and character building!”

So if there are any members who require a crew anytime, please ask me and, subject to my exams, I will be delighted!

Many thanks to all those members who have helped me – I appreciate there is no substitute for experience and that’s just what I need!

Happy Sailing!

Scott Baillie

Cadet Member

I intent to ask Scott to fill up some more info on the story like dates, how old he is now and what and where he sails, etc. The thing is that Scott already have sailed with Red Rum which is a fine sailing boat in good shape and which one day he hopes to buy when her present owner decides to sell her. If you wish to contact Scott please let me know so as to provide you with his Email. I can't provide it here for Spam protection.

This page was last updated May 9th 2003.