Anyone who has joined us for a Rib charter from Lymington has probably passed Baverstock, the distinctive boat moored near the mouth of the river. Sitting just before the Lymington River opens into the Western Solent, she is one of those familiar local sights that is easy to pass without knowing the story behind it.
Baverstock is not an abandoned fishing boat or simply another vessel on a mooring. She is a permanent committee boat used by Lymington Town Sailing Club to support local dinghy racing.
A familiar sight when leaving Lymington
Our charters regularly leave from Lymington Yacht Haven, travelling South downriver before heading out into the Solent. Baverstock can be seen towards the end of this journey, close to the point where the sheltered river meets the more open waters of the Western Solent.
Her position provides race officials with a clear view of the surrounding water, allowing her to be used as a base for starting and finishing sailing races. Local race reports and sailing instructions regularly refer to competitors starting from, finishing at or sailing past Baverstock.
Although she may look fairly modest alongside the yachts, ferries and commercial vessels travelling through Lymington Harbour, she has become an important part of the town’s sailing landscape.
Who was Baverstock named after?
The boat was named in memory of Doug Baverstock BEM, a well-known Lymington boatman whose life was closely connected with the river and the local sailing community.
Doug worked as the boatman at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, where he became known for his practical skills and exceptional knowledge of the Solent. His work included maintaining pontoons, ferrying members, laying racing marks and helping sailors of all ages.
Before electronic navigation and GPS became standard equipment, Doug could reportedly position racing marks accurately using bearings taken from familiar landmarks around the Solent.
He was also involved with Lymington’s early volunteer rescue service and later became one of the founding members of the town’s RNLI inshore lifeboat crew.
Doug received the British Empire Medal for his services to the community and the yacht club. Following his retirement, the committee boat was named Baverstock in recognition of his contribution to life on the Lymington River.
Still playing an active role
Baverstock is now owned by Lymington Town Sailing Club and remains moored near the end of the river, where she continues to be used for dinghy racing starts and finishes.
It is a fitting tribute to someone who spent much of his life helping the local sailing community. Rather than only being remembered through a plaque or photograph, Doug’s name remains attached to a working boat performing an important role on the river.
For many local sailors, Baverstock is simply part of the familiar language of racing in Lymington. For visitors joining one of our charters, she is also an interesting piece of local maritime history to look out for as we make our way towards the Solent.
The next time you leave Lymington by boat, keep an eye out for Baverstock on the way downriver. Behind this unassuming vessel is the story of a respected local boatman and a lifetime spent helping others enjoy the water.
