Name Mischief

MISCHIEF is a West Solent One Design racing yacht, designed by H.G. May and built for Sir Francis Dent by Berthon Boat Co., Lymington. She raced in the Solent pre-WWII. Since then she has had numerous private owners and been based all around the country and beyond.

Her first (co-)owners were Dent, a Director of the Southern Railway and governor of London School of Economics, and Jack Holder, a retired brewer.  Dent then owned her solely from 1933-34, when she was sold to Harold Cecil Christopherson, a stockbroker, who owned her until 1938.  Her owner during WWII is not known.  From 1947-1950, she was owned by H.F. Barge of Hamble, then from 1951-53, by Jack Holman, brother of the yacht designer Kim Holman, and owner of the Upham Boatyard, Brixham.  From 1953-57, she was owned by L. Woolcott of Salcombe, then from 1957-1960 by H.M. Blewitt of Plymouth, when she was also renamed FIDE. 

From 1960-63, she was owned by George C. Dear and based in Lymington, then from 1963-66 by J.D. Dennis & R.J. Strong.  From 1967-1972, she was owned by R.J. Strong, A.D. Hignett & The Hon. Lawson-Johnston (of Bovril Ltd), then from 1972-c1974 by Charles D. Pledger at Heybridge Basin, Essex.  From c1974-79, she was owned by C.R.H. & Dr. N.O.T. Temple of Harwich and Cowes.  

Under the ownership of US citizen Paul Denk from 1979, she was based first at Cowes, then sailed to Portugal and the Mediterranean in the early 1980s.  Her name was returned to MISCHIEF during this period.  There may have been other owners after this.  

Her current owner purchased the vessel from a broker in Cannes, France, in 1991 and returned her to the UK. A full refit was carried out from 1991-1995 by Peter Brookes at Maldon. 

Update, February 2025: Vessel for sale.