Pipe Dream

  • Boat type — Carriacou sloop
  • Length — 40 feet, or approximately 12.2 meters
  • Built by — Gordon Patrice, from the Patrice's family
  • Owners in 2011 — Deb and Laurie, also owners of Tradition
  • On board in 2011 — no engine, no berths, no kitchen
  • State — still to be found

A Gordon Patrice sloop

Pipe Dream was built by Gordon Patrice, a now-deceased shipwright from Windward, according to information provided by the association. His family has a record of him. the Patrice family.

In 2019, the Carriacou Regatta Festival presents its first Lifetime Achievement Awards to the great shipwrights of Carriacou. Gordon Patrice is no longer here to receive his: his family accepts it on his behalf, as do those of Jassie Compton and Zepherine McLaren.

The families of Jessie Compton, Gordon Patrice and Zepherine MacLaren accepted Awards posthumously in those gentlemen's names.

Katrina Kelshall, Caribbean Compass, September 2019

2007: already gone to Antigua

In October 2007, the Windward Cup columnist reviewed, in Carriacou's English, the shipyards on the island. He mentioned a shipwright nicknamed Sprat, associated with Pipe Dream, who was sailing in Antigua at the time and was thinking about fitting a new keel.

Sprat (Pipe Dream, now in Antigua) say he may lay ah keel in the new year.

William Pringle, Caribbean Compass, October 2007

No source says whether Sprat is Gordon Patrice's nickname.

April 2011: A new boat for Deb and Laurie

In the spring of 2011, the three-masted barque Picton Castle made a stopover in Antigua during the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Deb, a former crew member of the tall ship, and her partner Laurie had just bought Pipe Dream. The races served as their first test, with sailors from the Picton Castle on board.

Pipe Dream is a lovely Carriacou sloop which they just purchased and the races enabled them to test her ability on the water.

Bronwen, Picton Castle logbook, April 24, 2011

April 2011: without engine or wind, towed

At the end of April 2011, Pipe Dream left Falmouth, Antigua, bound for Anguilla. The wind completely died down. The crew spent the night drifting, sometimes feeling like they were going backwards, until the Picton Castle came to offer a tow.

Pipe Dream doesn't have a motor – hence the need for a tow, nor does she have any bunks or cooking facilities.

Tammy Sharp, Picton Castle logbook, May 13, 2011

Off Anguilla, the tall ship casts off the towline. The crew enters the harbor, pushing the sloop with the dinghy. Laurie, her son Noah, and a sailor then sail Pipe Dream to Saint Martin, from where sailors from the Picton Castle take it to Saint Barthélemy for the regatta.

On April 26, 2011, Pipe Dream sailed with two other Carriacou sloops, Tradition and Good Expectation. On board were nine crew members from the Picton Castle. On April 28, the three-masted ship left the port of Marigot for Saint Barthélemy: it had been invited to the West Indies Regatta as the "mother ship" of the fleet.

2011: fourth in Saint-Barth

To the West Indies Regatta In 2011, in Saint Barthélemy, the captain of the Picton Castle insisted that each member of his crew race on a sloop. Pipe Dream took the start amidst Tradition, Good Expectation, Genesis, Summer Cloud, New Moon, Ocean Nomad and Sweetheart.

The wind is blowing around 20 knots. Without an extra sail to hoist, Pipe Dream still sails on, particularly comfortable on the port tack, and crosses the finish line in fourth place.

Having no extra canvas the Pipe Dream nevertheless sailed happily and hurriedly along.

Bronwen, logbook of the Picton Castle, June 2, 2011

What remains to be found

The year of construction, the first owner, the full names of the 2011 owners, any possible connection between Sprat and Gordon Patrice, and the boat's fate after 2011 remain unknown. Any information or photographs that could complete this record are welcome.

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Contact — Pipe Dream

No website, page, or public address is known for this boat.

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