Regaining the Glory of 'Windward', Supported by Barton Victory Blocks: A Dedicated Restorer's Journey

Every restoration journey has its own tapestry of intricate details and unwavering dedication. This is the same for Robert Starr, a celebrated author from the U.S.’s inland Northwest, who embarked on an overriding passion to restore his elegant lapstrake dinghy ‘Windward’. Over the course of more than a year, the exclusive use of Classic Wooden Victory Blocks from Barton Marine, a trusted name in block manufacturing, was instrumental in actualizing his dream of refurbishing this classic watercraft.

A past life spent professionally racing cars around the globe found Robert longing for a more tranquil existence. As if aligning with this pursuit, he chose to introduce a ‘wishbone sprit sail’ into the new rig setup. The design logic allowed for one sprit arm to remain on the leeward side, ensuring a balanced performance in any wind direction.

Drawing inspiration from the Morbic 12 design, Robert envisages the addition of a removable bowsprit and a small jib to harness light winds effectively during his lake expeditions. Complementing this setup, Barton Victory 50030 Wooden Blocks will be employed to carry the load and retain the traditional restoration style.

The path to restoration is mainly defined by the gear one chooses. For Robert, the attraction towards Barton Victory Blocks was not limited to their functionality, but also the classical appeal they lent to his wooden dinghy.

It is gratifying for the Barton team to realise that their blocks played a crucial role in reviving a classic like Windward. Robert’s boat restoration saga, filled with challenges and victories, represents the spirit of every mariner dreaming of taming the waters with a vessel they can proudly call their own.