Heron II
1936 Fred Shepherd 52ft Bermudan Cutter
Winner of the 2020 Classic Boat Restoration of the Year Award, lying in the South of France.
- 1936 Fred Shepherd
- 52ft Burma teak Bermudan cutter built by Woodnutt & Co., Isle of Wight to Lloyd’s 100A1 • Historic Vessel No. 2968
- Classic Boat Winner 2020
- Restoration of the Year (Over 40ft), restored in Dartmouth by skipper Aaron Ashton
“Almost All of His Craft Are Big Little Ships”
Designed in 1936 by renowned British naval architect Fred Shepherd and built on the Isle of Wight by Woodnutt & Co. for Stanley W. Cooper to Lloyd’s highest standard (100A1), Heron II was conceived for an experienced yachtsman who valued generous beam, high freeboard, and a bright, practical living space below deck without sacrificing grace or speed under canvas.
“These sections naturally give steep buttock lines fore and aft, but these are wonderfully fair and the waterline and diagonals are very easy and sweet on the eye … Fred Shepherd always manages to put a quart into a pint pot, and almost all of his craft are big little ships.”
Planked in 1¼-inch Burma teak over well-grown English oak frames and steamed American elm timbers—with a 7¼-ton external lead ballast keel (plus 1 ton of internal lead pigs), a laid Burma teak deck, and 1,041 square feet of working sail—she slices through the swell with what Uffa Fox called a “good turn of speed.” Believed to have once broken the Isle of Wight to Scilly Isles race record, she was owned in the 1960s and 1970s by Gosport shipyard owner John Morris (John Morris & Co.), later by Christopher Smith, and from 1984 by radio engineer Michael Clark, with whom she featured in Yachting Monthly in 1984.
Today, Heron II is a thoughtfully evolved classic: fitted with a new 2026 Beta Marine 60hp engine, Newage PRM 150D gearbox, and 175Ah alternator, updated 2025 safety equipment, and a full 2020 Crusader Sails wardrobe. Lying in the South of France, she is offered for private acquisition at £395,000 GBP (with her 2019 marine survey available to view by seriously interested parties).
Measuring 46ft 3in on deck and 52ft overall with her 10-foot bowsprit, Heron II carries 1,041 square feet of working canvas over a 7¼-ton lead ballast keel.
Heron II Under Sail in the Mediterranean
Sailing off the South of France coastline under her 1936 Bermudan cutter rig—a living study of her fair sheerline, laid Burma teak decks, and easy motion through the sea.
Heron II reaching cleanly off the French Riviera under main and headsails, her white Burma teak hull and varnished coachroof balanced above deep Mediterranean blue.
The sweet sheerline, Burma teak coachroof, chromed bronze portlights, and easy motion through a seaway that Uffa Fox praised in 1937.
Looking forward along the 10-foot bowsprit, stainless safety stanchions, and laid Burma teak foredeck as Heron II ghosted past the Riviera headlands.
Introduced Aboard Heron II at Age Seven, Skipper & Restorer Today
Present owner and skipper Aaron Ashton was first introduced to classic sailing yachts at the age of seven on board Heron II herself—then lying on the Isle of Wight and owned by family friend and radio engineer Michael Clark.
Aaron forged a career as a professional Yacht Skipper—skippering a modern classic Spirit design across the Atlantic, racing in classic regattas across UK, Mediterranean, and Caribbean waters, and winning the Young Sailor of the Year 2016 award at the Antigua Panerai Classic Sailing Regatta.
In 2016 he took on the restoration of Heron II, bringing her from the Isle of Wight to Dartmouth. After 32 months ashore on the slipway in Mill Creek—working alongside close family and friends without a commercial shipyard to restore her original Burma teak deck, return her from a ketch to her original 1936 Bermudan cutter rig, and overhaul her interior back to bare wood—she floated again on Good Friday, 19 April 2019, hit 8.4 knots on her August 2019 sea trials, and won the Classic Boat Restoration of the Year Award (Over 40ft) in April 2020 before starring in the Adidas × Palace campaign in Devon and sailing south to the Mediterranean.
Deck Layout, Brightwork & Sailing Proportions
For sale
Offered for private sale at £395,000 GBP, Heron II is a turnkey 1936 Fred Shepherd classic yacht lying in the South of France, fitted with a new 2026 Beta Marine 60hp engine, updated 2025 safety gear, and an established charter brand package, with her 2019 marine survey available for seriously interested parties.
Prospective custodians and yacht brokers are invited to contact owner and skipper Aaron Ashton directly for full ownership particulars and inspection arrangements.
Unhurried coastal sailing on the foredeck and bowsprit with the Maritime Alps and French Riviera shoreline rising astern.
