Richard Clifford meets Sebastian Smith aboard Contessa 26, Shamaal II.
Richard was the very first owner of Shamaal II, and in 1974 he broke an OSTAR record when he sailed her single-handed across the Atlantic; then he made the return trip alone during the same summer. He later went on to race her round Britain in the double-handed event. 
After several changes of ownership Sebastian and his wife bought Shamaal II, and they have made her famous once again with their reports in Practical Boat Owner about their Mediterranean cruising adventures. They brought the boat back to Britain this summer with their two little daughters via the Atlantic coast, and we look forward to reading about that voyage too.
Strangely Richard and Sebastian had never met before this photo was taken aboard Shamaal II. They had a lot to tell each other about the boat, which is now outside the Rogers boatyard, laid up and regrettably for sale due to Sebastian's work relocation to New York.
Fiona Rogers
Shamaal II owners exchange stories
