Embley's sailing programme recently welcomed a very special addition to its fleet - Chips, a beautifully restored Scampi 30 yacht with an extraordinary story.
Chips was the final project of renowned boatbuilder and sailor Robbie Stewart, who restored the yacht alongside a group of close friends during the final stages of his illness. Robbie's wish was simple: that the boat would continue to inspire young people and help future generations discover the adventure, challenge and joy of sailing. Following Robbie's passing, his widow, Pippa, generously donated Chips to Embley so his vision could live on through the school's outdoor education programme."A boat is more than wood, sails and rigging. It is the stories it carries and the journeys still to come."
The donation continues a longstanding connection between Embley and the Stewart family. Many members of our community will remember the Stewart 37 'Embley' that served as the flagship of the school's keelboat fleet in recent years. While that yacht has now moved on to a new home, Chips allows the Stewart legacy at Embley to continue. The journey along the South Coast to Lymington marked the beginning of Chips' next chapter and, within hours of arriving, students were being welcomed aboard to look round and begin planning their next adventure.
Over the coming years, Chips will be used to introduce pupils to cruising, seamanship, adventure sailing and life on the water. We are incredibly grateful to Pippa Stewart and all those involved in making this gift possible. We look forward to sharing many future adventures aboard Chips as we continue Robbie Stewart's remarkable legacy.
