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CLASSIC BOAT MUSEUM
The Carstairs Collection
The Betty ‘Joe’ Carstairs Collection came to the Gallery after the closure of the Basildon Motorboat Museum and much of it is on display in the Gallery. As well as trophies there are albums, press cutting books, and photographs. Joe Carstairs was an heiress who led an unconventional life style in the 20’s and 30’s in Europe and later in the Bahamas. Having sailed competitively on the English East coast in her yacht Sonia, and on coming into her inheritance from her grandfather (Standard Oil – Esso!) in 1921, she came to Cowes and commissioned Sammy Saunders to build her a succession of racing power boats in which she was highly successful in world racing circles, at one time being the fastest woman on water, with her engineer, Joe Harris. She eventually opened her own yard, the Sylvia Yard, in East Cowes.
 Grandfather's house, New York |  Ambulance driver, Dublin 1917 |  Sonia, just before the start. CYC 1st season race 1924 |
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 HRYC regatta June 1924, start over 10 tons. Douglas Went photo |  Joe Carstairs on Newg, Cowes |  Newg II, East Cowes, 1927 |
 Estelle I and Estelle IIOutside the Columbine Building, East Cowes |  Joe Carstairs and Joe Harris, engineer |  Estelle II, Detroit 1928 |
 Joe, Joe and Capt. C Marshall, Joe's manager |  Estelle IV meeting the press |  Joe with Joe HarrisJoe Harris was Joe Carstairs' engineer - both smoking over the engines of Estelle IV |
 Estelle IV in Canada |  Estelle IV |  Gar Wood, Joe, Joe Harris, Capt. C Marshall, Joe's manager |
 Estelle V |  Joe Carstairs with Capt Malcolm Campbell, at Brooklands, March 1930 |  Finishing touches to Vergemere II |
 Launching Berania Aug 1 1932Built at the Sylvia Yard, East Cowes |  M Y BeraniaLaunching at Sylvia Yard, East Cowes |  Sonia |
 Joe and seaplane at Whale Quay |  Joe in the West Indies |
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