In 1888 Gordon Rankine’s great grandfather Robert White set up his consulting engineering practice; he was later joined by John Wolfe Barry and then by his two sons, Colin White and Bruce White (later Sir Bruce White, Gordon’s grandfather). Mothballed during the second World War the firm was re-established in 1950 as Sir Bruce White Wolfe Barry and Partners.

Sir Bruce invited Allan Beckett to join the firm following their military service together on the Mulberry Harbours. Made a partner in 1953 Allan Beckett went on to become senior partner following Sir Bruce’s death. In 1985 Allan Beckett was joined by his son Tim Beckett and Gordon Rankine under the new name Beckett Rankine. These two families have now lead the practice continuously for 125 years.

Coincidentally 1888 was also the year that the yacht Bonita was built by the renowned boat-builder William Crossfield at his yard at Arnside in Cumbria. While most of Britain’s coastal fishing fleets owed their designs to evolution to meet local conditions the Morcambe Bay prawners were different in that they were conceived and designed by one man, William Crossfield; although later other builders adapted his concept. Morcambe Bay prawners, also called Lancashire nobbies, are easily recognised by their elliptical sterns, spoon bows, relatively wide beam and shallow draft. Mostly William, and later his sons, produced fishing vessels – the famous prawners, but he also produced tourist pleasure boats called Bay Boats and a few gentlemen’s yachts. Bonita was built as a yacht and uniquely amongst the Lancashire nobbies she has a distinctive clipper bow.

Allan Beckett purchased Bonita in 1936 and she has been in the Beckett family ever since. This summer she is taking part in the OGA’s 50th Anniversary Round Britain Challenge which starts from the Hamble on 4 May 2013. At 125 years old she is the oldest vessel in the Challenge fleet. As we share our 125 years of history Beckett Rankine is sponsoring Bonita’s trip with some smart crew outfits and technical support. Bonita is blogging as she goes and commenting upon some of the firm’s UK projects as she encounters them. As her itinerary is weather dependent we don’t know which of our projects will get a mention.

For the duration of the circumnavigation we will be providing a constant link to Bonita’s blog and her tracker here.

The Round Britain Challenge fleet is raising funds for the RNLI as it goes so if you enjoy following Bonita’s progress you can make a donation here.