Nikki Wellings worked on classic sailing yachts for 12 years. Creating hand stitched leather work for such beautiful yachts as Mariquita, Merrymaid, Mariette, Lulworth and more recently the J Class yachts. Having worked on board as Bosun she has a clear understanding of how leather needs to function.
This was a necklace l made for a friends wedding, in silver with amber coloured beads.
These rings l made for our engagement and included materials from our time together. The piece of lignum wood in the centre was from the boat we met on. A piece no longer in use of course!
For his birthday l added a set of matching cuff-links.
A removeable thump mat on Mariquita's aft deck protects the varnished king plank and keeps the winch handle on board whilst racing.
Two of Mariette's anchor davitt blocks. Matching sets on port and starboard.
Mariquita's Top mast runners often need to be unhooked and and taken forward and both parts made off.
Merrymaid's dinghy chocks.
A double winch handle pocket on Merrymaid for easy access. Other pockets were also mounted on other parts of the boat.
When the crew on mariquita pulled out the bowsprit during a refit it was a good opportunity to replace the worn leather. The widow makers need to be treated with respect as they could give you a nasty bump. They are one of my favourite items to leather.
One of Mariette's Treble blocks.
On Mariquita's 100m main sheet there are plaited stoppers on both sides ready to take the weight to allow the crew to sit in line to haul in the main.