www.classic-yacht.asn.au

Issue 33 – December 2013 – Classic Yacht Association of Australia Magazine CONTENTS CYAA Representatives

2

New members

2

Christela returns home

3

QCYC Regatta Notice

5

2012 Cup Regatta discussion

6

British Classic Yacht Club visit

8

Varg The Spirit of an 8 Metre

10

Uira A Classic Yacht Story

18

Classic Cup Regatta 2014

22

Martini: A race for survival

24

J P Macquet Boat Builder

26

Australian Historic Vessels Register

28

Classic Yacht for sale

30

David Kerr Tribute

30

David Beazley Eulogy

31

Membership Application

32

Our aim is to promote the appreciation and participation of sailing classic yachts in Australia, and help preserve the historical and cultural significance of these unique vessels.

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

CYAA REPRESENTATIVES ADMINISTRATION

NEW MEMBERS David Barnfield

CYAA

SA

Boat Owner

PO Box 335

37’ LOA RSAYS

Williamstown Victoria 3116

Peter Digby

VIC

RYCV/Crew

‘Marlie’ II’ R 7

[email protected]

Karen Batson

VIC

RYCV/Crew

‘Zephyr’Tumlare`

EDITORIAL

John Ryrie

NSW

Roger Dundas Mobile 0419 342 144 [email protected]

Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club/ VaucluseYC/ Crew

Mobile 0419 171 011

VIC

Boat Owner

John Firth-Smith

NSW

Boat Owner

‘Windward’ A101 SASCGaff rigged Cutter J W Pickering Design Built 1922 by Hayes and Son 50’ LOA 40’Hull

Paul O’’Drisc

VIC

Crew

‘Mercedes III’

[email protected] Roz Edmond Proof Editor

VIC

Crew

“Sayonara’

Ian Cameron

QLD

Boat Owner

‘Monsoon’Alan Payne Designed 12 metre

Steve Cook

VIC

Greg Doolan

It has been a great privilege to have been able to access the talent and generosity of Blueboat and all her crew. Roger Dundas

COVER PHOTO:

VARG 1928 RACING IN THE SOLENT Taken for Lord Forster, ex Governor General of Australia and owner of Yeulba, who sold VARG to the Albert Family of Sydney the same year.

COVER PHOTO BY: BEKEN OF COWES B&W GLASS PLATE IMAGE

‘Faylene’ Arthur Robb 32’Mast Head Sloop SM 70 Built 1947

Toni Rikys

Boat Owner

Jennifer Cook

After 15 years of unpaid designing of the Classic Yacht Association Magazine, Blueboat Pty Ltd is no longer in a position to continue this service.

‘Nomad’Arthur Robb 32 ex Brisbane

Jean-Pierre Macquet

Peter Costolloe

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‘Reprieve’Alan Payne designed Tasman Seabird

QLD

Boat Owner

‘Waltzing Matilda’ Alan Payne designed 47’ketch. Built 1972 RYCV R44 ‘Kurana’ 30’ Alden Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Wynnum Manly Sailing Club

Photo John Devers

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Christela 4 Sept 2001

CHRISTELA JOHN DEVERS Noted designer Frederick Parker was managing the Woodnutt yard at St Helens on the Isle of Wight in 1960 and 1961,during which time he supervised the construction of two boats built to the same set of Frederick Parker plans. Yard numbers 914 (Tien Ho) and 915 (Christela) were built and launched within a month of each other in June/July 1961. Each of these boats has had a most fascinating life in the more than 50 years since that time. Tien Ho was built for a Dick Hughes in Jersey. Mr Hughes was determined to have a boat that could beat a locally based Swedish designed 35 footer called Monica. He bought Fred Parker to jersey to look at Monica, and then sent him back to his drawing board to come up with something that would accomplish that goal. Tien Ho was successful in achieving her first owner’s objectives and after a short time, the boat was sold to new owners. Trevor Beaton bought the boat in 1972 and kept her for 20 years, logging over 100,000 nautical miles and visiting more than 12 countries. This included a number of trans-Atlantic crossings and 20 return trips to Ireland, competing in the annual race between Jersey and Cork.

a Mr John West in Guernsey, who with the help of a boat builder friend was carrying out a thorough restoration program. Christela was built for a Mr Powell who kept her for a short time. The first owner to really put Christela to the test was a Mr Tony Viner. He and his family and friends raced Christela in Cowes- Dinard and Falmouth-Douarnez races in the mid-sixties, as well as cruising extensively both locally and along the French coast. In 1971, Christela was bought by Murray Ker, an Australian with a great sense of Adventure and very little sailing experience who had come to England from South Africa where he had been working, to look for a boat to sail to Australia. Together with some friends, he set off from Chichester to Portugal, Tenerife and on to Barbados. They sailed on to Recife in Brazil then back across the Atlantic to Cape Town in South Africa. In fact, they literally ‘ran into’ South Africa when they beached the boat in surf about 150 miles north of Cape Town. The boat was trucked to a nearby fishing port for repairs, including some new ribs. In 1973, Murray Ker entered the Cape Town to Rio de Janairo race before sailing on to Granada, through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. He took a further two years sailing west through the Pacific before finally arriving at Coffs Harbour on the central coast of New South Wales. By this time, Christela was in very tired condition and need the attention of a caring new owner. Fortunately this occurred with significant work being carried

I last heard of Tien Ho in 1998 when she was owned by

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Photo: John Devers

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

Much of Christela’s early Australian years were spent in New South Wales waters but in 1995, she came into my ownership and I sailed her the 700 nautical miles from Sydney to Melbourne where she spent the next five years. Sailed from her home club of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, she was a regular participant in Classic Yacht Association of Australia (CYAA) events as well as being the focal point of our family’s recreation on the water. In 1999, I brought Christela to Queensland and kept her for a further two years before selling her to new owners from Sydney. This was a short chapter as she returned to Brisbane in 2003 into the hands of the passionate and dedicated Tapp family who became great friends. Sadly Russell Tapp died in late 2009 but the boat was kept on by the family who had invested so heavily in her care and conservation. In August last year, a month after Christela’s 50th birthday, I found myself celebrating my own birthday with family members at a restaurant overlooking the marina in Manly Harbour, Brisbane. The surprise twist occurred as Christela appeared and motored up to the pontoon jetty outside the restaurant. Her keys and log book were then passed across the table in my direction with the words from my son Jeffrey who said “Happy Birthday Dad....Christela is back in the family!”

Photo: John Devers

out in 1976/77 by a respected Sydney based wooden boat specialist Lindsay Buckmaster.

matched by the satisfaction gained from gathering a very complete history of this remarkable boat and her sister ship. I have been in touch with Tien Ho’s former owners and have logs, photos, letters, press clippings and detailed accounts of many of the passages and much of the history of these 51 year-old twins, born from Frederick Parker’s drawing board and brought into the world under his careful supervision.

John Devers Naturally Christela is much admired in this part of the world and the pleasure of maintaining and sailing her has been Buderim, Queensland

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Photo Julie Geldard -VidPicPro.com

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Now the confusion over public holidays is done and dusted, below are the dates for Classic events at Queensland Cruising Yacht Club for 2013 Vintage Yacht Regatta: 8th to 10th June - Queens Birthday Weekend Equinox Rally: 9th and 10th November Please put them in your diary now and I look forward to seeing you all later in the year.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA 2012 CUP REGATTA. PETER COSTOLLOE

The prime focus of the Cup Regatta is to sustain the Classic yacht racing relationship from those early regattas between Australia and New Zealand. Every year, since the inception of the Cup Regatta, a team of ClassicYacht Association of New Zealand members travel

A general description of a yachting regatta talks about

to Melbourne to race on the same waters where many yacht racing battles occurred between the two countries.

a series of yacht racing events that include social and promotional activities,usually named after a town or venue. The common interests of both Classic Yacht Associations First up the Cup Regatta is an event that brings together various

strengthens the presence of our Association In the national and

groups of individuals ranging from skippers and crews of our

wider world of classic yachting and yachting administration regimes.

Melbourne Classic Yacht fleet, our compatriots from the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand, the skippers and crews from the Couta Boat Association and interstate members of the Association.

When you have a fleet of classic yachts with skippers and crews who race consistently throughout the year, how do you bring the ame people out to an event that runs over four consecutive days Particularly at a time of the year when other social distractions or

Many reasons can be found that bind these groups of individuals

family priorities may have Association members wanting to take a

together. Maybe it’s the understanding that classic yacht racing

reak from racing?

is a practical means to recognise the evolving creativity and skill of classic yacht designers the world over, and in particular, from Australia and New Zealand. Maybe, it’s a recognition of the skill required by the shipwrights of yesterday to build classic yachts that have outlasted their expected life of hard racing. Another reason perhaps is the recognition of the skill of the skippers and

Recent Cup Regattas have been successful because of the commitment our members have to the Classic Yacht Association racing ethos. This goodwill towards the Regatta is it’s lifeblood. A demonstration of this goodwill is the size of the 2012 Regatta fleet on the Monday race, a normal working day that requires much ndividual effort.

crews that raced these classic yachts in conditions that would not be allowed today. Or, perhaps it’s the challenge to keep a classic yacht in a condition that allows her to race in the manner she was designed for.

The 2012 Regatta events were modified to provide a better option to have at least one race each day in case of inclement weather. Previous Cup Regattas have been marred by a day’s sailing being lost due to bad weather in the morning that cleared up by the

For some skippers and crews on a classic yacht the perception

afternoon.

of belonging to a world that brings back memories of the glamour and lifestyle of their youth may be something they don’t want to let go. For others, a classic yacht is the link between generations of families as it is for some families, for whom the yacht was

This change was instrumental in giving a higher certainty of no ost racing days, thereby a better incentive for members to enter their classic yachts.

originally built, no matter who owns the yacht now, it’s still their yacht. Our Cup Regatta, conducted on the waters of Port Phillip at Williamstown, brings a broader and deeper meaning for classic yachting. A hundred and thirty years ago yachting regattas were held on the same waters and locations as the Cup Regatta of today. Yachts that participated in these early regattas sailed to Melbourne from the then various colonies of Australia and New Zealand to compete in Intercolonial regattas, for example, the Australian Centennial Regatta of 1888. Today the principal question to organisers of the Cup Regatta is,how do we sustain the commitment of our members and those members from both our kindred New Zealand Association and our South of the Bay, Couta Boat Association, in the Classic Yacht Cup Regatta?

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2012Cup Regatta Stradbroke II Trophy Best overall performance Loama Peter Denniston, Joe Tuck and Matthew

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

One other change brought about was with the pre-regatta Guineas Trophy challenge race: an event involving two Classic yachts and two Couta boats. The 2012 series was modified to have three match races in lieu of one long race. The outcome of this event change is still talked about for it’s close racing and results.

Classic Yacht Regatta. Maintaining the reasonable Regatta Entry costs is a challenge.The example of CYANZ use of their motor boat members Classic motor launches plays a large role in their successful regattas. The time has come for our Association to work on this subject.

All good stuff, but how about 2013?

To recognise the effort made by our visitors to attend our

The 125th anniversary of the First Australasian Centennial Regatta.Some

Cup Regatta, the CYAA resident’s Pre-Regatta Cocktail Party

changes were made for our 2012 Cup Regatta events and they worked.

was established. An important occasion to show our welcome

But, we know you’re only as good as your next sale: what’s to be done to

to our visitors from New Zealand and our members from

sustain this interest and commitment by members?

states. This year we had large contingent of visitors from Tasmania. They came up to sail with Bob Barr on Caraid.

For 2013 we can start by considering how How about looking at a Docklands based HQ or off-water functions. For on water, a no divisions

Zephyr 1952

Avian 1938 *

we handle our Regatta HQ operation and location.

Visitors from WA came over.The Regatta has to work in a way to return the

Oenone 1902

Acrospire III 1923

Tumlare’s

Storm Bay 1925*

Alwyn 1923*

effort our visitors make to join us. A

THE CUP REGATTA”

Regatta fleet will be implemented. When word

skippers only Pre- Regatta yacht race

Williamstown

in the RYCV Elliots is an option to

2nd to 5th November 2012

of combined Regatta fleet racing gets out, the

combine social and on water activity.

battles between ClassicYachts and Couta Boats One area our Cup Regatta excels

will start.

in iswith our Regatta wind-up BBQ Work between the handicappers of each fleet,

Ellida 1947 Tumlare

will be required as each fleet race in different Dingo 1948 Tumlare

Marie Louise III 1954 8Mtr. Cruiser Racer

waters and conditions. Separate trophies for

and Trophy presentation. This is the signature occasion of the Cup Regatta.

Sayonara 1897 * Fife Topsail Gaff Rigged Cutter

With David McKenzie on the pipes

Classics and Coutas can still be awarded for

and the rendition of Po Kara Kara

2011 Cup Regatta Top mark rounding

each race as well as an overall trophy for each

Photo Scott McDonald

Acrospire III 1923 * Top Sail Gaff Rigged Cutter

* Australian Historic Vessels Register

Photo Blake Anderson

race and the Regatta overall, plus individual fleet

Ana by Patsy Toop and David Baird our NZ compatriots knew they were

trophies.

the VIP’s of the Regatta. Notice of Race and entry form available at www.classic-yacht.asn.au Entries close Oct 22 DON’T MISS OUT

Within the Classic Yacht fleet we have a strong and active Tumlaren fleet. A separate trophy to

One point that must be considered Wanita 1961

Kingurra 1972

Mercedes III 1966*

recognise their participation can be set up.

Loama 1945 Blondie1952 Queenscliff Couta Boats

when asking for members off ater

Boambillee 1968*

Regatta support is to ensure their

One feature of the Classic Yacht fleet in Melbourne is the listing on the

efforts don’t compromise their main Regatta activity, that is,

Australian Maritime Museum’s Australian Register of Historic Vessels.

having their classic yacht ready and racing competitively.

All of these listed yachts are recognised for their contribution to Australia’s Maritime History. To provide further recognition for this contribution, a Regatta trophy for all these listed yachts can be set up. One set of rules that won’t change is that applying to the Trans- Tasman trophy. Not being initiated into how the rules work leaves me with no knowledge on the subject. However, we have two worthies in the form of Cameron Dorrough (CYAA)and Iain Valentine (CYANZ) in charge of a process that binds our two Associations together.

Missing in this discussion is sponsorship. So far our Regatta has been self-funded, a feature that allows the Association full control of how the Regatta events are set up. After seeing how the New Zealand Association successfully conducts their Southern Trust Regatta, sponsorship of many parts of the Cup Regatta would not be a problem. Wrapping up, there will always be opportunities to keep our Cup Regatta a ‘must do’ event for our members and their families. Where the Regatta promotion effort cannot

In past Cup Regattas, a small number of members made the Cup Regatta

be diluted is the asic reason for the Cup Regatta, the celebration

work. It’s time for longer range planning. Member’s with appropriate skill

of Classic Yacht Racing.

sets in the graphics world can be used to help with Regatta publicity. Provision of a Regatta Information and Welcome Package to members when their entry is submitted, generation of a daily newsletter o

Comments contained in this article were derived from the ideas and efforts of our late and great Classic mate, Col Bandy. Salute` the Cup Regatta Salute` Col Bandy

entrant skippers and crews to various sailing press websites will give our Cup Regatta a greater sense of being an important

Page 7

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

I emailed the Sailing Director of the Club, Peter Costolloe, getting an immediate reply, with my email being forwarded

TIM BLACKMAN

to Barry Purcell the current owner.

Founder of the British Classic Yacht Club

Disappointingly I didn’t hear back for a little while, and then

What an intricate web classic yachts weave through our

Grandson to Frederick Purcell who had initially built Scimitar. It

lives.

transpired that Damians father Barry is unwell and does not

Josephine, my wife, has a couple of children currently doing a year or two working in Melbourne, Australia. As she was missing them lots last Autumn, and equally anxious to miss

received an email from Damian Purcell, Barry’s son and

attend his email account. Damian was thrilled to be in contact, and we made a loose plan to meet wh en we arrived in Melbourne.

the Winter, lots, in the UK, we decided to pay them a visit -

In the week preceding our arrival Damian had arranged to pick

where we are now.

us up from central Melbourne and take us to Scimitar and go

For no particular reason (apart from perhaps fitting in a crafty sail) I Googled classic yachts in Australia, and the Classic Yacht Association of Australia popped up - in Melbourne! I clicked through to their website and found a website a bit like ours including a Register of their MemberYachts. Selecting one which I thought looked particularly nice, and to which

out sailing for the day. So on our second day here, it was Peter Costolloe who picked Jo and I up, and we met Damian at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria o see some of their classic fleet, and then we drove on down to Queenscliff, and the most idyllic location, where Scimitar was moored.

I was drawn, I clicked on it - and nearly fell off my seat.

I’m very familiar with the Philip Rhodes detail and specification

There was a sister ship of Josephine and Undina. Reading

of Josephine and Undina and the beautiful interpretation and

the piece about her history- the Purcell family had bought

exactitude with which they had been carried out by the Heitmann

the plans and laid the keel in 1957 in Geelong, Victoria -

yard in Hamburg (Josephine) and the Abeking and Rasmussen

and she was still owned and raced by the Purcell family.

yard (Undina). Because Scimitar was home grown I think I expected to see a bit of either a compromise or certainly some lack of finesse - but she is absolutely beautiful .

The CYAA burgee being presented to Tim Blackman, Admiral of the British Classic Yacht Club by Damian Purcell and Peter Costolloe at the Queenscliff Cruising Yacht lub, Victoria.

Page 8

Photo Peter Costolloe

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

A Significant and True International 8 metre ‘Vanessa’. Tim and Jo Blackman look over ‘Vanessa’ with the 8 metre ‘Frances’ in the

There are even one or two slight modifications of detail that

of breeze. With the main up and still rejoicing in her boomed

are undoubtedly improvements. But there she was, perfect in

headsail, Scimitar danced along displaying the lovely sailing

every detail. I looked around awe-struck while I was listening

characteristics of her sisters Josephine and Undina. As the

to Damian telling me how they had made each mold to cast

afternoon went on, the wind piped up and Scimitar was fast

every deck fitting; none of the timber would be as in the N

and stiff in the breeze.

Hemisphere, but local timbers were sourced with even better specification and characteristics of the specified timber-and so on. Aboard were Damian and his brother Andrew, his son Nathan, Peter Costolloe, Josephine and me. We slipped out of the little entrance to the creek in hot sun, crystal clear water and 16 knots

Back in the little harbour Damian brought out a suitcase full of her history files, every quotation and bill and all the correspondence between Damian’s Grandfather and Phillip Rhodes himself with copies for me. There were also magazine articles written by Barry Purcell, Damians father, who had been involved in her construction since he was 16 years old. I read them later and there is no doubt that the building of Scimitar which took thirty years was a magnificent endeavour, resulting in a glorious yacht entirely impregnated by the DNA of the Purcell family. Damian is finding an electronic version of these articles and I would like to share them with you very soon as they are

Photo Peter Costolloe

really quite humbling. I was proud to be able to accept the burgee of the Classic Yacht Association of Australia presented by Peter Costolloe and Damian Purcell on behalf of the British Classic Yacht Club. Good sailing Scimitar…Her holiday berth Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club on Port Phillip

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Photo: Kraig Calrstrom

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

Cutting Celery log ‐ 29 July 2005. From a private block of land in the Tarkine Wilderness of north west Tasmania. A giant Celery Top pine was fallen to produce 2 flitches 500mm x 350mm x 8 meters for the main keel timbers.

VARG BRUCE STANNARD charts the re-birth of a classic eight metre

century. When the Albert family sold her in 1960 she fell into a sharp decline and in the hands of a succession of indifferent owners her classic lines were vandalised by a series of ugly accretions: a hideous cabin aft and the brutal truncation of her

In 1924, the Norwegian industrialist Fritjof Larsen, commissioned the celebrated Johan Anker to design and build an eight metre yacht fast enough to beat the best of the British boats on the Solent.

long and graceful counter stern. Sheathed in a crude skin of plywood she became a parody of a boat, a decrepit rotting hulk too weak to leave her mooring. To hide her shame she slid to the bottom of Sydney Harbour where she remained for weeks until she was salvaged and again put up for sale. There were plenty

Anker ‘the Master of Lines’responded by creating the beautifully

of dreamers, but no one with an imagination vivid enough to

proportioned long and slender sloop that was to be called Varg

perceive anything other than an old boat in the terminal stages

(the Norwegian word for wolf), a vessel destined to have not one

of decay.

but two lives. Varg’s success in English waters brought her to the attention of music publisher Frank Albert in faraway Australia and in 1928 he bought her as a gift for his son Alexis and had her shipped out to Sydney.

It would take the sensitive eye of an artist, a man with a profound aesthetic sensibility to appreciate that lying beyond all that debris was in fact a rare and beautiful example of the work one of the world’s most famous and gifted yacht designers. That person was

The Albert family didn’’’t care for the name Varg so they chose

Kraig Carlstrom, a life-long racing sailor who also happens to be

to call her Norn, a reference to the all-powerful maidens in

one of Australia’s most gifted professional photographers.

Norse mythology who rule the destiny of the gods and men.

Carlstrom understood at once that here was an exceptionally

Norn was to become one of Australia’s most celebrated racing

beautiful vessel and that he would be her saviour. Even so, he

yachts. The winner of the coveted Sayonara Cup, she reigned

was in for a dreadful shock as soon as he stepped aboard.

supreme at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron for almost half a

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Photo: Kraig Calrstrom

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Warren Innes did most of the fitting of the very fine Huon Pine rounded counter

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

There was well over a meter of putrid water in the bilge

There, just a few hundred yards from his waterfront home stands

and she was streaked with rust and redolent of the sour

the rambling old tin shed at the heart of the famous Wilson

smell of rotting timber. Although most of us would have turned

Brothers boatyard. Since the 1870’s four generations of the

tail and fled, Carlström held his nerve and stumped up the

Wilson family have produced some of Australia’s most talented

$25,000 her cheeky owner was asking. The price was to

wooden boat builders, craftsmen who created many of the island

be subject to inspection by a qualified marine surveyor.

state’s most famous trading ketches and schooners. Michael

Carlstrom had the good sense to engage the services of Doug Brooker, then one of Australia’s best-known and most respected wooden boat builders. In the several hours they spent examining all the defects, the boatbuilder produced a penknife and deftly thrust it into timbers, demonstrating that she was little more than a waterlogged sponge held together by the tens of thousands of staples in her plywood sheathing. Carlström reluctantly asked for his money back. After a couple of restless months in which he found himself unable to shake off Varg’s memory, he decided to go back and offer roughly half the initial asking price. With no one else even remotely interested, Carlström found himself the owner of one very shaky old boat. He knew that restoration was out of the question so he decided to truck the hull all the way south to his home at Cygnet, a sleepy backwater

just completing a 47ft Herreshoff ketch. Carlstrom sounded them out. If the restoration of Varg was out of the question, might they consider taking her lines off and building an exact copy? After a prolonged pause came the answer…”yes, we could do that’”. It was a response that was to trigger one of the most ambitious boat building programs ever undertaken in Australia. Carlstrom enlisted the help of the highly regarded Portuguese naval architect David Vieira who is one of the world’s leading authorities on eight metre class boats. In the archives at Norway’s National Maritime Museum, Vieira unearthed Johan Anker’s original lines or Varg and subsequently produced a set of 23 drawings for all the authentic bronze fittings that would be needed for the boat. All of them were cast and finished in the specialist foundry ssociated with Vieira’s Absolute Restorations in Lisbon.

Photo: Kraig Calrstrom

at the head of Tasmania’s beautiful D’’’Entrecasteaux Channel.

Wilson and his boatbuilding partner, Warren Innes, were then

29 floors ‐ These Celery Top wood floors were expertly and painstakingly fitted to the stern by Michael Wilson using a scraper and automotive feeler gauges. There were also 29 bronze floors fitted. 22nd April 2010

Page

Photo Kraig Calrtrom

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Fitting 4 ton lead keel to the wood keel using hydraulic jacks.

Varg’s magnificent Huon pine hull has been under construction for four years. She is a breathtaking example of the boat builder’s art. Rarely, if ever, has Australian boat building seen anything like the attention to detail that has been lavished on this boat. The timber selection has taken years and involves the use of only the very best and most beautiful Tasmanian native timbers. When she goes in the water at the end of this year Varg will undoubtedly be one of the most magnificent yachts ever constructed in Australia or anywhere else for that matter. Kraig Carlström could have had her built anywhere in the world. How extraordinary therefore that he should have found craftsmen of the calibre of Michael Wilson and Warren Innes, just a few yards from his own home among the gum trees on sleepy little Port

Photo Kraig Calrtrom

Cygnet Bay.

Cover boards on and deck plank mark out

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Photo: Kraig Calrstrom

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

Photo: Kraig CalrstromL

All silicon bronze keel nuts bolts and washers were made by Wilsons from stock imported from the UK. Lifting eyes are from David Vieira’s Absolute Projects in Lisbon Portugal... as is all the deck hardware and winches.

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Comments from Kraig Carlstrom... Wilson Bros produce probably the finest timber boats in Australia. Their craftsmanship is truly amazing and the attention to the finest details is unrelenting. GLORIA of

HOBART was the Wilson’s previous build and at the Hobart Australian Wooden Boat Show this year many people got

VARG has a 30 kilo Thoosa high torque electric motor, with a 14” Danish folding prop. This set up hopefully will replace a 19HP conventional engine. We will eventually run 4, 48volt lithium Ion batteries, two either side of the mast and two under the self draining cockpit floor. They will behalf the weight and take up half the space of conventional batteries. Particular attention is being paid to electrolysis.

to see for the first time a truly amazing 23 year collaboration between owner and builder.

VARG is 49ft 7” ft long and her sail area, main and Genoa will be close to 1250 sq ft. Col Anderson,Doyle Fraser Sails, Melbourne and owner of the 8 meter Acrospire will make the

Overleaf Pages 16-17 photo Nearly

completed

hull showing

varnishing

underway

on the Honduras Mahogany. Uroxsis/Allwood aliphatic polyurethane stretchable marine coating, now available in Australia,

has been chosen as the exterior varnish

cream dacron mitre cut hand stitched sails.

and shown here is the first coat with 9 more to follow.

VARG’s ribs were made from extremely hard green bluegum

Slow tedious masking and proper drying time mean

timber and the Huon Pine planking all came from Bern Bradshaw

the whole process will take 3-4 months. The owner

at Lynchford,Queenstown west coast Tasmania. The Honduras

hopes to get 5 years without any major maintenance

mahogany and Burmese Teak came from Caboolture, Qld 12

being required.

years ago, from the now defunct Advance timbers. The 12

The deck is constructed of Huon Pine, then Marine

meter Alaskan Spruce came from John Lammerts van Bueren,

ply, then sheathed in Dynel, then Burmese Teak and

Touchwood BV, via Holland.

Sikaflex. The topsides will be painted light cream,gold

Photo: Kraig Calrstrom

cove line.

Winches and deck hardware from David Vieira’s Absolute Projects in Lisbon Portugal.

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Photos: Kraig Calrstrom

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Page 17

Classic Yacht Association of Australia

L to R Uira, in Burmadian Rig Ranee, Acrospire III, Caraid. Hobsons Bay Yacht Club Regatta Jan 14 1929 Governor General Lord Stonehaven in attendance Uira retired during 2nd rounding of course Acrospire III took the gun. Swedish 4 masted Barque Beatrice in background.

UIRA

The ‘C’was Charles Bailey Jr., the eldest son and the ‘W’was Walter Bailey, the third son of Charles Bailey who started this

HAROLD KIDD

major yacht, boat and shipbuilding business in 1875 when he took over the business of George Beddoes who had

Uira was the only significant yacht built for an Australian

decided to move to Fiji where building his popular Island

customer by the Auckland boat building firm of C & W Bailey.

trading schooners would be more economical. Charles Bailey

The firm was sometimes known as Bailey Bros. as an analogy

Sr. retired at the end of 1893 after building the biggest yacht

to their chief rivals, R & A Logan, known as Logan Bros.

in New Zealand at the time, iking, a modern 64 footer which survives in fine order today.

‘See CYAA Magazine Issue 29 November 2010’

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

The two Bailey sons inherited a vigorous business and a great reputation. Charles Jr. tended to be rather flamboyant and was skilled at self-promotion but lacked the acute business skills of his father, while Walter was the quiet second string, a man who gained the respect of his competitor Arch Logan for his modest life-style, hard work and skills, a respect Arch did not extend to Charles. In July 1896 the firm received an order for a 5 rater from Gideon Palmer of Melbourne. There was much interest in her locally particularly as the public was excluded from the shed during her early construction, but the Auckland Star of 26 September 1896 eventually gave a full report on the yacht (attached). She was launched on the Waitemata on 17th October 1896 for her trials and a local cruise with Palmer aboard. The following Tuesday she was loaded on the S.S. Tarawera, accompanied to Melbourne by Palmer and Charles Jr. By now the latter was boasting that the yacht was so good that it could easily sail around the world. Despite the puffery, Uira made a good impression on Melbourne yachtsmen. The Williamstown Chronicle reported, “Mr. Palmer’s Uira snaked out like a pirate cutter, and only required the skull and cross-bones to make the illusion complete”. However, in her first race on 21 November, Uira did not win, but came a close second to A.P. Wiley’s Alexa and beat the new 5 rater Helen. Uira 1928 Hobsons Bay Port Phillip

The Melbourne Leader said of Uira, ‘She was much admired for her clean run, and especially for clearing the water well with her bow. It was generally held that in this particular she had the advantage of the Helen, Lord Brassey’s yacht, which drew more heavily and made a bit of a splutter under her bow.’ While Uira’s subsequent racing history in Melbourne is outside the scope of this article, it should be said that she was capable of eating Sayonara on her day. Most of her racing was with St. Kilda YC where she was champion yacht for many seasons until WW1. She lasted well and survives to this day in Sydney where she has been since 1976. C.

& W. Bailey carried on in business

until late 1898 when Charles Jr.’s excesses brought both brothers to bankruptcy. Both bounced back, Charles Jr. capturing the bulk of the Auckland ferry boat and trading vessel market with the occasional outstanding yacht, while Walter teamed up with the firm’s foreman, Bill Lowe, to found the outstandingly successful business Bailey & Lowe, which was pre-eminent in Auckland mullet boat and launch building for nearly 30 more years.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

IT ALL STARTED WITH A DRINK... ROBYN PEARCE It all started with a casual chat over a drink – the birthplace of many a good idea. A few Kiwi CYA friends were talking about the CYAA Cup Regatta in Melbourne, always held the first weekend in November, before the Melbourne Cup.

It’s a boat against boat competition, not nation against nation. This year it was Cameron Dorrough’s turn to allocate crew to the host boats, and he did a great job - not always easy when so many want to sail on the glamour boats. Quite apart from all the fun, there’s a huge benefit in being part of such a well-organised event, it broadens your sailing experience exponentially. Most sailors rarely sail on anything but their own vessel. (Not me, I hasten to add. I’ve been very

‘Everyone who’s ever gone says it’s such a fun trip. I’d really love

lucky, with the ever-inclusive and encouraging Bruce Tantrum

to do it sometime,’I said somewhat wistfully. And then a thought

of Paramour as my sailing mentor and regular skipper, to also

struck. Perhaps I could shuffle a few appointments around. ‘Is

crew on Thelma and Waitangi.) And now, in one weekend I’ve

here still space?’

doubled my classic yacht experience. Over the three days I

‘Certainly,’ replied Bruce Tantrum, skipper of Paramour and

crewed on a beautiful replica Couta (Ella with Michael McLean

Larry Paul, co-skipper of Waitangi.‘The more, the merrier.’“Diary

– what a big working area - so comfortable to move around in),

check, minor shuffle of appointments, a call to Iain Valentine

Bungoona with Cameron Dorrough (a very close to original

of Frances to grab a berth (alias sofa spot in one of the

1950

classic cruising racer previously owned by Col Bandy)

shared Quest apartments in Williamstown, steps away from

and Scimitar (a classic wooden racing yacht from the 1950s

the yacht club) and the casual chat and random thought

era – a sleek, fast and beautiful 45 footer) with Damien

became a firm commitment.

Purcell and his family,crew and visitors from the UK. Thanks

What a blast the fifteen of us have had. The only downside was that we only had three of our large fleet of classics represented. We’re on a mission to increase the representation next November! Friday Kickstart The fun started on Friday afternoon with match racing between keelers and Coutas for the Guineas Cup. Larry Paul, Gill Gray and Jane High from Waitangi were dockside, admiring the beautiful vessels when Mercedes III came alongside, helmed by Martin Ryan. ‘We could do with more crew, and we especially need some strength on the winches. Anyone up for it?’ So, still in their street clothes, the ever-willing Kiwis jumped aboard. By the time I arrived straight off the afternoon plane, the first day’s races were over and Friday’s cocktail party at the very well-appointed Royal Yacht Club of Victoria was just beginning to swing into action, with dinner to follow. What great hosts our Aussie friends are - so welcoming, warm and friendly. The famous Aussie-Kiwi rivalry was no wherein evidence, except in wanting to outdo each other in hospitality and inclusiveness. Building Trans-Tasman Bonds via Crew Allocations The original organisers of this trans-Tasman exchange (with the Kiwis having our turn to play host at our Auckland CYA Regatta in February) were inspired. I can’t think of a faster way to build concord between the two nations than to share sailing experiences in this way - the visitors are spread throughout the fleet and rarely crew on the same boat twice.

Page 20

for making me so welcome, all of you. And thanks Cameron, for the opportunity to now add foredeck work and spinnaker hoisting to my CV. (We improved that hoisting on the second race, didn’t we!)

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

Racing Overview

Hospitality

Melbourne’s wind was as fickle as ever, but at least we raced

I have to do a rave about the off-water hospitality. For example,

every day – a reasonably unusual occurrence, I was told.

on Saturday night Martin and Maria Ryan entertained the Kiwis

Saturday:

in their beautiful South Yarra mansion, what an awesome night of meet-and-mingle, eat-drink-and-be-merry. And Monday

Race one. The forecasted strong sou’wester didn’t eventuate and the light shifting wind resulted in the race being shortened to a single windward beat.

afternoon, at the conclusion of the regatta, we tucked into a delicious seafood BBQ at the Yacht Club, accompanied by ‘The Long and The Short’– a toe-tapping duo who pound out great

Race two. The breeze kicked in for a race consisting of some

music. Couldn’t keep my feet still, as photos apparently attest.

tight racing around many short legs. It was interesting to

Roger Dundas and Bruce Tantrum, you’re awesome dancers.

experience very different racing patterns from the Waitemata

Trophies

Harbour, where we have so many islands and diverse directions available to us. In Port Phillip the ‘islands’moved ‘big tankers coming up the channel’. And, the multiplicity of navigational markers of all types added another interesting challenge.

Prize-giving was done with efficiency. Everyone likes to win but there was general acclaim for Helen Lovett and her crew who took out the top prize for the home team. Well done, Helen for the commitment in bringing the pretty Oenone, Ed ‘see CYAA

Sunday:

Magazine Issue 29 November 2010” , all the way up from

Race one was a bit slow to start but we built up to a reasonable

Mornington. Larry Paul got the extra bonus of helping the crew

breeze.

sail her back on Monday night. And there’s a Trans-Tasman

Race two, with varying wind directions, turned spinnaker legs into beats with those able to pick the shifts gaining best advantage.

Trophy for being the visiting crew member whose host boats for the weekend aggregate the lowest score. To my utter surprise I was the winner, I’d been focusing totally on the

For the big crew on glamorous gaff-rigged cutter Sayonara (1897)

it was a tad disappointing, an engine problem meant

she couldn’t leave the dock. In the afternoon Doug Shields tookout Kookaburra II (the ex-America’s Cup boat) under motor instead, providing a very elegant spectator platform

wonderful variety of experiences and getting to know my new friends and hadn’t even looked at the score sheets! Even though it’s a ‘luck of the draw’kind of trophy, it’s still very nice to be listed on a trophy below such luminaries as Tony Blake (twice), Stephen Cranch and Larry Paul!

for his day’s crew to cruise and enjoy, even if unable to participate.

Thank you, CYAA friends. We’ll be back with bells on next year, and we really look forward to seeing you on our boats in

Monday had only one race scheduled, with a pursuit start,so the normal pre-start nerves took a rest.

February. We’re well on the way with planning how we can outdo you in having fun and giving the best possible hospitality.

The wind created interesting challenges, however. The day had dawned with a brisk wind but by the time we got out on the water the promising blow was rapidly dying. By the second mark the wind had left a large part of the fleet becalmed. Crew members kept scanning the water, looking hopefully for wind atterns, watching enviously as other vessels caught a lift and sweetly slipped ahead. Finally the wind picked up and we got a bit competitive again. For us on Scimitar it wasn’t quite enough distance to capitalise on her speed before we reached the shortened finish line. But hey Col, it was fun watching the whites of the eyes of your Acrospire crew as we nearly pipped you on that tack.

Robyn Pearce

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

MARTINI A Race For Survival On Port Phillip

It started easily enough, Michael Williams and I really enjoy the Festival of Sail and we had to enter the race to avenge our previous victories. But this year, 2013, there was a problem ... ... the weather for last Friday was forecast to be bad, really bad. There was a gale warning out for the bay and under these conditions no boats should ever sail. Disappointment struck

Photo: Bianca Donaldson

ROSS CLARK

From the 31st level of Freshwater Place of the start at 11:45 am The cloud bank to the south doesn’t look that ominous!

one hour before the start time, 0930. The weather was really ugly and the race was postponed. Sadly I prepared to go to

The first hour was very calm and we debated about whether

work as did our third crew member. We usually take wives on

we would hoist the No 1 headsail. We were having a great time

this passage race but this year said no due to the predicted

sailing with the other boats at a leisurely 2–3 knots and had a

bad weather.

good lunch. But this ominous dark cloud bank was creeping

Then a strange thing happened. The weather appeared to abate

towards us from the south west. We were concerned about it

and the race committee decided to run the race, even though

and kept an eye on the BOM radar until our mobile phone

there was a gale warning current. They shortened the course

decided it could no longer receive data at about 1pm.

presumably to avoid a severe second cold front that was

Just after 1pm the weather started to hit and it quickly built up to

approaching from the south west.

a gale before we could reef the main sail and change the headsail

I dropped the work idea in about 40 milliseconds as did Michael.

down from the No 2 to the No 3. The sea built up and soon we

We raced to Martini, set her up and just made the start line on

were battling large waves that quickly built up to two metres.

time at 11.45am. In fact we were still preparing the boat as we

Before long the wind and the waves were just knocking us over.

crossed the start line. We really need three people to sail Martini

Things were now urgent and being the most agile one, I had to

well but the third crewman was now at work so we did the male

go forward and take down the No 2 headsail, drop it down a

thing and convinced ourselves that we two could sail with just

forward hatch and then clip on the No 3.

two of us … well really 1.8, as Michael had cracked his ribs and

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA Normally this is fine but I had never done it in these conditions.

By now we were heading down to Portarlington near the mussel

I had no choice as Martini was getting belted. The bow was

beds. We had little working electronic navigation and were

being hammered by these large waves and going under water

navigating by eye only. We were heading straight for them.

after every one. I managed to do it and in the process got saturated from my regular dunkings, but we had to keep going. With hindsight I wonder about the ‘had to keep going’: it must be a male thing. The wind was now howling. The radio had come alive with calls from other yachts that were in serious trouble. We heard calls from five yachts that had been dismasted and we think we saw two of them off the Werribee River.

At this time an inflatable lilo in the shape of a giant thong in the colour of the Aussie Flag was being blown fast across the water at great speed just in front of us. Had we been 15 seconds faster it would have embedded itself on our mainsail. All I could think of at the time was that it would have made a good life raft! We then had to tack out from the Point Richards channel marker which seemed to take an eternity. The waves here were very

The waves then became really steep. Martini was doing it hard as the sheets to the No 3 headsail didn’t have the right angle and the sail was not driving properly.

confused and the ride was really bumpy. We rounded this mark at 1730. It was time to go below and concentrate on getting the excess water out of the boat. Around this time the cabin filled

Forward I went again for my next swim. Then south of Werribee

with smoke and I thought I saw a small fire start. I shouted‘Fire!’

a set of 3 metre waves appeared, an amazing sight! 1. I believe

to warn Michael that we maybe in big trouble. My first thought

that we were hit after 4PM it was about then the wind speed went really high. I actually missed seeing the first large wave as I was checking below and had just noted the strong smell of light beer and found stubbies popping but on Michael’s shout to‘hold on, there is an enormous wave’After the bounce I quickly came up with a glance at the wind instrument. With the wind still at 34 knots we took on two further huge waves and survived. I am a bit vague on exact details, a lot was happening.

was everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was saturated with water so how the hell could anything burn. A bilge pump had failed and the wire insulation had melted, the fire being the glow of molten wire before the fuse blew. I shut down power to everything and performed some quick checks and a temporary repair while Martini bounced along like a cork. I got one pump going but now the water was getting higher and so for the next hour tested the hand bilge pump. At 1930 hours we raced down

I didn’t think that this could happen in Port Phillip. Water was now flowing everywhere across Martini and our wind speed instrument started to fail. The previous week I had rebuilt the

towards Point Henry and realised that we had to cross the finish line before sundown (2040 hours) or we would be marked as a DNF.

forward hatch, made it really water tight and added an extra clip to hold it down .Thank heavens I did this! If it came off

We were cold, wet, hungry and suddenly felt very annoyed.

we would have taken on lots of water and sunk. One of the

To go through eight hours of pain and excitement in this

wind speed instruments last readings was 34 knots.

weather and to just miss out on a finish time would be the

Martini was starting to carry a bit of water below. The bilge pumps (plural) appeared to be holding, but water coming in from

final insult. We crossed the line at 2038 hours, the last boat to score with 2 minutes to spare, the ones behind us getting

every orifice. Strangely, the cabin smelt strongly of beer and I

a DNF. At this stage we had no electric bilge pumps, and

saw that the half a dozen light beers had been so shaken around

just wanted a hot shower and food. Our faces were white

that they had erupted. (Luckily the heavy beer was fine) These

and salt encrusted. As we had been concentrating on our

light beers created more serious damage but more on that later.

crises for the entire race, we were elated that we kept our

(Note to self, ‘Never ever buy light beer again!’) Then (with

nerve under abysmal conditions, but then felt disappointed

hindsight) I think we hit something in the water as the water level

that we appeared to be the last boat in. How could this be?

inside the cabin started to rise. But we kept going and for the

After long hot showers and several heart starters (heavy

next three hours we just held on, hoping for the wind to abate.

beer of course) we slinked over to the race score board and

We saw a lovely patch of blue sky and thought the wind would

found that 30-40% of the fleet had pulled out. In fact when

drop below it ... but it didn’t.

we looked at our handicap time we actually had beaten

The water had now affected more electronics including my

most of the yachts in the cruising division. The world suddenly

mobile phone. The spray coming across the bow had now

looked different and we gained lots of energy and celebrated

turned into great sheets of water and this was becoming

into the night and the early morning.

painful on the face. But we kept going. It’s a male thing. I will remember this 8-hour shower for a long time! Then a clip holding the bottom of the No 3 head sail to the forward stay tore out. As we were close to the lee shore we were worried about the sail failing and so had to do a patch.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

Several fellow sailors were quite amazed that just two of us had sailed down to Geelong in those atrocious conditions. I think by the early hours we had told them that we had fought off sharks, octopuses and tidal waves! The next morning we had new energy and found the source of the leak, near the bow. I was able to make up and install some chocks and almost stop the leak. So Martini’s damage was limited to a leak at the bow. The paint had rubbed off her starboard side due to spending 90% of her time on port tack. It also revealed the extent of the damage to other yachts that made it to Geelong. But ‘we were here to race!’ Martini has a reputation as a floating tool shed and so this repair was accomplished quite well and just in time to cross the start line for Race 2 even though we still had some leakage and only one bilge pump. The show must go on and we did our part. We had an extra advantage in that Cameron Dorrough had come down to enjoy a sail with us. Between Cameron’s and Michael’s sailing experience (and Cameron’s wife Jen providing us with delicious lemon slice rations) we had to win this race It was probably made easier by the fact that we were the only Classic yacht left racing and so had the honour of crossing he finish line in both first and last position. Interestingly our handicap time put us faster than all the cruising yachts in Race 2. With the extra tools brought down by Cameron we then tackled the repair of the second bilge pump and in the process emulated he wire failure again complete with smoke. Race 3 on Sunday was held in brilliant conditions. We then left to return to Williamstown as we were concerned about the water leak. The weather on Sunday afternoon was favourable with good wind coming from behind (for a change!). Still pumped, we decided to accelerate our return trip and hoisted the spinnaker for some of the journey until the wind turned to the east. Our maximum speed peaked at 8.7 knots just off point Gellibrand surfing down a wave. One day I might tell my family the full story but not while I want to experience more great sailing adventures.

From the Martini helm A small box of lessons learnt. 1. NEVER, NEVER sail where there is a gale warning. That was our first thoughts and we deviated from them. 2. Ensure that you have enough crew to suit the conditions. We didn’t! 3. Be careful what you take and where you put it. Light beers in glass stubbies stored low in the boat area disaster as the labels float off. 4. Ensure that you boat is up to the conditions. We had spent a lot of time preparing her for this race. Editors Note: The description of the events that took place on Martini during the 2013 Festival of Sails passage race are not unknown. In particular the pattern of 3 large short interval waves, that were out of character with the already rough sailing conditions. The Martini article was published to remind our CYAA skippers and crews that sea state conditions on Port Phillip will deteriorate rapidly, particularly during the Summer months at the northern end of the bay. While the afternoon Southerly sea breeze regularly hits 25 knots with significant wave heights at short intervals that catch out the unwary it’s another call when extreme wind conditions hit the top end of the bay. Shoaling waves and the bays saucer effect cause sea conditions hazardous for all recreational vessels, especially those that continue to race. These are the conditions that Martini endured in her race for survival. To show survival conditions are not a modern day occurance, excerpts of a tragic 2 April 1899 incident with the HBYC yacht Queenie being overwhelmed with all 7 crew, strong swimmers, several well known Williamstown lifesavers, drowning, has been included with the Martini story. Queenie’s running rigging and sheets took 5 crew with her. Remaining 2 crew were found two days later, washed up on the Werribee shore. The excerpts from the newspaper reports of this tragic incident have another aspect. They provide a graphic story involving the Yacht Uira, featured else where in this issue. Uira was the first vessel to come across the sunken vessel and bring reports of the incident to Williamstown authorities.

Photo: Peter Costolloe

Many skippers and crews have similar experiences, in this part of Port Phillip, to those described in the Martini article. Cockpit swampings are not unknown. I can talk about the Alwyn, a 37 ft 1923 Hobart, Tas.‘A Classer’, off Werribee in a strong Southerly, surfing down waves at 10.4 knots with a rooster tail on mains’l boom, then being pooped as she squatted in front of the following sea. That’s what happens when you exceed your water line length on a non planning hull. Decent sized keel attached rudders are the go in these conditions. Roger Dundas, who was following the Alwyn on that day in the Tumlare Zephyr had similar trying conditions. This experience occurred on a return sail from the 2009 Geelong Wooden Boat Festival. While rogue waves cannot occur in Port Phillip, hazardous sailing conditions, in the vicinity of ‘top end of the bay’weather fronts, will develop very quickly. So, keep the weather eye for those storm fronts. No matter where your sailing or racing takes you. Martini Sunday November 25 2012

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

STATEMENT BY MR. GOLLIN Mr A Gollin, owner of the yacht Uira, also stated that the Uira was the last of the Melbourne owned yachts to leave Geelong after the regatta, and, at 5 o’clock last evening, they were off the Little River shore, at the spot indicated by Mr. Parker. The sailing-master (Cheel) first drew their attention to the masthead of the sunken yacht,“The weather which prevailed in the vicinity of Geelong and along the shore to Werribee on Sunday was of a very boisterous nature, and he had little doubt that the Queenie was overwhelmed by a terrific squall, which almost“ laid the Uira down”on the afternoon of that day. This squall was of exceptional severity, and, although the Uira was, fortunately under the lee of the Portarlington shore when the storm overtook them, the boat had a hard struggle to hold her own. The squall, which came from the W.S.W., burst upon them with great suddenness, and,as they judged the Queenie to be then about five of six miles in their wake, she had probably encountered it after it had passed them by. It lasted from 20 minutes to half an hour. The Queenie met the squall in more exposed waters and there being a strong probability that being taken unawares by one of the fearful gusts, she heeled over, filled and sank before her unfortunate occupants had time to realise the danger of their situation.

A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE. FOUNDERING OF A YACHT. SEVEN LIVES LOST. OFF THE WERRIBEE SHORE THE QUEENIE GOES DOWN WITH ALL HANDS Extracts The Argus Wednesday April 5 1899

Werribee River

North

Little River

MARTINI Experienced 3 metre

X QUEENIE Overwhelmed 2nd April 1899

X

Mussell Farm

Photo: Peter Costolloe

Point Wilson 2.5 Nm’

UIRA Knocked down 2nd April 1899

The bay became too rough and confused

In geological terms sea bed inside dotted line known as the

X

Port Phillip chart locations where Queenie was overwhelmed, where Uira was knocked down and where the set of 3 meter shoaling waves experienced by Martini occurred.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

J P MACQUET Boatbuilder DAVE ALLEN

another classic timber yacht, Faylene, and a new member to our growing association of sailors and classic yacht aficionados, Jean Pierre Macquet. JP, as he known to all is a boatbuilder who specializes in carbon composite work but has a deeply ingrained love of timber boats and planes. He was the last of the shipwright apprentices with the

Photo: J P Marquet

The 2012 ‘Cup Regatta’ has yet again, introduced us to

HMAS Castlemaine Whaler Thwart Rebuild

Port of Melbourne Authority, when they were still operating out of

The working life of a world travelling boatbuilder has its down

the sheds now known as Seaworks in Nelson Place, Williamstown.

time and that is when you can find JP building timber scale models

The learning of the ways of boat repairs, spray painting and boatyard operations was instilled in JP at the Royal BrightonYacht

of Spitfires, bi-planes and Lancaster bombers. In September 2010 another restoration of a classic boat was undertaken by

Club under the tutelage of Charlie Stanton of Robstan Marine.

JPM Shipwrights. The lifeboat of

Among regular maintenance of timber boats such as Marie

HMAS Castlemaine which is

Lousie III, Wanita and Mercedes III, a major restoration of the

berthed alongside Gem Pier in

mahogany planked Dragon, Mystere was carried out including

Williamstown was taken into the

a white beech laid deck. JP helmed that boat for many years,

shed at Cheltenham and finished

competing in the Prince Phillip Cup several times. Sadly, Mystere

in May 2012. The sixty year old

was recently burnt down to the keel in a boatyard in Hobart, after a

kauri boat built in Brisbane is a 27’

clumsy hobo who was using it as a waterfront townhouse knocked

Montague whaler;‘hull No. 537,

over a kerosene lamp.

7th Aug. 1953’is chiselled in the

JP soon moved on to larger projects that utilized his skills as a

stern post.

shipwright when in 1997 an ambitious young sailor asked him

JP’s connection with the ship is

to build a 70’Sydney Hobart contender to be called Wild Thing.

from his time as an apprentice

In 1999 he built the prototype stripped planked cedar dinghy

with

and became a partner in the company Sail extreme. Over 300 roto-moulded plastic sail training dinghies have been produced from that prototype and are sailed in many parts of the world.

the

Port

of

Whaler rebuild

Melbourne

Authority. He was the last apprentice there and finished in 1991. They have a re-union every year on the Castlemaine and his old foreman, Clive Barnard put his name forward as someone who

The lure of the professional sailing scene had JP travelling to

could restore the whaler. Of course he is the youngest one at that

Europe in 2001 where he was signed up by the German America’s

gathering and is sure he was set up by the old blokes (Clive and

Cup team and learnt the art of carbon fibre-nomex composite boat

Bob Gearing) who are volunteers on HMAS Castlemaine and

building from the innovative English boat builder Killian Bushe.

both shipwrights who had built whalers back in their day.

The German challenge for the cup was aborted but the hull that JP had worked on went to Team New Zealand and was finished off and used as a development boat. That International Americas Cup Class yacht is still sailing out of Auckland harbour amongst the ClassicYachts as a charter boat for joy rides.

Because the boat had sagged they suspended the boat for six months from the centreboard case to straighten it out. The keelson had come away from the keel so that was tightened up again with copper drifts. New steam bent ribs made out of Blackwood

After an episode as ‘boatbuilder on tour’for the Volvo 60 team,

were first soaked overnight in the bath for easy bending. Because

Newscorp in 2002 and a few years of racing Farr 40’s, JP eventually

the lifeboat is stored upright in davits, rainwater had sat in the

returned to Melbourne to set up his own boat building business

bottom, rotting out the planks. New planking was riveted in

called JPM Shipwrights Pty Ltd in Cheltenham, opposite

and the whole boat was treated with Everdure prior to painting

Moorabbin airport. This was a strategic move to foster his

battleship grey. 100 man hours over 18 months will hopefully

long held passion for building, flying and now, successfully landing

ensure another 60 years of service in the outdoor museum that is

model planes.

Page 26

HMAS Castlemaine.

Photo: J P Marquet

Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

HMAS Castlemaine Whaler ‘REPORTING FOR DUTY’

In 2008 JP and his wife Allison were looking at buying a boat to sail with their young family and saw that Faylene,an Arthur Robb design was up for sale and on the hard at R.Y.C.V. The owner, Brian Smith had stripped the paint off the hull and pulled the keel bolts and all looked in great condition so they went for a sail a few weeks later and the deal was done. Faylene is a sturdy little craft allegedly built of spruce in 1947 at Port Melbourne with surplus timber from the aircraft industry that was scaled down after the Second World War. The deck is red cedar, now covered in plywood, and the previous owner had made his own sails. It has a hollow spruce mast that was originally fractional rigged. The little spruce boat which could have been a plane was the perfect match for JP and Allison. After a few years of cruising Port Phillip Bay and drifting off Sandringham fishing it was time to Regatta. JP and Allison were racing once more on the waters of Hobsons Bay,just as they were thirty years ago when they had met while sailing mirror dinghies out of the Williamstown Sailing Club. The results speak for themselves; equal first with Oenone but finished second in the 2012 Cup Regatta on a count back.

Photo Mal Botterill

mix it up with Melbourne’s classic yacht fleet and enter The Cup

Faylene “On the Wind”2012 CYAA Cup Regatta Melbourne

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

AUSTRALIAN REGISTER OF HISTORIC VESSELS Since the inception of the Australian Register of Historic Vessels Register (ARHV), 1 February 2007, there’s been a close relationship with the Classic Yacht Association of Australia.

PETER COSTOLLOE

The ARHV Register has become a process that is now a platformof national significance. 535 vessels are accorded ARHV

The ARHV is a register of vessels of all types that are of national significance for one of many reasons. Admission of vessels that apply to the register occurs at two levels of screening. The ARHV Steering committee conducts a thorough assessment of compliance to ARHV principles for vessels proposed by the

register status. From this group, 14 vessels on the CYAA Register have ARHV listing. The unique feature of the CYAA vessels on the ARHV Register is that most of them are actively raced and maintained to the Yachting Australia safety standards.

board of directors of the Australian National Maritime Museum

After 6 years of the ARHV Register operation the Council is

(ANMM) The steering committee makeup is two representatives

analysing strategies to make the registration process broader

of the ANMM, one from the Sydney Heritage fleet and a marine

and more accessible to the nation. To assist this process, the

industry representative.

Association suggested the ARHV Council invite the CYAA

Nominations to be accorded ARHV register listing are passed to

towork with their regional maritime councils . This suggestion

the 10 member ARHV Council for final approval. The council is

was welcomed by the ARHV Council. The next step is up to us.

chaired by the ANMM senior curator.

CYAA Members interested and willing to promote the cause of

The CYAA role within this ARHV Register process is membership on the ARHV Council, with Damian Purcell as the Association’s representative.

sustaining and promoting Australia’s maritime history can apply via the Association admin email address. A charter for the CYAA to work on this ideal with the ARHV Council would then be drawn up.

Sayonara. Launched 1896 Registered Australian Historic VesselPastime IIandDingo in background

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

The Classic Yacht Association had 4 of their members vessels recently accorded ARHV listing. These are:

Acrospire III HV000541 Built 1923 Owner Col Anderson, Melbourne. ACROSPIRE III is a 50 foot long gaff cutter, carvel planked in New Zealand kaurie. Built in Sydney NSW in 1923 for aVictorian challenge for the Sayonara Cup. Designed by Charlie Peel and built at James Hayes and Sons yard in Sydney for Joe White, Commodore of the Royal St. Kilda Yacht Club.

Acrospire IV HV000545 Built 1929 Owner Gary Martin, Fremantle. ACROSPIRE IV is a racing yacht built in Melbourne Victoriain 1929 for a Victorian challenge for the Sayonara Cup. It was designed by Charlie Peel for Joe White, Commodore of the St KildaYacht Club, and built by Peel adjacent to White’s malt house in Collingwood. She has an overall length of 54ft and a waterline length of 36ft. The “old girl” has been beautifully restored by her current owner, Gary Martin, Past Commodore of Fremantle Sailing Club. Acrospire IV won the Fremantle Harbour Classic yacht race on the 11th November 2012.

Lily Guy HV000543 Built 1895 Owner Bil Johnstone, Mebourne LILY GUY is a Port Phillip net boat built in 1895 by Charles Blunt. A small number of the net boats from Port Phillip have survived and this is one of the earliest examples. Named after Bil’s grandmother who always wanted to go to sea, a dream never fulfilled. Today her spirit is with us. David, restored the the boat.

The Sandridge Flattie HV000535 Built 1950’s Current Owner Mark Reid. Paynesville, Gippsland Lakes Dugga’ Beazley who is well-known for his knowledge of the working craft on Port Phillip has collected some of the history and knows this Sandridge Flattie was built by Harvey Maumillin the 1950s. Dugga’recalls the flatties had three oars and could row and set up to 250 fathoms (457 metres) of seine net which was then hand-winched back on board the boat.Dugga’and his son David, restored the the boat.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

FOR SALE TUMLAREN “ETTRICK” 32 Twenty square meter racing cruiser. Built by Ronstan in 1952. Professionally restored in 2012. Price $24,000. Contact Doug Jenkin on 0427004241. ClassicYacht Association of Australia Victorian Summer Series 2001/2002 Locker 57 Trophy Winner ETTRICK Skipper: Richard Downey Crew: Dave Kerr

DAVID KERR, - 26 SEPTEMBER 1949 - 6 NOVEMBER 2012 A valued and sadly missed member of Classic Yacht Association of Australia and the Tumlare Association. David’s confident calls on tide, wind shifts and his inspirational reminders to skippers he crewed for with his words of wisdom, ‘you’re here to race’… are with our Classic Fleet today.

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Issue 33 - December 2013 © CYAA

VALE` DAVID BEAZLEY 26.5.1968 - 3.2.2013

You see; his powers of observation and concentration

With the recent passing of David Beazley, members and

an utterance back to his father. Later that day I asked

the Executive of The Classic Yacht Association of Australia

David how he liked working with the old man, his reply

extend their sympathy to the Beazley family for their loss

went something like this “That man is the smartest and

of David.

most knowledgeable bloke I have ever met.” I ask you

David was an integral part of the iconic Beazley family of Port Melbourne. The Melbourne maritime community has lost a valuable lynch pin, particularly in the sailing, restoration and support of the Port Phillip net boat heritage.

were extreme. This didn’t just happen once whilst we were pulling the net, but a dozen times, David never murmured

all here today, is that a rare quality in a father/son working relationship? Not just today, but in all times? My memories of David are of sailing the double-ender, floorboards floating and a grin from ear to ear. It’s not widely appreciated what a master craftsman David was, every time he came to the yard he always had a head in a boat and ould occasionally ask the question “why do you do it like that?”, see that’s what he was like, a thinker, a doer and a quiet achiever. A few years ago I spent a watch with David in Gary Kerr’s fishing boat towing a 50 foot Crayboat from Portland to Queenscliff. After a while I realised David was working his way through the workings of the very extensive gear in that wheelhouse. He was working out exactly how it worked and what it was for, that’s what he was like; he just got on and did stuff.

‘One of my earliest recollections of the two boys (because

What three words would you describe David as? I could say Determined, Dependable and Practical. He loved his work in the fishing industry and he loved his boat work and was passionate about his family. To Frances, Dugga, Karen, Melissa, Margaret, Mick and Sam; my memory is that of a couple of kids going down to the sea in boats, fishing, sailing and having fun. That to me is David.

it was always the two boys in those days) was that in, it

It’s now very important for you all to get on with your lives

must have been about 1980 I think, David would have been

because David Beazley would not want it any other way.~

David now has a fair wind and following sea.

Tim Phillips and Dugga Beazley kindly provided permission for the Classic Association to print the Tim Phillips eulogy to David Beazley. Read by Wayne Parr, at the celebration of Davids life on the 8th of February, Port Melbourne Yacht Club.

about 12, they were ballasting the Volunteer out at St Kilda

Tim Phillips

marina. They were a pigeon pair; one was always not far behind the other. Andrew was the cocky one and David the quiet one, a thinker, a real soak for information.

The life of David Beazley, was observed with a one minute silence by members of the Couta Boat Association attending the Tim Phillips “Welcome Function” at the 2013 Australian Wooden Boat Festival, Hobart.

David, even as a very shy kid would ask the odd question, then you could just see his mind ticking over putting the jigsaw puzzle together. In a family where RESPECT is everything (Dugga’s respect for Oppey immediately comes to mind) David was incredibly respectful of Dugga. I remember fishing a few years ago, David was on the tiller and Dugga pulling the net “put ‘er up” was the cry from Dugga but I had noticed way before Dugga had mentioned anything, David had the tiller hard down.

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Classic Yacht Association of Australia

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Issue 33 - December 2013 ©

BECOME INVOLVED - BECOME A MEMBER! Your valued support of Classic Yacht Association of Australia is important and costs so little.

Return this completed form to the following address: CYAA Membership Officer PO Box 335 Williamstown Victoria 3016 email to: [email protected]

APPLICATION FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP I......................................................(Full name of Applicant) ............................................................... (address) wish to become a member of the Classic Yacht Association of Australia and apply to have my Yacht accepted on to the Yacht Register for the annual fee of $75 Signature of Applicant................................................ Date .............................................................................

To ensure you never miss another issue of this newsletter, become a member of the Classic Yacht Association of Australia. Full membership costs just $75,or crew/friends membership for $50 including GST. Payment can be by cheque to “The Classic Yacht Association of Australia Inc”, EFT or credit card. Details for payingby EFT or credit card can be obtained by request tothe CYAA email address

APPLICATION FOR CREW MEMBERSHIP

............................................................. (Full name of Applicant) Of....................................................................... (address) wish to join the Classic Yacht Association of Australia as a crew member / friend for the annual fee of $50 Signature of Applicant................................................ Date .............................................................................

Please supply the following details: Phone Number ........................................................... Email Address ............................................................. Boat Name ................................................................. Designer .................................................................

Please supply the following details: Phone Number ........................................................... Email Address ............................................................. Boat Name .................................................................. Details of other Yacht Club Memberships:

Date of Build .............................................................. Construction .............................................................. LOA ..............................… Rig ................................… Sail Number ....................................... Details of other Yacht Club Memberships: ................................................................. Yachting Australia Silver Card Number, (if applic) ....................................................................

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...................................................... Yachting Australia Silver Card Number, (if applic): ....................................................................