The forces at play once the five working sails all fill are huge and mistakes can be very costly. Since her first Gaffers Day back in the early 1980s the yacht has always sailed under the command of her owner, Sir James Hardy OBE. But, regrettably, ‘Gilbert’ was unable to take the helm this year and nominated me to skipper the boat in his place.

“Wife and I dragged the Mirror out of the shed where it has sat, unused, for 20 years. Started first time. Had a ball at the Invy regatta, highly recommended, great club and people.”

With an (almost) long weekend upon us, there are worse ways to spend your time than to settle down, perhaps in a quiet anchorage, and listen to four podcasts from the ABC, all discussing books about islands.

The phenomena of designers distorting the functional shape and appendages of a yacht to gain a rating advantage is not a new one.

“As the latest custodian of Māori Lass, I’ve often tried to visualise the people who’ve sailed her before us, the far-flung corners of the world she’s been to and the rough weather she’s survived. Rounding the buoys in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel during twilight racing with the Kettering Yacht Club just doesn’t seem a suitable enough challenge for her.”

DUYFKEN—Little Dove—was 80 feet long, shoal draft and carvel planked. She had three masts and a total of six working sails. She was fast, sturdy and had a relatively small crew of 20. Her design was a “jacht," which in 16th century Holland meant “hunter” or “pursuer."

The sun was my constant. It was regular, beautiful, immense. I started asking for help. “Why are you testing me?” “When will you make it better for me?” “Why are you challenging me like this?”

There's a ute parked out on a rock In Killiecrankie Bay. Three dogs and two men are working. Crays are rustling around in a big wooden pen called a cauf. The tide is coming in and the rock has become an island

On the 19th December Energy Minister Chris Bowen to declare Gippsland as Australia's first offshore wind zone. Mr Bowen also confirmed new parameters to a zone previously proposed in the consultation period.

Any musical genre will be considered. Jim’s especially looking to find a jazz/blues piano player to take on melodica duties but he’s also hoping to see bagpipes, bush ballads, bosa nova, bebop and blues - perhaps not all at the same time!

MAIWAR slipped quietly into the lagoon at Penrhyn Island At 5 pm on Friday 9 December 2022 local time. This marked the completion of the first leg of Tom’s Pacific crossing.

What I find endlessly remarkable about this Festival is that it is held together by the power of a very simple idea – the beauty and promise of wooden boats. To some this is a promise of adventure; to others a promise of comradery, history, craftsmanship, or simple relaxation.

The Islands of the Kent and Furneaux Groups are surely one of the great undiscovered cruising grounds of Australia. They are not for the faint hearted and will punish the arrogant sailor, but with preparation and respect, they reward in spades.

How fortunate can you be? This year’s fleet of 26 yachts has, over this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, enjoyed three days of the very best of Sydney Harbour racing.

She now sits happily on her mooring in Mill Bay, Mangonui in the Far North of New Zealand awaiting her new life. At this stage future plans for ELIZABETH are to race her with the Mangonui Cruising Club on Doubtless Bay and take her south to race against other classics in the Tall Ships Race in the Bay of Islands in January

A first voyage in 1976 represented a bold attempt at what is known as “experimental archaeology,” testing aspects of material culture, in this case an arcane boat type, in order to understand their function and practicality, so writes Duncan Blair.

A recently discovered 1990’s documentary on the Couta Boats has been re-edited into 8 minutes of rich and fascinating history.

Although creating work centuries apart, both artists convey the power and politics of the ocean and explore its relationship to capitalism and colonialism.

Enjoying a very eventful delivery trip to Sydney in July 1971, when a rogue wave capsized the craft just south of Eden NSW, the crew narrowly avoiding disaster. In true testament to Jock's seaworthy designs, the boat righted again, mast and sails intact and crew in one piece save for a nicked nose from a flying kitchen knife.

In this, 100th Edition of our weekly magazine, we celebrate our top ten articles and thank the people who have contributed content and essential financial support. Here’s to the next 100 weeks and the 100 after that!!