AWBF Boat Folk Episode Two. SAONA
OK, I’ll lay my cards on the table… I’ve got a vested interest in this one! There aren’t many Philip Rhodes Designed boats in Australia.
The original MARGARET RINTOUL is perhaps the most famous (for winning the Sydney Hobart 3 times) then there is the stunning family built sloop SCIMITAR in Melbourne, and our own ride of the last 20 years the Abeking and Rasmussen built FAIR WINDS. Rhodes is perhaps the most under rated designer of the 20th Centuary. He designed Americas Cup Winners (WEATHERLY), multiple Fastnet Winners (CARINA) and thousands of other fast, effective and beautiful craft. And he wasn’t precious either. There is a story about Philip walking beside the Hudson River with his daughter as a sewage barge motored past. “I designed that” he said pointing to the barge… “What do call that?” asked his daughter slightly surprised that Rhodes was so proud of this purely functional craft. Rhodes replied… “If I were you…I’d call that, a college education”.
So it feels good to see the master recognised in this great little film on SAONA from the folk at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
“Our second film to share with you features wooden sailing boat SAONA and current owner Ben Marris. SAONA was the last boat built by Charles Lucas in his yard in 1936. Ben and wife Jane purchased SAONA in 1993 and have since sailed her in the 1998 Tall Ships race from Sydney to Hobart, circumnavigated Tasmania onboard and even used the vessel as transport for the ‘Fat Pig Farm’ series On Water, with cheese maker Nick Haddow, Farmer Matthew Evans and Pig Farmer Ross O’Meara. As members of the Kettering Yacht Club, the couple now cruise the waters surrounding Bruny Island on her and enjoy Wednesday night races with family. SAONA is one of a small number of wooden boats that have attended every festival since its inception in 1994.”