AZIZA-A Realistic Dream
Of all the ingredients that go into making up a perfect boat for a new custodian, there’s one that’s often overlooked.
We all understand that the craft must be fit for purpose, its condition well understood and have a loveable aesthetic. But an understanding of a boats provenance and achievements are also very important to give conviction and reassurance to an owner during the ups and downs of wooden boat custodianship.
And achievements don’t come easily. Sitting in a marina pen is not an achievement. They are earned by hard work, planning, and miles under the keel, with a small dose of bravery and foolhardiness thrown in. That’s why the boat below tick’s so many boxes.
One of last year’s most read articles in SWS was written by Val Nicholls, and described her mostly single handed passage from Hobart to Roslyn Bay, Queensland and back. OK I know its not exactly a circumnavigation but Val achieved this after becoming the soul owner of the boat under difficult circumstances, with little confidence, but a surfeit of detemination and fortitude. Have a read,… it’s the sort of stuff that creates a history.
Most of you will know of the designs of Lyle Hess. Probably through the voyages and books of Lynn and Larry Pardy. Well AZIZA is a 32ft version of his designs and with that in mind, you know that she will always get you there, as long as you’re not in too much of a hurry. These Pilot Cutters are built for serious offshore cruising: heavy displacement, full keels, cutter rigs, and lots of sail area—designed to handle rough seas steadily and safely.
When I talked to Val about letting SWS readers know that AZIZA was on the market, I suggested that the boat’s story was just as important as the description of the physical vessel. She replied…
I loved your comment about selling the dream not the boat. The photos and inventory talk about the boat. As for the "Dream"
What came to mind was my own experience and dreaming when I took her on as sole owner in 2015. It was different than the dream that inspired the build with husband and local boat builder Chris Burke. That initial dream was focussed on the challenge of wooden boat building in predominantly native timbers; it was fuelled by stories read in the books of Lyn and Larry Pardy. Novice sailors, we were inspired and heartened by their message to keep it simple, only have systems you can repair. We realised that dream and she was launched in 2008.
In 2015, when I took on the task of sole ownership, Skipperhood and the need to learn to sail solo, I dared to dream that this vessel's steadying long keel, robust simplicity, warm timbers and curvaceous design, might provide me with sanctuary, adventure and community. This has come about and now 10 years on I find myself at the threshold of another leap. Now in my early 70's I relfect how I might continue to sail for the next decade. Its time for me to hand over the custodianship of AZIZA to someones other. I dream now of sailing further afield in a larger vessel with room for more crew; a more complex vessel with the technology to support me, at this age and stage, to realise dream AZIZA encouraged me to dream, that is, to cruise the Pacific.
AZIZA in in the Furneaux Group, Tasmania
AZIZA’s 2008 construction is very practical without sacrificing any of the beauty of the Tasmanian timbers available at the time. Her hull is a watertight strip planked western red cedar, but the frames are swamp gum, the deck is teak and her cabin and trim are Celery Top, Flame Myrtle and Huon Pine.
There’s a full inventory HERE. If you are looking for a cruising boat with personality and provenance, that could, undoubtedly take you around the world, then you might do a lot worse than consider this little gem. It seems odd to me that the second hand market values a boat like this around the same as a 2008 (same vintage) Hanse 350 of which about 300 were badly built. I wouldn’t sail much further than my bathtub in one of those! So if you have dreams of your own that need to become a reality, and $90,000 is in your price range send Val a message. It could well change your life (in a good way!)
