“… through sheer know-how and a diligence that is seldom observed, Jock Sturrock and the gallant crew of the yacht Gretel emerged as possibly the most formidable contender in the history of the quest for the America’s Cup.”

She’s had a number of different lives. When new in 1920, she took parties out sailing and for picnics from Sorrento Pier on Port Phillip, something many couta boats did alongside, or as an alternative to, fishing. In 1923 SEA HAWK began her professional fishing career

Among other maintenance items was a touch-up to her name on the stern and sides - and as the slipway's budding if amateur signwriter I was given the job. The long stern presented a challenge.

Less well known is the huge effort that went into that campaign 65-years ago, and its uniquely Australian “hands-on” character. When they were not actually sailing, everyone involved contributed their skills, experience and plain hard yakka.

Described by WoodenBoat magazine as “one of the best-maintained and sailed classic yachts in the country—if not the world,” the 93-year-old Sparkman & Stephens design came to Rockport Marine last year to capitalize on the company’s traditional wooden-boat building skills to replace aging frame ends, floor timbers, some planking, and driveline.

So he hightailed it to Sydney and ended up in the surf at Whale Beach – not that far from where he lives now. “I was a ten pound Pom” he told me. I find that hard to believe. I don’t think he was being literal. I see him arriving with a crate of Margaux and a vintage Morgan sports car with a set of plans for a beach house in the boot.

For nearly eight decades the name POLLYANNA has been inextricably linked to Rotnest Island. The initial catalyst to this strong and enduring bond between three classic motor launches bearing the name POLLYANNA and Western Australia’s much loved holiday island was Roland Smith – affectionately known to generations of the state’s business and boating sectors as Roly.

Built by Deemings boats at Ōpua in 1960, the Bay Belle was first launched in 1961 as the Fullers Cream Trip ferry making deliveries and transporting passengers over a traditional shipping route that took in some of the Bay of Island’s most spectacular coastal sights.

“For the amount of work in the six-month time frame, it was very tricky. We worked every day, some very long days, to get Mermaid ready for relaunch at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February.”

It is not a “want” issue but a “need” issue and few I wager will be completely honest about this at the time of purchase. But let’s not to be too hard, the answer sometimes comes after a time.So here is the story of ROSIE to question what each new owner may wish to achieve.

"I was just scrolling Facebook one day, and we had been in the market for a timber boat for a little while. And occasionally I would send Holly ridiculous things from boats online or on Facebook. I'd come across this Maurice Griffiths boat, and I sent it to Holly. They were asking 800 bucks"

CARESS has a delightful neutral helm which gains a very small amount of weather helm as she heels, but the tiller remains light and sensitive. She does not tend to gripe or round up in gusts as do many modern boats, an attribute sought by Wally Ward in his quest for a nicely balanced boat.

After sixty years of constant use the entire boat has been stripped back to bare inside and out.

This week the news item below appeared on YouTube. It’s six months out of date but when wooden boat sailing hits the main stream (Channel 7) then SWS should be there to highlight the moment!

This is a tricky time to be talking about sailing clubs with Royal Warrants. Last summer Captain Cook was amputated below the knee in the Catani Gardens right beside RMYS. In April near the St Kilda Pilot Beacon, four Canary Island palms were deliberately set alight. These trees, from the 1930’s, are a signature of the seaside promenade. Perhaps it’s a comment on European landscaping or random arson. Then King George V was decapitated on his recent birthday in Kings Domain. Regardless of this febrile climate, VCAT got on with its task and handed down a decision ‘of interest’ that clarified often misunderstood heritage guidelines.

She was launched in 1958, and so began her working life as a Moreton Bay fishing boat: For 35 years was used in this capacity by Dick and his fishing partners. At the commencement of the winter sea mullet season, they would load her up including a short wheelbase Land Rover on the aft deck, and transport it from Brisbane across to Moreton Island. 

The only medieval and primary sources we have of Freydís are the two Vinland sagas; the Grœnlendinga saga and the Eiríks saga rauða. The two sagas offer differing accounts, though in both Freydís appears as a masculine, strong-willed woman who would defy the odds of her society.

What I’m personally more interested in is the mentality… the relentless determination.. that drives this group of volunteers to show up every week and chip away at what must at times seem like an infinite task.

“I know nothing about restoring wooden boats so I’m not a good steward, though it does make an interesting paddock ornament.”

The YVONNE project has been an integral part of the life of some of my closest friends for seven years now. So when we heard that the seminal British publication “Classic Boat” had selected her to be on the short list of best “Restored Sailing Vessel under 40ft” then it is cause for celebration.