In 1934, A Commander R.D. Graham sailed alone in his 30-foot yacht Emmanuel from England to Newfoundland, cruised on the coast of Labrador, sailed to Bermuda, and finally brought the small vessel back across the Atlantic. His famous book “Rough Passage” was described by Arthur Ransome as "One of the most remarkable small-boat adventures of this or any other time"

This little piece of sailing and literary history wasn’t on my mind earlier this week when I read an email from Geoff Fiebig in Auckland, signing up to SWS and mentioning that he is the custodian of an eighty-six-year-old Gaff Yawl named CAPLIN.

When I did a quick search on the CAPLIN, I found some great information on the the Waitemata Woodys site.

CAPLIN was designed built by Anderson & Sons a Welsh shipyardard in Penarth, a small port in comparison to Cardiff, Newport and Barry but nevertheless an industrial revolution sucess story up until the great depression. As far as we can tell there are only four yachts extant from this designer. One called NOKOMIS built in 1914, one called ONOWAY and CAPLIN. The final boat that they had built, but that has survived is the 30ft EMMANUEL mentioned above based on the River Stour in the UK.

Delving into CAPLIN’s history further, it seems she was built for a the same commander RD Graham. The next piece of the jisaw is my assumption. Following his feted adventure in the 30ft EMMANUEL, he ordered a bigger 35ft version (CAPLIN) from the same yard that had built his successful first boat, and set off on a circumnavigation.

*CAPLIN alongside in Penarth before her attempted circumnavigation*

What we know for sure, is that whilst cruising the Pacific he was alerted to the out break of World War II. So he headed straight to New Zealand first stopping first in Nelson, then Wellington. In Wellington he placed CAPLIN on the market and returned to the UK to re-enlist.
He seems to be the sort of person for whom one world war wasn’t enough!

CAPLIN was then purchased by an Oamaru family who kept her in Oamaru Harbour for nearly 60 years. She then moved to Queen Charlotte Sound, then Akaroa, where Jude Gillies and her husband Mike Steven bought her in 2015. They did extensive work on her including a new deck. CAPLIN is now owner by Geoff Fiebig and calls Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour home. Geoff says,

“The original deck hardware wasn’t reinstated so my immediate goal is to reinstall that and get her sailing again, which sounds simple enough but having never sailed a Gaffer it’s all new to me. Apart from that she is in excellent original condition but with some concessions to modern comforts including a 30 HP Yanmar with barely 600 hours on it from new. She occupies a very prominent position at Westhaven Marina, attracting many admirers who always want to know her story. Interesting to note is that I have her original ships compass and binnacle and have located Cr Grahams Walker Log and Ranging compass which will be back with CAPLIN before long. I have no particular interest in owning a museum or concourse piece and just want to keep her tidy, ship shape and capable of exploring the Hauraki Gulf which is an absolute mariner’s paradise. ”