Free to a good home - GLAD TIDINGS
Following on from what we hope will be the rescue of SEQUEL, we’ll have another go at saving a little part of Australia’s sailing history, this time from 1946
The Tancook Whaler is one of those boats which evolved over many decades to do a particular working job, in this case to fish off the rough coast of Nova Scotia in all weathers and which at the same time took on a shape which is a thing of beauty. They were fast and seaworthy and kept on moorings off the rocky coast all year round.
Earlier this week Charles Wright contacted SWS with the following story…
I bought GLAD TIDINGS in about ’98, from the second owner Dan McCool. He had acquired her from the original builders, a husband & wife team. They did the drawings & sailed her in Hobart for 40 years or so, from her launch in 1950. She was built in their front yard. The name of the actual boatbuilder is not known. Dan sailed her up to the Whitsunday Islands. I bought her from him at Tin Can Bay & trucked her back to Sydney. I sailed her for 15 years or so on Pittwater before moving her to Brisbane Water. Having never had an engine in her, the passage out of Box Head & young kids mean’t she didn’t get sailed. Always a problem for boats…
I put her on the purpose made dolly using a Franner Crane. They picked her up at the public wharf & brought her the 600m to my place. I stripped her out (not much in her really anyway) & cleaned her out & began work on the deck. I found my time limited to Sunday arvo, just when my neighbours liked to enjoy the afternoon sun on their deck 3 meters away - I get on really well with them but noisy dusty work wasn’t helping maintain a friendship!
So the wrenching decision was made to sell - and a boatbuilder bought GLAD TIDINGS; Greg Spong. He took some loose items away, then broke his hip. - I guess his circumstance has changed. Critical items like mast & boom still with me. All systems on the GLAD TIDINGS were of the simplest sort. A pin rail & dead-eye purchases if needed. A single main halyard winch. No electronics. There was an engine, in a milk crate. I chucked it. I never used an engine in her at all. If there was nil wind I rowed her with a surfboat sweep. There are two. Her hull is easily driven and once she is going along at about 1 knot, her weight keeps the momentum up. There is a prop shaft; but it will likely be seized. I wouldn't know - I took the prop off years & years ago.
Don’t you love old ‘phone footage!
So why should this boat be worth saving? I think the answer lies in Charles’ obvious passion for the craft
My only interest is finding a home for her - I don’t need money, just a home, so she can continue to be the incredible bit of Australian sailing history she deserves to be. Not flashy just fast & sea-worthy. I really can’t get across how beautifully she sails. Without exaggeration: the helm is perfectly balanced. I have enjoyed her sailing, single handed, from sitting on the cross trees half way up the mast, or hanging off the dolphin striker, perfectly confident the would hold her course, unattended.
GLAD TIDINGS is really one of a kind in Australia. She never failed to receive compliments on the water, but more importantly never once misbehaved. I used to push her hard, under staysail & double reefed main in strong winds. Never a problem, always predictable. She carries her way, so picking up a mooring single handed was always easy. Only missed it first time on one occasion when it was blowing 30 knots. She has a very easy motion - you can see in the video how she sets a rail. About 15 to 20 knots wind was her favourite. I always performed better in races with more rather than less wind. She has sailed from Tassie to Queenland successfully. She’s very sea worthy. In strong following wind & big swell coming up from an overnight in Sydney once there was none of that shearing from side to side on a following swell experienced with fin keels. There was some helm pressure, but not much. I have no bad memories of this boat; no scares. There is work to be done, but the sailing rewards would be very worth the effort. I can’t really tell you how magical she is. When I bought her, the experience of sailing her was the transcendent moment I decided to buy her.
I have loved her, as has my partner, but haven’t the time to finish what I began.
(Click to Enlarge)
Charles has received two quotes.
The first from a reputable boat builder is to restore her.
The second is from a wrecker to cut her up and take her away. $6000
He doesn’t have the resources for the former and dreads the latter.
If you are interested in taking on the worthwhile project then contact Charles by email
In his own words:
GLAD TIDINGS is really worth saving. I just can’t do it. I’m not exaggerating to say she is the sweetest yacht I have ever sailed
SPECIFICATIONS & FACTS
Designed by A R Thompson 1946 Hobart. Builder unknown.
She sailed with the RYCT in ’51-52’ season registered under AR Thompson. I understand they built her in the front yard.
Was maintained at Ray Kemps slipway Kettering until 1984.
Commissioned & sailed by Alan & Vera Thompson.
Length on deck is 32’. Waterline 28’, beam 7’8” draft about 5'.
Weight 5.5 tonnes.
Keel: Tassie hardwood.
Ribs: Huon Pine.
Planking: Celery Top Pine.
Deck - not certain - could be CT Pine or Douglas fir.
Deck beams - Hardwood.
Cockpit - Plywood due for replacement.
Rubbing Strakes - Huon Pine.
Mast - single piece of pencil grained Douglas fir. Boom - same.
Seams - lindseed putty & cotton caulking. Seams have been very stable.
Fixings: all copper roved; bronze screws, except deck which was iron fastenings. I have cut all of those out & refastened with Victorian Ash trunnels & West epoxy.
Chainplates - Gal steel. I was going to replace with laid up bronze sheet LF Herreshoff style. Easier to make it conform to the hull shape.
Sails - a couple but they are rubbish really.
Dolly- Adapted from a 9 tonne Beneteau. An engineer friend helped design the reinforced frame to provide solid support full length of the keel. Is on 6 1 tonne castors. If you plan to roll her around a few more would be good. I sized them for a 4 tonne yacht - then I found out Glad Tidings was 6! Dolly comes with her too.