Imagine This.
You are standing amongst some of Australia’s most important wooden vessels, smelling the huon pine, admiring the gracious curves and soaking up the history. You have a glass of Tahbilk Ambassador Shiraz 2020 in one hand and a bespoke snag from Lygon Street’s greatest butcher in the other. The people around you are shipwrights, custodians, and enthusiasts from every state in Australia and a few from New Zealand and Canada as well!. There are literally thousands of years of experience in the room. People willing to share their vast knowledge of the thing we hold dear… Wooden Boats.
Well, a hundred and fifty people have signed up for this experience already, and it looks like we are going to have to cap numbers, so if you want to sample this unique experience at Ferdi Darley Shed in Williamstown on 1st November then BOOK IN NOW!
But on the same day, prior to the Social activities we are holding a truely unique event. Unique is an overused word but here we can say it with confidence.
Six of Melbourne’s legendary Tumlaren fleet are being generously lent for an a day of one design racing on the waters of Hobson’s Bay. We have wooden boat sailors flying in from Queensland, New Zealand, Hobart and Sydney to test their skills against each other, and what a great list of personalities they are!
New Zealand - Peter Brookes and Crew. Peter is a craftsman and Shipwright based in Auckland, perhaps most famous for his six year restoration of RAWHITI.
Queensland – Peter Kerr and Crew. Peter runs Deagon Slipway on Cabbage Tree Creek in Queensland. He is the custodian of the highly successful Tasman Seabird PAGAN, and has recently started racing a 30sq meter offshore!
New South Wales - Martin van der Wal. Custodian of HOANA 1925. SASC
Tasmania – Gus Mckay, founder of Derwent Class Association (Helm) - Custodian of Goblin, Wills Mckay (Trim) -Crew on Janus. James Cowmeadow (Bow/Trim) - Crew on Salamis
Victoria- AVIAN Skipper and Crew, Martin Delves, Dave Pizzey and Ian Johnson. Tumlaren Division Winner of Victorian Winter Series 2024
New Zealand- Iain Valentine and Crew. Trans-Tasman Cup Regatta Regulars
The Skippers will draw lots for their craft and will have Thursday afternoon to practise, before a three race series on the Friday. The boats racing have a combined age of 483 years.
AVIAN (Red). Built 1938 by Jack Savage and Sons, Victoria.
YVONNE (Teal) Built 1938 by Charlie Peel, Victoria.
ZEPHYR (Dark Green) Built 1952 by Bob Stevens, South Australia.
DINGO (Yellow) Built 1948 by amateur C Harrison, Victoria.
SNOW GOOSE (Light Blue) Built 1949 by Jack Savage and Sons, Victoria.
ZEST (French Blue) 1937. Built by Charlie Peel and Jack alongside Yvonne No 94The beautiful MARGARET PEARL will be the designated spectator platform, so if you are interested in watching the racing LET US KNOW
The Regatta proper kicks off on the Saturday 2nd November. Skippers are being slow to commit this year but if there is a deficit of quantity there is certainly no lack of quality, especially at the big boat end of the fleet. Boats over 40ft come from a range of designers that reads like a who’se who of Australian 20C sailing. Kauffman, Rhodes, Stephens, Coverdale, Peel, Savage…the list goes on. If you havn’t committed to join in yet IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
Finally, there are times in life when doing something spontaneous (and perhaps a little irrational) rewards the decision maker in spades. The beautiful little H28 JEDDA is up for sale. Sitting ready at the Club which is hosting the Cup Regatta, an event she has competed successfully in many times in the past.
She’s got a great history and a new(ish) mainsail and should be out there sailing!
For just $9,500 (Negotiable) you could pick yourself up a classic design, built of glorious Karri timber from Western Australia, and be out on the water on the 2nd and 3rd November amongst for of Victoria’s most beautiful boats. Just Do It!
