Reader’s Write
We’ve had a few interesting comments and questions this week from some of the 7,000 monthly readers. If you can help fill any of the gaps, go to the comments section at the end and we’ll make sure they get passed on.
From Trevor Parsons in Laurieton, NSW.
“I worked on this old girl in the 70's ,(this photo is from 1978) Her name is WAITANGI, built 1864, double diagonal kauri ,owned by Dennis Pilkington, moored at Palm beach marine moorings. I’ve seen other yachts with similar name, but as you can see, she is not gaff rigged, and not the WAITANGI, built in 1894. Would you have any more information on this vessel. She is about 60 feet long , narrow and very deep keel.”
From Dr Zoë Lyle in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Hi Team,
Looking for advice please.
I’m over in NZ in the bay of islands - we have a 22 Tonne 44 ft 1979 mahogany plank Frank Carius design blue water cruiser (ketch rigged). She lives on a swing mooring and it’s anti fouling time.
Looking for experiences of anti foul using copper coat (Hullwell advanced marine coating copper coat) from your Australasian wooden sailboat community please. How does it perform on plank? We have the Opua Marina team who can do the work - we would love to know if it’s worth it!
Any advice gratefully received - Thankyou!
Ngā mihi,
Zoë
From Malcolm Lambe, custodian of EOS
Hi Mark,
I took the last owner (for 25 years) of EOS out sailing yesterday. He’s 85 years old. Gave me a trove of old photos, plans, memorabilia. Including another 9 skite plates from the 1950’s and 1960s. For MHYC. Made out of chrome with enamelled club pennant.
From Ann Sutton-Babel previous custodian of JOLLY ROGER
Previous Comment on the original article,
My name is Ann. My late father is the Allen J Sutton who sailed the 'Jolly Roger' in the 1961 Sydney to Hobart race. My mother recounts the story, that at the end of the race, everyone thought the Jolly Roger was lost to the storm. However apparently he had gone out to sea to escape the storm. Arriving at the finish line alive and well.
He owned the Jolly Roger for quite a while. All of my childhood. I remember as a very young child being snuggled up in the cockpit, gazing up at the bright stars, as we night time sailed up the coast.
I have a photo of the Jolly Roger on the Harbour, with it's beautiful original teak decks. My two elder sisters and my father in the photo. And a couple of other photos. However they are unfortunately all quite faded photos.
Sailing was my father's happiness. I hope the Jolly Roger finds an owner or owners who derive as much pleasure and happiness as he did with the Jolly Roger.
This week Ann sent through these words and photos.
In the earlier photos the Jolly Roger has a wooden bow sprit, in the later photos it has been replaced with 'a safer' bow pulpit. Mum said Dad slipped off the highly varnished slippery bow-sprit whilst they were out at sea. Luckily he grabbed hold of it just in time, swung full turn around it and back onto the deck. Hence, she calls bow sprits 'Widow Makers'.
From Sophie Haythornthwaite-Custodian of CAPELLA OF KURRABA
Hi Mark,
I am the current owner of the folkboat Capella of Kurraba.
I love her very much but am not sure I'm the best custodian for her as I don't have the time or money to devote to her. If I won the lottery I'd keep her forever! She's not too bad overall and mostly needs sanding painting and varnishing but there are also a few hull timbers needing replacing and she has no engine.
She was custom built for Sheila Cohen (Sheila Patrick), sailing journalist, by Hald & Johansen, Dee Why NSW, and launched on May 3,1967.
I bought her from Colin Mitchell via Will Spiers in October 2020. Colin had purchased her I think from Geoff Cohen, Sheila's son, though Greg Dwyer told me Geoff had died young and quite suddenly so perhaps the seller was another family member on Geoff's behalf after his death. There's a Steven Cohen listed on the sail data base and I know there was a nephew somewhere in the picture so maybe that's him. Or maybe Steven was the son and Geoff the nephew?
She is associated to Sydney Yacht Clubs: RSYS, RPEYC, and CYC.
She still has her original sail number 83 which I am told is low and therefore rare/of historic value (though I know nothing about sail numbers!)
Hand carved into the forward bulk head is 5 & 37/100 Tons and 332243 (her vessel number)
I'm told she is a Stella but some people in the know have said she's not a Stella (English design?) but a traditional Nordic Folkboat.
According to Greg Dwyer (I hope I have written down what he said correctly) Hald & Johansen built 18 or 19 of these and only a few have the additional stepped up raised doghouse cabin that Capella has. This gives her extra headroom. The other with this extra cabin space is Vivienne Marie.
I'll send you a bunch of photos of her as she is currently.
Cheers and thanks again for your interest!
Sophie
If any readers might like to take her on as a restoration project contact SWS and we’ll pass on Sophie’s details
SVALAN June 2023 (see comment)