The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.
“An Adventurous Life”. Sir James Hardy’s Biography
In 2021, I was invited to sail on Sir James’ beautiful timber boat Nerida in a classic boat race on Sydney Harbour. Sir James had retired from competitive sailing, but came down to wish us well. He was about to turn 90, so I told him I was about to turn 60. He decided to give me some three pieces of advice for my 60’s…
Worth it for the Gurus alone!
“I have in mind to admit it all to the New York Yacht Club that I really owe the secret of the design to a Greek guy who helped me out and was invaluable. He’s been dead for 2,000 years. Bloody Archimedes…”
Americas Cup-an accessible History
Flicking back through the years I can’t help thinking the the 12 meters in Freemantle represented the Modern AC at its zenith.
A Win for the Aussie Understudy
'Exceptionally fast in the hands of a highly talented, motivated and sharply focused crew, Challenge 12 was bristling with potential', wrote journalist Bruce Stannard, who covered the 1983 America's Cup series for the ABC and The Age.
12 METRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: A LIVE-ACTION HISTORY LESSON
“I was still in school in ’83 and was on the dock during the Trials in 1977 when Ted Turner and Gary Jobson rushed by with cameras following them,” said Courageous Skipper Dawn Riley, who would go on to sail in four America’s Cup races and two Whitbread Round the World races. “It made a big impression on a 13-year-old from Detroit!”
sitting on a hillside watching clouds
Every day of the 9 day journey we would receive simple, factual, unemotional advice via Sat Phone text messaging, about what to expect from the wind and waves, when to change course to improve our comfort, and how to safely speed our passage
Australia’s First Challenge for the Americas Cup
So perhaps almost 40 years after AUSTRALIA II’s victory and with only 18 months to the 37th iteration of the event in Barcelona , readers might be interested in this fascinating program, which covers DAME PATTIE’s predecessor’s campaign in 1962.
becoming the owner of Dame Pattie (KA-2)
The adventure started by putting her on a truck to come back to my region, in Brittany. The mast was put on a different truck. It took a while to organiSe the expedition and I decided to create my own shipyard to start the renovation.
Waitangi-Where She Belongs.
The relaunch of the 1894 Logan Gaff cutter on her 100th birthday, was a turning point in Australian perceptions, of what was possible, and more importantly worthwhile, when it came to the restoration of our sailing heritage.
Delightful, Delicious, Dinosaurs.
It’s amazing that yachts which require so many crew, so much expertise, not to mention so many dollars to run them, have become such a flourishing class in Europe and the USA.
SWS IS A SURPRISING SUCCESS STORY
BUT TO CONTINUE, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Your donation will help us to publish your weekly source of
woodenboat inspiration and grow this unique community.