The Margaret Pearl

Sometime soon after the second world war, Cray Fishing boats in Southern Australia began turning away from
being sailing craft.

They began to rely more and more on engines to take them on trips through Bass Strait and around the rugged coast of Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.  However, there was a short transition period of perhaps 30 years when both sails and the diesel were relied on to keep them moving.  Now that modern Cray boats are utilitarian steel or aluminium floating fortresses powered by massive engines, their timber motor sailing forebears are finding new lives as recreational craft, and with big volume hulls and a kindly motion, they are, after varying degrees of modification, ideally suited to cruising rough waters in comfort.  But there are a lot of decisions to be made and many potential pitfalls along the way.  But don’t take it from me, instead, have a listen to a man who has actually lived the dream and recently relaunched the magnificent MARGARET PEARL.

DIRECTED by Sal Balharrie and Mark Chew // FILM EDIT // Mark Chew