This item is offered PICK UP ONLY-Australia’s Oldest Yacht?
I’m always a little sceptical about claims like that… is it really? Type into Google “Australia’s oldest yacht” and the first three entries seem to corroborate the claim, listing ZEPHYR sitting forlornly on on an Altona back block (Victoria), as the holder of this title.
Launched in 1873, her first owner was a notable identity in the South Australian colony, Supreme Court Judge Sir William Henry Bundy. ‘The Judge’, who was was also a state MP, commissioned ZEPHYR as a sea-going cutter of 22 tons. He wanted a boat in which “three or four companions could be comfortably entertained”. She was designed by William Taylor and built in huon pine by Robert Playfair in Adelaide. Another local craftsman, William Russell, made the sails.
The Judge learned to sail on ZEPHYR and became one of Australia’s great cruising yachtsmen, eventually writing a book of his sailing memories, including his special fondness for ZEPHYR The book also featured Port Lincoln and the town subsequently became the terminus for South Australia’s largest annual yachting event, the Adelaide – Port Lincoln Week.
At the time of launching, the Adelaide Observer newspaper described ZEPHYR as having “Huon pine for planking and Kauri Pine for the deck, elm bent timbers and gum floors every four feet of her length. Cemented inside as high as the light water-line ‘ copper and brass are the only metals used ‘ the hull had a great rise of floor and a fine entry, but was filled out above the waterline to provide buoyancy in heavy seas. The upright stem and the long overhanging taffrail and square stern were thoroughly approved of in a yacht of this size, although some sailors despised the square stern.”
The newspaper reported ZEPHYR’s launch at Port Adelaide on 25 August 1873 in great detail.
“There were fair ladies and brave men present – the horny handed sons of toil, members of Parliament and members of the press, sea captains in full commission and sea captains who had long given up the idea.“The band played 'Rule Britannia'. The yacht lay on her ways like a lady adorned for a ball. Garlands and wreaths of flowers decorated each end. In our colony matters of this kind should be treated as they really deserve.”
Well exactly 150 years later things aren’t going so well. Check out THIS LISTING from Lloyds Auctioneers and valuers.
In about 12 Days time the oldest yacht in Australia will either have an appointment with a chainsaw or become the subject of one of the bravest rescue missions seen in the last decade. Crazy things have been going on in the wooden boat market recently. Let hope its the latter!