Wooden Shorts
A few items from our inbox over the week
Boat for Free
The Modialloc Creek, about the time this boat was launched
If you are looking from a put put with a bit of history, there’s one ready to pick up in Sandringham, Victoria. Its a Pompei… For those who are not from Melbourne, the Pompei boat builders were a family-run Italian business based on the Mordialloc Creek, only a few miles from where this boat is now. They created a strong tradition of wooden boat craftsmanship dating back to the 1920’s when Jack started the boatyard and quickly earned a reputation for producing high-quality timber fishing boats, speedboats, and custom wooden cruisers.
This 16ft example was built on the creek in the 1950’s from NZ Kauri. It comes with a Yanmar NTS 85 engine that has compression and trailer in fair condition. The transom needs rebuilding.
A perfect winter garage project,, to have you out on the water for summer ‘25. And its FREE!
If you are interested GET IN TOUCH. (click to enlarge)
Trans Tasman Time Line
December 1934, The Waitemata, Auckland
February 2025, The Derwent, Hobart
SWS is on the News Media list for the CYCA which is flattering but slightly odd! Last week we received a Press Release entitled (to be read in a slightly breathless tone)…
“Three Iconic Races. One Ambitious Goal. Southern Cross Series Entries Open”
Sounds like a great initiative so I read on…
RACE 1 | CABBAGE TREE ISLAND RACE | 5 December 2025
The Series launches with a tactical sprint — the 172 nautical mile Cabbage Tree Island Race. The fleet races 86 nautical miles north to Cabbage Tree Island before returning to Sydney Harbour. This overnight test features shifting breezes, coastal strategy and complex navigation. A long-time favourite among locals, now opens the international Southern Cross Series.
RACE 2 | ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE | 26 December 2025The world turns its eyes to the 80th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race — the centrepiece of the Series and the crown jewel of Australian offshore sailing. Spanning 628 nautical miles, this iconic race is known for its demanding conditions, elite competition and international prestige. With a bolstered fleet drawn by the lure of the first ever Southern Cross Series title, this edition promises great racing from start to finish.
RACE 3 | TRANS-TASMAN YACHT RACE | 27 February 2026The Series concludes with a historic debut: the inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race, a 1,270 nautical mile blue water crossing from Sydney to Auckland.
Hold on! “INAUGURAL!” Someone hasn’t been reading their SWS!
So I wrote this email to Vito Feremans in the CYCA’s Communications department.
Hi Vito,
In regards to your recent Press Release which states…
RACE 3 | TRANS-TASMAN YACHT RACE | 27 February 2026
The Series concludes with a historic debut: the inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race, a 1,270 nautical mile blue water crossing from Sydney to Auckland. With staggered starts over three days and a finish off the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, this new challenge cements a powerful collaboration between two of the Southern Hemisphere’s most storied sailing clubs.
It’s slightly disingenuous and a little disrespectful to the pioneers on Trans -Tasman racing to call your event the “the inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race”
Respecting the achievements of the past is no doubt a thing that the CYCA values highly, so it would be great if you acknowledged the brave sailors who over 90 years ago raced this trip before GPS, POBs, PFD’s, EPIRBS, and a long list of other acronyms coined in the name of safety.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about then have a read about the first race here,
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16762132
and here for the famous second race
https://southernwoodenboatsailing.com/news/auckland-to-melbourne-the-second-tran-tasman-race
Regards
Mark
And to his credit Vito got back to me with this reply
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your email and for sharing those articles.
We absolutely agree — the achievements of the historical yacht races and competitors deserve deep respect and recognition. It was certainly not our intention to overlook or diminish their remarkable feats. Our reference to the “inaugural Trans-Tasman Yacht Race” was specifically meant to describe the CYCA’s inaugural running of this event and not to imply that it is the first Trans-Tasman race in history.
At the CYCA, we truly value and honour the legacy of offshore sailing.
Thank you again for taking the time to highlight this. We’ll ensure our communications moving forward reflect this important distinction, E.g: Inaugural CYCA Trans Tasman Yacht Race.
Kind Regards,Vito
So look out for some clearer messaging in upcoming releases!
Mini Derwent Class?
We recently received this email from Greg Clark
Hi Helm
I have a story for your publication but still trying to get some confirmation of providence. These are proving elusive.
Long story short I rescued an 18ft Huon Pine Day Sailer off the Aspendale beach many years ago in the mid of night and through a storm. The boat washed up from the Port of Mordialloc. It did make news of the local paper.
When I purchased it, I was told that it was a 1923 or 1932 yacht built in Tasmania for the son of Nettlefold family ( a birthday present).
The Nettlefold family were the Ford dealership proprietor in Hobart.
The design was expressed as a miniature Derwent class.
From your website I observed photo’s of the D class yachts of the time in Tasmania and wondering if you had more to research.I know that you are very supportive of the Derwent Class resurrection in Tasmania and have listened to the pod cast on you tube.From this association there may be a link to my boat.
After delaying the relaunch for many years, my swimming coach, mentor got a commitment from me to relaunch Thistle on 13/09/2025 at Sandringham Yacht club. There are a number of local persons following the restoration and it is time to present.
I would like to discuss if you have any relevant information or be able to reach out to get any other notes of history for this yacht.
I am a keen yachtsperson currently owning several wooden boats which I have full providence for.
Please call or communicate and I can set out further information that I have gleaned.
If you could help in any way it would be appreciated.
Thanks, and regards
Greg
Are there any SWS readers out there who can help Greg with his search for infomation? GET IN TOUCH!
Anjaro II
Last week Paul Gilker from Tybee Island in Georgia, USA, signed up to SWS. He told us of his connection with a beautiful boat called ANJARO II which is now apparently slowly dying in the old port of San Remo.
We’d love to here more stories of this vessel?
Dear Mark:
My knowledge of Anjaro II history is limited to 7 months I served as a deck hand in the early ‘80s. My Captain was Nedo Alberti Casanni .
I do believe the yacht was built in 1968 at the Sangermani yard based on a Sparkman Stephen design. Power was two fiat alfo diesel engines with Mason gear boxes. House power was an Onan generator.
Crew (5) – Captain, two deckhands, Cook and stewardess. Guests - 3 bedrooms – we sailed with 6 guests.
The Anjaro name harkens to the owner’s children – ANdre, JAnaee and ROnnie. The owner was Mr. Edwin Bernheim who founded the Mondaine watch company in 1951. The watch company is still in existence and thriving today operated by Andre and Ronnie as co-owners.
Mr. Bernheim – to us behind his back – was in the Italian tradition, Our beloved Uncle - the owner of the ship. Anjaro II was Mr. Berheim’s second Anjaro, the first was a 60 + or – Feet in length. Anjaro II was 25 meters (with bow pulpit 80 feet) with an 18 foot beam.
Mr. Bernheim was a member of the Geneva sailing club and maintained a 40 sailboat on the lake. Mr. Bernheim was a incredible individual with a real history of survival and success. It was my pleasure and honor to have served him and his guests and family during my brief tenure. We passed a few hours together at the helm on the way to Greece after passing the straits of Messina and then rounding the boot of Italy on the way to Corfu. I remember looking at the chart with Mr. Bernheim and out of innocent curiosity, I asked him – since he had a scale in his hands – just how wide was the strait. He turned to me with a big smile – holding up two fingers spread about an inch apart, and said – “this wide.” It was a good chuckle especially since I had been awake on watch since we left Naples the evening before.
My understanding is some years after we left Italy, a Swiss Japanese family purchased Anjaro II. A report I received related the yacht’s saloon was dressed in a unique style. The Sitka spruce masts – main and mizzen replaced with Aluminum. My last report is the hull, I knew as Anjaro II – a beautiful yacht, now lies as a derelict in the old San Remo harbor.
Thank you for your publication and most of all reminding me of Anjaro II.
Sincerely,
Paul Gilker
www.tidelog.com
Vanishing Kelp
And finally this really nice multi media presentation from our ABC, via our friends at the MMHN. (you should sign up for their email. It’s great!)
Reports multiply about the gradual disappearance of the marvellous bull kelp and the ‘kelpers’ gathering beach kelp on King Island in Bass Strait. Kelpers are prohibited from diving to harvest kelp from the ocean floor. Only the thick brown bull kelp the ocean has cast onto the shore can be collected. Bull kelp, or Durvillaea potatorum, is harvested to extract alginate which is used for many products from gels and pastes to shampoos and even salad dressing. Locations where kelp was once plentiful are now empty. “Now it’s bare, it’s like a forest that’s been cut down.” Where there used to be 50 full-time kelpers, only 5 – 6 remain. Why is this so? Research is underway.