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2009 – October

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NEWS

2009 – October

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Fagel Grip Suffers A Collision...

Last month was trying times for Jerry Lees the owner of the 30sqm yacht Fagel Grip. While at rest on her mooring in Sydney harbour, she was hit by a passing boat in her stern section. The damage wasn’t catastrophic but it would have likely sunk the average sqm yacht.

Fagel grip however is not your average sqm yacht. Fagel Grip was relaunched in July after completing an extensive restoration in Thailand. She was modified with a removable stern to fit a 40 foot container.

A person wearing a dust mask uses a hand saw to cut wood while restoring the hull of a classic sailing yacht on a stand in an outdoor marina.

This modification with a sealed bulkhead for the stern section prevented water from entering rest of the yacht.

A large, white, triangular metal panel with circular holes and bolts, likely from a Square Metre Yachts or Schärenkreuzer project, lies flat on the ground. A metal cleat is attached near the centre, with plastic sheeting partially covering the sides.

Recently she was slipped at the Woolwich slipway where she had her stern repaired and the yacht is making up for lost time on Sydney harbour sailing in the Balmain twilight series and the SASC classic division racing.

A Month Of Reunions...

Last month there was 2 yachts that where reunited with their history. The first event took place at Woolwich Slipway while Fagel Grip was undergoing her repairs from her recent collision.

A Skerry Cruiser with two people on board glides across a body of water, with a forested shoreline and rocky bank visible in the background under sunny weather.

The owner of Fagel Grip from back in the 1970s Alf Patton and Tony Fletcher, visited the yacht to relive old memories and share them with Jerry Lees and myself Cameron Wiklund. Alf while disappointed at first because the boat had gone from a varnished hull to white, was however greatly impressed with her overall condition and  understood the need to change her appearance with there being so much new timber not matching the old sun exposed timbers.

Larool meets her past...

The other reunion  took place more recently on Sydney harbour between Keith Daltons grandson , Mac Dalton and her current owner Tjerk Dusseldorp. Keith Dalton was the previous owner of Larool and his grandson Mac Dalton has had a picture of Larool on his office wall which could only fuel his fascination of such a wonderful yacht.

A person in a cap and striped shirt works on building a wooden boat inside a tent or workshop, its smooth hull prominently visible—a scene reminiscent of crafting Classic Sailing Yachts like Skerry Cruisers or Square Metre Yachts.

Mac showed an interest in meeting up with Tjek Dusseldorp which went well by the report Tjek supplied me.

I thought I’d let you know that I took Mac and Penny Dalton sailing on Larool last weekend, and they clearly enjoyed the experience with Mac taking lots of pictures. Mac is actually the nephew of Keith Dalton who commissioned the boat, and as he was only 2 years of age when Keith died, all that he knew about Larool was passed onto him by his father who was much younger than Keith. Mac has been in the boating business for most of his life, but gave up sailing
some years ago, and is only just returning to it now. Hence his interest in Larool.

Mac told me he’s considering the idea to build himself a boat with some of the characteristics of the skerry cruiser but with a bigger cockpit and some more mod cons.

The ASQMA will be keeping in touch with Mac to follow his progress.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a Classic Sailing Yacht with a tall mast gliding on the sea, two people visible on deck, and waves breaking gently against the hull under an open sky.

Around The Yards...

The Story of Benchmark continues…

A wooden Square Metre Yacht in a garage is under repair, with new wooden ribs attached to its hull. Nearby are tools, paint tins, and a cloth-covered stool, while the unfinished hull reveals the classic yacht's underlying structure.

She has her lower planks removed to inspect the deadwood and ribs and so the can of worms is opened.

Close-up of weathered wooden beams, with square holes and greenish discolouration, reminiscent of the aged construction found on Classic Sailing Yachts or elegant Square Metre Yachts, showing signs of age and damage.

“So Carl have you heard of the 2.37 rule?”

A close-up of a wooden Skerry Cruiser hull under repair, with sections of rotten wood removed. Two measuring sticks and chalk markings display 24½ and 27, indicating measurements for restoration.

The yacht is measured for replanking and replacement ribs.

Two people wearing gloves and protective clothing work at a table covered in plastic, handling long rectangular objects—possibly components for Skerry Cruisers or Square Metre Yachts—with various tools and materials spread out before them.

Carl laminates a rib. Then another and another and…

Damaged wooden boat hull with exposed ribs and beams, showing broken and missing planks. The structure appears weathered and is indoors, possibly undergoing repair or restoration of a classic Schärenkreuzer or Square Metre Yacht.

Nice work…. More to come on Benchmarks progress…. Wings..

Close-up of weathered, aged wooden beams and arch-like structures with rectangular holes, displaying signs of rot and wear—reminiscent of the craftsmanship found in Classic Sailing Yachts or historic Square Metre Yachts.

Wings is slipped for a clean and and inspection of her sheathing.

The inspection went well and she gets a new red coat of antifouling.

While this is not an offer of my antifouling services I did find her relatively easy to clean up and antifoul due to the small amount of wetted area these yachts have.
 
With the cabin top made of four pieces of aged ply with 2 cracked structural beams and the the old winch mounts, I decided the cabin top had to go.

A white Classic Sailing Yacht with a red keel is lifted on a boat cradle at a quayside facility, with water and boats visible in the background.
Close-up of a damaged wooden boat hull, possibly from a classic Square Metre Yacht, with several planks missing and the weathered interior structure exposed amid debris.

Nice work…. More to come on Benchmarks progress…. Wings..

A cluttered, weathered boat interior with exposed wooden beams, peeling paint, ropes, a lifebuoy, and scattered supplies evokes the timeless charm of classic sailing yachts in need of repair.

Visualize the Dream…   Visualize the Dreammmm…!
Every time I did this however I would open my eyes and the dream was whisked out of my thoughts..

The satisfying strip out. Surprisingly under all that muck only a handful of ribs and one cracked floor needed replacing.

Having removed the automatic bilge pump I was surprised to discover she is a dry boat.. Just a small amount of water comes down the mast when it rains.

View of the damaged inside keel and ribs of an old wooden Square Metre Yacht, showing cracks and missing pieces in the hull structure, with worn paint and rust visible on the wood and metal parts.

It was a rough time of it with a mountain of dust and sanding before reaching this point.
Next month, a few home made additions are finished and the sole is fitted.

A white sailboat, reminiscent of Classic Sailing Yachts, is lifted on a boat hoist beside a car park, near a marina filled with boats and yachts on the water.
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