1951 - Lahara "The Monsoon"
'In 1951 I was sailing master on the 33-foot Bermudan sloop, Lahara, which in Papuan means 'North-West Monsoon'. She was a forerunner to a prototype of my Abel Tasman design. She had been built at our Battery point boatyard and launched on December 8 the previous year for Des Ashton, a New Guinea coastal patrol officer who was based at Port Moresby.
"After several years of being poorly maintained in Sydney, she has recently been thoroughly restored by her current owner, Ray Joyce of Pittwater, Broken Bay, New South Wales.
"Joining Des Ashton and myself in the crew were, well-known yacht builder designer, Ray Kemp of Woodbridge, Hobart watchmaker, Fred Job, Alan Caddie and Stan Bradfield. Once again we had inadvertently been given a loaded rating prior to the start (which was corrected prior to the start of the Trans-Tasman race), but in spite of this finished second on handicap to T. Williamson's Struen Marie. "
"After several years of being poorly maintained in Sydney, she has recently been thoroughly restored by her current owner, Ray Joyce of Pittwater, Broken Bay, New South Wales.
"Joining Des Ashton and myself in the crew were, well-known yacht builder designer, Ray Kemp of Woodbridge, Hobart watchmaker, Fred Job, Alan Caddie and Stan Bradfield. Once again we had inadvertently been given a loaded rating prior to the start (which was corrected prior to the start of the Trans-Tasman race), but in spite of this finished second on handicap to T. Williamson's Struen Marie. "
The team which heped to launch Lass O'Luss in 1948.
Back four, Ieft to right: Viv Leary, Hughie Auld, Don Muir, Alan Cracknell.
Middle four, Ieft to right: Viv Bahr, Roy Gibson, Gahy Brown, Norm Taylor.
Front row, Left. to right: Corrie Blackwell (who christened the yacht), Merv Stuart, Jock Muir (holding his daughter Lynette), John Colquhoun (the owner) and Budd Read.
Back four, Ieft to right: Viv Leary, Hughie Auld, Don Muir, Alan Cracknell.
Middle four, Ieft to right: Viv Bahr, Roy Gibson, Gahy Brown, Norm Taylor.
Front row, Left. to right: Corrie Blackwell (who christened the yacht), Merv Stuart, Jock Muir (holding his daughter Lynette), John Colquhoun (the owner) and Budd Read.