Sunday 20 August 2023
News from Cygnet Wooden Boats August 20, 2023 at 10:18AM
The Huon Pine Derwent River Racing Launch ADELA, returns to the water after a mere seven years in the shed. 😊
Sunday 6 August 2023
News from Cygnet Wooden Boats August 06, 2023 at 04:33PM
MISTRAL III UPDATE NO.1 Cygnet Wooden Boats would like to welcome the Sparkman and Stephens designed yacht MISTRAL III to the shed. Built by Wilson Bros of Port Cygnet of Huon Pine for Guy Rex a prominent businessman and keen yachtsman of Hobart. On boxing day 1938, MISTRAL III was towed by the Motor Launch WAYAREE during a gale to Battery Point in Hobart, there to be fitted out at the Purdon & Featherstone Yard and subsequently launched in 1939. Designed by Olin Stephens as a cruiser/ racer and penned in 1935. S&S design No. 97. In 1939 Guy Rex had MISTRAL III lengthened by 1ft 6", making her overall length 32ft. This modification allowed for the removal of the bumpkin and was said to create a more pleasing stern. 1945 Guy Rex sold MISTRAL III to Messrs Lording and Brown of the Royal Victorian Yacht Club of Melbourne. In 1960 MISTRAL III was purchased by M.C Dowd of the Cruising yacht club of Australia of Sydney to compete in the 1962 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. At some time after 1963, MISTRAL returned to ownership in Tasmania. Eventually her advancing years caught up with her and it was time for a full restoration or end her days. Fortunately for MISTRAL a caring owner found her and embarked on complete rebuild. (At this point CWB would like to acknowledge the fine work of the Wilsons Boat Yard on progressing the restoration of MISTRAL III) Apon her arrival into Cygnet Wooden Boats shipwrights Jeremy and Peter made a thorough survey of the boat and discovered that the original Tasmanian Bluegum stem and horn timbers had significant cracks and needed to be replaced. Further investigation revealed that parts of the damaged timbers had been replaced and the horn timber had also been crossed bolted in an attempt to keep the water out. The decision was made to replace the stem and horn timbers with laminated Huon Pine, never an easy job even for an experienced Shipwright. As you can see from the following photos, with Peter leading the team, MISTRAL'S new timbers are in place with the appropriate new supporting floors are now in place. With MISTRAL III'S backbone now repaired to team has commenced the completion of the new deck! Big thanks to Pete Paxton, Mark Adams and the Wilson Yard for the current pictures. Also thanks to Suzanna Rex and Nicole Mays for the historic photos of MISTRAL III.
Saturday 5 August 2023
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