THELMA ?!

[MAGIC's Craig]

Hello, John B:

We recently received an email from the Pardeys about their new boat:

"We are off on another crazy adventure – this one right here at our home base in New Zealand. Yes, we have become the proud owners of one of the oldest racing yachts in New Zealand, 37 foot Thelma, designed and built by C and W Bailey 109 years ago in 1895, only 30 miles from here in Auckland. She is in remarkable condition for her age, with about 96 percent of her hull being original Kauri with copper rivets. She is triple skinned from keel to bilge stringer, then double skinned from there. Through the years her deck has become somewhat of a hodge podge, but her hull has been kept intact and watertight. Her rig is the original one, restored about ten years ago with pretty good life left in the sails. Her racing record under several owners is darned good for a sliver of a thing. She is only 7”6” beam and displaces 4.5 tons.

Why did we do it? She needed us. We needed a good project, an excuse to spend more time at this lovely spot we have here. She was caught up in a divorce – sitting unused with a few small problems that are right up Larry’s alley. We did a thorough survey, including hiring an outside surveyor to go over every inch of the hull with us. Plan is to do only essential work this month, get her back in full sailing condition for the summer and autumn sailing and racing season, get to know her well, then gradually upgrade her to a state her original builders would be proud to see.

No this does not mean we have forgotten our lovely Taleisin, we plan to return to Victoria BC in April or May and spend the northern summer enjoying her graces. If our program works out, we might just have nothing but summers for several years – with two completely different types of sailing to fill our days."

So what can you share with us about the history of the lovely appearing THELMA?
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid149/p7c7aca24819ad9ac3ffdec0551927470/f5fd107b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid149/p76dcaf4e59315f4500a3fd506c157e82/f5fd107a.jpg

[John B]

This is what I've been telling the forum for a few weeks now Craig. ;) No one seemed too interested so I didn't push it.
I've made numerous posts and references to her over the last few years actually.
Thelma was owned and refurbished by a school friend of mine from 1985 or so through to about 2003 so I've done a few races and a few miles on her. In fact, John first came sailing on Waione, got the oldboat bug and went shopping. Thelma was about the third or fourth boat he and I went to look at. John sold her a year ago, but because of a relationship breakup she was sold again.
She's from the same stable as our old boat. 1895 , built for Dunedin harbour down south( so she was built shallower than normal. She has a few issues but nothing really serious that I know of. She's apparently getting a new bib on the counter now and a bit of deck work.
The rig isn't original. When John Bought her she was bemudan rigged with a masthead ali mast. He first got that lengthened and converted to fractional and then about 5 or 7 years ago he re rigged the boat gaff to as close to original design as possible.
So she's a honey and I've a lot of affection for the old girl. John is dropping in to see them before christmas and if we get the weather we want we will possibly stop off as well. We have other friends in North cove too.

[John B]

At mahurangi regatta 2004
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid102/pc017834493fa5a6b0d6b5590839f788f/f9cd0daf.jpg

I'll tell you something funny to do Craig.

we always called her Ethel. I don't know why... perhaps its because the two names are from a similar era or something. Remember the song the streak? "don't look Ethel".
So Ethel then morphed into The "Don't look".

"I'm going fer a sail on the don't look tonight... wanna come?"

You could have some fun with that

at the yard from our masthead
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid16/p3db8de183890df6abd8dc7587d788c79/fdf32297.jpg

.A recent post with a bermudan photo in it

http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=002276

[ 12-07-2004, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[MAGIC's Craig]

Will do...It is always fun to tease those two!! ;)

[MAGIC's Craig]

John:

BTW, my apologies for not having done the "search" thing. But then. I figured you would be the knowledgeable source....even if you do not sail a schooner (yet)!

Cheers,

Craig tongue.gif

[John B]

am I sounding grumpy? sorry about that.. I've been in "fibreglass dinghy hell" for several evenings/days now .Carcinogens... who cares about carcinogens anyway, its the itching I hate.
Combine that with general bah humbug and practise for O and O membership and whaddaya get?
a grumpy person without a schooner.
:D

On the bright side, we're going sailing for a month in 2 weeks!

even if its only in a cutter. smile.gif

[ 12-07-2004, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Boomkin Joe]

A magic boat, for sure.
Funny thing is another Thelma, 72' cutter was built of kauri wood by the rival Logans in 1898, and is now skipped by Aussie Mike Rose after her restoration.

[ 12-08-2004, 06:00 AM: Message edited by: Boomkin Joe ]

[Thad]

"only in a cutter" Boo hoo. Good on THELMA too

[John B]

Thats the big Thelma Boomkin Joe.60 ft from memory. She left here in the early 40's, was used in Tahiti in a patrol type role during the war and after was sold to the US navy to become an R and R yacht. Then she went to California, ran down a bit over the years, was in WB " save a classic" only a couple of years ago ( if that), sold to an Aussie and refurbished back to a flush deck etc, went to Florida just down the way from Margo, tried to leave ,went aground, nearly was lost ( I hear) and then was shipped to the med where she's doing the circuit and is for sale. Phew. Thats the big Thelma. There's a middle sized Thelma too here in Auckland .A K class.