Page 5 - Mark Chews Forty Two Australian Wooden Sailing Boats Sept 17 2020

This unpretentious double ender has one of the more remarkable histories of any Galapagos Islands, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga and New Zealand. Earl painted pictures
yacht I know. She played a key role in the creation of Australia’s greatest yacht race, during the voyage and at ports of call to help pay for stores along the way.
she circumnavigated the world when few had done so (a voyage that was beautifully
recorded) and then after years of a colourful tropical existence was wrecked and The adventures of KATHLEEN GILLETT and crew were detailed in articles written by
then reborn in extraordinary circumstances. In my eyes, she embodies the first mate Mick Morris that were published each month in Seacraft magazine and
characteristics that make Australia’s sailing history so special; utilitarian, practical, followed by an appreciative audience. The articles also featured Jack Earl’s drawings
adaptable and adventurous. She is truly a treasure of Australian sailing history. and sketches. Earl illustrated a log of the voyage and sent it home from ports of call
to his family. In Sydney, the log became as celebrated as the voyage; friends, family,
Built in Sydney between 1933 and 1939, KATHLEEN GILLETT was one of the cruising sailors and colleagues anticipated its arrival and pored over the contents.
yachts to enter the first Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1945. She then became
well known as the second Australian yacht to complete a circumnavigation of the Upon KATHLEEN GILLETT’S return to Sydney the Earl family moved back on board,
world, from 1947 to 1948. During and after the voyage, the owner and skipper, living in Mosman Bay until the boat was sold. For the next 35 years she had a colourful
marine artist Jack Earl (OAM), became widely recognised as a result of the richly career which included over a dozen owners and roles as varied as copra trading vessel
illustrated articles and logbook he created during the voyage. Earl’s in New Guinea, Tourist Charter boat, trochus shell carrier, crocodile hunter and private
circumnavigation was made in a simply built and maintained yacht adapted from yacht.
another design and the crew supplemented their small funds with the sale of Earl’s
paintings along the way. In this way it was an inspiration to the public and Earl and In late May 1975 super-typhoon Pamela formed in the lower part of the North Pacific
his crew achieved great recognition for their voyage. Ocean and bore down directly on Apia Harbour during the afternoon of 21 May where
KATHLEEN GILLETT was at moored. After a valiant struggle to save the yacht she was
She was built by Charles Larson at his Wharf Road boat yard in Gladesville, New eventually wrecked on a coral reef in the harbour.
South Wales. Larson was Swedish and had been a ship’s carpenter on square riggers.
Construction proceeded at Larson’s shed over a six-year period at a pace KATHLEEN GILLETT was severely damaged along the port side and keel, but was
appropriate to Jack Earl’s resources. Larson’s team would often work on the yacht salvaged by Reg Stephenson, the owner at the time. After a series of disputes between
when there were no other projects needing immediate attention. the yard and the often absent owner she passed into the ownership of Vaughan
Tyndzik (a captain of a local research vessel). Vaughan and his wife Jane worked on
A gaff ketch, just over 13 metres long, her design was based on an unknown set of the yacht in a piecemeal way as their funds allowed, living on board for some years
plans from the famous Norwegian naval architect, Colin Archer, which Larson and eventually restoring KATHLEEN GILLETT to sailing condition.
possessed.
The Norwegian government bought the boat from the Tyndziks in 1987. The ketch
In preparation for the circumnavigation the yacht had a shelter built around the was shipped back to Australia for restoration by Halvorsen Boats Pty Ltd (in
cockpit to protect the crew and the brightwork was painted because it was easier consultation with Jack Earl) in preparation for its handover to the Australian National
and cheaper to maintain than varnish. Maritime Museum as the Norwegian bicentennial gift to Australia in 1988. KATHLEEN
GILLETT was accepted into the National Maritime Collection in 1991 where it has
They were away for exactly 18 months, leaving on 7 June 1947 and sailing through been maintained in sailing condition at the museum wharves.
Sydney Heads again on 7 December 1948. They covered 26,000 nautical miles in a
voyage that went first to the north of Australia, then across the Indian Ocean, then Jack Earl was awarded the OAM in 1992. As the traditional seaweed was draped over
the Atlantic Ocean to Panama. From there they crossed the Pacific, including the his coffin, a dirge was blown from a conch shell

CYAA Magazine Issue 43 September 2020 Page 5