Page 57 - Mark Chews Forty Two Australian Wooden Sailing Boats Sept 17 2020

BALANDRA was built in Hobart by Jock Muir in 1966 for Sir Robert Crichton Brown, From the fibreglass-covered plywood deckhouse roof to the considerably
a well-known businessman and yachtsman. BALANDRA was selected to represent cambered decks fore and aft and the very high bulwarks for'ard, there is evidence
Australian in the team for the 1967 Admiral’s Cup, the principal event for offshore of profound thought given to the crewmen's lot. The bulwarks, for example,
racing at the time. The three-yacht team, BALANDRA, CAPRICE OF HUON and protect the for'ard hands and also disguise the hogged sheer. BALANDRA and
MERCEDES III went on to win this event, the first time it was won by Australia, and her crew hope for success in this month's Hobart race and the big ones in Britain.
BALANDRA was the second highest point scoring yacht in the series.
In 2017 BALANDRA was undergoing the final stages of an extensive overhaul and
SEACRAFT magazine gave two pages to BALANDRA in their December 1966 edition, restoration project in Hobart.
at which time BALANDRA’s position in the team was assured.
“ BALANDRA is an ocean-racing man's dream. She is big, roomy, well laid out, fast
and beautiful.
Her speed is emphasised by her berth in Australia's Admiral's Cup team to challenge
British supremacy next September in the Fastnet and other races.
Two years ago, her British sister-ship, QUIVER IV blazed the trail for her country's
success in the Admiral's Cup and the clash between these two magnificent yachts
may be the highlight of the 1967 series.
Built in Hobart by Jock Muir, she will always remain— in the minds of Tasmanians
— a Tasmanian boat although owned by Sydney yachtsman Robert Crichton-Brown
and registered in that city. To keep faith with her admirers, her crew will be taking
her to Hobart this Christmas.
Two layers of Honduras mahogany (inner skin 3/8 in. outer 5/8 in.) give BALANDRA
a strong but light hull aided by laminated mahogany frames at 8 in. centres and
Tasmanian swamp gum keel and strengthening timbers. Deck beams are laminated
English spruce over which two sheets of 1/4 in. Australian marine plywood have
been glued.
Spars are alloy by Alspar and feature bolt rope track on mast and boom plus outhaul
controls on the mast. Mainsail can be made fuller for running by adjustment to tack
and clew — as used on planning dinghies.
Twin spinnaker poles make jibing a snack, one to windward and one to leeward ,
which saves "end-for-ending" and valuable seconds.”
It was fitted with a Parson’s '4107 Penguin 4-cylinder, 39 hp lightweight diesel and
the wardrobe of sails were made in Hood sailcloth from the USA by Joe Pearce
whose loft was at Careening Cove. It carried Australian made Barlow winches and
the latest navigation and performance electronics.

CYAA Magazine Issue 43 September 2020 Page 57