Page 75 - Mark Chews Forty Two Australian Wooden Sailing Boats Sept 17 2020

AORERE’s significance lies not in a design pedigree from a famous designer such as It was a memorable feat to be talked about for years. Skipper Watt’s was so delighted
Fife, nor in an outstanding racing career. Her importance lies more in the fact that with AORERE’s performance that he sent her plans to Fife in Scotland and asked to
she was independently designed by a young Australian engineer and built using design a Marconi rig which was eventually put into AORERE.
local construction methods. Although there are several workboats and open boats
AORERE is thought to have been sent to Western Australia around 1987, and was
that have survived from earlier times, there are no known ballasted racing yachts
purchased at auction in 1992 and taken out of the water for restoration. The old
surviving that have wholly Australian origins.
deck and superstructure were stripped off and the majority of ribs replaced before
AORERE, which is Maori for 'Flying Cloud', (but should not be confused with the the hull was sold to Nicki King Smith and John Buchanan.
Logan boat of the same name launched in Auckland in 1892) is a clipper bowed
AORERE was subsequently purchased in December 1995 by Andrew Mason and Ed
yacht 38ft overall, 8’ beam with a draft of 5'9", a long bowsprit for jib and staysail,
van Beem and underwent a two year restoration to original condition. After
and a boom hanging over the counter stern about four feet. The luff of the mainsail
restoration she was sailed regularly in the Swan River and was a well loved and
was attached to the mast with 9 cane rings and these served as a ladder to climb
commented upon boat.
the mast and make fast the large jackyard topsail.
In 2013 AORERE was purchased by Chris and Liana Grannery and trucked to Albany
She was built by a Mr. E.G. Phillips of St Kilda and launched 21st March 1898 to
where underwent a second refit.
immediately go on a maiden voyage to Mornington some 20 miles down the coast.
AORERE was designed by one of her original owners, Andrew Lyell Scott, a 21 She was re planked below the water line in Huon Pine had some ribs replaced in
year-old engineering graduate. Scott’s co-owner was 21 year-old law student Samuel Karri and a new interior installed in Australian cedar. She is now being sailed in
Amess Junior, grandson of the former Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Princess Royal harbour in Albany, WA.
For the 1901-1902 season she was sold to Dr. Retallack, who appears to have only
owned her for a short time as there is a result on 17/3/1904 of her winning an
important race in the name of Dr. Hodgson. She was sold again for the 1907-08
season to another Royal St Kilda Yacht Club member Mr A.C. (Bert) Watts, a wealthy
Western Australian grazier and cattle station owner affectionately known as “Skipper
Watts”.

AORERE became his social racing and entertaining boat, being beautifully lined in
French polished Australian red cedar with red plush cushions and furnishings, and
she was always a treat to behold above and below decks.

Skipper Watts was a well-known figure on Port Phillip and on the reintroduction of
the Six Metre class at the Royal St Kilda Yacht Club, had built for the Northcote Cup
Challenge JUDITH PIHL

It was about 1938 that AORERE, then fitted with a mast and sails retained from
JUDITH PIHL, was entered in the 38 mile Williamstown to Geelong race. It was
blowing 35-45 mph from the southwest with big seas. Immediately successful,
AORERE tramped, or rather submarined her way through the fleet of great yachts,
including “ACROSPIRE IV” and“EUN_NA_MARA” , and eventually gained line honours.

CYAA Magazine Issue 43 September 2020 Page 75