Page 9 - Mark Chews Forty Two Australian Wooden Sailing Boats Sept 17 2020

A product of the most famous designer of the last 150 years… This magnificent In 1954 she was bought by the Livingston family and renamed 'KURRAWA IV' (fast
yacht is a pivotal part of the story of Australia’s yachting history. She has been swimming fish). She remained in Sydney sometime and then went to the Livingston’s
owned by some of Australia’s greatest yachting personalities, including James home club, the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Between 1954 and 1960 she entered
Hardie, Sir Frank Packer, Claude Plowman, and the Livingston brothers. But during six Sydney-Hobart races and achieved the fastest time in four on four occasions. In
the 2000's and 2010's every time I sailed up to Sydney from Melbourne I would these races, John Livingston would stand in the bows playing the bagpipes as a
see her sitting on her mooring at Kirribilli, pumps running, looking sadder and challenge to the rest of the fleet and to warn the spectator boats to keep clear.
sadder. I’ve had a bit of trouble working out what’s happening to her now, but it
seems that a restoration is a possibility thanks to Sean Langman and Noakes Bear in mind the last of these Sydney to Hobart victories was 47 years after she was
Shipyard, (any further information gratefully received). launched.

Although MORNA was never rated as a 12-Metre her drawings probably came Of her final victory in 1960 the Canberra times wrote:
from the First International Rule. She was built for Sir Alexander MacCormick, “KURRAWA IV finished at 7.11 p.m. after covering the last 40 nautical miles at an
named after one of his daughters. Incredibly, this yacht was built for day sailing average speed of 8 knots…When the yachts rounded Tasman Light only about 15
and as a flagship for her first owner who was Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron miles separated the three leaders, but KURRAWA IV, flying before a 30-knot
Commodore. southerly left SOLO and ASTOR both in lighter breezes, well behind. The remainder
of the fleet is strung out up the length of the Tasmanian coast. Veteran blue water
Sir Claude Plowman, a radio manufacturer, bought her in 1930. He loved ace Jock Muir, of Hobart, who was KURRAWA’S IV sailing master, said the race was
competition and fitted her out for racing. She began to show her potential and one of the easiest in which he had sailed. "We were in front for most of the way
consistently won races in the 1930's as the scratch boat on Sydney Harbour. He except for one day when ASTOR hit the front," he said. "But we were a bit worried
then entered her in three consecutive Sydney-Hobart races from 1946 to 1948 when we spent five and a half hours almost becalmed getting round Tasman Light."
and she won line honours in each event. "At times it was frustrating and at other times exciting, "said John Livingston. "We
carried the big spinnaker 2.500 square feet—for 17 hours at one stage and made
The Canberra Times of 1947 reported: 200 miles in 24 hours."
“The yacht race from Sydney to Hobart finished when the 65 ft Sydney cutter,
MORNA crossed the finishing line at 1.53 p.m. today. More than 3,000 people on Through the family of KURRAWA IV watch captain, Doug Robertson, CYAA has access
the Hobart waterfront cheered wildly as the MORNA sailed in. … She has the to significant KURRAWA IV documents of record. Doug’s eldest brother, Ron, when
greatest length of any entrant and a width of 13 feet. The MORNA wins the special skippering KURRAWA IV, was lost overboard off Sydney Heads during a June 1958
challenge trophy presented by Captain John H. Illingworth for the first yacht to storm. Doug Robertson’s son, Ian, as a 10 year old, sailed on her return voyages to
finish. Yachting experts tip the Sydney cutter, CHRISTINA, to win the handicap. Sydney. Now, as ex Sailing Administrator of Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, Ian reports,
“Although sea sick all the way, for a 10 year old, what a life”.
Tony Gray, ex-R.A.N., one of the MORNA’S navigators, who suffered a sprained
ankle, was the only member of the crew to suffer any injury. The MORNA had a Contrary to the Livingston’s opinion they would rather send KURRAWA IV to a
close shave when the freighter, IRON BARON came out of a dense fog on Friday Viking funeral than sell her, this yacht deserves to be out there sailing again after
morning and passed her so close that, according to one of the crew, he could have so many years languishing in Careening Cove. Let’s hope there is the determination
thrown an apple on board. On Sunday morning the MORNA struck one of the and the dollars out there to make it happen.
Tasmanian east coast calms, and progress was slow until the wind freshened to
S.S.W. on Monday night.”

CYAA Magazine Issue 43 September 2020 Page 9