Wooden Boat
Association
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Wooden Boat
Association
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The Boat That Jack Built An adventure story from WBA North Qld
Many people in the yachting world across the Pacific Region and in Australia would have met or will know of Jack Earl. Jack was one of Australia's most noted maritime adventurers and artists. He is probably best known for his circumnavigation of the world in the "Kathleen Gillett" when Jack and his crew left Sydney 50 years ago to sail round the world. In 1948 the "Kathleen Gillett" visited Papeete in Tahiti and her crew enjoyed great hospitality. In the famous "Log of the Kathleen Gillett", Jack's sketches, paintings, photographs and diary notes detail the September 1948 days in Tahiti. Jack Earl was also a founding member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and also to his credit was one of the fleet to sail in the inaugural and now internationally famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The "Kathleen Gillett" is now proudly moored and sailed from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. The second boat Jack had built, "Maris" is now owned and sailed by Ian Kiernan AM of Clean Up Australia fame. It was on a passage on "Maris" that Jack, Ian and Jack's grandson Ben discussed the concept of building a small boat the Jack and his wife Kathleen could sail from Tahiti to Australia. "SMOKY CAPE", a 26 ft timber yawl is the sound and seaworthy boat built to sail this dream. SMOKY CAPE was given a Tahitian launch with family and friends in 1973. Unfortunately circumstances left this part of Jack's and Kathleen's dream unfulfilled. Steve and Michaela Moss are now the owners of SMOKY CAPE and have made plans to sail SMOKY CAPE on the voyage for which she was intended. SMOKY CAPE will be shipped to Tahiti early in 1998 and sailed back to Australia with her owners as crew. She will arrive in Sydney 50 years after Jack completed his circumnavigation on December 7, where she will be met by the Kathleen Gillett and Maris. The aim of this project is to promote Jack Earl as one of Australia's great seamen, an early ambassador for Australia and highly acclaimed maritime artist who has made his mark in Australian and Pacific Maritime History. This adventure is accompanied by the hope for a satellite linked school education package, commemorative poster and the promotion of marine environmental conservation in boating. This historical, reminiscent sail welcomes support from anyone interested in the voyage or in participation in any form. Steve and Michaela Moss "The Boat that Jack Built"
Tel: 0011 61 015
66 4745
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