Oimara

The Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats

OIMARA NEEDS A NEW HOME

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Norm Souter-Smith recently contacted the Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats to find a good home for his very historic yacht Oimara.

Norm wrote:

"It is with a lot of sadness that my wife Beryl and I have come to the decision that Oimara should be passed to a younger person or organization with the enthusiasm and enterprise to restore her to her former glory".

Oimara needs a new home

Australian Shipping Registration. 153931 Sail No. S9

OIMARA is on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels

OIMARA. Built 1903 by E. A. (Ned) Jack, Launceston, TASMANIA
A gaff-rigged ketch, Oimara was prominent in Australian waters as an ocean racing yacht from the 1920’s to the 40’s. Raced by the Bennell family she re-introduced the Bass Strait races (winning in1929, ’34, and 37) and founded the trans-Tasman races (1931). The Bennell’s, prominent Melbourne dentists, mounted a dentist’s chair in the main cabin just aft of the main mast and sailed around Bass Strait during the ‘30’s pulling teeth. In this way they were able to keep their yacht during those difficult times. Each Xmas, the yachts in the Portsea to Devonport race still compete for the “Bennell Cup”.

Oimara is now 107 years old and has reached the stage where she requires a certain amount of work to return her to her former glory. Outside she looks great but some of her ribs and deck beams require replacing.

This is an historic vessel worthy of restoration and maintaining due to the wonderful part it played in developing ocean racing in Australia and New Zealand. A list of some books detailing her exploits follows.

A HUNDRED YEARS OF YACHTING.
Published 1936 by J Walch & Sons Pty Ltd HOBART TASMANIA

THE VOYAGE OF THE TEDDY Erling Tambs

BEFORE THE WIND A new Zealand Yachting Anthology. ISBN 0 589 0110605
Published 1979

YACHTING AUSTRALIA Lou d’Alpuget ISBN 0 09 137360 3 Published 1980

THE LONG HARD BEAT A history of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron
Published 1990 ISBN 0646 01210 X

THE CHAMPAGNE MUMM BOOK OF OCEAN RACING Ian Dear
Published 1985 ISBN 0 688 05822 1

BASS STRAIT KETCHES Harold Salter ISBN 0 7246 2560 7 Published 1991

Contact owner.            Norm Souter-Smith
                                    P. O. Box 1123
                                    TOWNSVILLE               QLD.    4810
                                    soutersmith@optusnet.com.au
                                    Ph. 07    4721 3545           Mob. 0412 023 750

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