More historical pictures (from Trish Crabtree)

 

More history (from Trish Crabtree)

Dear John,

My apologies for taking so long to get in touch again.  I have had trouble finding pictures of Fair Maid when we had her. Sadly many of the slides have disappeared but I have a few to send you.

I am not terribly sure of dates, I thought it was around 1955 0r 1956 that dad brought Fair Maid from Geraldton, she was in a terrible state and had been used as a cray fishing boat. You mentioned in your blog that The Leslie’s had Fair Maid till 1955, so I am not sure how long she was in Geraldton. She arrived at Royal Perth looking very sorry for herself. Dad was the butt of many jokes and laughter. He got to and spent ages restoring her. He sanded and varnished all the woodwork inside and out. Sanded the decking and recorked the planks. She looked beautiful when he had finished. But as you know it is always a ongoing process.

Dad also carved the number for the registration of Fair Maid as British registered yacht. He was so proud motoring down Fremantle harbour when a British naval ship happened to be in port. He would dip the Blue Ensign and wait for one of the crew to run to the stern to dip their flag. It never happened.

It was always a hairy experience lowering the heavy wooden mast to get under the bridges at Fremantle. One day the pin slipped out of the base of the mast and dad was standing there like Samson trying to physically pull the mast into place so one of us could insert the pin. Many scary times. The crew was usually mum and three daughters, except when dad was racing. 

She is a lovely all-round boat great for holidays at Rottnest, also a successful racing yacht. Dad raced every Saturday. In winter we raced in the “motorboat” category and with all sorts of boats it was handicapped race and great fun.

She raced under R6. I am a bit confused as to who owned her when she was R43 and then RF 49?

Mum and the 3 of us entered the Ladies skippers race each year at Royal Perth. I think we all did fairly well, I remember getting first and fastest when it was my turn. 

Dad only raced once in the Perth to Bunbury race and had to pull out with something wrapped around the prop.

Our mooring at Rottnest was about a few metres north of the existing ferry jetty. Dad had a train wheel transported and dropped in place.

Sadly mum had a stroke in 1962 I think it may have been around then or later that dad sold Fair Maid to Ken Reagon who was one of dads crew. He had several sons and the family enjoyed sailing. I think it was Ken who changed the mast to aluminum and of course the stern sprit went, I always loved hanging out there.  Ken died suddenly at a very an early age, I am not sure how long Joy his widow kept the boat or whether she used it before selling it.  

I cannot tell you much more I am sorry I will include the pictures I have and hope it can you a bit of an idea of previous rigging etc.

You have done a huge amount of work on her and I know you will be enjoying her as we did.

Kind regards,

Trisha Crabtree

Name boards

When launched, Fair Maid had a pair of boards affixed to her transom, presumably with her name n them.  We decided to replace them.  The plan is carved lettering in jarrah, filled with gold foil, and varnished.

Having never done any carving this has been a serious challenge.

First, a practice board.

Not happy with the results from the router, so let’s try proper carving.

Time to try some jarrah.

Time for some proper tools.

Ship's Log

Allison Wheatley, a previous owner, kindly sent this to me last week.

Marvellous!

I had been told that Fair Maid had voyaged to New Zealand at some point.  Well, here's the evidence.

Auckland to "Great Barrier" - which I presume is the New Zealand island, rather than the Australian reef.

There isn't a great deal more in the log, sadly, but there are trips to Geraldton from Fremantle, and to the Abrolhos Islands.

Cyclone "Billy" is obviously Tropical Cyclone Billy-Lila:  http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/billy86.shtml

Update on work...

Deck needed work.  Sanded, epoxy coated with West System, sanded wet, cleaned, and painted with International Interdeck non-skid cream.

With epoxy:

First coat of deck paint, and two coats of Awlgrip Awlwood primer on the cabin sides:

Fair Maid when newly built

Recent work

Another haul out.

Work completed:

1.  New head fitted.
2.  Cabin side ports fitted.
3.  Antifoul and topsides paint.
4.  New scuppers added towards stern.
5.  Fuel tank cleaned out.
6.  Butt blocks added and seams re-caulked to fix leak.

Out she comes.

Hempels antifoul not working terribly well.  This has grown since September last year, so that's less than six months.

Routered out the rebates for the ports.

Butyl rubber at the ready.

Butyl wrapped around safety glass, and glass pressed into rebate.

 Four ports fitted.

Leaky seams towards the transom repaired by adding some butt blocks to reduce flexing.

And back in she goes.

A local cormorant on my neighbour's boat.