Interesting local feature

The Swan River has two bridges over it near Fremantle, which are too low for yacht masts to fit under, so local boats usually have a tabernacle for the mast, which is hinged, and can be dropped for motoring under the bridges to get to the Indian Ocean.

Before moving Fair Maid the first time, we practiced dropping the mast in the pen to ensure we could do it when in Fremantle Harbour...

The two spinnaker poles create a "triangle" to transfer load in an arc as the mast comes down, enabling a simple two-sheave block and tackle system to exert sufficient force to raise the 40' stick again when necessary.  The marina manager came by when we were dropping the mast, and asked how we were going, and I replied "I'm very nervous right now!"  It was blowing 30 knots or more from abeam, creating huge side load on the rig.  But we didn't have the luxury of waiting for another day, so it was plough on regardless.

Interior images

Fair Maid is registered on the Australian register of ships (necessary for lawful overseas voyaging) and has her number and tonnage carved into the companionway.

The word for the measure of weight, "ton" is derived from "tun" or wine barrel, and the use of the term for weight originated with tax law relating to customs - a ship was charged customs duties based upon how many barrels she could carry. 


Here is the cabin as is it is now.  She needs a good deal of cleaning, new upholstery, and one new cushion, as well as a new head (toilet) and cabin lighting.  She also needs varnishing and painting!

The "V" berth:

Where the head holding tank used to be, and which we might expand and use for a new head cubicle:

The instrument panel over the chart table.  The marine radio is good.  Not much else is.

The engine (Volvo Penta MD7A, around 10hp), which has now been removed.

Fair Maid not looking so fair

This photograph was supplied by Coogee Marina Management.  It was taken last year, before we purchased the boat.  It is the reason she was well priced!

The previous owner did not immediately clear the water out of the motor, and as a result it is beyond economical repair and is being replaced.

Welcoming Committee

The little lady was wearing a substantial skirt of weed, so the first task was to clean her hull, using a plastic dustpan to scrape lightly.

The day we first sailed Fair Maid, we left the marina to sail her from Coogee to Fremantle, and immediately the foresail was unfurled two dolphins popped up nearby.  That was a kindly omen.

Fair Maid, a 31' sloop designed by Eric Cox of Christchurch, and launched in Perth, Western Australia in 1951

Fair Maid has an interesting history, and requires some work to bring her back to her best.  This blog is to document the history and repairs/improvements as information comes to light and work proceeds.

Fair Maid has a waterline length of 25', and when launched she had an over-all length of 30', and with her bow rail extension she is now 31'.  Here is how she looks today.

This photograph was taken yesterday, on the Swan River.

These two photographs below were kindly supplied by John Lesslie, the son of the original owner, David Lesslie.  John was 21 when she was launched, and is now 86 and going strong.  A real gentleman, with warm memories of Fair Maid.  The photos were taken during a Fremantle to Bunbury and Return Ocean Race, in the early 'fifties.  The sail number is Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club 49.

David Lesslie was an expatriot Scotsman, from Dundee, and he named his boat after the Sir Walter Scott novel, Fair Maid of Perth.

Fair Maid is carvel-planked, which means that she has smooth curves, with no hard chines.  She has Western Australian Jarrah planks below the waterline, probably Oregon planks above the waterline, over steam-bent ribs, with cotton caulking along the seams.  The cotton and timber both swell when wet, and the cotton is crushed by the expansion, producing a tight waterproof seal.  The planks are fixed to the ribs with copper clenching nails, riveted on the ends.  The building of such a boat was labour intensive and required a high degree of knowledge and skill.

Fair Maid's rig was originally timber, but now aluminium.  She sails incredibly nicely, with a stateliness absent from more modern designs.  Her displacement is over 6 tons.