Canobie 6 – Tasmanian One Design Yachts

In his book on vintage and veteran boats of Tasmania, “Those That Survive” Graeme Broxam listed 17 boats, his “A List”, that held a special historical significance and meriting special preservation and restoration. First on that list was Canobie as the last, largely unaltered One-Design class yacht (this was before Gannet and Pilgrim re-surfaced).

In 2009 Canobie was purchased by Owen Stacey from Perth. After transporting her across the Nullabor Owen embarked on a a major restoration. She now sails majestically on WA waters

Canobie’s Entry in Mori Flapan’s REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND VESSELS is as follows

Name: Canobie
Later names {also Sail or Rego or Fishing No}:{2} {15} {C15}
Material: Wood
Rig: Sloop~gf Rig changes & identification codes: A.b(hgaff) Cutter~bm b94 A.c Cutter~gf b06 A.b(hgf
Type: Yacht Propulsion: Sail
Designer: Hand, William H., jnr, USA
Year built: 1912/11 Yard or Job No: <UNKNOWN>
Builder: Lucas, Charles
Where built: Battery Point, Hobart, Tas
Engines: <UNKNOWN or N/A>
Boilers/Gearing: <UNKNOWN or N/A><UNKNOWN or N/A>
Official Number: 153893 IMO Number: <UNKNOWN or N/A>
Dimensions (ft)—Length: 26.5 Breadth: 9.1000004 Depth: 3.5
Volumetric ‘tonnage’ measurements (1 ton = 100 cubic ft):
Gross: <UNKNOWN> Underdeck: <UNKNOWN> Net: 5
Decks: 1Dk Deck Erections: Cb
Number of funnels &location: 0 Number of bulkheads: <UNKNOWN>
Tanks, etc: <UNKNOWN> Freeboard: <UNKNOWN>
Stem: Spoon Figurehead: Nil Stern: Counter square raked

Ports and Owners:

HOBART 1911 A.J.Cotton:
HOBART 1918(’19 in Bro3) Edwin H.Webster:
HOBART 1922 Edward T.Domeney &Bailey:
HOBART 1925 t0 1946 Edward Domeney:
HOBART Circa 1980s Neil Houston:
HOBART 1995 B.Anderson:
HOBART (DSS) 2008
Perth Owen Stacey

Racing History

1913 won beauty prize.
1918 repurchased by Webster, after lost leg in France during WW1, to keep one class racing alive on the Derwent, won Champion pennant.
1917/01/23 to participate in one-design yacht race at 70th Hobart Regatta (the Patriotic Regatta), representing RYCT.
1925/12/05 won A-class 70 mile race around Hope Island.
1926/02/27-28 won on handicap in Bruny Island 100 mile race held by RYCT.
1926/04 won A-class race at Woodbridge regatta.
1926 successful racing season, won two long-distance races.
1927 won Derwent Sailing Squadron G. Cramp trophy.
1927/10 won Derwent Sailing Squadron beauty prize at opening regatta of the season on Derwent River.
1927/12 second in A-class race at Esperance regatta.
1928/03 won McWilliams Cup for A-class at Sandy Bay Regatta for second year in succession &so won outright.
1928/05 did well during season, started poor but ended a real surprise packet.
1928/07 owner presented RYCT Dewar Shield, the Commodore’s trophy and a large amount of cash prizes.
1928/10 fitted with longer mast to enable a larger topsail to be carried in moderate weather.
1928/11 participated in opening of season regatta on Derwent.
1929/02 third in A-class event at Bellerive regatta.
1929 third place in aggregate of prizes during the year.
1929/12 won Port Cygnet cup race at Port Cygnet regatta.

Modifications and Repairs

1927 overhauled in preparation for new season.
1926/09 to be fitted with complete rig-out ordered from J. Forsyth &Sons.
Converted to schooner after 1929 &by 1946 (this could be an error).
1991 fitted with new motor, 20bhp Arona diesel formerly from ml Valkyria .
Converted to Bermudan sloop by 1994.
Converted to gaff rig by 2006.

References (see http://www.boatregister.net/RANZS_References.htm): Amb1^1925/6,1925/8,1926/1,1926/2(P),1926/4,1926/5,1926/10,1927/9,1927/10,1927/12,1928/2,1928/4,1928/6,1928/8,1928/11,1928/12, 1929/1,1929/6,1929/10,1930/2:BRO3(P):MarkSmith:Naa1:Ranzs46:Sighted(P):Tmm2:Vir1(P)

Weblink:

Research notes: Amb1^1927/9 sys ordered by Edwin Webster & sold on stocks to Cotton(check). Ranzs46 sys schooner (check)

Canobie differs from the original plan in that her cockpit sides taper down, with no aft combing. This was possibly done in later life after some damage to the aft coaming.