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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
118 hull and decks,fitted the machinery,wheel steering gear and a fabricated steel keel and rudder,both having a profile as good as any and accepted by the Association. The wooden mast and second-hand rigging was used as I was working on a very limited budget. I called on Bob Stewart for advice regarding keel ballast in consideration of the fairly heavy engine to be installed. He told me he was keen to see how a Stewart 34 would perform in this guise and was in no way against my proposals. The profile of the centre cockpit is,in fact,within the plan and the cabin shape is exactly the same but moved forward. Paragon was launched at Westhaven at 9.45 a.m. on the 17th February 1977 and was moored outside the bridge at Te Atatu until I secured a marina at Westhaven late in 1982. Ididnothavethechequebooknecessaryforanyseriousracingbutdidcompeteinacoupleof cruisingeventswhere Paragonproved she could sail, even with a scratch crew and cruising gear aboard. Bill Miller gave me a lot of help at times and I am sure he will confirm that with money spent she could have been up with the top boats. Sadly,IcouldnotcoverexpensesafterretiringandsoldParagonwithmarinaberthtoMr.A.L.AdamsinMarch1988. Hesoldher shortly after and it appeared he was interested mainly in the marina berth. Although no one has contacted me about Paragon since, I know she has had a number of owners. In July‘96 a notice in the New Zealand Herald’s‘tenders’ column was pointed out to me: ‘Stewart 34 centre cockpit keeler for sale by tender, as is. Damaged as a result of a collision and sinking.’ Out of interest I phoned the boat yard holding the yacht to confirm that it was,in fact,Paragon - very sad. The advice given was that the transom was badly damaged, there were various holes in hull and deck, the toe-rails were half off, the keel had probably moved, the rudder stock was bent and repairs were not considered commercially viable. I did not feel like going to have a look! I think she sank on her mooring at Torbay.” Adams had on sold Paragon on 10 October 1988 to Ron and Gay Johnstone of Ponsonby,Auckland. In 1990 Paragon was purchased byTerry J.Robinson,who moored her atTorbay. Robinson fitted her with an alloy mast and new rigging after she was dismasted when she was on loan to friends. He apparently still has the broken mast. In another stroke of bad luck,Paragon sank on her mooring in 1996. On the 22 June 1996, Paragon was sold via tender in a severely damaged state by the insurers, to Alex McNabb of Beachlands for $7500. McNabb had intended to repair her but for some unknown reason never carried out the work She was still lying in McNabbb’s front yard in Beachlands when Paragon was purchased by Sharon and Rob Harper of Tauranga in July of 2005. They transported her to the Tauranga Bridge Marina where she underwent an 18-month refit, including a new interior,engine,addition of a two foot scoop to the stern and a beautiful exterior paint job. She was re-launched in late 2006. The Harpers say Paragon is a work in progress and plans to sail her further afield are in the pipeline. Partisan Sail No. 1264 Builder: Max Carter Launched: 1971 Construction: Cold moulded triple diagonal kauri Partisan’s hull and deck were built by Max Carter. Carter believes it was a“spec” boat,builtbefore1968whenheclosedhisbusinessduetotheeconomicdownturn that followed the collapse of the wool industry. Carter lamented; “I could get more in rent for my factory storing wool that I could earn building boats.” The unfinished boat went through two owners before she was purchased by Bob Bezar. who finished her off with the help of boat builder Wally Stuhlman and launched in 1971. He cruised and raced her until selling in 1977. Subsequent owners were Colin Williams, Graham Fuge and George Lovegrove. She was purchased in 1991 by Robert and Dale Wallis of Waiheke Island. The Wallis’ cruised her throughout the Hauraki Gulf until selling in 2000 to Don Brooke. Partisan goosewinged in the 2008 Stewart Championships Stewart Association Collection