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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
138 Lloyd Brookbanks and KenAllen. Taylor remembered: “With the help of my son, Ellis, we kept her in racing trim and raced her constantly with the Squadron and occasionally with other clubs until May 1984 when we sold her for $65,000,including marina at Westhaven,to Alastair Reynolds & Denis Fisher.” Pim was purchased by Simon Crudgington inApril 1992 for about $60,000. ShewasownedandracedforashorttimebyKevinGoodhue. Pimwaspurchasedbyherpresentowner,RonCalwellin1996. Sheis actively raced in the Stewart Championships and Ponsonby Club events,with good success. Calwell loves to recount the time when during a rum race,with a southwesterly blowing well over 30 knots,wind against tide kicking up a wicked sea,the author went forward to clear a sheet fouled near the pulpit. Pim hit a particularly nasty set of waves,one of which buried the bow,and the author up to his neck. This has been the subject of many laughs over post-race rums. Pimpernel Sail No.1420 Builder: Bob Hart Launched: 7 January 1972 Construction: Cold moulded,double diagonal skin,one layer of cedar,one of kahikatea,lightly glassed over with teak decking. Pimpernel was built for Bill Miller and was his second Stewart. She raced the remainder of the 1971/72 season without much success. At the end of the season,over Easter in 1972,the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from Sydney sent over 16 skippers to race against 16 New Zealand Stewart owners for a second time. Each boat had an Australian on board who skippered every second race. On the last race on Easter Monday, with Australian Jeff Peacock helming, Pimpernel finally showed her potential. After a very hard fought race, she got her first gun at the Orakei Wharf finish line. Everybody, especially Miller, was extremely happy as he steered her on a two-sail reached on port tack in about a 15 knot southwesterly towards Westhaven. All of a sudden,there comes an urgent call from a crew“bear away for Christ’s sake!” Bill immediately altered course and suddenly the shape of an all varnished 30’ yacht named Vim went across Pimpernel’s bow. “Will we hit? Will we miss?” Bill asked with his heart in his mouth. Eventually, Vim’s stern narrowly passed without a collision. “Phew!” There were sighs of relief all around immediately followed by CRASH! Vim was towing a lovely varnished dinghy which was immediately converted to match sticks. Bill’s son Ken had recently started his first job at a well-knowAuckland accountancy firm. Guess who was the boss of that firm? The owner of Vim! Ken had a lot of apologizing to do the next day. On the 5 February 1975 Pimpernel sailed the 25.5 nautical miles to Kawau in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 52 seconds, while flying a spinnakerlessthanhalf thedistance. Theaveragespeedworkedouttobe10.37knotsandhewasgivenaspecialR.N.Z.Y.Scertificate to hang on his wall to show his grandchildren when they disbelieved him! Shortlyafter,MillersoldPimperneltothepartnershipof ErnieAustinandBillBeanof Nelson. Millerandthreefriendsweredelivering hertothenewownersandwerehitbyaseverestormoff theeastcoast. Shesurviveda75knotwindandrepeatedpoundingsbylarge wavesandwasnearlyrolled.Anotherlargeryachtwaslostoff theeastcoastof theNorthIslandinthesamestorm,butPimpernelmade it to safe harbour in New Plymouth,guided in by Search and Rescue. Once in Nelson,the“elusive”Pimpernel made a name for herself,winning the first race she entered and scoring numerous victories for her owners over their twelve years of ownership. DaveandLuGollopof BlenheimpurchasedPimpernelinabout1990. Theyhadheroutof thewaterforninemonthsforarefitwhich included replacement of the outer timber skin and re-glassing of her hull. The Gollops then cruised her in the Marlborough Sounds Pimpernel on a relaxed genny sail Vicki and Mark Gledhill