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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
151 Prelude proved her strength one evening when the Craigs were motoring into an anchorage in Mangonui late one evening. She struck an unmarked rock at full speed, tossing food, oil and other items all around the cabin. Dave reckoned he would careen her on the beach to save the crew, until a call came from below that there was no water coming in. Dave said he slept with one hand in the bilge in case water started coming in. A closer examination the next day revealed a dent in the keel the size of his fist, and some hairline cracks in the paint, but nothing serious. The 50 hp Perkins seized up when it was starved of cooling water. The big engine that had gotten the Craigs out of many dodgy situations was finally replaced with a 28 hp Volvo with a Sail-Drive. Dave Craig sold Prelude in 2006, and purchased a larger Bavaria, which at age 77 he reckons is a bit more comfortable and easy to sail than the Stewart. Her present owner is Derek Snow who has been racing her in the Stewart Monday night summer series. Other owners were Val and Phil Eadie and Neville Gray. Premier Sail No. 235 Builder: Max Carter/Tom Jeffries Launched: 1965 Construction: Cold moulded, triple skin, two of cedar and the outer one of kauri Tom Jeffries purchased Premier’s hull and deck, superstructure, bulkheads and structural floors from Max Carter in 1964. He then transported the project to his joinery shop along side the Orakei Railway Station at the foot of Shore Road for completion. Eric Wing helped, and Carter supplied some components to assist in her completion. Premier has kauri frames and stringers. Her two inner cedar skins were for lightness. This was more expensive than using only kauri. Her keel is steel and thought to have been made by Scholten & Brijs. Jeffries actively raced Premier through 1968. In February of 1969,Bob Stewart helmed Premier to a second place finish in the Inter-dominion races against the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from the Pittwater in Sydney. It’s thought Evan Julian bought her in 1969. Subsequent owners were A. G. Gladwell and then Cecil Hill. In 1982 Premier was purchased by the partnership of Tony Bouzaid and Don Robertson. Harold Cudmore helmed Premier to a 2nd place finish in the 1982 Citizen Match Racing Series. After the regatta she was left on the hard at Westhaven on the grid outside Hoods Sailmakers. Bouzaid and Robertson had her on the market for two years. John Cooper’s friend Eric Wing suggested that he go and look at her. Cooper’s interest wasn’t great as he’d seen her sitting out there and had heard she wasn’t in the best condition. After the purchase, Cooper took Premier up to his home in Te Atatu. He gutted the former racing machine and converted her into an offshore cruiser for he and his wife Mary. He altered the windows, strengthened her with more frames and knees, altered the cockpit, opened the transom and stepped the mast on deck to make the boat waterproof. (It is the author’s opinion that“waterproof boat” is an oxymoron). In May 1989 the Coopers went off to cruise the South Pacific islands, visiting Fiji,Vanuatu and New Caledonia. John sailed Premier single handed back to Opua in just 6 days. In 1992, with the boat brought up to Category 1 standard and a GPS and permanent sun visor for the tropics installed, John sailed back to Fiji single handed and Mary joined him for cruising in the islands. After participating in the Musket Cove Race week in Fiji, they headed west to Vanuatu and New Caledonia. John’s health gave way, so the Coopers sold Premier to Gerard Le’Bloc’h in Noumea and returned home. Premier sailing in Régate Challenge, New Caledonia, April 2008 Alain Queval