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WINDWARD I in the 1930s with a Bermudian Rig sailplan.
Windward I
WINDWARD I in the 1930s with a Bermudian Rig sailplan.
WINDWARD I in the 1930s with a Bermudian Rig sailplan.
Photographer William Hall, ANMM Collection

Windward I

Vessel numberHV000055
Official Number155357
Sail NumberE1
Sail Number299
Date1923
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 11.89 m x 8.23 m x 3.12 m x 1.45 m (39 ft x 27 ft. x 10.25 ft x 4.75 ft)
Registered Dimensions: 11.21 Tons
Engine dimensions: 75 x 100 mm, 26 kilowatts, 4 cylinders (2.95 x 3.93 in., 34.87horsepower)
DescriptionThe gaff cutter rigged yacht WINDWARD I was designed by J W Pickering of Snails Bay, near Balmain, NSW for Arthur Muston. Little is known of Pickering's background; however it is likely he was related to another Pickering from Balmain who designed a linear rater called HERRESHOFF early in the 1900s. Muston was a well known figure on Sydney Harbour, and one of a group of yachtsmen from the eastern suburbs who formed the Prince Edward Yacht Club early in the 1920s

James Hayes and Sons built the 11.89 metre long WINDWARD I in 1923 at their Careening Cove yard. The yacht raced for many seasons on Sydney Harbour, winning the Morna Cup, Revonah Cup and Gascoigne Cup at different times. By the 1930s Muston had changed the boat over to a tall Bermudian rig. The carvel planked hull is shallow draft with a centreboard, but there is evidence that an additional piece of deadwood and ballast was added externally under the original wood keel, and this may have been done when the taller rig was put on. At some later point it was then re-rigged as a yawl.

In 2006 WINDWARD I has been restored to its original gaff cutter configuration, based on a surviving plan of the rig from 1923. The layout has been revised to be more open with no bulkheads, and almost all of the original timber work and trim has been retained. WINDWARD I will now be used as a daysailer on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater.
SignificanceWINDWARD I is a timber racing sloop built in 1923 in Sydney, NSW. It is a significant example of a post World War I Australian designed and built yacht associated with the continued development of yacht racing on Sydney Harbour, and an example of a yacht constructed by James Hayes and Sons. It has had small number of owners and chnages to the rig, but is now retruned to its original rig plan.
WIRRAMINNA in 2010
WM Ford Boatbuilders
1907
WINDWARD II on Port Phillip in 2008
Percy Coverdale
1929
ACROSPIRE III in 2012
J Hayes & Sons
1923
ATHENE, possibly  in the early 1930s
WM Ford Boatbuilders
1905
AOMA around 1900 coming past Neilson Park on Sydney Harbour in a good nor easter.
Logan Bros
1899
CURLEW undergoing a restoration project in 2016
William Hand Jnr
1911
KELPIE at the 2013 SASC Gaffers Day event, raisng the ensign in style.
George Ellis
1893
FREYA on the Solent in the Admirals Cup
Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd
1963
Killala
Arthur Merric Boyd
1896
ASTOR at the sailpast of veteran Sydney to Hobart yachts before the start of the 60th anniversa…
William Fife and Son
1924
EOLO in 1947
David Philp
1947