JUNE BIRD in 2005 at its moorings, the couta boat stem and sheerline stand out in this image.

Images(7)

JUNE BIRD was laid up for a period between the two world wars on the Lane Cover River. The cout…

JUNE BIRD slipped in 2005, the additional ballast piece is visible under the hull.

A view from the bow showing JUNE BIRD's hull sections.

A Christmas card made by the daughter of JUNE BIRD's owner with a clever piece of montage creat…

June Bird

Vessel numberHV000064

Sail NumberA19

Builder J Hayes & Sons

Designer J Hayes & Sons

Date1914

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 8.84 m x 3.2 m x 1.22 m, 7 tonnes (29 ft x 10.5 ft x 4 ft, 7.11 tons)

DescriptionJUNE BIRD is an 8.84 metre long cruising and racing yacht with a gaff rigged sloop sail plan. The hull is built in the style of the couta boat and represents an important connection between the working boat design of the couta boat and the gradual development of a series of yachts using the couta boat style of hull shape and construction details.

A small number of the Victorian couta boats had come up to Sydney in the early 1900s, and had established themselves as capable racing and cruising yachts around the harbour. JUNE BIRD is an early example of the Sydney built boats that evolved along their own path based on the couta boat.

There are two stories as to its origins. One is that it was built around 1914 or a year or so earlier. The builder and presumably designer was Charles Hayes whose yard was located in Balmain at that time, and the first owner was Fred Doran who gave it the name SEABELLE. He was an experienced sailor and also an engineer with the Manly Ferry Company. He is said to have sold the boat to the company director, Walter Dendy. The second story is that it was designed by Fred Lomar, a close associate of Walter Dendy and while the boat was built by Hayes, it was not constructed until after the First World War, and Dendy acquired the boat in 1918.

The next owner after Dendy was R.A. McDonald. Cliff gale became owner in the early 1920s, and renamed the yacht JUNE BIRD fafter his only daughter June. Up until then the boat had a centreboard, and it exited through a slot in the cast iron keel. The iron was special alloy called Lowmore iron which resisted rusting. Cliff Gale removed the centreboard after he found the boat sailed just as well with it retracted. The centrecase box remained and formed the base for a table. Cliff Gale later designed the smaller RANGER, and the influence of the JUNE BIRD seems apparent in the design of the RANGER.

Cliff Gale sold the boat in 1928, probably to Mick Aspinall. Subsequent owners included Mick Earl, son of marine artist Jack Earl, and in the period soon after the Second World War the various owners found it necessary to rebuild parts of the structure from time to time. When Kep Enderby became owner of JUNE BIRD it was given an extensive restoration and now remains in excellent condition, cruising and racing on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater. The yacht retains its gaff rig and is a regular entrant in vintage yacht events.
SignificanceJUNE BIRD is a timber yacht built in 1914 in Sydney NSW. It was built by Hayes and Sons and is an excellent example of their design and construction skills. It also has connections to the design and construction of the couta boats and is associated with the Gale family from Sydney Harbour, and represents an important part of the evolution of Sydney Harbour cruising and racing yachts.