The MOBI Yacht Nirimba
Vessel numberHV000456
Vessel Registration NumberMOBI YN
Previous owner
Royal Australian Navy
(Australian, founded 1913)
Designer
Alan Payne
(1921 - 1995)
Date1966
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 12.8 m x 8.26 m x 3.31 m x 1.71 m, 10.67 tonnes (42 ft x 27.1 ft x 10.85 ft x 5.6 ft, 10.5 tons)
Terms
- Quakers Hill
- original hull
- partially restored deck
- partially restored superstructure
- paritally modified layout
- partially restored rigging
- original sails
- substantially restored gearbox
- partially restored shaft
- yacht
- training ship
- Sydney Harbour
- external
- steel/iron
- operational
- decked with cockpit
- cabin
- steel/iron
- tiller
- steel
- monohull
- round bottom
- displacement
- full keel
- overhanging stem
- overhanging transom
- auxiliary motor
- single
- diesel
- keel hung rudder
- sloop
- synthetic
- aluminium
- military
- designer
- builder
- memorial
The young builders at RANATE were Naval Artificer Apprentices. Construction began in 1962. The apprentices worked under the supervision of RAN senior tradesmen and civilian trade instructors. HMAS NIRIMBA was the primary school for apprentice training and closed in 1994. Over 16,000 apprentices have passed through HMAS NIRIMBA, and this vessel is the only major object left from the many training projects undertaken by apprentices at the establishment bearing the name Nirimba.
Whilst under construction, it was always assumed that the yacht (known to the apprentice builders as 'The MOBI',) would be launched as 'MOBI'. The acronym 'MOBI' stands for 'Most Objectionable Bastards Imaginable' and was the irreverent nickname given to (and borne proudly by) all of the early Naval Artificer Apprentices (i.e., Naval Shipwright Apprentices, Engine Room Artificer Apprentices, Electrical Artificer Apprentices, Ordnance (Gunnery) Artificer Apprentices and Aircraft Artificer Apprentices,) by the rest of the fleet.
However, 1960s political correctness prevailed when it was realised that eventually someone in the public would ask what 'MOBI' actually stood for, so it was named NIRIMBA at its launch on 5 November 1966. It remained with the RAN until the late 1980s, and was used for sail training and often based at Garden Island in Sydney or down at HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay, or at its present mooring at the RAN Sailing Association at Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Amongst the ocean races it took part in were seven Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races in the 1960s and 70s.
It was sold into private ownership in 1987. Dirk Hunter bought the vessel in 2000 and gave it a major overhaul. In 2005 it was sold by Hunter to an association of former RANATE apprentices, who renamed it, THE MOBI YACHT NIRIMBA.
The MOBI Yacht NIRIMBA Association Inc. now maintains the yacht in sailing condition as an operational memorial to the apprentices from HMAS NIRIMBA. As a further tribute they have been regularly granted the Chief of Navy's permission to fly the RAN's Australian White Ensign on special occasions such the Australia Day parade of vessels the yacht has been involved in.
SignificanceThe MOBI Yacht NIRIMBA is a steel ocean racing yacht completed in 1966. It was built by Royal Australian Navy apprentices at their training establishment in Sydney. In 2011 it remains as the only operational example of a steel vessel built entirely by RAN personnel. It was built to a design by well known Australian naval architect Alan Payne, modified with his approval by an RAN draughtsman. It was used as a sail training vessel by the RAN and sailed in a number of Sydney to Hobart yacht races. It remains in its original configuration as a sloop, and is operated as a memorial tribute to the RAN apprentices.
