THARA racing with Sydney Amateur Sailing Club in 2012

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Thara

Vessel numberHV000549

Sail Number6874

Builder George Riddell

Designer Alan Payne (1921 - 1995)

Date1948

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 10.36 m x 2.74 m x 1.83 m, 6 tonnes (34 ft x 9 ft x 6 ft, 5.9 tons)

DescriptionTHARA is 10.36 m (34 feet) long and was built by George Riddell at The Spit, Middle Harbour in Sydney in 1948. It is carvel planked in Oregon, and features a raised deck. It is one of Alan Payne’s earliest private commissions, and probably his first wooden yacht design. It is similar in style and proportions to the steel yacht THURLOO (HV000043) from 1946, another raised decked hull, and like THURLOO was built to sail with the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and fit within the club’s length limit of 35 feet ( 10.67m). The first owner was Arthur Prigge.

THARA’s construction is very robust, a common theme with many Alan Payne designed vessels, in particular his designs for ocean racing. As well as closely spaced frames in King Billy Pine, it has diagonal strapping and substantial floors. Almost all of this remains intact and the hull is an excellent original example of sturdy, offshore capable yacht construction for the period.

Remarkably THARA has had only two owners in its long history. It remained with Arthur Prigge and his family from 1948 until 2009, always sailing on Sydney Harbour. As well as sailing with SASC Prigge sailed it with Middle Harbour Yacht Club where it had sail number MH82. For many years it was a well-known landmark visible from Spit Bridge, moored on the last private mooring on the eastern side adjacent to the bridge, and became a de-facto rounding mark for some of the early morning paddlers doing their run from Manly to the Spit and return.

The current owner has given THARA a major overhaul, and has been able to retain and restore almost all of the original hull construction and layout, including the pipe cot pilot berths over the settees in the saloon. It now sails with SASC again and has attended the Classic and Wooden Boat Festival 2012 at the ANMM.

SignificanceTHARA is a cruising and racing yacht built in 1948 in Sydney for racing with Sydney Amatuer Sailing Club on Sydney Harbour. It is one of the earliest yacht designs by well-known naval architect Alan Payne, and its robust construction indicates he was in favour of strong vessel scantlings from the beginning of his design career. The hull remains in largely original condition allowing an accurate interpretation of the structure used. Until recently it had always been owned by members of the Prigge family.