Marlene

Vessel numberHV000733

Sail NumberR 122

Sail NumberSP 44

Date1920-1930

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 6.71 m × 6.71 m × 0.91 m, 2.03 tonnes (22 ft × 22 ft × 3 ft, 2 tons)

DescriptionMARLENE is carvel planked, with a vertical stem and stern profile. The 6.6m long craft was built by Fred Carnaby in Nedlands on the Swan River in WA, where he and later his son had a boatshed. As well as building boats he operated a fleet of hire and charter craft, a trade some of the other builders managed as well to gain further income. The hire yachts were known as the Star Class.

MARLENE was a yacht built for a private owner. It has a sloop rig with a gunter mainsail. It was fitted with side decks and a foredeck leaving a large open cockpit. This was a simple and easy to handle craft and well suited to the Swan River. The hire boats were licensed to carry 24 people, a significant load, but MARLENE probably sailed with a much smaller crew.

Fred Carnaby built a number of these craft, and all were of similar dimensions. He inaugurated racing amongst them in the early 1920s and they attempted to start a club around them in the mid-1920s. The plan was to build clubrooms but the Subiaco Council would not give permission, so the club eventually folded after a short period. His hire craft opened up sailing experiences for many people who could not afford a vessel.

MARLENE remains sailing with the same gunter sloop rig it used when it was first launched. It is a near sister yacht to HEBE (HV000614) which is also still sailing on the Swan River.

SignificanceMARLENE is an open boat built in Western Australia in the early 1920s. It was built by Fred Carnaby and it was designed for sailing on the more sheltered waters of the Swan River in WA. It is one of the few remaining examples of his vessels and has been restored to an original configuration. It has his similar dimensions and configuration to his Star Class hire yachts which introduced many people to sailing on the Swan River and were built in the same period.