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PAM and BARRENJOEY racing on Sydney Harbour

Pam

Vessel numberHV000780

Sail NumberKA 16

Builder Ohlssen Bros

Date1963

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 9.47 m × 7.45 m × 1.35 m, 2.15 tonnes (31.07 ft × 24.44 ft × 4.43 ft, 2.12 tons)

DescriptionPAM is a wooden yacht, carvel planked to the class specifications, and sloop rigged. It has a long keel and keel hung rudder, the original profile for the class until the late 1960s.

PAM was originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. PAM came 2nd behind BARRENJOEY KA14 in the Olympic trials and did not compete in the Olympics. However, PAM went on to have an illustrious career at home in Australia and overseas. It has been World Champion, won the Scandinavian Gold Cup, won the Sydney Amateurs Sailing Club’s 125th Anniversary Regatta, as well as winning multiple Australian Championships, most recently in 2014. BARRENJOEY KA14 is no longer sailing and is on display in Sydney, and so PAM is the only example of this era of yacht still sailing on Sydney Harbour.

PAM was recovered after sinking at its mooring on Sydney Harbour approximately 25 years ago. After a five year rebuild by the owner, a shipwright and many volunteer hours by other shipwrights and timber boat enthusiasts, PAM was reborn. It has raced every season on Sydney Harbour since then. During this restoration and repair they replaced 5% of the hull planking, 10% of the frames and made a complete new deck.

SignificancePAM is a wooden racing yacht built in Sweden in 1963. It is an International 5.5 m class yacht, and was designed and built by Ohlsen Brothers Gothenburg, Sweden for Otto Meik in Victoria, a prominent businessmen and a very strong supporter of yachting in Victoria. As a benefactor, he purchased a substantial number of craft for inshore and class racing to support sailors who would otherwise be unable to have access to a craft. In its time it has had many racing success, including winning a world championship for Australia. It remains sailing and is a rare example of a 5.5m class yacht from its era that races regularly and one of the few craft left from Otto Meik’s once extensive fleet that he generously supported