Siandra

Vessel numberHV000130

Official Number199164

Sail NumberMH 64

Sail Number1164

Date1956

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 10.73 m x 7.31 m x 2.67 m x 1.72 m, 6.1 tonnes (35.2 ft x 24 ft x 8.75 ft x 5.65 ft, 6.2 tons)
Registered Dimensions: 10.9 m x 2.59 m x 2.02 m, 11.06 tons x 7.52 tons (35.76 ft x 8.5 ft x 6.63 ft)

DescriptionSIANDRA's first win was the second time the yacht had entered the race. The yacht was a hot favourite amongst the fleet in 1958, and won in mildly dramatic circumstances, as reported in Seacraft's January 1959 issue. The race was sailed in relatively easy conditions, but SIANDRA's progress remained a mystery as its radio had gone 'on the blink’ shortly after the start. The race lead changed many times, and the Halvorsen Bros ANITRA V appeared to be the likely winner until SIANDRA appeared on the Derwent, 'out of the blue' to take handicap honours by 34 minutes.

Re-rigged from a 3/4 sloop to mast-head sloop in 1960, SIANDRA won another light weather race with good tactics across Storm Bay after rounding Tasman Light. It was then only the second yacht to win the race twice. It sailed under the burgee of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney and included in the crew was club member and SIANDRA's builder, Ron Swanson.

SIANDRA is probably the most successful of the Lion Class yachts designed by Arthur C. Robb in England where they were a popular offshore racing yacht. The 10.7 m (35 ft) long carvel planked sloops are a classic deep-keeled yacht designed to the RORC rule, and were one of the types that influenced Alan Payne's locally designed Tasman Seabird Class in the late 1950s.

The yacht went on to compete successfully in many of the blue-water ocean racing events along the east coast of Australia under various owners. Since retiring from ocean racing SIANDRA has become a cruising yacht, and has circumnavigated the world. It is an ideal configuration and a very seaworthy hull shape. In 2007 SIANDRA has no permanent mooring, it continues to cruise Australia and the world, and is often featured in Classic Yacht magazine's pages.
SignificanceSIANDRA is a racing yacht built in NSW. It was built by Ron Swanson in the norther beaches region of Sydney . SIANDRA was twice winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1958 and 1960.