SEA ROVER racing In South Australia, probably during the 1960s.

Images(2)

Sea Rover

Vessel numberHV000457

Sail NumberSA 49

Designer Kroger Brothers

Date1947

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 6 m, 0.23 tonnes (19.69 ft, 0.23 tons)

DescriptionSEA ROVER has a carvel planked, single chine hull, and gunter rigged sloop sailplan all built to the original specifications for the dinghy, which was designed by the Kroger Brothers in Germany in the early 1930s. The International 12 Square Metre Sharpie class was introduced into Australia around 1934 from Europe where it was very popular on lakes and partially enclosed waters. The first Sharpie imported into Adelaide, South Australia came from Germany in 1934, the same year the first one was built in Australia, RAGAMUFFIN (HV000291). SEA ROVER was built in Australia too, by its first owner Colin Roberts.

In 2011 it is undergoing an overhaul, and the old deck is being replaced by new planking so it can continue to be displayed at events and regattas as a rare operational example of this popular and influential class. About 15 others are known to exist, including two of Rolly Tasker's champion boats from WA, but many are in poor condition, or no longer able to be sailed.

SignificanceSEA ROVER is an original International 12 Metre Sharpie class sailing dinghy built in 1947 in South Australia. The class was one of the early examples of European one-designs to be successfully adopted in Australia. It developed a strong national following eventually leading to an Australian derivative in the early 1960s, a plywood version known colloquially as the 'light-weight sharpie', which is still raced nationally in 2011. SEA ROVER has been maintained in its original gunter sailplan and carvel construction. It was not one of the well known boats in the class during its racing career in the 1950s and 60s, but has since become a memorial to the class as one of the few surviving operational examples of the original class. It is now well known in South Australia where it has been taken to Light Weight Sharpie events for display and demonstration, to remind the competing crews of their class's origins.