Images(3)

Malohi

Vessel numberHV000597

Vessel Registration NumberDJ6N

Sail NumberA70

Builder Jim Perry

Designer Arthur C Robb

Date1955

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 10.67 m x 7.31 m x 2.67 m x 1.74 m, 6.3 tonnes (35 ft x 24 ft x 8.75 ft x 5.7 ft, 6.2 tons)

DescriptionMALOHI was commissioned by Neville McEnnally from builder Jim Perry who was based at the Spit in Middle Harbour Sydney, close by McEnnally’s club, the Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The ocean racing fleet of this period was a mixture of locally designed vessels and craft from the well-known international designers from England and the US, and many yachts that raced were still very cruising orientated. Much was anticipated of this design that was optimised for ocean racing, strongly constructed and detailed right down to the specific location of minor fit out items. The 35 foot long hull was carvel planked, with a raised doghouse on the cabin and a sloop rig.

Seacraft commented in February 1956 that: ‘Neville McEnnally’s 35-foot Lion Class looks a picture and should be in the water by the time this is published. Builder Jim Perry has excelled himself with flawless workmanship and has seen to it that only the best materials were used throughout.’

When launched and christened MALOHI. According to one reference it was understood to mean ‘lion’ in an unknown African language, but the current owner understands that Neville McEnnally chose the word from a Polynesian or Pacific Island language,and he was looking for a name that no-one else would ever think of, and he found MALOHI in a book he borrowed from a library.

The yacht was built to a very high standard and equal to that achieved in the UK and elsewhere. The yacht was soon joined at the MHYC by two sister ships built by Ron Swanson, SIANDRA (HV000130) and KAIYU. A fourth Lion Class yacht SIMBA (HV000284) was built by Les and Barry Steele on Lake Macquarie NSW in 1958.

MALOHI was raced and cruised with its first owner Neville McEnnally until the early 1960s, including the Sydney to Hobart race in 1959 and 1960 ( it came third overall on handicap) , but its first major voyage was over autumn and winter of 1956, a 4000 nm Pacific Ocean cruise from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Fiji, and Noumea. In 1958 MALOHI won the Sydney to Noumea yacht race.

MALOHI was sold to Syd Fischer in 1961, who was interested in ocean racing and decided to buy a proven vessel to race and see if the sport suited him. With Fischer as skipper MALOHI achieved other good results in ocean racing. This early success prompted Fischer to continue with the sport and to build his next yacht, the famous RAGAMUFFIN that was part of the 1967 Admirals Cup team and the yacht in which he established his credentials as an international champion offshore sailor.

MALOHI was sold by Fisher in 1967 and moved between owners who raced and cruised the vessel whilst keeping it in good condition. The current owner sails MALOHI in classic yacht events on Sydney Harbour with Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, where it is a regular competitor.

SignificanceMALOHI is a Lion Class ocean racing yacht built in Sydney in 1956. It was the first of four Lion Class yachts to be built and launched in Sydney for the expanding ocean racing fleet. Yachts in the class performed well and the detailed design of the yachts by London based New Zealand designer Arthur Robb set a high standard for building. The performance and standards achieved by the Lion class yachts is understood to have inspired Alan Payne toward his design for the Tasman Seabird which became a rival class later in the 1950s. MALOHI’s second owner was legendary yachtsman Syd Fischer, and is the yacht that began his long and continuing career in Australian and International yachting.