Tup- Folkboat Class

Vessel numberHV000717

Sail Number2536

Builder Hald & Johansen

Previous owner Ross Ward

Date1965

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 7.77 m × 6 m × 2.26 m × 1.19 m, 2 tonnes (25.49 ft × 19.69 ft × 7.42 ft × 3.9 ft, 1.97 tons)

DescriptionThe first Folkboat built in Australia was made for John O’Donnell and launched in October 1960. Burgess commissioned TUP soon after and Johansen built the yacht at Smithfield in western Sydney. It was built in lapstrake plywood, and the run of the planking shows off the even and elegant lines of these craft. Although intended as an inshore racing and cruising boat, they have sailed the world, Australian grandmother Ann Gash became famous for her solo sail around the world in her Folkboat ILIMO built by Hald and Johansen. Sheila Patrick, the well-known Sydney based yachting journalist purchased a Folkboat from Hald & Johansen called CAPELLA as her second yacht after SVALAN HV000699.

TUP as either the 2nd or 3rd Folkboat to be launched helped begin the class which later included the similar design called Stella Class, represented on the ARHV by ALANA HV000650. TUP was owned by a number of people and had its name changed to BUNDELLA in 1969 and then ISER V in May 1997.

TUP is very original apart from some work to the deck, toe and capping rails, and remains in good working order. The cockpit with its teak battened cockpit seats and the neat interior are almost unchanged excepting minor details.

The combined Folkboat/Stella class (see also ALANA HV000650) was a small but active class of racing yachts, especially in Sydney. It was ideally suited to the harbour, but capable of being cruised to Pittwater or south to Botany Bay, so it had wide appeal as a small, easily handled and affordable yacht for a family. Many of the class are still sailing and the Folkboat developed its own fibreglass version that sold well for many years.

Anders Johansen arrived in Sydney in 1960 and began working at the Lars Halvorsen Sons yard. While working on FREYA Lloyd Burgess asked him to build the Folkboat. Johansen left the yard and set up his own business with TUP as the first yacht project, and he was soon joined by his uncle John Hald. Hald and Johansen were recognised not only for their Folkboats but other yachts that are still on Sydney Harbour including MORAG BHEAG which is still raced regularly. They did not stay long in Smithfield and moved their yard to the coast setting up in Dee Why. Their last yacht in early 1968 was the Alan Payne designed 5.5m yacht KAREELAH for Russell Slade, after which they closed the partnership and Johansen returned to Demark and continued boatbuilding there. TUP now races in Sydney Amateur Sailing Club events for classics and attends other classic yacht regattas.

TUP was sold in June 2021, and as of 2023 is moored in Salt Pan Cove, Pittwater. The previous owner had beautifully restored her. The current owner installed a new Nanni 14hp diesel engine and a new North mainsail, along with other improvements. TUP is in first class condition and a member of the Sydney Amateurs Sailing Club.

SignificanceTUP is a wooden yacht built in Sydney in 1961. It was built by Danish shipwrights Hald & Johansen and is an example of the Nordic Folkboat, a popular design worldwide which also found a market in Sydney and allowed a number of people to own a family cruising and racing yacht. Hald & Johansen were well-known and productive builders over a short period in Sydney, largely based in Dee Why. They were best known for the Folkboats and TUP was the first one of 19 that they built, and remains in its original condition with only minor repairs to superficial wear and tear. It was either the 2nd or 3rd Folkboat built in Australia and is an excellent early example of this class.