Pinga

Vessel numberHV000806

Date1921

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 9.14 m × 8.84 m × 2.13 m × 1.22 m (30 ft × 29 ft × 7 ft × 4 ft)

DescriptionPINGA was built by prominent Tasmanian boatbuilder EA "Ned" Jack at his Launceston yard in 1921. PINGA has a carvel built hull with a planked deck of Huon pine and is gaff rigged. It has a pivoting centreboard with a transom hung rudder, and a 15 HP Drofin diesel inboard motor. PINGA was built as a larger version of PONA, the first ever Low Head Lagoon Bay Dingy built.

The Low Head Lagoon Bay Dinghies were originally built to a modified design based on yachts in the Norfolk Broads in England. The designer of these was Francis Charles Morgan-Giles (1883 – 19 March 1964) who was a boat designer and builder from Devon, England. Cyril Perrin, who had been recovering there from wounds he had received at the European War Front, brought back plans at the end of World War One.

These dinghies were designed as sailing craft for the shallow conditions off Lagoon Beach, Low Head, Tasmania. The early dinghies had lugsails with a spar that crossed the mast, and no headsails. These were called “Cat boats.” Later on they were built as gaff-rigged sloops. In their original form they have no auxiliary engines and were fitted with rowlocks and oars for rowing when becalmed.

For more than 50 years these yachts raced each summer off Lagoon Beach. A handicap starting procedure was used designed to bring all yachts together during the finishing stages of the race. Events were held during high tide. The race circuit was usually of three laps, starting and finishing off Lagoon Bay, with the anchored pilot boat and a marker buoy off the southern end of Lagoon bay forming the legs of the circuit. Competition was taken seriously.

Since 2017 PINGA has been owned by Steve Gordon. The vessel continues to be used for pleasure sailing and friendly competition during the summer months at Lagoon Bay.
SignificancePINGA is a wooden sailing yacht built in Tasmania in 1921. It was built by well-known Launceston shipwright EA "Ned" Jack. It is one of the few surviving examples of the many historic Low Head Sailing Dinghies regularly raced as the “Lagoon Bay” dinghies at Low Head on the Tamar River in the 1920s and subsequent decades. PINGA is thus an excellent example of a vessel with very strong regional connections to the Tamar’s history of recreational sailing.