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Lucy

Vessel numberHV000809

Date1931

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 6.82 m × 6.7 m × 0.65 m, 2.8 tonnes (22.38 ft × 21.98 ft × 2.13 ft, 2.76 tons)

DescriptionLUCY is a couta boat built in 1931 by Ken Lacco at Rosebud Victoria. It is 22ft in length with carvel plank construction of kauri wood, a foredeck, open cockpit, and curved bowsprit. Lucy was built for the use in the barracouta fishing industry in the Bass Strait and operated out of Apollo Bay and San Remo. Since the 1980s LUCY has undergone extensive restoration and is used primarily as a recreational sailing vessel in Victoria.

The following is an abridged history of the Couta boat fishing industry and LUCY, put together by LUCY syndicate member Michael Golding:

Couta boats served in the Victorian fishing industry from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s. These boats were operated by a crew of two, and launched from the southern seaside towns of Port Phillip, such as Queenscliff and Sorrento, and the Victorian coastal towns of Bass Strait, Lorne and Port Fairy. The target fish were barracouta, which were caught with lures on a short line and rod. In the early years of the industry these fish were plentiful and once a crew caught their daily quota, the essence of speed was necessary to return the catch to buyers so as to maximise financial returns.

The design of the Couta boat acted as a stable platform to catch and land fish, and also safely navigate the often rough seas of Bass Strait with speed in order to make a quick sell on return to port. Whilst fishing was the prime function of the couta boat Christmas holidays and Easter time provided the opportunity for the fishermen and their families to socialise. These events evolved into regattas sailing races became formalised with sponsors (usually local hotels) and annual cups were awarded to the winners. There were up to 50 couta boats in each of the coastal villages hence, competition for the fastest boat became a serious element for many fishermen.

LUCY was built by Ken Lacco at Rosebud Victoria in 1931 and was one of the first boats constructed there after the family had moved their boat building business from Queenscliff. The boat was named after Ken’s sister Lucy and the plan was for Ken to use the boat for fishing for snapper in areas further Northwards into Port Phillip. After Ken sold the boat, there is evidence that LUCY fished for barracouta in Bass Stait from a base at Apollo Bay where a fisherman by the name of Harrison operated the vessel, and finally in the 1950s from San Remo in Western Port, Victoria. In this period LUCY was called DIANE, and was owned and operated by Syd Todd, the eldest son of Queenscliff fisherman Walter Todd who had relocated his family from Queenscliff to San Remo in the late 1930s. Thus, LUCY was integrally linked to both the Queenscliff and San Remo fishing fleets.

In the early 1980s, there was renewed interest in couta boats for restoration as recreational sailing vessels. They were seaworthy; had style and became the focus for fellowship to utilise collective craft work and technical skills. LUCY was located in a state of disrepair at her mooring at Hastings. Ken Lacco confirmed the provenance of LUCY even though a cabin had been added and the centrecase had been removed. Sorrento boatbuilder Tim Phillips purchased and moved the vessel to Portsea where he commenced the long process of restoration and it was during this period that ownership of Lucy changed to Warick Leeming and they both completed the works.

When finished, Lucy was striking in navy blue and Cumberland stone colours, beautifully restored and preserved for a new life as a racing couta boat after many years as a working fishing boat.

In the following years Warick Leeming raced Lucy out of Sorrento Sailing Club and was successful in winning numerous races, including the Portsea Cup. The vessel was owned for a time by Andrew Molloy, then in 2002 by David Todd who undertook an overhaul to restore the vessel pristine condition. David painted Lucy in the heritage colour of port-wine. In 2010, Lucy was sold to a syndicate comprising of David Barnes, Michael Golding, Tricia O’Brien and Stephen Wyatt, who have continued to sail Lucy regularly in both the summer and winter series at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. In 2019, Alison Kitchen replaced David Barnes in the syndicate.

The syndicate has been intent on preserving LUCY's racing pedigree and heritage features. In recent years, LUCY's bobstay and lifting tackle for the centre-plate have been replaced with galvanised steel chain, as would have been when it was a fishing vessel. The side-stays, cap-stays and forestay are all hand spliced galvanised steel, wire rope that are parcelled, served and painted. Also, but not so obvious, all of the soft eyes on the side-stays and gaff strop are leathered.

In addition to regular club racing, LUCY has competed in the annual ISAF Regattas conducted out of both Sandringham and St Kilda. LUCY has also been successful in regattas at the annual Wooden Boat Festival at Geelong in 2014; 2016 and 2018 and was a competitor in the Classic Yacht Regatta at Williamstown in 2020. The journey to and from these regattas is always a timely reminder of LUCY's longevity. Sailing a 90 year old couta boat through the waters always brings immeasurable pleasure to her owners. As of 2021 LUCY is moored off Sorrento beach at Parks Victoria under mooring number SET 217.
SignificanceLUCY is a couta boat that was built in Victoria in 1931 to take part in the barracouta fishing industry. It operated in the Bass Strait from Apollo Bay to San Remo, and has many decades of use to the Victorian fishing industry . It is a classic couta design, with carvel plank construction, a foredeck and open cockpit, and curved bowsprit. Since the 1980s LUCY has undergone extensive restoration and is used primarily as a recreational sailing vessel in Victoria.

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