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SARAH-KATE SCICLUNA
TEN former navy apprentices involved in the
building of a yacht more than 40 years ago were reunited with the vessel
in Newcastle this week as its new owners.
The men, now in their 50s and 60s, worked at the former Royal Australian
Navy Apprentice Training Establishment in Sydney, where the yacht started
to take shape in 1962.
It was launched at Sydney’s Garden Island in 1966 and named Nirimba.
The yacht was used by the navy as a training vessel and it sailed in eight
Sydney to Hobart races in the 1970s.
It was sold in 1984 and had two owners before a Gold Coast man bought it
three years ago and spent more than $80,000 restoring it.
Former apprentice Rick Pengilly, |
SET TO SAIL:
The vessel in 1966. It took four years
to build and was used in navy training, sailed in eight Sydney to Hobart
races and had three private owners. |
"We [the apprentices] decided to buy it back. he said.
"None of us could afford to buy it back [alone. so we formed a committee
10 weeks ago."
The group raised S0.0C through appeals on a website and emails to
ex-apprentices Three of the new owners Brian Staples. Brian Carne: and Les
Handicott. are Novocastrians.
The yacht was trucked from Queensland to Newcastle where the mast was
installed on Thursday and the craft renamed The MOBI Yacht Nirimba.
It sailed around tthe harbour yesterday, and today will head to its home
at the RAN Sailing Association in Rushcutters Bay.
"I feel like an expectant father, it looks really pretty." Mr Pengilly
said. |
