On 22nd of August 2005, one of our Members of our RAN Skilled Hands Website/ Forum (Mr Brian Mackenzie, former Shipwright Instructor of Naval Shipwright Apprentices at RANATE, HMAS Nirimba) drew our attention to ‘The Yacht Hub’ Yacht Broker’s Website, and to the fact that a 'Naval Vessel of Heritage Significance' has come unto the open market.
Brian had astutely spotted the 42' Steel Yacht, 'Nirimba', built by Naval Artificer Apprentices of RANATE, HMAS Nirimba in the early '60's, is currently for sale by its private owner...
Following my enquiries, the current owner Dirk Hunter, agreed to withdraw the yacht from public sale for just three months, EXPIRING 30th NOVEMBER 2005, pending the outcome of our efforts to raise the necessary funds to buy her back.
The yacht has been completely and extensively renovated, is fully operational and for sale for its insured value of $155,000, well below its true market value, in an effort to facilitate an early sale.
Please take the time to fully explore this website. In these pages you will find full details of the work done to restore her, after Dirk painstakingly researched ‘Nirimba’s rich history, including her participation in a number of Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, before deciding to buy the rusting hulk he found in a Rozelle boatyard and fully restore it in ‘heritage’ style, but using the best technology available to today’s builders of prestige yachts.
With full restoration completed just 12 months ago, the MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ won the ‘Best Heritage Yacht’ in a recent Queensland Regatta.
I have put together, and at this stage, represent an enthusiastic team of interested parties, very keen on securing the yacht with a view to retaining it PERMANTLY in the care of those who built her, as a working display/ training and pleasure yacht, and moored at RAN Sailing Association at Rushcutter’s Bay (Sydney) NSW.
As an ex-CPOMTH and former Naval Shipwright Apprentice (13th MOBI Intake July ’62), I am just one of hundreds, possibly thousands of teenage Naval Apprentices at HMAS Nirimba – RANATE, who were actually involved in building and/ or sailing the yacht, and we’re all very excited with the prospects of seeing her back in ‘Navy’ hands.
As Co-Webmaster of RAN Skilled Hands, an 850 Member strong Website/ Forum dedicated to the ex-Apprentices who attended HMAS Nirimba, I’m now spearheading the initiative that has become known as: ‘The “Bring The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ Home” Project…’
Share our enthusiasm for this incredible venture, also visit
'The "Bring The MOBI Yacht 'Nirimba'
Home" Project' on RAN Skilled Hands
(no Membership required to read
these topics,) and join in the chatter, simply click here...
http://www.ran-skilledhands.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=15
And
to see how she looks today, check her out on our RAN Skilled Hands Photo
Gallery, which you can access by clicking on this link... Those who thought
they knew the MOBI Yacht Nirimba, check her out now,
she'll blow your mind...!!!
http://www.ran-skilledhands.org/photogallery/index.php
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