Cicely June

The Yacht's Story

Cicely June was the first S&S 34 brought into Australia.  She was imported privately as a shell by Pat Dixon in 1969 with the intention of competing in the 1969 Sydney-Hobart race.  She was fitted out in Western Australia and did sail over and compete in that year's race, which was made famous by the late Ted Heath, leader of the UK Opposition (& later PM) who won in the S&S 34 Morning Cloud. Pat was assisted by well known WA yachtsman Merv Finn.  To read Merv's account of the race and events leading up to it, click here

Merv's son Mike recalls Cicely June, and the admiration of everyone locally for such a fast and beautiful yacht. He remembers his father saying however that she was a fairly standard cruising layout, and compared to the purpose built racer Morning Cloud with her special gear and tall rig they felt a bit outgunned.

Cicely June inspired the three Swarbrick brothers in Perth to build some like her locally.  Tom Swarbrick went over to England and finding the UK builder Michael Winfield suffering some financial difficulties persuaded him to sell them the mould.  This was duly shipped out in early 1970, with a hull laid up inside.  This was completed and became Swarbrick hull no 1, Western Morning, which was completed with the UK coachroof so identical to Cicely June. 

The Swarbrick brothers however figured they could make a better deck than the original S&S design, and in consultation with S&S the Australian deck and coachroof mould was made, with it sitting on top of the hull (ie about 4" higher), a straight coachroof with 6'1" headroom in the saloon and about 2" lower forward and larger cockpit without the bridgedeck (the mainsheet being on the end of the boom and the traveller aft in the cockpit).  The mast and boom were also extended by 1' to improve performance.

Production began immediately in 1970 and as they say, the rest is history. Although the 1970s were the most productive years, many boats were made in the 1980s and production then continued in smaller numbers.  The moulds were refurbished to accommodate resin infusion in 2002 and several boats have now been produced in vinylester foam sandwich with resin infusion, using the well preserved and updated but still original moulds, which up to 2009 had produced around 130 boats in Australia.

All of which may not have happened had not Pat brought Cicely June to Perth in 1969.

Click here to read the 1991 Yachting Monthly Classic Yachting articles on Sparkman & Stephens and the S&S 34 that Peter Wilkinson found on board when he bought her in 2009 (scroll down to 1991 for both articles).

About the Owners

Both Peter and Mike are ex R.A.N., Peter from engineering and Mike from stores.

  Members

Page provided by the Sparkman and Stephens 34 Association