| Launched | Early 70’s |
| Owner | ? |
| Purchased | 2005 |
| Contact | |
| Configuration | |
| Colour | White |
| Berthed | |
| Sail Number | |
| Australian Registration | |
| State Registration | |
| Call Sign | |
| Builder | Swarbrick |
| Hull Number | |
| Fit Out | |
| Previous Owners | Allan Collins (from 1979, in SA), Daniel Hains (CYCSA, 1997-2005) Ian Grant (Sandringham YC) Jock Sturrock |
| Previous Names | Betty |
The Yacht’s Story
From Daniel Hains (April 2001):
The 2001 Quin’s Bluewater Classic from Adelaide to Port Lincoln was our first offshore event after a few years round the cans races at the CYCSA. We are in cruising rig. The dingy fits nicely between the mast and a detachable inner forestay on which I use a No. 4 jib as staysail. The mainsheet traveller is forward of the dodger to keep the cockpit clear and the traveller controls are led back to the cockpit. The crane on the transom makes transferring the out-board motor very simple. We have a new Yanmar 3 cylinder 27hp engine which gives us hull speed in smooth water at 2000 rpm, using 2L/hour.
We started in the Cruising division with four crew for the 150nm journey. At the start we had a complete “flatty” and just drifted across the line but an hour later up came the sea breeze from the SE and we flew down to Marion reef at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula. Here the breeze freshened to 25 knots still from the SE and we were at hull speed on a broad reach all night, with full genoa ( No.2) and a single reef in the mainsail, surfing at up to nine knots at times. As we reached Spencer Gulf the sun came up and we had a spinnaker run into Port Lincoln, again finishing in a zephyr.
We were delighted to get a second on handicap with an average speed of just on 6 knots for the trip. The Port Lincoln Yacht Club was very hospitable and the area is a cruising paradise. The yacht performed superbly as we had expected in view of the illustrious pedigree of the design. We-have had a great deal of pleasure cruising her in St Vincent Gulf, mostly to Ports on the western shore including St Vincent, Stansbury and Edithburgh.
Webmaster note: She also has a great racing history, as per the comment from Andrew Keir: “Alan Collins raced it regularly including at least seven Melbourne to Hobart Yacht races including a second in 1983 first in 1984 and third in 1985”
Photos
Courtesy of Andrew Keir, taken off Maatsuyker Island on the south coast
of Tasmania on one of the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Races
eastern morning was also owned by Alan Collins who raced it regularly including at least seven Melbourne to Hobart Yacht races including a second in 1983 first in 1984 and third in 1985
Dear Andrew,
Thanks very much indeed for your very helpful feedback, I will amend the yacht’s web page and also update our major race record sheet. I thought it may have been Eastern Morning but couldn’t find the Melb-Hobart race records. If you know when Alan bought & sold her that would be even more helpful as I will put it in the yacht history.
Regards, Simon
Dear Simon,
I have been the browsing the history and whereabouts of the S&S 34 yacht “Betty”, now Eastern Morning. I was fortunate to sail forward hand on this yacht when owned by Reg Kemp in Port Lincoln in the late 1970s. Reg passed away 2 years ago, but had considerable success on Betty, including a Lincoln week regatta in which we had Jock Sturrock on board for 1 race. I still remember Jock’s absolute mastery of the yacht and his sailing talent. He was leagues ahead of any sailor I have known. We also competed in an Adelaide to Lincoln race in 50+knot winds and huge seas. While very uncomfortable, the yacht itself was very solid and seaworthy, and at no stage did we feel unsafe. Great memories of a great sailing yacht.
Don Henson