The Yacht’s Story

via email from Allan Fenwick, Sept 2009:

I have contacted Bill Ratcliff a former owner of Marara, He confirmed that Marara was built for Ken Flehr and fitted out by Trevor Gowland of Halvorsens, he went on to say she was bought soon after by Allan Murray and renamed Zilvergeest 111. That being the case she was raced in the Sydney to Hobart from 74 to 79 being first in div C. The yacht was near wrecked at the Iron Pot returning from Hobart that year and was put up for sale, Bill bought the yacht in 83 and renamed her back to Marara, and raced her to Hobart in 83,84,85,86,87,88,90,92,93,94,95, being 1st on IMS in div D and 3rd overall IMS in 93, as well as a lot of Divisional 3rds and a few 2nds along the way. Bill sold the yacht in 96. the new owners raced her to NZ in a 2 handed race and near the finish she was rolled in a cyclone, losing the mast and a part of the deck. The yacht was salvaged and repaired for the present owner.