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Adina
Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto
Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto. Seawind
Adina today, with new rigging and mast ! Sitting in the Swan River!
Adina today, with new rigging and mast ! Sitting in the Swan River!

CountryAustralia
Sail Number93
A76
SP176
ClubSouth of Perth Sailing Club
RigSloop
Owner (s)Andrew Tait
Former OwnersChristine Tait
H. B. Vaughan and T. M. Taylor
J.D. Borrowman
Lindsay Buckmaster
Norm Brooker
Sverre Berg
Other Boat NamesMaskee
Seawind
Builder(s)Percival George Coverdale

Adina

From the notes below, it seems Adina was built by Percival George Coverdale of Battery Point in Hobart! She may be approaching 100 years old!!

She was bought by J. D. Borrowman (a hairdresser in Elizabeth Street) in about 1932.

She was shipped to Sydney on a coastal steamer as a "hull only affair" where she was fitted out by Halvorsen's at Neutral Bay.

Norm Brooker, bought her in 1953 and renamed her Seawind. He sold her around 1956.

Many years later, Adina was bought and extensively rebuilt by Lindsay Buckmaster. It was called Maskee when he bought her and he renamed her Adina as he believed that was her original name.

She is currently owned by Andrew and Ian Tait and is sailed out of South of Perth Sailing Club. Andrew's mother bought Adina in 2000, after a long and far reaching search for such a boat, and very generously passed her on to Andrew and his son Ian. Together, they have restored Adina to her beautiful self.

There are still many questions to be answered, so we are looking for more information.

Note:

Nicole Mays (who has published a book on the Battery Point boat builders) and Mori Flapan have been of great help! Adina has had the names of Maskee and Seawind (and possibly a few others yet to be discovered)


Short History

Adina today, with new rigging and mast ! Sitting in the Swan River!
Adina today, with new rigging and mast ! Sitting in the Swan River!

A short history of a boat called Adina by Andrew Tait

Christine Tate (Nanna) 2001: Adina

The portion of Adina's history that relates to my families guardianship of her begins with my mother Christine Tait (hereby known as "Nanna") in the year 2001.  

Of discovering Adina, Nanna writes;

''I went searching for a sailing boat, up the Hawkesbury River, around Pittwater and saw a nice old Swanson somewhere in Sylvania Waters . I got as far as Port Lincoln looking at a Nicholson. I must have seen dozens of boats.

Then Udo Edlinger from Rose Bay Marina took me in his little runabout into Parsley Bay on Sydney Harbour. And there she was quietly rotting away on her mooring, but so beautiful to look at that I took another $11,000 out of my life savings and took her down to Pittwater."

Adina was owned apparently by a gruff old man who had lived aboard for some time, having cruised quite extensively. Unfortunately the specifics of his adventures and of what he knew of Adina's history were not forthcoming, so she began her life in the Tait family with a clear slate. Soon she was making her way out of the 'heads' and up along the northern beaches to, unbeknown to us, one of her favourite old haunts in Broken Bay.

Poor old Adina had not been recently well looked after and shortly after picking up her new mooring the top of her lovely old (but internally rotten) mast parted company in an abrupt fashion, followed shortly after by the disappearance of her rudder! Which left us all quietly reminiscing over the possible consequences had she not held herself together for the trip.

Over the next 14 years Nanna undertook the expensive task of breathing new life into the addition to our extended family. A new alloy mast, new rudder, a strong new 28hp Kabota diesel and much elbow grease expended in varnishing and painting. Adina enjoyed the love and attention of her new Sydney based family with many weekend trips up the Hawkesbury.

Nanna lived an energetic lifestyle with her time spent skiing at Mt Selwyn, gardening on her 20 acre property in Mt Horeb, swimming in various Sydney seaside rock pools and at every opportunity sailing the glorious waters of Pittwater and environs. What seemingly caused a rude rethink of this lifestyle was a decision to finally give in to the necessity of a knee reconstruction!

Faced with what must have been a very difficult decision to restructure her lifestyle Nanna sold the farm, started the renovation of the Clareville family home and, I am sure reluctantly, passed Adinainto the care of the Perth branch of the family.

The call to take on the care of Adina was received by me with mixed emotion. Excitement at owning a beautiful sailing boat that I know has the power to create lifelong memories and transform lives, tempered with the daunting task of restoring and maintaining a vessel that has meant so much to my family and I was sure to many before.

To that end I was very keen to learn of her history.

Who had built her, when and where? Who had created their lifelong memories with Adina?

  

The Search

Firstly we searched for clues from the broker who had sold her to us but this led to a dead end. Next Nanna sought the help of a distant relative, Cliff Gale of MHYC. After meeting Adina he recalled sailing against her in Sydney harbour a long time ago, that she was owned by a Sydney hairdresser, but he couldn't remember any clear details.

Then I wrote to the editor of the boating magazine 'Afloat', Robin Copeland who kindly printed my plea for assistance, along with a photo of Adina in the April, 2015 edition.

  

Doug Brooker named her Seawind in 1953

Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto
Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto. Seawind

The first concrete piece of Adina's history came to us when Doug Brooker replied to our appeal. Along with Doug's email came 4 beautiful photos of her at the time of purchase, being surveyed by Alan Payne at the boatshed in Crystal Bay, Newport.

Norm Brooker (Doug's father) bought Adina in 1953 and sailed her at the MHYC (Middle Harbour Yacht Club) and the RPAYC (Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club). Doug knew nothing of Adina's origins except that she had endured many name changes (he recalled the old key tag having many previous names stamped on it) and at the time his father had owned her he changed her name to Seawind

When I was having Adina lifted onto a truck ready for her journey across the Nullarbor, Doug and his wife came down to Fenwicks Marina to say goodbye to her.

Though Norm Brooker only owned Adina a few years, she had left a lasting impression and inspired Norm, with his next boat Pegasus to enter the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Doug was 10 when his dad had bought Adina and fondly recalled holidaying on her over the Xmas of 1953 in Broken Bay.

At last some clues!

Julie Hodder, from MHYC was a great help in tracing Adina's connection to the club. On purchasing the book, 'Middle Harbour Yacht Club 1939-1999, The First Sixty Years', there she was in Chapter 3 (Ocean Racing), with the caption: Seawind, a 30 ft. raised deck sloop, raced by Norman Brooker with MHYC from 1953 to 1955. She competed in the club's first ocean race from Middle Harbour to Broken Bay (third across the line).

The accompanying photo was taken by Aquafoto, which was run by Neville McEnally.

Armed with this new information I tracked down another photo of Seawind in the October 1954 edition of 'Seacraft' where she was identified as sailing at the RPAYC season opener that year.

 

Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport

Lindsay Buckmaster renamed her Adina 1980's

According to Doug Brooker Seawind was later bought by Lindsay Buckmaster who extensively rebuilt her and changed her name to Adina.

So, having tracked down Lindsay from the MHYC we could fit another piece of the puzzle. After chatting on the phone, Lindsay sent me some photos of Adina in 1984, the year he bought her, after returning from a backpacking trip overseas,

Lindsay worked hard on Adina recaulking her above the waterline, lengthening the bowsprit, a new cockpit, completely new interior fit out, new toilet, stainless steel pulpit, rigging and stanchions, fixed portlights, topside paint, laminated tiller and new aft hatch. It is a testament to the quality of Lindsay's workmanship that much of his work remains in good condition to this day.

Though Lindsay bought Maskee (which was her name in June 1984) principally to restore and sell, there are many photos of Lindsay with his late wife (Kay) enjoying their time on Adina. Lindsay displayed Adina at the 1985 Ships Ahoy Classic Boat Festival at Sydney.

Now we had 3 names (Adina, Seawind and Maskee) and with another clue that was on the survey when Nanna bought the boat (under maker it simply listed her as "Tasmanian" .....hardly surprising considering she was made of King Billy, Huon and Celery Top Pine! ) I started googling!

I spent hours trawling through Mori Flapan's Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats under the section 'Tasmanian'.....and finally found an entry under the names Seawind and Maskee as being made by Percy Coverdale at his Battery Point boatyard. So now we knew who made her and where, but not when.

Unfortunately she was not listed in Nicole Mays wonderful book Spirited, Skilled and Determined. The Boat and Ship Builders of Battery Point: 1835 - 1935.

   

J. D. Borrowman 1930's: Adina 

Adina 1939. Picture supplied by George Borrowman
Adina 1939. Picture supplied by George Borrowman
Photos provided by George Borrowman
Photos provided by George Borrowman

Also while googling I came up with another valuable piece of the puzzle from The Sydney Morning Herald, an article published on Monday 11th December, 1933. 

SYDNEY AMATEUR CLUB

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

''The squally southerly breeze was responsible for a series of mishaps in the fleet of the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. Three craft lost their masts, one was capsized and others suffered minor casualties such as torn sails.

In B Class Womerah (J. Sullivan), when coming round the starter's boat struck her bow, capsized and sank. She was, however, hauled ashore by this launch. Another competitor in this class Genestre (K. R. King), also capsized and sank. In A1 Class Niobe (G. Carter) and Nyria (R. L. Patrick) were both dismasted, the latter set up a boom as a jury mast and struggled home under trysail. Hoana (G. Backhouse) finished with a torn mainsail.

The A2 division did not suffer at all at the hands of the elements and a comparative newcomer to the class, Adina (Mr J. D. Borrowman) won by 3 min 21s from Sampan, with Maluka 61 seconds later."

This article beautifully describes one of Adina's enduring features ..... That she nearly always wins in heavy conditions! She has won each of the races we have entered in conditions of winds greater than 15 knots in the last year! Needless to say she flounders in light weather, but the heaviness of her build is probably a good reason she has lasted so well after so many years.

Now we had the name of her owner in 1933! Mr J. D. Borrowman!

My elder sister (Josephine) who just happens to be an archivist now entered the fray and tracked down a Borrowman family and came up with a few phone numbers with which to pursue our search. A Jock Borrowman who was J. D.'s grandson gave us the phone number of his father, George!

I could not believe my luck when a George Borrowman from Bundaberg in Queensland answered the phone and confirmed that Mr Joseph Dick Borrowman was his father and that he, George had been 10 years old when his father had boughtAdina. George was very emotional as he had spent his youth growing up on Adina. These then were the first owners who sailed the boat from 1933 till 1946.

The Borrowmans lived by the water at Mosman and George recounted the time he ran out of the house to "see what all the fuss was about" when the Japanese midget subs blew up ships at Circular Quay. He could clearly hear the explosions from inside his house across the harbour! Adina was painted combat colours and used by the airforce to train the pilots in navigation during WWII. She had the number 26 and a circle painted on her side so that she could be identified as "friendly" by the Allied subs and Harbour Patrol.

I wrote to George with some recent photos of Adina and received this reply on 12-6-15;

Dear Andrew,

Received your letter today and was so pleased to see and read about the "Adina". Often wondered what and where she ended up and in no doubt in good order and condition with a dedicated owner.    

I'm afraid I cannot give you all the information you require as I was away at boarding school, Ag. College and four and a half years in 2/7 AAR in WA with 1st AA Div AIF.

No doubt "Adina's" age 83 is as remarkable as mine being 93 years.

My photos are ones I took on my school holidays and on army leave. They are lucky to survive our 2013 flood in which we lost a lot of mixed gear including our car.

I have photostated all the photos I have left, which should help you with your history.

Her builders? Could be but she was completed by Halvorsen Bros. slipway Neutral Bay Sydney Harbour. During her lifetime she was moored at (Neutral Bay, Sydney Harbour, Halvorsen Bros.) (The Spit, Griffins Slipways, Middle Harbour) and then up to Pittwater Broken Bay at the RPAY Club moorings at Newport?         

While at Pittwater we did race but mainly had holidays on her at the Basin and Refuge Bay up the Hawkesbury River. My father would have had her rego numbers, sorry I can't help you, plus all the details about her, would have been in my brothers care, now deceased also wife.

The Adina carried 1. main jib and mainsail, 2. second set 1 jib and mainsail smaller, 3. Storm jib and mainsail, 1 spinnaker, 1 ballooner.

Motors, 1 Chrysler 6hp and 1 Mours Marine 4 .D.

The name plate "Adina" was stainless steel on deck entrance to below. Below were 4 bunks running from the mast to the steps to either side with made up foam carved mattress. No toilet, an ice chest, and a two burner metho stove. Rough eh!!

She carried another 1/2 ton ballast under the floor.

Also had a 10 foot snub nose clinker ply varnish (dinghy).

I might be able to trace some of my father's papers etc. ., will have a try with the family. I had a beautiful framed photo of the Adina on Sydney Harbour used to have it on my dresser, gone?

Kind Regards, 

George Borrowman.

PS "Adina" means good.

Accompanying this letter were 11 photocopied black and white photos of Adina in the 1930's.

J. D. (otherwise known as "Skip" to his family) belonged to the RPAYC whose Rear Commodore was James Hardie, who also bought a Percy Coverdale boat (Windward II) that was made for him in 1929. I wonder was there a connection? Apparently it was common for Tasmanian built boats to be brought to Sydney via coastal steamer at that time.

Over the phone George also recalled sailing Adina through Sydney Heads on a particularly rough day with a big swell running and they put the old Chrysler motor hard at work to assist. The motor overheated, caught fire and burned out most of the cockpit! After that they installed a new Morris engine.

George, very generously sent me all his original photos so that I could scan them and return them to him, included with the photos was a card dated 25-9-15 which read;

Dear Andrew,

Enclosed you will find all the photos that I can find about the "Adina". Many were lost during the floods caused by cyclone 'Yasi' in 2013.

It took me a couple of hours to find the photo of the one that included the name plate Adina!

So easy to find!!

Will let you know if I find anything more relating to its history.

Regards, George.

PS. have also included photo copies of Skips (dads) yacht he had built after he sold Adina. I never set foot on her.  G

There seemed to be emerging a common theme throughout Adina's life. She made a big impact on the lives of those who sailed her, especially young boys. George was 10 when his dad bought her in 1933, as was Doug Brooker when his father bought her in 1953.

   

H. B. Vaughan and T. M. Taylor in the late 1950's,

Then, out of the blue I was contacted by a Geoff Sherman, who had also seen the article in Afloat. His father had crewed on Adina when she was co-owned by H. B. Vaughan and T. M. Taylor in the late 1950's, sailing on Pittwater. Geoff had a wonderful framed picture of Seawind (actually an enlarged black and white photograph that had been very skilfully hand coloured).

Geoff was 4 when his father began crewing on Seawind. He has a very vivid memory of being thrown down into the cabin and told, in no uncertain terms to, "stay put!". Looking through the portholes poor Geoff was very concerned to see only green water!!

It didn't seem to scare Geoff too badly, as the last correspondence I got from him he apologised for his late reply, he'd been away sailing for most of the year! Geoff very kindly donated the picture to us as he felt it was only right for it to belong with the current custodians.

Which brings me to my own progeny! My son Ian (who was also 4 when Nanna bought Adina) had to be restrained from sailing Adina over the horizon and into the sunset at the age of 16! Ian has dreams of sailing around the world, which I have no doubt he someday will. By the age of 18 he has sailed up the entire east coast of Queensland and crewed from Coffs Harbour to New Zealand.

   

Sverre Berg 1962 to 1967

By now the information I was receiving on Adina's history was beginning to snowball and on searching old registered sail numbers I discovered another previous owner. The Norwegian Sverre Berg who owned Adina (Seawind or Maskee?) between 1962 till 1967.

Sverre earlier had owned a 40 foot ketch (called Horizon) that he sailed in the 9th annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 1963. In an article dated 26th December 1953 in the Sydney Morning Herald he was described thus;

"Horizon is owned and skippered by Sverre Berg, commodore of the CYC. He's more than a first class seaman. He's a very tough skipper who's sailed all over the world".

No doubt, by the time he owned Adina he wanted to downsize, but still recognised a fine yacht when he saw one.

The process of discovering the history of a boat called Adina taught me a lot about the history of boatbuilding and the characters that were at the forefront of yacht design and sailing in Australia in the 20th century.

When Adina first began racing there were less than 100 registered yachts in Sydney Harbour. She was fitted out with one of the first Marconi rigs and was very competitive in ocean and harbour racing.

Being built by Percy Coverdale then fitted out by the Halvorsen Brothers in their Neutral Bay boatyard (most likely by Carl Halvorsen, whose speciality "was to build masts and booms, and to splice the rigging." quote taken from 'Wooden Boats , Iron Men , The Halvorsen Story' by Randi Svensen) placed Adina's building at a crucial moment in history: at the height of the Great Depression and between the two world wars.

   

Jock Muir states in his 'Maritime Reflections' that; His earliest memories on the waterfront include Percy Coverdale:

"I used to hang around the sheds after school watching him, helped by Athol Taylor and 'Chook' Newman, build several Derwent Class one-design yachts, one of which, Gnome, was built for Walter Taylor and is still sailing on the Derwent today.

Perce was undoubtedly one of the state's greatest boat builders and I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from him. I remember an example of the craftsmanship that I learnt from him. He was talking about a small wooden lifeboat dinghy and he said .... "you know mate, you could poke this out into heavy weather when even the Zealandia (a large passenger ship) wouldn't look at it'.... such was the quality and soundness of wooden boats built in Tasmania."

And,

''About a hundred yards down the road from our yard was old Percy Coverdale's yard where I gained my first interest in the art. He was a lean, wiry man forever clenching a pipe between his teeth but he was a master craftsman. He built the 52-foot yacht Winston Churchill with Max Muir, who served his time with him, and skippered her to second over the line in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 1949 when he was 69 years-old.

It just seems to be something inside you. Like music or art. It has nothing to do with where you went to school, it is a gift. Percy Coverdale .........had that natural aptitude."

I believe it is precisely these qualities that has kept Adina alive and will see her well into her next century.

Research Notes

Please note that some of these details needs to be confirmed.

  

From Doug Brooker to Andrew Tait

Hi Andrew,

In response to your request for information about your new yacht, my Dad, Norm Brooker, bought her in 1953. She was his 1st post-war yacht and 3 of the enclosed photos show her on the slips (probably at Newport) when her bought her. The other pic is by Aquafoto, which was run by Neville McEnally .

I spent Christmas 1953 in Broken Bay aboard the boat. Dad renamed her Seawind. When he bought her, the key tag had several names on it. Adina was one of them and I can't remember any others. Dad sold her in about 1955 or 56, to get a 36ft Colin Archer yacht called Pegasus.

Many years later, Adina was bought and extensively rebuilt by Lindsay Buckmaster. I think it was he who renamed her Adina. You could probably reach him through the Sydney Amateurs.

Doug Brooker.

PS I think you should try measuring her again, without the bowsprit!!!!

Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind) on the slips, probably at Newport
Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto
Adina (Seawind), Sail No. 93 - photo by Aquafoto. Seawind

From Andrew Tait to MHYC

I am writing to seek any information you may have about a boat that was owned in 1953 by Norm Brooker (see the note from Norm's son Doug) , who sailed "Seawind " (as pictured below ) from MHYC .

I was hoping that the boats sail number ( 93 ) and it's history at your club may lead to any information about it's history (including where and when she was built).

I am the new owner and have trucked the boat (now called Adina) to Perth , where she will begin the next chapter in her history .

Adina has been in my family for 15 years now and my 17 year old son (who aspires to become a wooden boatbuilder) is to begin an extensive restoration of her . 

Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated ,

Regards,

Andrew Tait .


From Julie Hodder (MHYC to Andrew Tait)

Here is what I have in my books and I googled a few things on Adina (see articles below). There also seems to be a 16 skiff named Adina - maybe they are connected.

It seems to me it was a Sydney Amateur boat, owned by J. D. Borrowman (appears around 1933). Maybe that can help.

From MHYC Archives

1952 Point score race - no sign of Adina or Seawind or Brooker. Nor of MH10

1957 - Norm Brooker (see in 1957) when he owned Pegasus as I have a 3 pictures of Pegasus. Norm seems to have kept that number.

In 1959 Sailing Handbook I can find a Seawind with sail number 93 - It was owned by H. B. Vaughan and T. M. Taylor. Not sure it was connected with MHYC. MHYC handbook had all the boat numbers of every boat in NSW

In 1963 "93" was taken by another boat - this was Maskee (owned by S Berg). No sign of a Seawind, but maybe it changed it name.

In 1971 - MH10 was Seawind, owned by PA Wilde - not sure whether this was your Adina. There was a motor cruiser named Adina owned by NC Evans

MHYC's First Ocean Race

The Early Years

MHYC: The First 60 Years

Article by: Frank Likely

Published: 1999

Chapter 3 Ocean Racing

Max Barnett's Pinta was the Winner of MHYC's first offshore yacht race. Prior to this event, however, a number of skippers of club yachts had indicated their desire to go offshore sailing. This followed a glowing speech by Wally Burke about his participation in the Lake Macquarie Race. Wally's talk fired up members and the next Lake Macquarie Race saw six MHYC yachts enjoying the excitement of a night start and sail up the coast, and the 'hauling down' to be towed over the 'drop over' into the lake. The hauling down procedure required two motor boats: one to haul the yacht down by the mast using its halyard, the other to tow it over the shallows.

MHYC participants in the 1955 Lake Macquarie Race were: Eudoria (Norman Way); Aquarelle (Nev McEnally);Ailsa (Bill Henderson); Firefly (Graham Newland); Seawind (Norm Brooker); Ladybird (Hal Harpur); and Blue Peter (Wally Burke). There was great racing on the Lake that Easter weekend with outstanding hospitality from the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club and the inevitable hung-over passage home on Easter Monday. Some yachts cruised north to Port Stephens and Broughton Island.

The club's first ocean race, up to Broken Bay, was organised in 1954. Wally Burke was appointed scrutineer, to check the suitability of the competing yachts, and at 0800 hours on August 21, the small fleet drifted across the line, full of anticipation for a pleasant sail up the coast, hopefully with a sojourn in the Newport Pub to follow. The pioneering yachts were: Pinta (Max Barnett); Joy (Alf Wildman); Windsong (Noel Hopkinson); Ladybird (Hal Harpur, sailed by Peter Fletcher); Poinciana (Harry Begg); Talua (Max Halliwell); Ailsa (Bill Henderson); Seawind (Norm Brooker); and Firefly (Graham Newland).

Light headwinds meant that by mid-afternoon only the leaders had reached Long Reef. Max Barnett in Pinta had whistled up a bit of a breeze and had established a good lead, but a few of the fleet gradually dropped out and returned home, or resorted to motoring to Pittwater for the rendezvous at Newport Pub. Around Barrenjoey, the crew of Pinta set a kite, and finished at 0335 hours on August 22 well pleased with their effort. Ailsa crossed the line at 0430 hours; and Seawind followed five minutes later.

The participating skippers voted to repeat the event the following year and it became known as the 'Harry Elderfield Trophy Race'.

Frank Likely

Adina in the Pittwater Regatta Cup  

www.pittwateronlinenews.com/the-1937-pittwater-regatta-a-fashionable-affair.php 

31st Pittwater Regatta Cup

Pittwater Regatta Cup, the chief sailing event on the programme, was won well by Harry Maxwell's division yacht, Koonya II. Maxwell made a poor start but gave the fleet a sailing lesson when he got clear of "blanketing". Sydney boats-Hako (G. W. Bevan), Adina (K. D. Borrowman), and Womerah (J.D-Royle)led home the fleet in the W. D. M. Taylor Memorial Handicap for craft of  S.A.S.C . and Lake Macquarie Y.C. Clipper Kiaora and Aloha  sailed respectively by I.  McKellar,  J. Edgerton and B. Smith filled the places in the Stanley Spain trophy handicap. 

W. D. M. Taylor Memorial Handicap (boats on registers of Sydney Amateur Sailing Club and Lake Macquarie Yacht Club)

-Hako (G. W. Bevan)12m, 1; Adina (J. D. Borrowman). 17m,2; Womerah (J. MacD. Royle), 17m, 3. Won hy8m 13s, with 3m 19s between second and third. Finishing times: Hako, 4h 31m 28s; Adina, 4h 39m; Womerah, 4h 32m 4s,  Wyuss, 4h 43m 5secs, Ranger, 4h 43m 53secs; Mawhiti, 4h 47m 25secs, Epacris, 4h 50m 30s. Eleven started

The Sydney Morning Herald

Articles googled by Julie Hodder from the Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney Morning Herald 16th March 1936
Sydney Morning Herald 16th March 1936
Sydney Morning Herald 1933 Adina J.D. Borrowman
Sydney Morning Herald 1933 Adina J.D. Borrowman
Sydney Morning Herald 1935 Adina J.D. Borrowman
Sydney Morning Herald 1935 Adina J.D. Borrowman
Sydney Morning Herald 1934 Adina J.D. Borrowman
Sydney Morning Herald 1934 Adina J.D. Borrowman

Reply to Julie Hodder from Andrew Tait

Thank you so much for this information !!! This is fantastic !!!!! It all adds up to the information that we have obtained so far!

Lindsay Buckmaster re-named her Adina as he believed that it was the boats original name. It was called Maskee when he bought her!

Doug Brooker said that his father bought her in 1953 and his father re-named her Seawind ....he also mentioned that she had many previous names on the key tag (he said "poor old boat, they couldn't be bothered to buy a new keytag"!).

Doug also mentioned that she was considered an old boat at the time that his father bought her. So 1933 fits as a time that would have been close to her initial launch.

The interesting thing is that Andrew Moncrieff mentioned that King Billy Pine was exclusively a Tasmanian product (not available in Sydney during the 1930's), so that points to her being a Tasmanian build.

I have also found, on an old sail the number outline of "4187"!?

Thanks again for this wealth of information ....we are getting closer to her origins now!!!

She has arrived safely in Perth now, ready for the next chapter in her already long history . 

She hardly took a drop of water when we lowered her into the Swan River. My 17 year old son (who wants to be a wooden boat builder) and I are beginning to completely restore her. 

Reply to Julie Hodder from Andrew Tait

I have found her builder!! Her original name was Seawind and she was built by Percival George Coverdale of Battery Point in Hobart!

Lots more research needed ... we might yet find that she is, or approaching 100 years old !! It would be a pity to let that milestone go uncelebrated.

Thanks for your help. I am sure that J.D. Borrowman renamed her Adina (a Hebrew name). He was a hairdresser in Elizabeth Street.

Note: Adina could also be named after the Aboriginal name meaning "Good, voluptuous, beautiful"

Reply to Julie Hodder from Andrew Tait

Adina 1939. Picture supplied by George Borrowman
Adina 1939. Picture supplied by George Borrowman

I have managed to track down J.D. Borrowman's son (George, who is 91 now! and lives in Bundaberg, Qld) . He says that his father bought the Adina in 1932 when George was only 10 years old.

She was made at Battery Point in Hobart by a Percy Coverdale and delivered to Sydney as a Hull only (I wonder how they got her up from Tassy in that state back then??)

She was then fitted out either by Halvorsen's at Neutral Bay or by old "darky" Griffin at Spit Junction, he can't remember which. But George sent me this photo of Adina in 1939.

Nicole Mays is also checking her records for any possible links from the Tassy end. Her book on "The Boat and Ship Builders of Battery Point: 1835 - 1935 " is a gold mine!

I think your mention of her in 1959, 1963 and 1971 could fill in all the gaps in the boats history.

Again many thanks for your help. We are getting close.


Reply to Julie Hodder from Andrew Tait

Since I last emailed you the leads you have given me have snowballed into quite a collection of photos and stories!

I managed to track down the 93 year old son of the original owner (J. D. Borrowman) , his name is George. He is sending me his wonderful collection of photos that he took on Adina as a child.

Nicole Mays (who has published a book on the Battery Point boat builders) and Mori Flapan have been of great help! Adina has had the names of Maskee and Seawind (and possibly a few others yet to be discovered)

Nicole is writing another book on the Battery Point builders in the 20th century and so I am tracking down as many photos and anecdotes of Adina as possible as she will appear in Nicole's next book.

I also got an Email from Greg Muir, son of Jock Muir, who was possibly working in Percy Coverdales yard while Adina was being built.

So, thank you again for your help, if anything further turns up about Adina I would love to know .

I will collate all the information I have been collecting and put it all together in a short book/story fashion with photos and anecdotes and send it on to you if you are interested.

I will also get a good photo of her under sail as we have put up some new sails and are just this week fine tuning an asymmetrical spinnaker. Her new sail number is SP176 and we are racing her out of the South of Perth Sailing Club.

George Borrowman says that Adina was built by Percy Coverdale at Battery Point and shipped to Sydney on a coastal steamer as a "hull only affair" where she was fitted out by Halvorsen at Neutral Bay.

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