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Janaway
Janaway in Pittwater from SWS article

CountryAustralia
Boat TypeWard Design
Sail NumberA16
MH4
ClubMiddle Harbour Yacht Club
Sydney Amateur Sailing Club
RigMarconi
LOA7.31m, 24f
LWL6.7m, 22f
Beam2.52m, 8.3f
Draught1.37m, 4.5f
Displacement4t
Year Build1938 (age 86)
Owner (s)John Adameitis
John Firth-Smith
John P Ward
Julian Haskard
Les Soars
Wally Ward
Designer (s)Wally Ward
Builder(s)Jim Perry
Sid Perry
DesignerWally Ward

Janaway

From MHYC: The First 60Years

Article by: John Ward

Published: 1999

Janaway was built afloat by Sid and Jim Perry in their houseboat at The Spit (see Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay), the living room partitions being removed to make room so that the Perrys could live down below in the hull while building proceeded.

Constructed from spotted-gum keel and timbers, the New Zealand kauri planking, excess from a recently completed lifeboat contract, was delivered by water from Morrison and Sinclair where it was excess from a lifeboat just completed. All fastenings were roved, and an Austin 7 marine engine fitted. The hull was completely constructed by hand tools, the only electricity being available was a generator used for lighting.

Headroom was restricted in the houseboat, and Janaway was launched in October 1938 without keel or ballast, and with the keel boltholes plugged. The keel and lead were fitted at Griffin's shed and a second launching followed.

The design by Wally Ward was possibly the first truly Australian design to use the 'metacentric balance theory', which produced a hull free from weather helm when heeled. Over succeeding years, various modifications were made, one of which repositioned the rudder with the propeller shaft actually running through the centre of the rudder stock. The sail area was increased to improve light weather performance, and she was fitted with solid rod stainless rigging.

Janaway raced successfully, taking part in the first three Sweepstake races organised by 'Togo' Middows and George Griffin under the banner of 'Middle Harbour Cruising Yachts Association (later MHYC). So successful was she that Wally Ward was encouraged to design modified versions: first Jasnar, then Camira followed by the 'Carmens' and Camille. The Carmens have spread all over Australia since Jim Mason's sucess in winning the Hobart Race in Cadence under the Middle Harbour Yacht Club burgee.

Janaway remained in the Ward family for about 35 years. Currently she has been expertly refurbished to almost as good a new condition by Les Sours, and is now kept in McCarr's Creek.

Note: The Carmens have spread all around Australia since Jim Mason's success in winning the Hobart race with Cadence, also from Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The first 2 Carmens, Cadence and Cavelier were built side-by side by Ron Swanson at Dee Why. Camile was also built by Ron Swanson who sailed he most successfully, taking her to the Admiral's Cup and later competing in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

 

 

 

Stories

SWS 

JANAWAY - the epitome of the best designs of her time - Southern Woodenboat Sailing

By Ian Ward

Wally Ward designed his first yacht JANAWAY in 1937 at his home at Chinaman's beach in Mosman, Sydney. He was a keen amateur yacht designer with a particular interest in hull balance using the Metacentric shelf principle proposed by Rear Admiral Turner. 

Read more about Janaway in SWS magasine link above.

SWS 

Wally Ward designs and the CA's - Southern Woodenboat Sailing

JANAWAY

Wally Ward was a keen amateur yacht designer with a particular interest in hull balance, using the metacentric shelf principle. He designed JANAWAY for his own use. She featured a slender, pretty, canoe stern which was in part dictated by the need to produce a balanced hull shape. The tall Marconi rig with loose footed main was efficient upwind and the self-tacking jib enabled her to be easily sailed single handed in any conditions. [1]

JANAWAY was 28ft long and 22ft on the waterline, with a displacement of 4 tons and sail area of 430 sq ft. She was built by Jim Perry in his houseboat at Fisher Bay, near The Spit on Middle Harbour and launched in 1938 by removing the end wall of the house. Constructed from NZ kauri which is renowned for its durability and stability as a boat building timber, she has stood the test of time.

She was raced very successfully from 1947 to 1970 by John Ward, sailing at both the MHYC and SASC yacht clubs.

In addition to developing the lines plans of the hull, Wally also produced detailed construction drawings. For the metal fittings, he first made the foundry patterns in timber, which were then cast in gunmetal. He machined the castings himself at home on the lathe, even making his own mill to machine tapered keyways. He made most of the metalwork including keel bolts and nuts, mast & boom fittings as well as the deck fittings and tiller himself.

In 1960 John Ward modified the rig and keel, adding more sail area with an overlapping genoa, hydraulic winches, folding/locking propeller and many other innovations. He raced competitively and very successfully for many years from 1947 to 1970, with a formidable reputation as one of the smallest and scratch boats in the MHYC fleet.

JANAWAY was eventually sold by John Ward in 1970 when he embarked on designing and building his own larger yacht INTRINSIC.  JANAWAY has been fortunate to have several loving 'custodians' over the years, including John Firth-Smith, Les Soars, John Adameitis and Julian Haskard. She has provided inspiration for both artworks and an impressive lineage of yachts, the story of which is presented in this article.

JANAWAY was extensively restored in 2019 by Julian Haskard and is still sailing regularly at North Harbour in Sydney and with Sydney Amateur Sailing Club some 84 years after she was launched.[6]

A separate, more detailed history of JANAWAY has been published by SWS, May 2022.

Seacraft Magazine

Article about Janaway from Seacraft Magasine
Article about Janaway from Seacraft Magasine

Janaway is unusual if for no other reason tahn being the only yacht Seacraft knows of to be built on a houseboat.

She was built in 1938 by Sid and Jim Perry at Fisherman's Bay (opposite the Spit at Middle Harbour, NSW), where the Perry family lived aboard their houseboat. The boat (with the exception of the deadwood) was constructed on the top deck, and when completed was launched by lifting her off with the aid of a pair of sheerlegs on the shore, removing the houseboat from below and lowering her into the water. she was then towed to a slip where the deadwood was fitted.
Janaway was planked with New Zealand kauri over frames and keel of spotted gum. Cockpit coamings, gunwale etc., are of Queensland maple.
Below decks her accommodation is conventional. To port, next to the companion from the cockpit, is a neat set of lockers, then a seven-foot settee berth, and further forward another full-length bunk. An open shelf is right forward.
To starboard, the galley is aft with a two-burner stove above lockers and a drawer for the necessary utensils. Forward of this is another settee berth and right forward is space for sails, covers and so on.
Although the maximum headroom below decks is in the region of five feet, the raised deck construction gives an impression of full headroom, and a slight crouch is sufficient to get anywhere below. Movement through the cabin is also facilitated by the table which folds up to a width slightly more than the mast.
She is used extensively (whenever possible) for cruising by the Wards, who also race her with more than average success in the second division with Middle Harbour Yacht Club, where she is scratch boat. Her racing crew, for the record, is two - John ward, and the owners son and his wife. The jib is clubbed, which greatly reduces the wrk involved in windward sailing, especially which racing, The crew devotes her time to the runners and setting spinnakers: the skipper his time to the tiller and getting the spinnaker down, a division of labour which should receive more than favourable attention from forward hands on other racing yachts.
All fittings were made by Mr. Ward senior and the one we consider the most impressive is the swivel on the mooring chain which swivels. Running a close second to this is a pair of very neat halyard winches mounted on the mast about six inches off the deck. Her rigging is plow steel for the main and cap shrouds and solid stainless wire for back-, for- and jumper stays.

From Johanna Perry

The Fisher Bay Houseboat (Perrys Houseboat) was converted into a boatshed where little Janaway took around 12 months to build in their lounge room.

Graeme 'Tom' Perry tells the story of how  Janaway was removed from the houseboat using the land and tides. Janaway was suspended in the air and the houseboat was moved away from below her without a keel. There is a set of sandstone steps on the land that the Perrys used for access. They shared a close relationship with Harry and Edna Beford who occupied the magnificent house above on the point. 

Of interest May Perry (Second wife of Jim) was related to the Bedfords (through her mothers side). Edna Bedford was a beautiful artist. 

Graeme "Harry" Perry was given the middle name of "Harry" to honour their close relationship with the Bedord's throughout these years. The Spit was a close knit community in the early years. 

To the delight of the Perry family - little Janaway (MH4) has changed hands and is moored of  Davis Marina at North Harbour Reserve.  She is a very important piece of the Perry story. New owner Julian ? is a resident of Manly and is in contact with Jo Perry. 

Pictures

 From MHYC Archives

Janaway under sail
Janaway under sail
Janaway under sail
Janaway under sail
A History of Janaway
A History of Janaway
Janaway and Shalimar on the slip
Building of Janaway at Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay
Start of MHYC Race in early 50
Start of MHYC Race in early 50's
Janaway in Pittwater from SWS article
Superior Sails by Harry West
MHYC Racing in 1950s
Janaway Racing on Pittwater around 1950 from SWS article
Janaway skite Plates from MHYC
Janaway at Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay just after Launching before being fitted out
Janaway being launched from Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay
From Trove: Chronicle 24th March 1938. Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay
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