Siandra and her two sister yachts were built in the period 1954/6 with much co-operation between the 3 owners as far as the purchase of timber etc. was concerned. Ron Swanson was employed by Graham Newland to build Siandra before Ron extended business for himself.

The difficulties of building a yacht in this period were profound. Australia was still suffering from great shortages caused by World War II. The purchase of the north coast White Beach for the planking gives an idea.

Sufficient timber for the construction of 4 yachts was required, three Lion Class yachts Siandra, Kaiyu (Bill Henderson), Malohi (Nev McEnallyy), plus Eos for Tom Flower. All owners wanted full length planks so the only way was to purchase eleven trees in the forest where they stood. No local timber mill could handle these logs in their full length, so they were railed to Sydney. After much searching, a timber jinker was found that could carry the logs to a mill with a 40foot run-out in Baulkham Hills. Here the logs were cut into planks.

The mill however did not have a planer. So the 4 owners, with some help, loaded the planks onto a semi and they were transported to Hayman & Ellis Mill at Manly for planing Again the owners provided the labour, together with the reloading onto the semi for distribution to the various building sites.

Siandra and her sister Kaiyu were built in the rear of the factory nearly opposite the Mater Hospital in Crows Nest. Siandra was launched in 1956.

Her first season was very successful including winning Second Division of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. But for the failure of a forestay, turn buckle only a few miles from the finish, this could have been a win overall. She won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 1958 and again in Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 1960

Today (1995) Siandra is halfway through a world cruise. Her young owners have been through a major cyclone and report that the yacht has performed to their highest expectation.

Story Courtesy of Graham Newland