The Perry Family and Middle Harbour

"Mucking around in boats". 

By Bryan Perry and John Stanley 1999

Cecil Sydney "Jim" Perry born in 1905, was a founding member of MHYC. Together with his father, he spent his early years living at Chinaman's Beach. Early Shipwright skills were learnt from his father. The two built boats on the beach at Clontarf from 1925 to well into the 1930's.

The first registered yacht at Middle Harbour was "Flying Cloud", designed by George Griffin, and this yacht was built by Jim Perry at the Spit for Togo Middows.  Jim was the skipper of "Flying Cloud" (MH1), when she won the first race held at MHYC in 1939 to 1940.

The Houseboat (see Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay) that lies in Fisher Bay, opposite MHYC was built by Jim Perry. He lived here with his wife May, for a number of years together with his two eldest sons Errol and Bryan.

Whilst living with his family in the houseboat at Clontarf, Jim used it to build the yacht "Janaway" which was owned and designed by Wally Ward. In 1938, "Janaway" left the confines of the houseboat, and was finally launched. She was one of the first boats on the MHYC register.

The Perry family moved to a house at North Balgowlah in 1951. By this time two more Perry boys had arrived (Alan Kenneth Perry 1948) and Graeme Harry Perry (Tom) 1950.

Wally Ward designer of "Janaway" was also a founding member of MHYC. He tutored Ron Swanson, another very early member of MHYC in the basic design skills of the "double ender" canoe stern principle. Harrison Butler, an English eye surgeon, had first developed this technique. It was displayed on John "Steamer" Stanley's yacht which was built in 1936 in New Zealand.

Jim Perry and Ron Swanson were very close friends, even though Ron was a lot younger than Jim. Many of Wally Wards ideas flowed through Ron to Jim Perry and "Janaway" was the forerunner of the "Carmen class", a 31- foot cruiser racer. The early lines of the "Carmen" have since been displayed in the long line of "Swanson" designed cruising yachts, for which Rob Swanson was responsible. Later, Bryan Perry, Jims second son was to become very close to Ron and his partner Sarah, before their death in St Helens in Tasmania.

All four (4) of Jim Perry's sons have retained a remarkable love for the sea and marine ventures. Errol, Bryan and Graham are Master Shipwrights and Alan, number 3 son of 4 is a Marine Engineer.

Early sailing skills were nurtured by Jim in his 4 boys. The gaff rigged skiffs at the Middle Harbour Skiff Club, were where the boys developed their early love of sailing. Later, Errol and Bryan were heavily involved in sailing 16-foot skiffs, and then to a lesser degree, 18 foot skiffs at the Skiff Club. This Club started in 1904, well before the MHYC.