| Seabird | |
|---|---|
 Seabird | |
| Country | Australia |
| Club | Middle Harbour Yacht Club |
| Rig | Gaff Yawl changed to Sloop Rig |
| LOA | 7.92m, 26f |
| Beam | 2.59m, 8.5f |
| Draught | 1.21m, 4f |
| Year Build | 1932 (age 92) |
| Owner (s) | Arthur Sullivan VC Lal McDonell Randall McDonell |
| Other Boat Names | Sarong |
| Builder(s) | Sid Perry |
Seabird
From MHYC: The First 60 Years
Article by: Max Barnett
Published: 1999
Seabird
The original Seabird was built by Thomas Fleming Day, Editor of the American yachting Magazine "Rudder" into the United States.
She was a Gaff yawl Rig, 26' x 8' 6 x 4' Chine Hull. She was the first small yacht ever to cross the Atlantic. Her trip from New York to Rome and her best days run was 165 miles in 24 hours, the year 1911.
With a pedigree like that it was no surprise when "Sullie Sullivan" V.C. decided he wanted one and he approached Sid Perry (father of Jim) to build her.
The year was 1931 and Clontarf was inhabited by victims of the Great Depression, all living in tents or humpies. Sid Perry was one of these inhabitants and seized the opportunity to work and promptly laid the keel and set up the frames near the water's edge at Clontarf.
She was built on Spotted Gum frames, timbers, and keel, tied together by grown Ti tree knees spaced at 12" centres throughout her length. Full length Oregon planking completed the job, and like the original she was a Gaff yawl.
Launched in 1932, she raced with Sydney Amateurs and cruised to Broken Bay and Port Stephens.
Her owner was chosen to join a contingent of V.C. winners to attend the coronation of King George VI in 1939. Sadly he was killed in an accident on this mission.
She was purchased by Dr Randall McDonnell who kept her for several years and then sold to his son Dr Lal McDonnell who Sloop rigged her to a plan by George Griffin and successfully raced her in MHYC Division 11.
Subsequently Max Barnett bought her and renamed her "SARONG", modified the Sloop rig, removed the inside Ballast and swung it off the Keel. With the performance greatly improved she performed well in MHYC Division II and also the JOG. conducted by the CYC.
With the "wealth" generated by this job, Sid Perry moved to a houseboat (the Perry Houseboat Fisher Bay) moored nearby and upon this houseboat built Janaway one of the MHYC founding fleet.
Stories | The History of the Manly Rowing and Sailing Club of Manly Cove Founded 1875 By Max Barnet the history of manly rowing and sailing club "max barnett" - Search (bing.com). In the article it says: In 1932 a member J. Sullivan V.C. built a 26' Sea Bird Yawl, a design famous for the first small yacht crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1911. She was built by Sid Perry on the sand at Clontarf Beach. this yacht now sloop rigged is still on the Club register and has been in her present owner's hands (Max Barnett) for 26 years at the time of writing this history in 1979. She is moored in almost the identical spot she occupied in 1932. Arthur Sullivan VC Arthur Percy Sullivan VC Arthur was the first owner of the yacht Seabird. The is an excerpt about his life from Wikipedia. Arthur Percy Sullivan VC (27 November 1896 - 9 April 1937) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British Armed Forces. Born in South Australia, Sullivan worked for the National Bank of Australasia prior to enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in April 1918 for service in World War I. He had arrived in the United Kingdom, but had not completed training when the Armistice came into effect on 11 November. Sullivan was promoted to corporal in March 1919, but wanting to see active service he sought and received his discharge from the AIF on 28 May. On the same day, he enlisted in the British Army for service with the North Russia Relief Force, part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. Sullivan was deployed to northern Russia with the relief force. Following a successful attack, he was a member of the rearguard of a column withdrawing across the Sheika River. As his platoon crossed the river on a crude one-plank bridge in the early hours of 11 August 1919, it came under intense fire from Bolshevik troops, and four members fell into the river. Sullivan immediately jumped in and rescued them all, one by one, and was awarded the VC for his actions. Demobilised from the British Army after completing his service, Sullivan returned to Australia and resumed his civilian career as a banker. He was in London for the coronation of King George VI as part of the Australian Coronation Contingent in 1937, when he died of head injuries received in a fall. His medal set is displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. You can read more here: |
Pictures |  Seabird |
