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Theme
Theme in 2020, now owned by Brian Holt, twilighting west of the Spit.

CountryAustralia
Boat TypeClassic Wooden
Sail Number1292
29 (in 1972)
ClubMiddle Harbour Yacht Club
Year Build1968 (age 56)
Owner (s)Brian Holt
Former OwnersD F Swinfield (1984 SASC)
Graham O
John L Hagan (1972)
Mark Tolhurst
Norman Hyde
Designer (s)Peter Cole
Builder(s)Ronnie Balkwell

Theme

Looking for information on the yacht Theme - this is what we have so far.

Brian Holt is now the proud owner of Theme, a 40' timber classis originally designed by Peter Cole in 1968 from the lines of Barrenjoey, the 5.5 that won Australia's first sailing gold medal in 1964. She was a stretched out version of Barrenjoey.

Brian says he thinks she raced at MHYC in those early days when John Hagan (a friend of Brian Holt's father) owned her and he understands she may have been the club scratch boat.

She is in excellent condition for a 54 year old boat and has done a couple of races at MHYC more recently.

History 

MHYC History so far

Barrenjoey in (W H Northam who I gather is Bill Northam) registering this boat in 1964.

The first time Theme is listed in the MHYC handbook is in 1972/3, owned by John L Hagan - sail number 29.. 

She was still in the 1975/6 book but I have the rest of them after that at the MHYC.

From John Stanley who spoke to Normie Hyde

* Theme was designed by Peter Cole based on the 5.5 Barrenjoey who won the first Sailing Olympic Gold medal for Australia. She was a stretched version of Barrenjoey. * She was built by Ronnie Balkwell 

* At the time another similar boat was built - Tunami (believed to be be from Pittwater)
* Graham O'Neil (Pittwater) then bought both boats (Theme and Tunami) and Ken Swanson did both boats up.
* Normie Hyde used to match race them then.
* Next Mark Tolhurst (Frank Tolhurst's son) bought Theme. Mark is still around and is looking at representing his father at the next World 5.5 championships.

YNSW Yacht Register and others

This is what I have so far

Year Number Owner Type Club Source
1968 No Mention YNSW Year Book
1972 29 J L Hagan Sloop MHYC YNSW Year Book/ MHYC Sailing Handbook
1973 29 J L Hagan Sloop MHYC YNSW Year Book/ MHYC Sailing Handbook
1974 29 J L Hagan Sloop MHYC YNSW Year Book/ MHYC Sailing Handbook
1975 29 J L Hagan Sloop MHYC YNSW Year Book/ MHYC Sailing Handbook
1976 29 J L Hagan Sloop MHYC MHYC Sailing Handbook
1976 29 T Copes Sloop MHYC YNSW Year Book
1977 29 T Copes Sloop MHYC MHYC Sailing Handbook
1981 29 W Ross & C. McLennan Sloop ? YNSW Year Book
1982 29 D F Swinfield Sloop SASC YNSW Year Book
1983 29 D F Swinfield Sloop SASC YNSW Year Book
1984 29 D F Swinfield Sloop SASC YNSW Year Book
1985 29 D F Swinfield Sloop SASC YNSW Year Book
1987 29 R Humphries Sloop RSYS YNSW Year Book
1997 G O'Neil Sloop
2000 J G O'Neill Sloop RSYS RSYS Book
2007 1292 Not stated Sloop
2021 1292 Not stated Sloop SASC SASC Newsletter
2020 1292 Brian Holt Sloop MHYC MHYC Boat Register

* No Mention of her in MHYC Handbook

MHYC The Log

Our MHYC magazines started in April 73, and this is the only mention I can find of Theme.

Theme 3rd in 1976-77 Annual Pointscore

SASC

This is a mention of her in SASC Website:

SASC0421W-1.pdf - April 21 Newsletter

SASC0421W-1.pdf - April 2007 Newsletter

Theme HIstory at SASC
Scarlett O'Hara (KA400), Theme (1292) and Juana (KA8) approaching the start on 7 February
Caprice of Huon, Theme, Ranger and Anonyma II finishing

Other


Theme 3rd in 1976-77 Annual Pointscore
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