Maybird
Maybird was designed by Fred Shepherd for Lt Col WCW Hawkes DSO, Indian Army (retired) and built by jack Tyrell at Arklow Co Wicklow in 1937. This wooden ketch connects the lives of her designer, her builder and her original owner with some nine families who have had the privilege of sailing her over the last 73 years. Maybird's various roles have included being a gentleman's auxillary yacht,an ocean passage maker and a Greenpeace protest vessel - Maybird's story is truly compelling and detailed on her web site www.maybird.co.uk
Her story begins in Ireland in the years following the First World War and the creation of the Irish Free State. It continues in England from the outbreak of the Second World War until the late 1960's. She sailed to New Zealand from Lymington in 1972 with two families on board (10 in total) via the Carribean, the Panama Canal, the Galapoagos Islands and Tahiti. She spent the next 36 years based in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand's North Island where she was owned by the current owner's father in law - Robin MacDiarmid.
She made passages to Tongo, Fiji, New Caledonia and regularly plyed the Island's East Coast with Robin at her helm.
During 2007 she made the trip back to the UK as deck cargo on a bulk carrier which was transporting 25,000 tonnes of onions from Tauranga, New Zealand to Ipswich. She was seized by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, took it in her stride and once common sense prevailed ownership was transferred back from Her Majesty to the current owner.
She has since undergone an extensive restoration over a period of 2 years and been returned back to her original Gaff Rig design after being converted to Bermudan Rig in 1950. She was re-launched in December 2009 and is to be coded by the MCA for charter in April 2010. She will then be available for day sails, weekend breaks and participation in various races and regattas (including BCYC Cowes) and attending several Maritime Festivals.
YACHT DESCRIPTION
| Owner: | Darryl Hughes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Designer: | Fred Shepherd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class: | xxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Designed: | 1937 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Built: | 1937 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Builder: | Tyrells Arklow Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| LOD/WL Ratio: | xxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement: | 16 tonnes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thames Measurement: | xxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull Material: | Wood | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull Construction: | Carvel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull Frames: | Grown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rudder: | Keel Hung | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sail Material: | Woven | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deck & Superstructure: | Laid Teak on ply | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Superstructure Profile: | Coach with Dog House | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interior: | xxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steering: | Wheel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transom: | Canoe Stern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rig: | Ketch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engine Make: | Beta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engine HP: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engine Mounted: | xxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propeller: | Folding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propeller Blades: | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mast Material: | Wood | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mast Configuration: | 1 spreaders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keel Configuration: | Long | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keel Material: | Lead | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
