TELSTAR – SAILING SUNDAY

I was recently contacted by Drew Thompson, who is trying to track down details on his grandfathers yacht – Telstar. Telstar was designed and built the grandfather, Ivan Vitali, in 1970 from solid kauri, then glassed over. She was based on an Alan Buchanan bermudan sloop and was 33’ 6” in length.

Ivan registered Telstar with NZ Yachting so he could race and was given the sail number 1263. NZ Yachting told Drew the name was changed to Goldline – Drew tracked that lead but the owner (Murray Smith) said the yacht was never called Goldline, but Kishmul.

The history that Drew is aware of it that she was sold in 1974 when Ivan died to Chris Smith (who owns Moana at Devonport YC) who sailed her around the world before selling her in 1985. Chris believes she ran around in Noumea around 1989, but was recovered and brought back to Westhaven and repaired and that’s where the trail goes cold. Any info, insights that we can give Drew, would be much appreciated

Drew commented that the photos, from the 1970’s are not good. The writing on one picture is from Drew’s 90-year-old uncle, Lolly Vitali – the picture has been on his wall about 40 years 🙂

10-10-2023 UPDATE ex Drew Thompson – Telstar is still sailing and still extremely well looked after (photos below) by the now-former Commodore of the Dar es Salaam yacht club, Mark Hart. Mark and I converse regularly – and I’d even planned a trip to sail her on her 50th birthday but Covid stepped in. We caught up via skype on the day – December 16th, 2021 to celebrate. Mark has since mounted a photograph of my grandfather and Telstar designer/builder, Ivan Vitali, below deck. I hope to one get there one day to sail her myself.