LOOKING FOR THE CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT – FAIRLIGHT

Late last year Chris Leech sent in a request re the Woollacott – Nada design yacht FAIRLIGHT. Sorry Chris this one fell between the deck cracks 🙂

At the time Chris supplied the above photo and commented that James Melling , son of Sam Melling who built the yacht at 37 Glen Road, Stanley Point, Devonport. Was looking for details on her where about.  James told Chris :-
“My father was in the crew of the original ‘Nada’ when she was wrecked on the Cow, and is mentioned in the article*. Here is a much copied photo of Fairlight being towed (dragged) down to the Devonport Yacht Club from Stanley Bay for her initial launching. My father  by the truck with cigarette, John Woollacott on the left, and my uncle on right. No wheels, cradle dragged behind “Yorkies” truck. James also said that Sam came back from the war after being a POW in Germany for 4 years after being captured in Crete, and built Fairlight beside the house. Bert Wollacott was a bit of a mentor to him Sam’s mother, Val, said.

” The *article mentioned above is on the yachtsman – Fred Norris and is from the book  ‘Devonport Yacht Club A Centennial History’ penned by Martin Foster. It is a great read so have included below – enjoy.

INPUT ex – IAN FRAME – Bruce Fallaver and i bought Fairlight in Wellington in 1980. We sailed regularly in RPNYC events and cruised extensively throughout the Marlborough Sounds and Tasman Bay. She always felt safe but never fast so we had our fair share of excitement slowly crossing Cook Strait. We had her cutter rigged with both staysil and yankee which worked well. The motor was a 10HP single cylinder Kubota diesel with a large flywheel and crank handle attached – very useful when the battery ran flat. Down wind we used a gennaker, before Team NZ discovered them in the 1990’s. We sold her in about 1986 to a guy from Christchurch and I last saw her moored at Redcliffs in the 1990’s. She was a great boat and much loved.