Yacht SAYONARA

Date1895-1905

Object number00014704

NamePhotograph

MediumPhotographic print on paper.

DimensionsSight: 365 × 465 mm
Overall: 650 × 770 × 25 mm, 3.8 kg
Mount / Matt size: 515 × 645 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Paula Stafford

Terms

DescriptionA black and white photographic print depicting the yacht SAYONARA in full sail, with her crew visible on board. The registration number 'R / 27' can be seen at top of mainsail.HistorySAYONARA was originally owned and built for the Melbourne yachtsman, Mr G.F. Garrard, and was designed by William Fife. The yacht was designed for cruising purposes and was built in Adelaide. SAYONARA received considerable interest from the yachting community. Numerous accounts were published in papers respecting the yacht's progress and construction. SAYONARA's importance in the sport of yachting is well documented in the newspaper cuttings book belonging to the collection. SAYONARA was seen as the finest model of an American cutter ever seen in Hobson's Bay. The vessel's length was 57 feet, it had a load waterline of 10 feet 9 inches, and the draft was 7 feet 9 inches. SAYONARA carried 2071 square feet of sail which was imported from Cowes, England. SAYONARA also had a 15 ton cruising yawl rig and was the first Australian yacht to have hollow spars. The spars were imported from New York. The vessel's rigging was unique. Money was apparently not a major concern for Garrard when equipping what contemporary reports consider the finest vessel in Australian waters. The yacht had first class accommodation. The cabin slept eight people. The lavatory was fitted with a toilet and wash basin. Lockers, wardrobes, pantries, and cupboards were plentiful. The sails and fittings were imported from England. Long plush covered seats existed alongside the cabin. SAYONARA had a most striking appearance. The builder of SAYONARA, Mr Alick Macfarlane, became famous throughout Australia for his yacht building skills. SAYONARA had perfect symmetry. Great care was taken in the selection building materials. Yachting notes in the newspaper clippings album revealed the stem, keel, stern post and dead wood was constructed from Tarrabi, timbers from blue gum, and the planking and decks from Kauri. The boat was a model of excellent workmanship. At the time SAYONARA was joined to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club in 1897 - 1898, a new wave of interest in inter colonial racing emerged. The cognoscenti predicted that SAYONARA was fast. However, the yawl rig was to provide a serious handicap in racing, according to racing reports. SAYONARA's racing performance was far ahead of all other yachts from Melbourne in its time. It won the Perpetual Challenge Cup of Australia in January 1904. The book, 'A Cruise and Win', marks the significance of the race. This book is offered as part of the collection. It was so elite that the racing competition, the Sayonara Cup, was named after the yacht. Sayonara was well known and owned by numerous people. At the turn of the century when SAYONARA became famous in intercolonial racing, it was owned by Alfred Gollin, who was a member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. W.J. Robb was the owner of SAYONARA in her second cup challenge, 1908. The Adelaide built yacht belonged to J.Dixson in 1910, and Paul Ross in 1911, both belonging to the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.SignificanceSAYONARA's importance in the sport of yachting is well documented in the newspapers and was seen as the finest model of an American cutter ever seen in Hobson's Bay.