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AKARANA

Designer Robert Logan

Builder Robert Logan

Date1888

Object number00001600

NameGaff cutter

MediumWood, metal, textiles

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 11.8 m × 8.83 m × 2.04 m × 2.05 m, 9.48 tonnes × 0.6 tonnes × 5 tonnes, 91.75 m² (38.72 ft × 28.97 ft × 6.69 ft × 6.73 ft, 9.33 tons × 0.59 tons × 4.92 tons, 987.69 ft²)
Registered Dimensions: 9.72 m × 2.01 m × 1.65 m, 8.46 tons (31.89 ft × 6.59 ft × 5.41 ft)

ClassificationsVessels and fittings

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the New Zealand Government

DescriptionAKARANA was built in 1888 and first used for racing. It was designed and built in Auckland New Zealand, and shipped by Robert Logan to Melbourne specifically for the 1888 Centennial International Regatta held in Melbourne late in that year. In the Melbourne regatta AKARANA won a lead up event and then one of the feature races on the programme, but faired poorly in another two races when gear failed early on each time. It then came to Sydney for the Anniversary Regatta in 1889, and won the race for its class on handicap. HistoryLogan then sold the boat in Sydney in 1889 but the new owner and other subsequent owners used the AKARANA mainly for cruising. It was well known on Sydney Harbour and Broken Bay, and sailed up the Hawkesbury River toward Windsor on one expedition. Over many years it underwent a number of changes to its keel, rig and layout. AKARANA's age was catching up to it when it was bought by the New Zealand Government in 1987. They funded a major restoration project and AKARANA became a Bi-Centennial gift from New Zealand to Australia in 1988. More research into AKARANA'S origins then uncovered new evidence of the keel and rig configuration when launched, so further restoration was done by the ANMM in 1997 and AKARANA now sails again on Sydney Harbour. Previous owners of AKARANA John S Abraham, 1889-1899 Calveley C McEwen, 1899-1901 Charles H Relph, 1901-1902 Kenneth I Love, 1902-1907 George Robinson, 1907-1909 James A Ingham, 1909-1910 Frederick R Poole, 1910-1913 Charles DW Wray, 1913-1915 Frank O Day, 1915 Henry V Carr, 1915 Henry C Pritchard, 1916 Jack, Mim and Roy Leigh, 1916-1938 Gordon Butcher, 1938-circa1942 Bill Gardiner, circa 1942 John Barber, 1949-1952 Eddie Kleeson, 1956-1984 John and Molly Beach, 1956-1984 Mark and Wendy Smith, 1984-1987 Andrew Bishop, 1987-1988 New Zealand Government, 1988 SignificanceAKARANA is a yacht from the late 1880s designed and built to the tonnage rules for yacht racing. It has close connections to Australian yacht racing and recreational sailing from 1888 until the 1960s and is representative of the close ties between Australian and New Zealand yachting. AKARANA is also a rare Australian example of a design by Robert Logan, NZ, and shows his unique method of triple-skinned yacht construction.