Upholding tradition – West System and Epifanes bring a family treasure back to life

Upholding tradition – West System and Epifanes bring a family treasure back to life

by West System Apr 23 08:33 UTC

Suspended in a cradle at Creese’s former shipyard, Battery Point, a 40-year-old 40-foot wooden yacht is being returned to its original form with the aim of competing in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart.

The yacht is owned by veteran sailor Rob Gough, who etched his place in racing history alongside John Saul aboard the Akilaria RC2 “Sidewinder” by winning the first 2-Handed Line Honors in the 2021 edition.

It’s aptly called ‘Tradition’ and has a suitably sentimental story.

“It was our family boat,” Rob explains. “It was the last boat to leave the Creese shipyard at Battery Point in 1984. We sailed down the canal every weekend, around Bruny, swimming and going out in small dinghies.

“Then my father traded it in and bought a new Buizen yacht. The Gourlay family in Launceston then bought it and owned it for over 20 years. I often walked past it in the same marina.”

In another twist, Rob eventually sold his yacht, a Moody 54, to the Gourlays and bought Tradition from them.

“I really loved it; it’s a beautiful boat. Huon Pine is such a special wood,” he continues.

“I remember when it was being built and watching the boat builders glue the planks together. I always marveled as they mixed Part A and Part B from two 44 gallon barrels. At those temperatures it would have been difficult to get the Getting the mix right took phenomenal skill.

“12 meters was huge at the time and it’s a really good size for what we’re looking for.”

Rob’s goal is to compete in the 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 2025, ideally with his two children, son aged 17 and daughter aged 21. He has competed in four editions of the epic bluewater race, three of which were two-handed .

The 2023 edition was “a long, hard race” according to Rob, who sailed with John Saul aboard the 10 meter Jeanneau, Kraken III. The ordeal influenced his decisions in restoring tradition, both in terms of the features to be preserved and the materials.

“Being ambidextrous, we all had to steer with the tiller by hand for a very long time. We sailed in 5 meter seas, 40 to 50 knots of wind and hail. In 2021 I broke five ribs. Around the bottom of Tasmania, I changed my way of thinking about Tradition really. I decided to leave the wheel in and thought it would be great if Tradition could handle a Sydney-Hobart.

“Initially it was only intended as a day racer in Sydney Harbor and for family cruising. But it would be nice to have the opportunity to cruise more extensively in Tradition and compete in a Hobart.”

Rob’s vision is to staff Tradition with a team of six, consisting of his children, John Saul, and a few close friends.

“A huge amount of preparation is needed, especially on a physical level. I have only just recovered from last year’s race. I don’t want to rush the restoration. I want to enjoy it and do it well.

“I’d rather have an achievable deadline. We’d like to get back in the water in September, then do the fitting and rigging next summer, train on board and get it ready for the 2025 Sydney Hobart. The kids have done a lot of sailing. We’ve made a trip across the Pacific Ocean, so they know what they’re getting into.”

Nathan O’Neill was recommended for the refit project by a friend, as Rob explains. “A very good friend of mine, Michael Vaughan, did the course at The Wooden Boat Centre, so I asked him who he would recommend who could take into account my quirks and the way I work, and he recommended Nathan. ”

Nathan, Jonathan Minnebo and Matt Stevens lead the talented team at Tasmanian Shipwrights & Co. They are all under 35 and each have different and complementary skills. Jonathan has 17 years of experience in the boat building industry and Matt, previously head boat builder at Denman Marine, brings a wealth of experience in boat building and restoration. Add to that Nathan’s diverse and creative background and the three partners have a full work calendar within the new company that was founded in October 2023.

Along with a motor yacht called Osprey, which is underway at their waterfront headquarters at Oyster Cove Marina, the refit of Tradition is currently the core focus for the team.

“There was some rot and a large crack in the hull,” Nathan explains. “We replaced those damaged planks with Huon Pine.”

Working until the September deadline to get the yacht back in the water, Nathan, Jon and Matthew rely on WEST SYSTEM’s range of epoxy products, as well as Epifanes PP Varnish Extra, Rapid Clear and standard Clear Varnishes.

“We only use WEST SYSTEM because of its quality and reliability,” says Jon. “And we’re getting great results with EPIFANES, a single pack for indoors and a 2-pack for outdoors.”

Epifanes PPVE Varnish Extra is a fast drying high gloss varnish with excellent scratch resistance that provides good protection against water, household chemicals and alcohol.

“In terms of application, the single pack is easier to use than anything else on the market, and has excellent flow properties and performance for long life and durability,” continues Jon.

“It has an unparalleled reputation, lasts the longest and has a great high-gloss shine.”

Tradition’s owner, Rob, was unsure whether or not to finish the hull in E-fiberglass laminated with epoxy or just with an epoxy resin coating. But after experiencing extremely challenging conditions at the 2023 Sydney-Hobart, he decided to go for glass.

“He opted for the extra power for peace of mind and for insurance purposes,” Jon explains. “We will check with maritime architect Andy Dovell before moving forward, but we plan to use 450 grams of double bias E-fiberglass from ATL, WEST SYSTEM epoxy to bond it to the hull, and several coats of WEST SYSTEM resin . before applying a 2-component paint system.”

So far, Rob is enthusiastic about the way Tradition is taking shape.

“It’s come full circle,” he says. “It really is a family heirloom. The whole family loves the idea of ​​the project. They all said they would lend a hand, even though we have yet to see that!”

The trio of Tasmanian Shipwrights & Co are committed to the preservation and restoration of wooden boats with a unique appearance. “It is what nature has given us and it is sustainable,” says Nathan about the raw material.

“Most of the built world is built on top of what is naturally there, but boating is inherently about being in and working with the natural environment. So building with organic material makes sense in that context. Wood is also still best material to capture both elements of boat building: function and beauty.

“A boat is not just a means to get a job done, it is also art and emotion. Wood still captures that better than steel or composite.”

Matthew is equally passionate about wooden boats and says: “The appeal of working on wooden boats is learning a craft that has been around for hundreds of years.

‘The knowledge that with a handful of tools, unchanged over the past century, and a selection of trees that can be regrown for future generations, you can build something aesthetically pleasing and practical that can take you around the world with nothing but the wind wear. It is certainly one of the most romantic transactions.”

In turn, Jon enjoys the technical challenge. “Whether it concerns building or restoring boats, every job is different and brings its own challenges.

“Although no two jobs are the same, they all require thought, planning and problem solving. It is a mentally stimulating job that offers a great opportunity to learn and grow. With a basic foundation in the use of hand tools and machines, passed down from generations past boat builders, you gain the confidence and skills to take on new jobs. The satisfaction comes from challenging yourself, solving problems and creating something to the best of your ability, while gaining new skills.

“Looking back on your work and being proud of what you have achieved is really rewarding. I am always learning, not only by taking on new jobs, but also from Matthew and Nathan, as well as from other boat builders who are always willing to share their to share knowledge and experience.”

www.westsystem.com.au