BOATS AT THE CLUB

This is another in the series of articles aimed at providing you with an insight into new boats and other boats of interest at the Club. Contact Pat Catley through the Club if you are interested in having your boat featured here.

Sassy is a 2012 Riviera 4400 Sport Yacht Series II that Amy and Harvey Grantham brought into the CYCSA in late 2020. Her previous owners had the boat in Gippsland, Victoria. Amy and Harvey had been looking at several models for a couple of years, something with enough range to reach Robe and Port Lincoln, accommodation for the grandkids and a bit of an entertainer. The Series II is an evolution of the Series I which was one of the first Riviera boats fitted with pod drives. Improvements came with new styling, engine choice and raised dash layout, hull windows, portholes, and furnishings. Sassy is 15.1m LOA and quite roomy with a 4.6m beam. The Riviera 4400 was, and is, a great boat in layout with sleeping for five in two cabins each with their own head. The master is forward and the mid cabin has a double and single bed. Marriage saving essentials include Zeus pod drives and a joystick for easy berthing. The Cummins Zeus package also came with a Skyhook which has been invaluable in holding off and preparing fenders and lines to dock. The Zeus drive differs from the Volvo IPS with the props facing to the rear and they also incorporate auto trim tabs assist. Propulsion is the optional 2 x Cummins QSB 480 hp diesels which use 130 litres per hour at 24 knots and capable of 30 knots. Robe is 180 nautical miles and therefore well within the 250 miles range. The electronics were updated in 2019 with dual Raymarine e125 hybrid touch and Harvey has just added a remote display controller and is fitting AIS and a life raft. Buying a boat interstate without the opportunity to inspect was a nerve-racking process. Even the broker had only seen her once before lock down. The surveyor though was very reassuring and made several visits to check things in detail with the owner and dozens of photos were exchanged. Confidence also came from the fact the previous owner had a second boat for when their grandkids came! It was a long six week wait for transport and a huge relief to see her arrive. The new berth was fitted with ProFenders making docking even with a joystick less of an event. Whilst her original name Perfection was apt, it was quickly decided a fresh start was required. Harvey is fond of calling Amy ‘Sassy’, in the nicest possible way, and the name suited the boat well being spirited, confident and bold in design - she can be loud but always respected in her response. Not much work has been required to date. The linen and soft furnishings have been updated, the TV upgraded and power points with USB ports added. A 2kg washer/dryer combo has been somehow squeezed into the small wet room off the mid cabin and a bait board added to the stern rail and a True Kit inflatable brought from New Zealand. Harvey learnt to sail in dinghies on the icy lakes in Wales and owned a 14 foot Windrush catamaran. He sailed out of Largs Bay whilst crewing on an old Duncanson while dreaming of doing a Sydney Hobart. A passion for diving though saw a switch to power and with Amy they have enjoyed several boats, each meeting the next stage of life perfectly. Whilst Harvey has dreams of using his Coxswain and Day Skipper tickets to sail to Fiji, Amy has other ideas having recently enjoyed time on a Riviera 6000 whilst doing a skipper’s course with R Marine SA. Harvey and Amy sponsor the CYCSA through their medical business Cellmed providing new AEDs to the Clubhouse, on the sailing support boat and across at Port Vincent. Cellmed also provide a ‘blood washing’ service processing and returning patients’ blood during surgery. Amy has introduced the world’s first AI enhanced endoscopy capsules to Australia but is currently taking time out to pursue a career in Federal politics with a passion to represent Adelaide in Canberra. Glenelg and Port Vincent are regular ports of call but Sassy will spend December and January in Robe with a stop at Kangaroo Island enroute. Port Lincoln is planned for March although an election or two may impact that one. Your boat sounds an ideal vessel to get away from everything. Thank you Harvey and Amy for allowing me to share her with Club members and beyond. I wish you many hours of gentle cruising.

Pat Catley

Just before Christmas 2018 Derek Morrison became the proud owner of a Beneteau First 47.7 named Carte Blanche which was moored at the RSAYS. While happy with his racing boat at the time, a Sydney 38 named Asylum, Derek decided that after many years of racing it was time to slow down a little and purchase a more comfortable yacht that was also suitable for cruising. The 47.7 is one of only a few boats that can be raced competitively and cruised in comfort. When Carte Blanche came up for sale it was just a case of negotiating the price. At 21 years old she is still in great condition. Derek has just finished a full upgrade which includes the acquisition of a new dodger, windlass, water heater and steering and he reckons she’s good for another ten years. Weighing just over 12 tons, she is a solid boat that could sail around the world tomorrow if required. Below decks there are three comfortable double cabins, two heads with hot water showers, two fridges and all the other comforts you would expect from a cruising boat. The boat was originally called Sintara by its first owner in Sydney who sailed her successfully for 15 years. Derek liked the name and although he had no problem with the name Carte Blanche decided to go back to Sintara. In conversation with the original owner Derek was intrigued to find out that it had been named after a race horse that the owner had been impressed with at the time. Since 2018 Sintara has successfully raced in the CYCSA Twilight and weekend races. She takes part in the Adelaide to Port Lincoln race every February followed by the Lincoln Regatta. When racing she normally sails with a crew of 12. When it’s time to go cruising it’s just a matter of fitting the headsail furler and the boat can be sailed by a crew of two with the use of the auto-helm when needed. She has a 60 horse-power Volvo engine with a folding prop, the fuel tank holds 250 litres of fuel and the water tanks hold 650 litres of water when cruising. A year after purchasing Sintara Derek noticed that there were no boats from the CYCSA competing in the 2019 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race. After checking the crew’s interest it was decided to represent the Club and enter the race. While downwind sailing does not suit Sintara, the race itself provided another great sailing experience enjoyed by all the crew. It was the 75th Sydney to Hobart race so it made the race more appealing with a larger number of entrants than usual. The hidden agenda in Derek’s purchase of the new boat was his other passion, cruising. Once the Sydney to Hobart Race had been completed Sintara was transformed into cruising mode and over three weeks she was day-sailed along the east and west coast of Tasmania stopping at Port Arthur, Maria Island, St Helens, Flinders Island, Stanley and King Island. Derek was surprised to see how beautiful the north coast of Tasmania is and recommends it to any of the cruising enthusiasts contemplating a run down to northern Tasmania. During the Christmas break Derek hopes to cruise around Kangaroo Island for a week or two and to also take a week coming back from the Port Lincoln race. During his cruises he has taken up fishing and while successful in catching snook, whiting and tommies, has yet to catch any tuna and work out how to land it on the back of the boat. As regards the future, it is more racing and cruising and maybe one more Hobart with an extended cruise on the way home. In the meantime Derek will continue to enjoy the comradeship and the many friends he has made in his 40 years at the CYCSA. Thank you Derek for allowing me to give readers an insight in to your very impressive boat. I wish you many successful racing and relaxing cruise days ahead.

Pat Catley