Three weeks cruising on Amazing Grace

The decision to take some time off from my toils on my latest labour of love, 'Amazing Grace' was not a hard one to make. After nearly nine months work, since becoming her second custodian, she really needed a workout to thoroughly test the operation of the new systems and equipment we had 'Graced her with' thus far. 

A little bit about Amazing Grace. 

Amazing Grace, a classic wooden ketch was built to compete in the first Sydney to Suva Race 1978/9. She won the cruising division.
Her owner skipper was a woman Wilma Coller (RBYC) who also sailed her with a majority women crew, in many Melbourne Hobarts. She competed in all the early Sydney Suva races, Vanuatu to Port Vila races and the Bi Centenary Tall Ships Race, she has cruised the Pacific many times and circumnavigated Australia twice. 
She was purposely designed and built of Huon Pine by boat builders Pompei Bothers in design collaboration with Lacco Brothers, as a bulletproof, comfortable, seaworthy vessel for extended cruising and racing.  

 Wilma Coller, taking her noon shot during the 1979 Sydney to Suva Ocean Race

Wilma’s design brief was for a crew of 8 to be served hot meals and have hot showers each day on board for a minimum 14 day sailing voyage. 
Amazing Grace has recently returned to Melbourne after many years in North Queensland, following the passing of the original owner.
She is 43 ft long, 15 ft beam, 6ft draft. her overall length is now 48 ft with new davits for the 10 ft dinghy and solar panels installation.
Other construction timbers are Mahogany for cabin sides, Celery top pine for cabin tops and bulkheads, Spotted gum for deck beams and an Iron bark keel. 
She has 7 tons of lead in her keel and weighs 26 tons.

Amazing Grace leaving Pompei’s shed, Mordialloc before launching in 1978.

Amazing Grace, a new work in progress 2010, rafted up in Chicory Lane, French Island.

Her Ketch rigged masts and booms are constructed from Oregon. Her rigging is galvanised apart from stainless forestays and backstays. 
Wilma’s design vision was complete with 2200 litres of water and 2200 litres of diesel to power the 135 horsepower Mercedes OM352 diesel.
She has a cruising range of more than 2500 nautical miles, that’s if we don’t put up the sails. 
I am very lucky indeed to have received the original photo albums, design and construction plans and nearly 30 years of documented receipts for works and maintenance.