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 Patricia Catley through the Club if you are interested in having your boat featured here.
In February 2021 CYCSA member Chris Jones and his wife Helen brought their new boat, Vulcan, into Marina West to start another chapter in their sailing life. Chris had been looking for a yacht for a long time but COVID made interstate travel difficult so he began to look locally. Chris and Helen had inspected Vulcan at the RSAYS but Helen was hesitant about a few things so they moved on to look at other boats. A few weeks later Helen went on-line and found Vulcan again and suggested they should have another look. This time they bought her.
Vulcan is a Beneteau First 44.7 launched in 2004. She is a Bruce Farr design in the same family as the Beneteau First 40.7 and First 47.7. Vulcan was originally campaigned on the Australian east coast by well-known Sydney yachtsman David Spies who carried out modifications to improve racing performance. These included removing the interior cabinetry and cushions and fitting pipe berths in the main cabin while adding temporary pilot berths in the aft cabins.100kg of lead was added to the bottom of the keel to improve stability and the keel profile was faired to Bruce Farr specifications. The anchor winch was removed and changes were made to the safety fence configuration. Fitting an extra-long spinnaker pole, mast-head spinnakers and deck hardware changes made it easier to sail and control from the cockpit.
In 2004 the boat raced as First National Real Estate in the Sydney to Hobart and came ninth overall, and second in Division C. In the 2005 Sydney to Hobart she raced as Sirromet Life Style Wines but retired due to rig damage. The boat was then bought by David Beak and competed in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Sydney to Hobart races with the name changed to Mr Beaks Ribs. She came 17th overall and first in Division D in 2007. David Beak then sold her and in 2011 she was purchased by the late Jimmy Howell and his son Chris. They re-fitted the original cabinetry and sailed to Adelaide. Jimmy was 88 years old at the time and had become a well-known name among the sailing community. Renaming the boat Vulcan was prompted by Jimmy’s interest in military aircraft. Over the next eight years Vulcan was raced extensively in offshore and inshore races with the RSAYS, winning numerous series and trophy races. This included the trophy for the first RSAYS yacht in the 2019 Port Lincoln race. Jimmy died shortly after at the age of 96.
When Chris and Helen bought Vulcan they filled two Subaru Outbacks and a 6x4 trailer with the extras that had been taken off the boat for racing and had been sitting in a Port Adelaide storage facility. They re-fitted the doors, added mattresses for sleeping and Helen made mattress covers and cushions to match. Vulcan was transformed to a comfortable cruising boat. To make the boat easier to handle by two people a furling headsail and a boom bag were fitted. There are three double berths, a separate navigation station with Raymarine chart plotter, radios and a galley with a large fridge. Two toilets with shower and make-up cabinets have turned the boat into an enjoyable cruiser. The 4-cylinder 55hp Volvo Penta engine gives good power when the wind dies. Chris and Helen, with their sons Alex and Sam and extended family, are enjoying the Twilight Series and plan to venture further afield in cruising mode.
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Chris started sailing in England when he was eight or nine years old where he was lucky enough to attend a school that had a sailing club and owned Yachting World Cadets. On returning to Australia he joined the Glenelg Sailing Club and sailed Holdfast Trainers, Rainbows and Lightweight Sharpies. He joined the RSAYS and sailed on ocean racers until work took him to the bush. They later moved to Goolwa and for a few years Chris sailed Lightweight Sharpies at the Victor Harbor Yacht Club. After moving to West Beach they bought Vulcan and joined the CYCSA. They like the facilities we have and in Marina West enjoy the use of the small club room. I wish you many happy adventures on Vulcan and may fair winds always be with you. Patricia Catley
