FIVE YEARS' WORK ON BOAT NOW NEARS END

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 15

FIVE YEARS' WORK ON BOAT NOW NEARS END

The traditional bottle, of champagne was smashed over the bow of a brandnew, kauri-hulled yacht before she was floated in Lyttelton Harbour on Saturday by wharf crane. Built by Mr Trevor Berland in his back yard at 60 Rosewarne street, Spreydon, the new craft, which is named Vim, was five to six years in the making. Mr Berland, a shipwright, who has been employed by a Lyttelton shipyard for more than 20 years, said yesterday that he did the bulk of the work by himself in his spare time, but received occasional help from others. The Vim, which is now moored in Lyttelton Harbour, is not yet ready for sea, as her mast has to be stepped and she has to be fitted with a compass, radio telephone and standard equipment. Mr Berland intends to use the slooprigged craft for coastal cruising; but the Vim has been modelled on similar plans to a noted British ocean racing yacht, the Myth of Marllam. Designed with a light displacement and of strong construction, the Vim’s total weight is five tons. About 21 tons of this is lead ballast She is 30 feet long, with a beam of Bft and a depth of 6ft. The Vim is powered by an 8 h.p. engine. has accommodation for five persons divided between one main compartment and one forward. She is coach-roofed and has teak decking. When under normal sail, that is jib "and mainsail, the Vim will have a canvas

spread of 372 feet; but this will be greater when using a spinnaker. In addition to his experience as a shipwright and a long con-

nexion with boat building, Mr Berland has travelled widely and has seen some of the world's famous yachts at close hand.