Akarana returns

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 12

Akarana returns

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

The yacht Akarana which has arrived back in New Zealand 100 yearsafter it left for Australia will be restored by one of New Zealand’s wellknown wooden boat builders, Mr John Salthouse. Mr Salthouse will restore the kauri hull while craftsmen from the Royal New Zealand Navy will make the Oregon spars for the vessel. In her original condition the Akarana featured a bow adorned with the black figurehead of a Maori maiden. The figurehead was recently found in Australia, and will be refitted to the bow. Once completed, the yacht will go on a tour of Australia and then reside at the soon-to-be-com-pleted Australian National

Maritime Museum. The yacht, built in 1887 by Robert Logan, a New Zealand boat designer and . builder, will be presented ’ to Australia in January and will take pride of place at New Zealand’s Expo ’BB stand in Brisbane. In 1888, the 12 metre gaff-rigged yacht won two centennial regattas in Melbourne and Sydney, having first sailed across the Tasman to deliver her challenge. After the twin victories she became one of the star attractions at the Great Exposition held in Sydney in 1888. The Victorian cutter craze came and went as swiftly as the boats themselves and today there are few left. The name Akarana is the Maori name for Auckland.