Yacht building was stimulated by the export of boats across the Tasman. The first export, Thomas Niccol's Secret, was sailed to Australia in 1875. The success of Robert Logan's Akarana (1888) brought prestige and pride to New Zealand boat builders. By the 1880s the family firms of Logans and Baileys had begun a long and productive rivalry.
Following the failure of the two museums (Sydney Maritime Museum and Australia National Maritime Museum) to agree on merger arrangements the proposal lapsed and the new ANMM set about collecting a fleet of vessels. A former lightship, CLS 4 was the first vessel acquired by the museum in 1987 with HMAS Advance (patrol boat), Akarana (1888 cutter and a bicentennial gift from New Zealand), John Louis (pearling lugger), Krait (commando raider and on loan from the Australian War Memorial), Hong Hai
Akarana, the museum’s oldest vessel is a rare example of deep, narrow, heavily ballasted racing yachts. Akarana was built in Auckland to compete in Australian regattas in 1888 and 1889. It is a fine historic reminder of the friendly and often fierce sailing rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. The photo shows her at sail on Sydney Harbour with Sydney Harbour bridge in the background.
Various web sites.
Australia SG1335
Akarana (1888)
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aukepalmhof
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Re: Akarana (1888)
The beautiful wooden yacht AKARANA was built on the yard of R. Logan at the North Shore, Auckland for his own account.
04 October 1888 launched as the AKARANA, the Maori name for Auckland.
Tonnage 6.5 ton, dim. 31.9 x 6.6 x 5.4ft.
Hull built of kauri and her deck of teak.
Carried a figurehead of a Maori woman head, tattooed with a moko. The figurehead was later removed and replaced with a replica, the real figurehead is now also in the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Cutter rigged.
06 October 1888 was she loaded on board the NEMESIS as deck cargo to Melbourne were she 10 days later arrived.
24 November 1888 the AKARANA under skipper Jack Bell and with a crew of New Zealanders living in Australia took part in the Centennial Regatta on Hobson Bay, Melbourne for small keel and centreboard yachts which she won in 6 hours 29 minutes and 6.5 seconds. The price was £130.
25 November 1888 was the second race for the AKARANA where she raced in the division for keel or centreplate yachts of length 7.9 – 10.7m.
The race was 25 km and the crew was limited for the yachts taken part in this race to 8. She arrived after 6 hours, 26 minutes and 5 second in the fourth place, a disappointment for Logan. The weather was rough during the race and the AKARANA was not a rough water sailer.
A second race that day was also lost by the AKARANA.
After the races the AKARANA was shipped to Sydney on board the BURRUMBEET where she arrived on Christmas Eve 1888.
She took part in the National Regatta on 26 January 1889 to celebrate Anniversary Day, and thereafter in many races with moderate success.
May 1889 the AKARANA was sold for £415 to Mr. Abraham a chemist in Sydney, he mostly used the yacht for family pleasure cruising, he was the owner till 1899 when she was sold to Calveley C McEwen. Thereafter she had 17 other owners before she was sold in 1987 to the New Zealand Government for reconstruction as a Bicentennial gift to Australia.
She was put on a slipway at Birchgrove, Sydney for inspection at that time she was in a dilapidated condition. AKARANA was shipped home to New Zealand on board the AUCKLAND EXPRESS and the reconstruction took place at the Salthouse Boatyard in Auckland.
28 December 1987 was she shipped back to Sydney, where she took part in the bicentennial Gaffers Day event on 14 February 1988.
1988 Was she taken to Canberra Yacht Club, to sail on Lake Burley Griffin.
August 1988 was she handed over to the Government of Australia.
2015 She is now on permanent display at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Australia 1992 $1.05, sg1335, scott1251. There was also issued a prepaid postcard.
Source: Akarana by Daina Fletcher
04 October 1888 launched as the AKARANA, the Maori name for Auckland.
Tonnage 6.5 ton, dim. 31.9 x 6.6 x 5.4ft.
Hull built of kauri and her deck of teak.
Carried a figurehead of a Maori woman head, tattooed with a moko. The figurehead was later removed and replaced with a replica, the real figurehead is now also in the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Cutter rigged.
06 October 1888 was she loaded on board the NEMESIS as deck cargo to Melbourne were she 10 days later arrived.
24 November 1888 the AKARANA under skipper Jack Bell and with a crew of New Zealanders living in Australia took part in the Centennial Regatta on Hobson Bay, Melbourne for small keel and centreboard yachts which she won in 6 hours 29 minutes and 6.5 seconds. The price was £130.
25 November 1888 was the second race for the AKARANA where she raced in the division for keel or centreplate yachts of length 7.9 – 10.7m.
The race was 25 km and the crew was limited for the yachts taken part in this race to 8. She arrived after 6 hours, 26 minutes and 5 second in the fourth place, a disappointment for Logan. The weather was rough during the race and the AKARANA was not a rough water sailer.
A second race that day was also lost by the AKARANA.
After the races the AKARANA was shipped to Sydney on board the BURRUMBEET where she arrived on Christmas Eve 1888.
She took part in the National Regatta on 26 January 1889 to celebrate Anniversary Day, and thereafter in many races with moderate success.
May 1889 the AKARANA was sold for £415 to Mr. Abraham a chemist in Sydney, he mostly used the yacht for family pleasure cruising, he was the owner till 1899 when she was sold to Calveley C McEwen. Thereafter she had 17 other owners before she was sold in 1987 to the New Zealand Government for reconstruction as a Bicentennial gift to Australia.
She was put on a slipway at Birchgrove, Sydney for inspection at that time she was in a dilapidated condition. AKARANA was shipped home to New Zealand on board the AUCKLAND EXPRESS and the reconstruction took place at the Salthouse Boatyard in Auckland.
28 December 1987 was she shipped back to Sydney, where she took part in the bicentennial Gaffers Day event on 14 February 1988.
1988 Was she taken to Canberra Yacht Club, to sail on Lake Burley Griffin.
August 1988 was she handed over to the Government of Australia.
2015 She is now on permanent display at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Australia 1992 $1.05, sg1335, scott1251. There was also issued a prepaid postcard.
Source: Akarana by Daina Fletcher