Flotsam & Jetsam 6.02.26
News from around the Wooden Boat world.
The Sultan's Queen 'Al Malika'
You can sit through a lot of drivel on YouTube before you find something with substance relating to wooden boats. That’s why we were delighted to stumble across this seven minute summary of a stalled restoration project in South Africa. 'Al Malika' has an immaculate pedigree and an even better story!
And you’ve gotta love the East African angle!
H.R.H King George V commissioned 'Al Malika' in 1933 as a gift for H.H. Sayyid Sir Khalifa II Harub, Sultan of Zanzibar. She was built by McGruer & Co Ltd in Scotland as a 32.5' fast day cruiser sloop and was enjoyed by the Sultan in Zanzibar for 25 years before being sold to Terry Griffiths in Tanganyika - the start of a long journey to Knysna in South Africa. That's where we join Dudley Isaac - Al Malika's current owner. Dudley's dream has always been to see Al Malika sailed again. He tried to complete the restoration himself but lacked the time and expertise. As such, she has languished in various storage facilities in the Knysna area and is now being moved again.
Despite his enthusiasm, Dudley is now resigned to the realisation that this restoration project needs to be undertaken by professionals and, with her current storage lease expiring imminently, he's exploring his options. It's an interesting story - a genuine 'Barn Find' project. Can you help? Please get in touch with Dudley directly. Call or WhatsApp: +27 (82) 339 4318 or email: dudley@sailafrica.co.za
“Fishing for Sand Flathead Unsustainable”
With the 2026 VAN DIEMEN’S LAND CIRCUMNAVIGATION (VDL-C) CRUISE due to get going in a few days time, its worth noting this disturbing news and important new rules from Fishing Tasmania.
The latest research from the Insititute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), Southern Sand Flathead Assessment 2025 (PDF), confirms fishing for sand flathead is now highly unsustainable in most of Tasmania. There are not enough large females, which are critical for egg production. Most fish are still small. In many areas, 79–100% of fish were below the legal size (35 cm). In the south-east, only 1% were legal-sized.
If we continue with current sand flathead management arrangements, recovery will be a very slow process. More urgent action is needed.
Flathead closure in south-eastern zone
A sand flathead closure will commence on 1 March 2026 in a new south-eastern zone.
In this zone, the following rules apply:
You cannot take sand flathead (Bag limit – 0).
You cannot possess sand flathead (On-water possession limit – 0).
The south-eastern zone is all water between a north-south line at Whale Head (146°52'15") and a north-south line at Cape Pillar (148°00'41"), including the entirety of the previous D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Derwent River, Frederick Henry and Norfolk Bays Zone. The northern boundary of the south-eastern zone is the southern end of the Dunalley Canal.
All species of flathead must be landed whole statewide
All species of flathead must be landed whole or as fillets with intact frames (head and tail attached).
This includes:
Southern Sand Flathead – also called sand flathead, bay flathead, slimy flathead or common flathead.
Tiger Flathead – also called king flathead or deep-sea flathead.
Southern Bluespotted Flathead – also called yank flathead, Castleneau's flathead, deepwater flathead or bluespotted flathead.
Rock Flathead – also called grassy flathead or smooth flathead.
This rule applies statewide.
Paynesville Classic Boat Rally Update
The only (at least for the moment) Classic Boat Festival in Victoria, will be underway before the short month of February is over. So hurry up and plan your visit to the lovely lakeside town, using their just released Newsletter. (Click for the full Publication)
It a comprehensive eleven page newsletter containing details of prizes, registration info, St Ayles skiff news, trade displays, food vendors and the all important program of events.
Queenscliff Maritime Weekend Classic Boat Exhibition
Well this one stuck up on us a little! First we heard of it was this week, just a month out from kick off. All we know is what’s in the poster… and the website link listed at the bottom isn’t working.
If anyone out they wants to give us more details, we’d be happy to put them in next week’s SWS
The disappearance Sail Cargo Inc.
We used to be avid followers of the Sail Cargo project deep in the jungles of. Costa Rica Then a couple of years ago they went silent, and we all forgot to follow up on the story of what happened.
So leave it to Leo (Tally Ho) to come through with the goods! In this week’s video he explains what happened …and its not all bad news! If you are just interested in Sail Cargo skip to the 13 minute mark.
Masts of Famed Glasgow Tall Ship Removed for Restoration
For decades, the masts of tall ship Glenlee have been a familiar site on River Clyde where she serves as a floating museum sitting alongside Glasgow’s Riverside Museum. Over the coming few months, the masts will be conspicuously absent following their removal as part of efforts to conserve the historic ship.
Built 130 years ago by Anderson Rodger in the Bay Yard at Port Glasgow, the steel-hulled ship that was designed to carry cargo across the world today stands as an iconic representation of Glasgow’s proud shipping past. When she was built, Glenlee was originally fitted with three masts made mainly of steel, with wooden sections at the top to reduce overall weight. The masts would be her only means of propulsion for during her first two decades of service that saw the ship traverse oceans using wind power alone.
Read in HERE in the Maritime Executive
MALVEENA is amazing Value
Every so often I’m flabbergasted by the value you can get in buying a fully restored Classic Yacht. This is one of those occasions.
Clem Masters’ MALVEENA has provenance, style, utility, history, and huge potential for an exciting and adventurous future. And all that for an asking price of just $85,000 which is slightly less than a 35 year old tupperware Beneteau First 41s5 which is one of about 200 built!
I just don’t get it!