There Comes A Time…
LUCY C31
There are some people who go quietly about their “wooden boat” business, working hard and discretely, behind the scenes to build the community that we are all lucky enough to enjoy. Two such people are Michael Golding and Tricia O’Brien who have supported the Couta Boat Association for many years, Tricia in particular through her work in the 2022 publication of “The Tradition Lives On” - the Couta Boat Association Boat Register. As custodians of Lucy C31, along with Alison and Colin, they have campaigned Lucy as a serial participant not only in the Couta boat races, but the peripheral sailing events that hold the wooden boat world together such as Williamstown’s now famous Cup Regatta. (Which is about to have its 20th iteration)
It occurred to me that the prime virtue of a memorable wooden boat is either that it’s a good example of a particular class, or that its an outlier with a peculiar history, provenance and achievements.
Remarkably, LUCY is both.
LUCY C31 is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels in the ANMM website, and her detailed history is documented in the online Couta Boat Association Boat Register. With such a distinguished pedigree, Lucy now seeks a custodian to take her forward and celebrate her centenary in 2031.
By Tricia O’Brien
As a regular reader of this weekly newsletter, I am well aware of the deep attachment that develops over time between custodians and their boats. Yet there comes a time to divest of your interest, not only the boat itself but also of the identity and lifestyle it has shaped in you over the years, and not to forget the divesting of so many emotions that come with any parting or sense of loss. But I’m assured that treasured memories will endure, indelibly.
Such is the case of the four custodians who, after some fifteen years, have decided to part company with their beloved heritage Couta Boat Lucy C31. The decision to sell is not without some pain, but it’s time!
Now Lucy is not in the calibre of Gwenhyfar II listed recently in this newsletter’s Boat Sales as the most expensive Wooden Boat in Australia, nor does she rival the ocean racing schooner Arcturus, or even the Ohlson 35 Corsair which is advertised as going to a free home. But as a ‘pure bred’ classic Couta Boat, Lucy possesses a rich and distinctive provenance of her own, tracing back to her humble beginnings as a working fishing vessel on Port Phillip Victoria.
Lucy was built 95 years ago in 1931 in Rosebud by the master boatbuilder Ken Lacco of Queenscliff Lacco fame. She was actually constructed in a similar shape, but to a shortened length of 22 feet along the lines of the 26ft Couta Boat Wattle C28 that had been built by Ken’s father, Mitch Lacco.
For her first 40 years, Lucy operated as a fishing vessel in Port Phillip and further afield out of Apollo Bay and San Remo, returning to Queenscliff regularly. But with the decline of the Victorian Fishing Industry in the 1970s, sadly she was no longer fit for purpose until she was salvaged, restored and converted to a recreational sailing vessel by the well-known boatbuilder Tim Phillips in the early 1980s.
Since the early 1980s, Lucy has sailed continuously for over 40 years, initially in the various wooden boat regatta fleets that then evolved into the established Couta Boat fleet at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (SSCBC). She has been campaigned competitively in the Division 2 fleet at SSCBC and has a long list of podium honours, including the prestigious Portsea Cup, National Titles and State Titles.
Lucy has also been a regular competitor in the Geelong Wooden Boat Festival and the Cup Regatta conducted by the Classic Yacht Association Australia (CYAA). For the custodians, the experience of leaving behind the familiar waters at the southern end of the bay to sail to locations at the northern end of the bay, always brought on a heightened sense to relish in the moment, at one with nature. Such treasured memories!
She is in prime condition, thanks to the meticulous maintenance by her current syndicate. Constructed from NZ Kauri with a Celery Top deck, her distinctive heritage features are carefully preserved, complemented by a port-wine hull that is striking in appearance. The bobstay and lifting tackle for the centre-plate are of galvanised steel chain; whilst the side-stays, cap-stays and forestay are all hand-spliced galvanised steel, wire rope, and the soft eyes on the side-stays and gaff strop are leathered. She comes equipped with a full set of sails purchased in 2024 which are set up for reefing; a No. 2 jib, a storm jib, and a boat cover.
Her 2GM20 Yanmar engine isreliable and well-maintained.
Her swing mooring SET 217 isalso available for purchase.
Asking price for boat: $30,000 ono; swing mooring is also on offer: $10,000 ono.
All Enquiries directed to Alison:
M: +61412 348 715 Email: akitchen8@bigpondcom
