Wooden Boats Are Captivating at Any Time

Last month’s Wooden Boat Show provided us with an opportunity to share photos of a few of the Bay Area’s sailing beauties. But more photos came our way after we’d published, so we thought, why not keep sharing the joy?

The object of today’s sailing eye candy is Mark Sanders’ Hurrica V. The 72-ft Nicholson ketch was built and launched in Sydney, Australia, in 1924. This year, almost 100 years later, Hurrica V was awarded the MMBA Wooden Boat Show’s Stone Cup for the Best of Show and professionally-done restoration.

But her recent show success is not all this beautiful boat is known for — according to her 2012 profile on Boatsales.com.au, during the Second World War, Hurrica V was commandeered by the Royal Australian Navy, stripped down, and put to work as a search-and-rescue boat in Papua New Guinea. After her tenure she was restored to her sailing-yacht status, and in 1948, once more became a privately owned boat.

Unfortunately, as befalls many a sailboat, Hurrica V passed through the hands of several owners, most of whom did not appreciate her pedigree and potential, and by 2002 she was a sad old dame with extensive water damage to her hull and frames. But all was not lost. Sydney architect Steve Gunns saw the boat languishing on a mooring and embarked on an almost eight-year-long project to restore Hurrica V to her rightful glory, complete with many up-to-date modifications.

As could be expected, the revitalized sailboat went on to win Best Presented Yacht at the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club’s Gaffers Day (likely 2012). She also later made her movie debut in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby as the playboy Jay Gatsby’s yacht.

The question you may now be asking yourself is, “How did Hurrica V end up in California?” That, dear readers, is a story for another day…