Scales of justice tip Tassie’s way

raffling of two beautiful scale models of one of the state’s oldest and most famous racing yachts will help keep the original in top condition.

And in a sense the raffles are repeating the history of the 92-year-old Tassie Too.

The Tassie Too was built at Battery Point by public subscription specifically to continue the state’s triumphant participation by an earlier yacht, Tassie, in the interstate competition for the coveted Forster Cup.

Skippered by several members of the Batt family, including Harry Batt, “Skipper” Batt and Neall Batt, Tassie Too won the Forster Cup a record 10 times.

Raffled off by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in 1955, Tassie Too has had several owners over the years and has been extensively restored.

These efforts culminated in the vessel’s jubilant relaunch at the 2005 Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart.

Tassie Too stayed on a mooring well cared for until last year, when more enthusiastic public support and the formation of a notfor-profit group, the Friends of Tassie Too Association, helped bring the yacht back to Tasmania.

A spokesman for the group, Greg Muir, said at the time the association would co-ordinate administrative, financial, insurance, scheduling and maintenance efforts necessary.

“With support from the Tasmanian maritime industry, the sailing community and all those interested in maritime history, the Friends of Tassie Too organisation will ensure the vessel is well cared for and well used by the wider public,” Mr Muir said.

This week he said the community-owned boat was moored at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and was accessible for the public to sail.

Mr Muir said there had been strong support for the raffling off of the scale model of Tassie Too, which was built, like the original, of Huon pine and King Billy pine by Col Johnson, of Brisbane, whose family had competed against Tassie Too in the Forster Cup.

The raffle was won by Joe Kearney, of Ballina, New South Wales, who was a visitor to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February.

Another superb scale model of Tassie Too, donated by local yachting enthusiast Stuart Harris, is on display at the RYCT and will be raffled in a draw early next month open to corporate or personal donors of $500 or more.

For more details on the Tassie Too story visit www.friendsoftassietoo.org