Logan’s legacy
Gypsy – the last yacht designed by Arch Logan – has survived various indignities since her launching in 1939. That makes her latest adventure all the more satisfying and well-deserved.
Gypsy – the last yacht designed by Arch Logan – has survived various indignities since her launching in 1939.
For readers not up to speed with the importance of the 78- year old, 34-foot cutter, I should point out that Gypsy holds a fairly special place in the country’s maritime heritage.
She’s been described by Boating New Zealand heritage writer Harold Kidd as “one of the most significant yachts in New Zealand yachting history and indeed, would be regarded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage as a National Treasure.”
Arch Logan died shortly after Gypsy was launched, but his legacy would live on through her. As one observer at the launching advised: “Take care of her, you fortunate owner of a Logan craft, for you are in possession of something very beautiful, very staunch and very fast.”
That sentiment strikes a chord for a trio who’ve just become the newest custodians/guardians of Gypsy. Dimitar Penchev – and his sisters Lora and Vessie – will be caring for, maintaining and sailing the yacht, ensuring that her place in history is secured. She is now based at Westhaven’s Heritage Landing, lying alongside a fleet of other classic vessels.
To explain how this newest chapter in Gypsy’s life has come about, I need to back-track a little.
Until earlier this year, she was owned by John Pryor, living on Kawau Island. An active member of the Mahurangi Cruising Club, Pryor had acquired her in 2007 and spent around $100,000 refurbishing her to her former glory. She featured regularly in classic yacht events and became a popular fixture at the annual Auckland Anniversary Regattas.
Various owners prior to Pryor had altered Gypsy in numerous ways. The coachroof, for example, had been raised to create more headroom. An early owner fitted her first engine – a Stuart Turner petrol plant – and luxuries such as a toilet, table, galley sink and V berth were added.
Rig changes started from the get-go. The chap who commissioned Gypsy – Alan Leyland – called for a gaff-cutter. A later owner converted her to a Bermuda rig and, later still, another owner ditched the timber spars for aluminium. These rig changes, understandably, resulted in her being ‘re-identified’ first as a K-class yacht and then later as a non-k-class vessel.
There are other curiosities about her. Depending on which
archive you consult, her name is spelt variously as Gypsy, Gypsey and Gypsie. The capping on the rudder post records her name as the latter variant. How is a lady to maintain her dignity if they can’t even get her name right?
But the ultimate indignity came in January, 2012, when Gypsy was rammed by an 18m yacht under power during the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. The impact threw Pryor into the water, and his partner Jill Hetherington was severely injured. A minute after the collision, Gypsy sank and disappeared.
The story of finding and raising her a few days later is welldocumented – as is Pryor’s monumental effort to have her rebuilt. He established the Gypsy Trust to help fund the work. As the images show, with the entire starboard side smashed, rebuilding her was a massive undertaking.
The job fell to shipwright Colin Brown, based at Snells Beach, and in May 2013, 15 months after her disastrous sinking, Gypsy was relaunched and fitted with new 15m Oregon mast and boom. She also received a new 25hp Beta engine driving a twobladed folding prop.
It’s a moot point, but following the rebuild Gypsy is arguably now more like she was when first launched.
A GENEROUS GIFT
Pryor loved Gypsy, but with failing health he elected to move to the mainland. Knowing that the yacht’s needs would become too demanding, he opted to gift her to the Mahurangi Cruising Club – “so that she would be cared for and sailed as a ‘working’ example of Logan’s heritage – perhaps being passed from one guardian to another over the years.”
The Club’s commodore – Boris Penchev – used the next Club meeting to present Gypsy’s guardianship to members.
“I asked for volunteers, but there were no takers – and that’s perfectly understandable. Most members have their own vessels to maintain. Taking responsibility for an additional boat – especially such a famous one – is a daunting prospect.”
So the Club settled on a different solution. Boris’ three children would become the guardians. All three are sailing professionals who’ve represented their home country (Bulgaria) internationally.
“Our objective,” says Dimitar, “is to keep her in tip-top shape and in the public eye. Immediately after taking possession of the boat, we applied a fresh coat of bottom paint. We then sailed her in the traditional Easter Rally organised by the Mahurangi Cruising Club.
“We’ve already held one Open Day down at the Heritage Landing, where members of the public could explore her. We will have more Open Days. We will also be sailing her in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta and various classic yacht events.”
The trio delivered Gypsy from Kawau Island to Westhaven. How does she sail?
“Beautifully – she’s a real lady,” says Dimitar. “Her sail plan features a very large main, a small jib and a staysail. There is also a spinnaker but no pole – only a whisker pole for the staysail, so we will have to address that.”
He has also replaced some of the running rigging, added new blocks and scrubbed the near-new sails (donated by North Sails as part of the rebuild) to banish a little mildew.
“We obviously feel honoured and very privileged to have been given the responsibility of looking after Gypsy. She is a wonderful vessel, and I would urge anyone with an interest in New Zealand’s sailing heritage to come down to the Heritage Landing and take a look. Everyone is welcome.” BNZ