The Restoration of ‘Clare’
The Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong features an array of skilled shipwrights, masters of nautical trades, and passionate artisans with a deep connection to the world of boats and watercraft. Many of the exhibited boats at the Wooden Boat Festival Geelong have seen hours upon hours of work put into them to bring these floating history specimens back to their original glory.
One of those boats is ‘Clare’ which has been diligently restored by Jordy and Holly who are shining examples of the younger generation carrying on the ancient art form of boat building and bringing it into the public spotlight!
Launched in 1951 after being built in Western Australia. Clare is a 40’ ketch planked in 1 ½” Jarrah. She is based on a Maurice Griffiths design and was built by Hughie Holmes.
Jordy (23 Years Old) and Holly (22 Years Old) both have extensive experience in the Marine Industry. They have both come from sailing traditional tall ships & even met each other onboard one of these ships. Jordy is a 3rd Year Timber shipwright apprentice and Holly is a Master 5.
After spending the last couple of years sailing between Tasmania and Victoria on their Mottle 33 they were looking for the next project and future timber sailing boat. As is quite common nowadays, they stumbled across the advertisement for ‘Clare’ on Facebook Market Place. Without much hesitation, they purchased ‘Clare’. Their excitement and fascination with this vintage beauty outweighed the amount of work required to restore her to her former glory.
At the time of purchase, ‘Clare’ was already out of the water and needed a full restoration including replacing all ribs, and re-fastening the planks with copper roves and rivets. As well as all cosmetic works and a full internal fit-out. Jordy and Holly have now owned ‘Clare’ for just under one year spending every weekend and all their savings working to bring Clare back to her former glory. ‘Clare’ currently remains out of the water in Hastings, Westernport, and to date, they have now replaced all ribs with epoxy laminated Merbau ribs, installed over 3000 copper roves & rivets with many hours spent on the rove punch and dolley! They have also plugged all fastenings with timber plugs, primed both underwater & topside, and are now caulking, using cotton caulking for the topside and Oakum for underwater. Finally, they are applying linseed putty to the seams getting ready for her launch in the next few weeks.
With the vision of having ‘Clare’ as their base and business card for their future shipwright business, Jordy and Holly continue to pour their hearts and souls into her. Jordy and Holly having the same passion and drive for the project has made it all possible and made them a very strong team throughout!
“Clare will be our future home and family home and we cannot wait to get her sailing and share our story along the way”
Jordy and Holly are excited to showcase ‘Clare’ at the Wooden Boat Festival Geelong for wooden boat enthusiasts and those new to the craft alike to enjoy.
