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 From The Coastal Passage, issue #20

Jeff and Lorraine Schionning have to have one of the most recognised names in the boating community. Their philosophy of sailing and boat construction is now imprinted on Australia and drifting world-wide as the saying goes. Originally from South Africa they migrated to OZ in the mid eighties and have been wandering about the place since. They are keen motorcyclists! Starting out as a boat yard business they took their passion to design and now I thought you might be interested in knowing what they look like because after all is said and done... they are just another couple of sailors!

 
Bob Burgess was one of a group of people sailing and learning to build boats around the Gold Coast and northern NSW in a time of extraordinary experimentation and progress in multihull design.
Some of those went on to become well known and others just went about what they do for enjoyment and are known to “insiders” or old mates. Bob builds boats, sails them for a while then sells them and builds another. “Ama Two” “Adios” &“Pronto” to name a few.
Bob’s impact on the genre is likely to be important if low key...
There is a french influence on Bob’s boats but Annie’s lovely continental accent is probably only a coincidence. I hope I get invited for a sail on B52 when she finally gets launched. Sipping wine at 20 knots would be fun... and bloody different!
I happened upon the weekend races at the Townsville Sailing Club and was impressed with the number of people they had rigging up for a blast around the bay. A great family club with a very long and glorious history and situated right next to the marina. I stopped to find out who these
people are. Peter Cook, above in the tattered old PFD, came out from England about 20 years ago. He sailed
to the Carribean in a 25’ folkboat, then switched to a 30’ Muir which he sailed here via Panama. Suffering a bout of responsibility, he now gets his sailing fix in small quick doses. Just as I was getting all that, Karen Carcary showed up with her tidy Pfd and harness, said, “Come on, lets go sailing! Photo? US? The Coastal Passage? SURE!” Not 5 minutes later I took the photo at right, Peter and Karen having a ball, sailing smartly out on the bay in their 125! (12’5”)
You can’t talk about the recent history of the Whitsundays without talking about Allen & Barbara Southwood. Just the fact they were one of the two boats that created the fun race is enough to qualify for importance but there is much more than that. You could fill a stadium with people who had their first reef experiences aboard their vessels. It wasn’t just a business but a passion as well. They now live aboard their great vessel Solaray (so named because of the huge array of solar panels she carries) and as I write this they are steaming far north in the company of “Freeway” & “Lauriana” and more. If you see the fleet out there, give a hoy!

IN MEMORY OF

Dick Van Duyn of

SY JOHANNA

Dick Diederik Adrianus Van Duyn- to give him his full title was born in Holland in 1931 and migrated to New Zealand in 1952 with Johanna whom he first met when they were 16 years old. Here they married 8 weeks after landing. Dick set to work as a carpenter and Johanna as a dental nurse. At the same time he renewed his love affair with the water which had begun in Holland, when at age 12 his mother gave him a Canadian style canoe which was quickly converted to sail. For the next 20 years they sailed New Zealand and Pacific waters before settling in Australia. They built their much loved home in Brisbane in 1983-85. The 42' Van De Stadt “Johanna” was launched on the 14 of June 1985. On the 14th of June 2006, Dick suffered a massive heart attack and died whilst raising the mainsail at 'River End' on the Mary River in the Great Sandy Straits. 21 years to the day from the launch of his beloved “Johanna”.
After 54 years on the water the sailing community has lost one of its stalwarts. He will be remembered for his generosity to all who looked to him for advice and guidance; for his willingness to help, giving freely of his time and expertise as a sailor, shipwright, carpenter and builder. We will remember him for all the happy hours we spent together and for the joy he found in the life we lead. Farwell Dick. Fair winds, calm seas and a star to guide you home. For that was all you needed when you started out.

By Sam Chambers, MY “Priority 1”