Danu is an 11m sailing vessel designed by Australia's most celebrated naval architect, Alan Payne. The boat was commissioned by Jock Sturrock and launched as 'Julie' with much fanfare in March of 1962. In it he sailed to fourth place in the 1962 Sydney to Hobart, the first of six Tasman Seabirds across the line that year. It was also the year that Jock raced another famous Alan Payne design, Gretel, against the Americans in the America's Cup, in Australia's first bid.
This is recogniosed as a true classic sailing yacht in great condition and ready for its next 60 years. It has recently been registered as a vessel of historic importance at the Australian National Maritime Museum (which doesn't have any strings attached, it's merely a recognition). It should appeal to people who value a true classic design, with the traditional look and feel of a classic wooden boat, while offering the assurance of a fiberglass hull.
Danu is currently on a swing mooring in Callala Bay at the northern end of Jervis Bay.
I have owned Danu since 2016 and have undertaken extensive work to improve the boat and set it up for the next 60years of its life. That work was carried out in late 2018 to early 2019 and signed off by an experienced shipwright. During this period the motor was replaced with a new Beta 30hp (currently just over 100hrs), and the old bakalite switch panel which had begun to crumble was replaced.
In 2020 I again hauled Danu and carried out very extensive maintenance and upgrades and relaunched in December 2021. The hull was sheathed. The stove was upgraded from kero to gas and a gas detector system installed, along with a new Magna gas barbeque (compliance certificates from gas fitter available). A small water maker was installed (Powersurvivor 35) The head was upgraded from manual to electric and a blackwater tank installed. The upholstery is all new with new foam. The cool box was upgraded to a fridge. A furling headsail was added, along with all new rigging. New 100amp/hr deep cycle batteries (x2) and an upgraded Ctek battery/solar management system. A new suit of NMEA2000 instruments installed including depth/temp/speed transducer, wind transducer, Vesper Marine 8000XP ( N2K and Wifi sending; AIS send and receive, GPS, anchor watch etc.. ) and a B&G Triton display. Recently a new starter battery was added (6 months). New EPIRB, new self inflating Dan Buoy, existing flare kit expires in August 2025, new lifelines and new fire extinguisher. New covers for the mainsail, hatches, windlass and winches. New hard dodger installed and recent addition of solar panels.
It has 100ltr diesel capacity and 80ltrs of water tanks. It has a freshwater system with an expansion tank and new fresh water pump, as well as a salt water feed to the galley sink via a manual foot pump.
The existing inventory includes about 12 sails (in okay condition, except the new headsail in very good condition. Storm sails in good condition), an auto-tiller, 8 fenders and a variety of docking lines. Solar panels. Two main anchors, plough and fisherman's, with 60m of 8mm chain. It also has a small stern anchor with a couple of meters of chain and a rope rode. High quality Muir windlass. VHF radio, life jackets, swim ladder and more (see inventory). The boat also comes with a liferaft for four people (needs service) and a Mustafa auxiliary wind steering system (not installed). For navigation I use OpenCPN which uses GPS and N2K data sent via Wi-Fi from the Vespermarine unit to a phone, laptop or tablet. All systems data and AIS data can be viewed on a smart phone or laptop.
3 year old survey is available on request.
I plan to haul the boat to paint the bottom and carry out maintenance on the 11th of December to the 14th, at Ulladulla, if an out of water inspection is desired.
Region
New South Wales
Vessel Location
South Coast Region Callala Bay
Usage
Leisure, Cruising, Racing
Launch Year
1962
HIN
AU-WWA192209FA6
Rego
AIY593N
Rego Expiry
10/08/2024
Designer
Alan Payne
Builder
Jack Guiterrez
Length
37' 0" - 11.28m
Beam
2.9m
Draft
1.4m
Displacement
8tn
Keel / Ballast
Lead
Hull Material
Composite Oregon over Spotted Gum Frames, sheathed in Fiberglass.
Deck Material
Fiberglass sheathed Ply
Engine Make
Beta
Engine
30Hp installed in 2021, still under 5yr warranty.
Number Engines
1
Fuel Type
Diesel
Engine Hours
100
Fuel Consumption
2ltr per hour
Max Speed
8knots
Cruise Speed
6knots
Fuel
100ltr
Water
80ltr
Accommodation
2 berths in the cabin and V/Berth forward.
Cabins
1
Berths
4
Galley
2 burner gas stove
Refrigeration
Yes
Freezer
Yes (fridge can freeze, one space)
Stove
Force 10 gimbaled
Water Maker
Powersurvivor 35
Hotwater System
NA
Shower
Deck
Toilet
1
Air Conditioning
NA
Dinghy
NA
Covers
Sail, hatches, winches, windlass.
Ground Tackle
2 main anchors, stern anchor and Muir Windlass.
Bilge Pumps
3 including; 1 new automatic (plus uninstalled spare), 2 manual
Life Raft
1 x4 pax - needs service. Condition unknown.
Epirb
2
Life Jackets
4
Flares
Indate till August 2025
Fire Protection
Fire extinguisgher, gas leak detection.
Electrics
2x 100amp/hr deepcycle batteries, 2 yrs old. One starter battery, 6 months old. 2x 120w solar panels.
Electronics
NMEA2000 system interfaces with Vesper Marine XP8000 AIS system. I use OpenCPN for navigation using data from the versper unit via wifi to my laptop or tablet.
Sail Inventory
New headsail, 2 main sails in okay condition, various headsails and spinnakers in fair to good condition. Storms sails in good condition.
Mast / Rigging
New rigging, 8mm stainless.
Deck Gear
Original 1962 bronze boat hook. Spinnaker pole, two self-tending jib winches (plus unistalled spares), a bunch of miscellaneous parts and spares.