A sensational entry

by John Curnow on 17 Jul 2017 Maybe it was because I was still thinking about last week’s title, ‘A Fine Entry’. I dare say it was also because I knew that the boat in question was linked to a good friend, and as an older IOR vintage craft, if it wasn’t a charming clipper-esque bow, then the prow certainly swept all the way up to meet a lovely and gentle sheer. Also, no doubt, with a name like Mr Christian II, it wasn’t so much a swashbuckling type tale I was in for, but more along the lines of salty dog.

In fact, the original working title for this piece was ‘absolutely no mutiny’, by the way. At any rate, the chance to ring Tony Purkiss is always a good thing, so that’s exactly what I did. Tony is a gem, always putting in for a good cause, and that’s before you ever get to learn his own tale, which is more than enough for one soul in this lifetime.

In short, Tony had a heart attack on the quay in Hobart one year, he also survived the ‘98 Hobart (enduring a broken leg in the process), and walked away from a light plane crash. Yet it would be the infamous Bali Bombing that would try its best to take him from this planet, and perhaps the greatest torment would be that he ‘woke up’ not in the same hospital as his beloved wife, Mary-Anne.

These days he’s mostly forgetting about it all. I am not altogether sure how you do that exactly, but there you have yet another mark of the man. Perhaps the focus on their new marina at Iluka in the delightful Northern Rivers district of New South Wales is helping. Anyway, the explosion took most of his sight, and although legally blind, Tony is one of the best proofreaders I have ever come across! That last point is particularly important in relation to our boat in question, Mr Christian II, for it is the very same attention to detail that has been applied to the boat.

After selling his own 60-footer, and since 2009, Tony has been the custodian of this charming Swanson 36. The owner has only used it lightly in the last 20 years, which is one of the main reasons it is now for sale, whereas Tony and Mary-Anne have enjoyed time aboard her far more. No expense has been spared in her upkeep, and the list of works, spares and safety quippy is testament to that. Whilst I think of it, you can check out the ad for yourself right here

Penned by Ron Swanson, and built by one of the shipwrights there as his own vessel, this GRP long-range cruiser is most distinguishable by her extra freeboard, so done as to give her more headroom below. She has done lots of things, but has been to Lord Howe Island and back three times in the last four years, as well as doing a huge cruising soirée in Tasmania, and the islands of Bass Strait, for five months not all that long ago.

This too is why she stands apart, for it is the way she is prepared that allows her to take on such grand epic adventures. Righting moment is listed as 134, so Mister Christian II is a true ocean going yacht ready to take you anywhere safely in the world. Purkiss himself says of MrC II, “It is like a Holden ute, (Northern Hemisphere think Chevy pick up), absolutely will get you there and back again. No fuss! I’m also happy to assist with delivery anywhere.” of course, when it is all said and done, Mister Christian II does really represent a sensational entry into the long-range cruiser market.

Are you out there plying the seas and got something to say? We’d love to hear from you via editor@sail-world.com Also, if you would like to receive our newsletter each week, then please go to the 'Newsletter' button at the top of the Sail-World home page and enter your details. Simple...