AN important slice of maritime and sporting history has sailed into Redland Bay.
Christina, winner of the second Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, attracted attention at Pelican Slipway, where owner David Foster has been preparing the old wooden boat for sale.
The 10 tonne, 33 foot boat was launched in August 1932.
Mr Foster said when Christina was the handicap winner in 1946, she had been crewed by Bob Bull and Jack Earl, one of the founders of the famous race.
"The (English) had won the first year in Rani, so when Christina entered, the crew knew they had to beat them," he said.
"They were all Australian and all wanted to win."
Mr Foster said Christina was a beautiful example of Australia's old-fashioned timber yachts.
"She was designed by (Norwegian shipbuilder Colin Archer), who designed and built the Fram which did two expeditions to the South Pole," he said.
"There's 4.5 tonnes of lead on the bottom so when the wind hits, she gets to a certain angle and she just stays there.
"There's a lot of boat in the water, different to the modern boats."
The seven decade-old Pelican Slipways is a favourite with owners of traditional wooden boats.
It reopened in June after being closed for some months last year.
Wade Chang, from operator Blue Peter, said the slipway specialised in traditional boat maintenance.
"It's pretty good to have beautiful boats like this coming into the yard," he said.
"A lot of wooden boat owners look for hard stands (rather than strap lifts).
"We can support up to 42 tonnes."
Mr Foster said he had owned Christina for 23 years, and had spent the first 10 restoring the boat.
"She was looked after pretty well (but) they live out in the open, it's like leaving your grand piano outside," he said.
"You seem to work on it all the time. It's a labour of love."
He had sailed Christina as far south as Sydney and as far north as Bundaberg.
"At Sydney Harbour, she's pretty well known," he said.
"They invited me to the 70th anniversary of the (Sydney to Hobart) and I was treated like royalty.
"She's always welcome at the maritime museum too.
"There's a big camaraderie about the old wooden boat."
With the boat up for sale, Mr Foster looked back fondly at his years of ownership of the historic vessel.
"I looked at a lot of boats but when I saw Christina, I thought this is the one."
For more information, see the sale listing.
