The next Derwent Class (D-Class) yacht to join the fleet is undergoing a meticulous rebuild in the hands of talented craftspeople at Tasmanian Shipwrights & Co, ahead of her official debut at the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February.
Named “Mermaid”, she is D11 and was rescued in Sydney by the owner of “Merlin” who, with his dad, is a passionate proponent of D-Class racing.
Transported to Tasmania, Mermaid is now part way through a complex restoration, as Nathan O’Neill explains. “It has been a very tricky project for a number of reasons. It’s a full rebuild. We have had to completely re-rib her and replace six or so planks in the hull.
“We used Celery Top Pine planking, which is hard to come by, but we found it at Bradshaw’s (Tasmanian Special Timbers) in Strachan. Mermaid is shaping up nicely and will be a beautiful addition to the D-Class fleet.”
A project of such sentimentality and precision requires excellent products.
Along with sourcing the perfect timber for the project, Nathan relies on WEST SYSTEM epoxy products and will complete the job with Epifanes varnish.
“Epifanes is easy to apply in any climate and provides an excellent finish and protection. It’s the ultimate high gloss finish,” states Nathan.
The D-Class holds a special place in the hearts of Aussie sailors and timber boat builders.
“They are very charming – iconic in Australian sailing history,” explains Nathan. “In the 20s and 30s, they were built for young people to bridge the gap as teenagers moved from dinghies into more challenging racing.
“The A-Class was for the well to do, B-Class a hodge-podge of private boats, and the D-Class was designed as the boat for everybody.
“There’s a lot of culture around the D-Class. They’re loads of fun to race, with a big sail. They’re hardy, full-on, wet fun!”
Mermaid will join the other equally-whimsically named D-Class yachts – each named after a mythological or literary persona: Imp, Pixie, Gnome, Sprite, Peter Pan, Wendy, Pim, Janus, Merlin, Titania, Gremlin and Undine.
Standing out among her peers, Mermaid will be bestowed with a bright-pink hull.
“She will stand out from the pack at AWBF, for sure,” Nathan acknowledges.
