- Rona (1892)
"Rona" was designed by one of the world’s greatest yacht designers, G.L. Watson. She was constructed in 1892 in
Auckland ,New Zealand , by master craftsman and designer Robert Logan (Senior), forWellington merchant and benefactor Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, whose collection of rare books was bequeathed to the nation as theAlexander Turnbull Library in 1918.She is one of the finest surviving examples of a six-beam (her beam fits into her length six times; i.e., she has very slim lines), gaff rigged racing cutter, and is one of the oldest yachts still sailing in New Zealand. She is the oldest continuously registered ship in New Zealand.
"Rona" is an excellent example of 19th-century racing yacht design and construction, and is representative of an industry in New Zealand that has continued to exemplify innovation, attention to quality, and refinement into the 21st century. It is no accident that "Rona" was originally painted black, and that colour still is used on New Zealand's America's Cup yachts. The current strength of the boat-building and sailing industry in New Zealand owes a great deal to the Logan boat-building family.
"Rona" was beautifully restored to original condition by her last private owner, John Palmer, in what amounted to an amazing labour of love, taking over nine years. The fact that "Rona" has been maintained as a fully operational sailing vessel for over 110 years is probably largely due to her construction in kauri pine (
Agathis australis ), which is a fine-grained timber of excellent quality for boat-building.The "Rona" Preservation Trust was set up to purchase "Rona" (this was accomplished in November 2006), and to make her accessible to the community through sailing events, maintenance and training days and public open days.
Moored on the Wellington waterfront, she attracts New Zealanders and international visitors. "Rona" is a precious part of New Zealand’s maritime history and provides a unique opportunity to keep alive past sailing traditions and pass them on to future generations.
External links
* [http://www.rona.org.nz Contact details for Rona Preservation Trust]
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/T/TurnbullAlexanderHorsburgh/TurnbullAlexanderHorsburgh/en Alexander Turnbull in NZ Encyclopedia 1966]
* [http://www.maori.org.nz/Korero/?d=page&pid=sp67&parent=55 The story of Rona from Māori legend]
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