Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders

The glorious 21m 'Matthew Flinders, will be used as the radio relay vessel for the 2013 Pittwater to Coffs Race and start boat for the races in Coffs Harbour as part of the regatta. Owned by RPAYC Director John Bacon, he has once again kindly donated the vessel for the 2012  race. Below are some details on the vessel:

Deigned By Norman Wright

Built By Millcraft

Material QLD Maple

Year 1968

LOA 75 feet  21m

Beam 5.6

Displacement 77 tons

Engine Currently twin 465 Cats

Fuel Range 2500nm

Cabins 3 doubles and 1 twin

History of the Matthew Flinders

'Matthew Flinders' and her sister ship 'John Oxley' were penned by Norman Wright (R.T.Wright) in the mid 60's as Queensland Pilot Vessels operating out of Brisbane.  The boats had a unique underwater shape and were strongly engineered to allow for all-weather operation which meant relentless fast & safe maneuvering alongside (and in contact with) larger vessels in open waters.

Matthew Flinders was built by Millcraft on the Brisbane river and was launched & entered into service with the QLD government in 1969.  The boats were only intended to be in service for 10 years but were not retired until 1999 at which time both Matthew Flinders and John Oxley were converted to live-aboard passage-makers for their new owners by Sydney shipwrights David Moore and Kevin Furze.  After the conversion, the owner of Matthew Flinders, Richard Brewer brought her to the RMYC on Pittwater in 2001 where she was based until Richards passing in 2009.

Originally the boat was equipped with twin 825 hp 12 cylinder Cummins diesels and was driven pretty hard taking Brisbane pilot's on and off larger commercial vessels for the trip from Caloundra to the Brisbane river.  She was famous for going through gearboxes with regular monotony but was then capable of speeds up to 30 knots.  She was well respected by crew and pilots as being totally capable in all weather.

During the 2001 conversion she was refitted with twin 460 Cats which give her a cruising speed of 11 knots in a wide range of weather.  The original 10,000 litre fuel capacity was retained so she has a range well in excess of 2000nm (Hammo and back) which was repeated several times during Richard Brewer's custodianship.

Richard certainly loved the vessel and made sure she was fitted with all the essentials and luxuries for cruising.  These include:

• Full airconditioning
• Three bathrooms
• Wide screen TV
• Fully equipped stainless galley
• Great sound system
• Electronic stabilisers
• Large fully weather enclosed rear deck with room for 12 around the dining table.

In 2009 she was acquired by John & Lyndall Bacon.  Requiring a good 40 year service she was sent back to Norman Wright's in Brisbane under the supervision of Bill & Ian Wright for a significant refit.  Pronounced "good to go another 40" in May this year, sailors in this year's Pittwater to Coffs can be assured that she won't be far away should anyone need assistance.

The Matthew Flinders will be crewed by RPAYC volunteers.