* The Society now has its very own website, address being www.slocumspraysociety.asn.au.

* News on various members activities.

To join the Slocum Spray Society ( only $40 per annum and well worth it ) and receive 'The Spray" in the mail four times a year and keep up with all the Spray Society activities contact David Mann, 86 Warners Bay Rd, Warners Bay, NSW  2282, Australia or phone 02 4948 8022 (for overseas contacts dial 61 2 4948 8022, or email mann@hunterlink.net.au)

For pictures of the Spray Regatta held on Morton Bay in June 2001 please click here. Unfortunately the wind did not co-operate so the seven Sprays rafted up for a extremely sociable enjoyable afternoon instead as these pictures show. 

and for pictures of the recent Spray Regatta held on Morton Bay in June 2002 please click here. Unfortunately the wind did not co-operate so the seven Sprays rafted up for a extremely sociable enjoyable afternoon instead as these pictures show. 

Rob Taylor sent us in this historic photo of Joshua Slocum's Spray anchored in Newcastle 102 years ago. Rob was helping his brother in law Kevin build a Centennial Spray 36 in wood-epoxy at Forster, NSW

The Spray World Championship Regatta is held every year in December on
Lake Macquarie, 80 kms North of Sydney, Australia. Here is an excerpt from the 1998 race.

Reprinted by kind permission from 'The Spray', the quarterly Journal of the Slocum Spray Society. 

A beautiful clear sunny, not very windy day, dawned over Lake Macquarie as seven Sprays went through the hectic last minute preparations for the race. Crews had spent the morning in the gym honing their fitness. David Mann had been hard at work for some months persuading Spray owners to attend, but last minute problems and weather intervened to prevent at least 5 boats from attending. Special mention is made of two boats, Gypsy Rose, sailed down from Queensland by Bob Galloway and having the youngest crew in the fleet (6 weeks, I think) and Bruce Scammell who made a valiant effort to sail down but became weather bound at Ballina, but he coached down to be at the regatta.

As usual, the hospitality of the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club was legendary, and everyone joined in the fun.

Information on the Spray Society can be gathered by calling
David  or Anne Mann on 02 4948 8022 or 017 952 681

Sprays on Lake Macquarie
by David Mann

There has been frequent references over the years to "the uncanny popularity of Sprays" here on Lake Macquarie so it's time to explain that situation in more detail.
Back in 1985, a local boy, Lindsay Smith, returned to Lake Macquarie in his beautiful "Blue Knight" a 45' steel Spray, ketch rigged and a real eye catcher with gaff sails and three squares on the main mast. It was an absolute credit to Lindsay who had built the vessel at Maloolabah in fifteen months.
Blue Night very soon had a twin sister built here on Lake Macquarie by Lindsay and launched here in 1987 by Ann and David Mann, Calling her "Blue Master"--identical vessels except for the latter's conventional Bermuda rigging.
In the meantime, Lindsay's brother Gary liked the idea of a Spray, and built for himself a very smart and quick 38' steel cutter "Blue Chip" which was launched here on Lake Macquarie in 1986.
Lindsay has another brother, Keith, who thought to himself "Good enough for them, I'll build one too". Hence, 1988 saw "Maria" launched on Lake Macquarie, she is an identical twin of "Blue Chip" except she's burgundy in colour, not blue.
While "Blue Master" was being built, there was a steady flow of callers, some more frequent than others, yet everyone was welcome to the site because in some way and without exception there was always the handy suggestion offered or loan of equipment, or advice, etc. But one visitor in particular stands out in my memory because his visits became more frequent and indeed his visits eventually were accompanied by a pencil, paper,tape and camera. And in due course this same visitor started his Spray identical to "Blue Master" and launched by Kerry and Ann foster in 1991 calling her "Mystic".
There was another Spray 33' steelie built and launched in 1990 by coincidentally, Peter Smith, of Wangi (and no relation to the earlier Smiths) called "Halcyon" but we have lost contact with that vessel and the current owner.
Again a coincidence when another local Lake Macquarie sailor, Keith Smith (no relation to the others) decided to build a timber Spray and this is the biggest 33' I've ever seen with amazing utility of space to the maximum in this 1992 version launched by Keith and Helen Smith as "Helkie".
Trevor Brazel built a 33' steel Spray and launched it as "Blue Dolphin" in 1988. It now is being cut in half and enlarged to a 40 footer jointly by Trevor and son, Mick, in Dora creek, a tributary of Lake Macquarie.
"Actress" is another steel local Spray built at Ballina , NSW, now on Lake Macquarie, owned by Fiona and Lindsay Hall.
Not to be outdone we also have a ferro version in Spray, a 40' ketch owned by Peter Nairn.
Whereas Lake Macquarie can boast many Sprays, Dora Creek can boast even more pro rata as can be seen by earlier mentions. Yet another from that source is Luis Vechi's "Rosei Jane" which is a 40' steel ketch built entirely by Luis over a number of years. Sailing is hard work on "Rosei Jane" because Luis has not as yet fitted his winches- they're still in their boxes but "he'll get around it soon"!!
But the grand old lady of Sprays we boast of on Lake Macquarie is the beautiful "Joshua S", a 40' timber gaffer of Phil and Lyn Bromley. She was built in the 1960's in the Bay of the Islands, New Zealand, and as I write, the owners are currently holidaying there hoping among other things to establish it's complete history.
Yes, there are a lot of Sprays on Lake Macquarie and the really good aspect of this is there's a big variety to help would-be buyers/ builders to look and decide what is the right boat for them. Please feel free to contact any one of us should ever you feel so inclined.

There are photograph's of some of the Lake Macquarie Sprays in the Photo Gallery

Cockpit and foredeck details of the well kept Steel Spray 36 'Diane' which stopped recently at Burnett Heads during it's wanderings along the coast.

Dear Bruce,

Please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Patrick Slevin and I have been an avid Spray fan for many years.  Having just recently acquired access to the internet through work (hence the email address), My first web-site visit was to yours.

I purchased a set of plans from your business in May 1985 for a timber Spray 22 which I proceeded to build with much assistance from my father. The boat was launched on 4th November 1989 in the Huon river south of Hobart, and until now has been kept in various ports in southern Tasmania. I have recently moved to Melbourne, Victoria for work and have relocated my boat Carita 4 to a yacht harbour in Westernport Bay.  I thought you might find it interesting that my Spray 22 is not alone there as there are two others located at the same marina.  One built from steel and the other is fibre glass.  As yet I have not been in contact with the owners but intend to do so as summer rolls around. For three boats of the same design, built from three different materials, it is surprising how they all differ as each owner/builder has their own ideas etc.  for example there are three slightly different rigs, the portholes are all different, the steel version appears to have wider decks and a deeper cockpit. I have also come across a fourth Spray22 built in steel and she is based at Smithton on the northwest coast of Tasmania.

I am looking forward to hearing from you and of some information on the Spray 22's being posted on the Spray home page. Hopefully once summer gets here I may be able to obtain photos of three of these boats out sailing together and will pass these on.

Regards

Patrick Slevin