Port Macquarie sea scout gig, ANZAC returns renewed from restoration

The wooden sailing boat with clinker style hull, now on permanent loan to the Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum, was originally designed in 1959 by Don J Dickson for the 1st Port Macquarie Sea Scouts.

The vessel was sponsored by Port Macquarie RSL and bears the group’s badge. It was built in 1960 by Tom Barber at the Hibbard slipway workshops with sails and rigging donated by Tom Radley.

Mid North Coast Maritime Museum volunteer John Gwalter said the boat was made from Pacific Maple and was a popular aspect of the museum.

"The (museum) visitors are all very curious (about it), they think its a surf boat but its a sailing boat," he said.

"The ANZAC is famous for winning the 1961 Sirius Cup, the first time it had been won by a country scout group.

"Cecil Radley was kind enough to restore it... he's done a top rate job. It has been re-varnished and repainted where necessary, while the oars have also been stripped down."

Notably it re-enacted Captain Allman's landing for Port Macquarie foundation day celebrations in 1988 and won the eight mile 1961 Sirius Cup.

Retired restorer and boat builder Cec Radley, who completed the restoration of the vessel earlier this year, said the work had taken about three months.

'The floating play pen' or 'the pirate ship', as it was affectionately known also took part in numerous events including as escort for the paddle wheeler, William IV and survey vessel, Lady Nelson, Carnival of the Pines and the first Australia wide Scout Regatta in Port Adelaide.

Western Australian tourist, Gary McCormick, who viewed the ANZAC on January 18 said the vessel was a treasure from a bygone era of sailing.

"It’s a lost art, using timbers naturally. It is from a bygone era, the old skills of making sails and building timber boats," he said.

A team of two bailers, a centre board hand, two main sheet and job hands, two harness hands and a skipper would use the 20 foot craft for rowing and sailing.

The boat was originally built from Flooded Gum, Pacific Maple, local Tea Tree, Oregon Laminate and local Plywood.

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