Jezebel

                   Jezebel, owned by Chris and Wendy Le Cornu

Jezebel was built in Woy Woy, near Sydney in1937 with spotted gum keel and grown frames and timbers and 3 inch full length kauri planking.

Jezebel is an International 6 metre. Metre boats are not “one design” like Etchells or Solings, but are built to a Rule. This rule was originally written in 1906 and became very popular in Europe in the early 1900’s. Originally there were 5,5.5, 6,7,8,9,10,12,15,17,19,21 and 23 metre boats but over the years many of the classes have disappeared. The popular classes remaining are the 6, 8 and 12 metre classes. Erica J and Varg are 8 metre boats, while Dame Pattie and Gretel are examples of 12 metres. It has been estimated that over 2,500 6 metres have been built worldwide since the inception of the rule, and over 1500 remain on the registry. The basic metre formula is:

After a yacht is measured, as long as the calculation results in a figure less than or equal to 6.0, and the other requirements of the class rules are met, she can be considered for entry to the 6 metre class.

Jezebel is 37’ (11.2m) long, 6’6” (1.98m) beam and 5’6” (1.67m) draft. She was designed by A.C. Barber, who also designed Rani, the Derwent class yachts and the 12’ Cadet dinghy*. A.C. (Archibald) is credited with designing over 400 vessels from dinghies to yachts and ferries. Jezebel was built in Woy Woy (NSW) as a flush deck racing yacht for A.C. (or Ali as he was sometimes known)  himself, to compete against the Fife designed 6 metres racing in Sydney at the time. She was sold off to repay a debt before she was ever raced, and the new owner fitted a small cabin, and on sold her.

Her first owner, Mr Alan Rich, named her “Hurricane” and sailed and raced her on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater for over 60 years. Alan joined the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in 1934, and was, up to the time of his death in 2000, the oldest and longest serving member of that club. Alan raced her every week for many years.

When launched, she had more buoyancy aft than intended, so her keel was modified and her steering was altered to the current “whipstaff” arrangement to allow the helmsman and crew to move about four feet further aft.
She also had atrocious weather helm when launched. This was reduced by a massive reduction in the mainsail luff length, which hardly affected her speed except in very light conditions.

She was originally fitted with a Dolphin 2 stroke petrol engine.

Alan Rich initiated the Cruising Division at RPA and converted Hurricane to a more comfortable cruiser/racer. The hull and deck were glassed over by Top Hat Yachts in 1972. The current mast and diesel engine were fitted in 1977. It is believed that she was used as the start boat for many years after Alan stopped racing. He sold the boat in 1998 (when he was 84 years old). Since then she has had three owners. The second owner (Jacques Sapir) transported her by road to Brisbane and later she was sailed single handed from Brisbane to Hobart! We purchased her from Roger Aldridge, a member of the Kettering Yacht Club. Roger changed her name from Hurricane to Jezebel, and modified the rig to her current arrangement.

While she was not what we were looking for at the time, it was a case of “love at first sight” – how could you not love those beautiful lines, and the way she glides through the water? She is a bit like a swan. From afar she looks elegant and serene, but in the cockpit it is all action - the big mainsail requires good muscles and she can be a handful with a big kite and a good breeze. Other sailors often hear her before they see her, when a breaking, three foot high quarter wave announces her presence at hull speed. For all that, she is a nice dry boat even in rough conditions, and still manages to hold her own on the very light days. Pretty good for an old girl!

Jezebel was admitted to the Australian National Maritime Museum Register of Historic Vessels in 2012, her 75th Anniversary. Her ARHV number is HV000539.

Click here to see her entry in the register