BALANDRA’S JOURNEY Shendra Hanney A pre-restored Balandra graces the bottom left corner of the poster for this years 5th Annual Sunshine Coast Wooden Boat Festival - from July 31st to August 3rd. For Balandra to be part of it is quite wonderful - for her 21st century image is striking as she makes her debut as a fully-restored classic. After the 2008 Festival, the plan was to donate Balandra to S.A.L.T.S. (Sail and Life Training Society) in Victoria. (See Harbour Spiel Issue 211 July 2008) However, this was thwarted as by the time she was delivered to the Heritage Shipyard it was inundated with donated boats needing attention. Further, the great spars of the Tallships were crowding the Shed for their winter maintenance. There was “no room at the Inn” for Balandra! There followed a period of uncertainty for her future as I searched for a shipwright and a Yard that could accommodate her for restoration. THEN the metamorphosis began! Balandra was stripped, scraped, sanded and “torched”! 63 years of deck canvas -3/8ths to 1/2” thick with accumulated paint was removed in great swaths using a tool reminiscent of Dickens’ era! 6 decades of varnish were removed from Balandra’s mast, and it was found to be in perfect condition. Sealed and with 10 coats of varnish plus all new stainless steel rigging, she is indeed ready to continue her sailing life. Vignettes of Balandra’s restoration are part of my memories forever. It has been a privilege to be part of it all utilizing what little skills I possess to contribute to her restoration, and to work with the dedicated shipwright crew ... Rob and Jean as well as Theresa, Erin, Dave and Chris. I have travelled over to Brentwood Bay many times to record the various phases of Balandra’s restoration. Materials not available in 1945 have been incorporated. She now sports a mahogany rail and additional toe-rail, as well as teak afterdecks and hatch covers. The Everdure mast fittings are burnished as is her winch - and a whole a new anchoring system is in place. I rejoice in how well she has withstood the test of time and decades of seagoing adventures. I say a silent ”thank you” to Collin for his expertise in creating Balandra to be so strong and enduring. This has been a ten-month gestation period for Balandra’s regenesis. As she emerges on launch day, I am overwhelmed by the full impact of her restoration. And I am in tears as I absorb the changes and refinements that are so in keeping with the dream that Collin manifested 64 years ago. For little did Collin Hanney know when he built the William Hand-designed 22’ sloop Balandra, and launched her on June 13th 1945 - that on her 64th birthday - fully-restored - she would be re-launched ready to begin the second phase of her life journey. Collin’s daughter, Corlynn, was just three months old in 1945, and witnessed the christening from her grandmother’s arms. Now a grandmother herself, Corlynn is part of this pivotal event in Balandra’s history. And what of Balandra’s future? Her home port will be in Brentwood Bay under the stewardship of Rob Abernethy and the A&G Boatyard. A unique plan for her continued sailing life is being formulated. Details as it comes into fruition along with links to Balandra’s genesis, her years of coastal explorations and adventures, as well as current adventures and her blogspot will be posted on her web site: www.balandra.net Balandra will be open to the public at the upcoming 5th Annual Sunshine Coast Wooden Boat Festival. And Corlynn and I will again raise a glass of appreciation to Collin and his enduring legacy. An edited version of this article was published in the July 2009 issue of HARBOUR SPIEL.
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