Janace Anne History

Terry was asked just the other day to make a contribution about Janace Anne for the latest Woollacott Association Newsletter. He happily agreed and then quickly suggested that I should do it instead because he didn’t think he would be very good at that sort of thing. So here I am wondering how to go about this when I’m actually quite a novice when it comes to yachts. I’m still learning how to sail and I struggle to use the correct terminology and until Janace Anne came along there has literally been gaps of years between boating trips for me. What I do know is that there is something about Janace Anne that has mesmerised us both. She has given us the opportunity to realise a long held dream. The effect she had on us started the day that we first saw her and as her beauty unfolds it has become real and tangible. We bought her in the winter of 2007. Terry and I had stopped to admire Ebb Tide during the winter haul out in Devonport, Auckland. Janace Anne was up alongside her looking a bit tired and worn but we still thought she looked pretty good. Not long after that Terry was driving by and spotted a very small reluctant looking "For Sale" sign in front of her and rang the owner, Malcolm Dickens, straight away. I’d completely forgotten about her by then but when Terry rang and said I’m picking you up, there’s something I want to show you. I knew something very exciting was up. After he showed me I just couldn’t refuse being part of such a great opportunity. The transaction was made and we became the proud new owners of a 1956, 28ft Woollacott Ghost by the name of Janace Anne. And then the work began.

We didn’t have a lot of spare money to put into her but we had something equally important. That was Terry’s carpentry skills, enthusiasm and a really solid, and sometimes known to be relentless, work ethic. I knew early on that if I wanted to see my husband at all in the weekends I was going to have to embrace this project and join in to the best of my ability as well. That winter we cleared out a fair few years of memorabilia and gave her a good sand down and repaint inside and out. Basically we tidied her up as best we could and put her back on the mooring. The engine needed an overhaul, the sails were pretty tired but a perfect job was not an option at that stage. Terry remembers well Jeff Cook saying to him Do what you can and then get her out and sail her. You can do the work as you go but keep her in the water He always thinks that was the best advice he had. Well we didn’t do a lot of sailing that first year but we did get her back in the water. There followed a lot of sloppy times out on her mooring of 50 odd years with Terry carrying on with whatever work he could do. We were really pleased the following winter when we finally got Bill from Bayswater Marine out to help overhaul the motor. It was especially great to have some on deck engine controls fitted to replace the previous string system which was a bit tricky to manage. During that first year we also recovered all the squabs which were well needed and made a huge difference to the comfort levels and aesthetics below the decks. We had a bit of a problem with the old propeller which resulted in hauling Janace Anne out in December 2008 for some repairs. That inevitably led on to more maintenance whilst she was there. We managed to get the old propeller working again but a new one was ordered to fit at the next haul out. For Christmas of 2008 we commissioned Lidgard Sails to make a wonderful new main and head sail and with Janace Anne all clean and bright we ventured out for some well earned sailing. We were confident that all the work we had done on her would encourage her to carry us through the remainder of the summer safely. We enjoyed exploring the beautiful islands and bays out in the Gulf and getting to know her a bit better.

From early on Terry had been very keen to clean her right back to bare boards below the water line. This was so he could inspect the hull for any areas that might need attention. He could tell by the many layers of paint that this had not been done for years and was a bit concerned at what this might be hiding. During this last winter of 2009 he set about doing this and was really pleased to find that she was incredibly sound and seaworthy. We completely repainted the outside of her and finished off the areas inside that were left out the previous year. We were able to attend to all the issues that had concerned us including cleaning down and repairing the rudder, with help from Don Anstiss, and fitting the new three bladed propeller. We have also just finished having her completely rewired by Leo Fowler which feels like a real luxury. A new bilge pump has been installed and we have replaced the old halyards. The last thing on the list for this haul out is to fit a new mast head light before we slip her back into the water. We feel that Janace Anne is a testimony to the boat building skills of Alan Williams and the design talent of Bert Woollacott. We have just had her resurveyed for insurance purposes and the surveyor described the workmanship on her as being of the highest quality. He also described the original kauri timber used for the hull and deck as being nearly the best available for longevity. One of the greatest things to come out of this project is the community spirit and friendship of all those people who work away over the winter months at the Devonport Yacht Club. The encouragement, advice and helpfulness have been really appreciated. This extends to the many people that pass by and stop to admire the boats. They really do add to the unique quality of the place. There is still a long list of future projects including a new galley, overhauling the cockpit, fitting life lines and maybe a dodger. And of course some additional new sails would be a great asset as well. The list goes on.... But those things can wait for another haul out because we’re both really looking forward to simply enjoying ourselves out on the water this summer, exploring new places and most of all getting a little closer to Janace Anne. As an end note here is a poem from the man who doesn’t think he can write...

The midnight wind searches for the eastern dawn For days and nights the west wind has carried all before her Squalls and whirlpools abound Salt spray gathers in thousands turning vision inwards Trust the map of the heart and the midnight moon to find dawns horizon A quietness does exist within the sun’s rays on their journey west.

by Terry Willmer

I went down to the boat last evening and saw this written in pencil on the hull below the water line. Beautiful words that will dissolve into the ocean.

Natalie Willmer - December 2009