Marie Louise III

Boat Name: Marie Louise III
Designer: Jack Savage (to the International Meter formula)
Builder: Jack Savage
Year Launched: 1954
Rig: Sloop 7/8 fractional
LOA: 40′
LWL: 29′
Beam: 9′
Draft: 6′
Sail No: KA1
Owner: Peter Lloyd

History: In 1906 a conference in London, attended by all the major yachting nations,[excluding USA which had its own Universal Rule] paved the way for this new breed of yacht. Out of the chaos of many different rating and handicap systems[sounds familiar] came a formula that allowed yachts from many countries to race together. The numeral designation –ie 6 or 8, has nothing to do with any physical dimension of the boat! Complicated?-sure is! 8  Metres are typically 15 metres long,12 Metres are 20 metres long! In 1953 Bill Lowe, a member at RYCV, commissioned J. Savage and sons, Williamstown to design and build [to the Rule] an 8 Metre Cruiser/Racer. Hull constructed from 1 1/8” Huon Pine over 2”x11/2” laminated ash frames @8 1⁄2” centres . Spruce mast and boom, galvanized fittings. Deck originally canvas covered ,replaced early on with teak, and more recently with New Guinea Rosewood. Extensive Huon Pine fitout. Motor was originally 25HP Clae Marine petrol, now fitted with  a 3cylinder 20 HP Yanmar diesel. Upon launching in 1954  she was named Mongoose 111.

She is not just a boat, she is part of our maritime heritage and most of all a thing of great beauty, a symphony of wood, rope, and water, an object created by man  with the only  object to make us feel good about being alive. We are only caretakers and with  luck she will outlive you and me. Future generations will think of us and will silently thank us for having seen her through the ages.