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After more than two years of reconstruction in New Zealand, 50-meter Flinders is poised for a new life of worldwide adventure.
by Ivor Wilkins
photography by Ivor Wilkins
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10/01/2005
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| Williamstown Naval 164 |  |
Refits cover a wide spectrum, from cosmetic patch-ups to major
rebuilds. Beyond the latter end of the continuum the term "conversion" resides.
Often, so little of the original ship is left that the result is more like a new
build. In fact, in America’s Cup racing, where strict rules apply, a yacht that
has been altered by more than 20 percent is deemed new. By this and most other
definitions, Flinders is a new vessel – several times over. Relaunched
after more than two years of extensive surgery in New Zealand, the 50-meter
(164-foot) motor yacht is poised for a new life of exploration and
adventure.
 Flinders as she looked during her tenure in the Royal Australian Navy. More
than 800 sailors served aboard her during the 25 years following her 1973
launch. Photograph by Ivor Wilkins. (Click image to enlarge)
Originally built at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard as a Royal
Australian Navy hydrographic survey ship, she was launched in 1973. During her
25 years of naval service she voyaged some 600,000 miles executing major surveys
around Australia and in the South Pacific. Her most notable feat was the
surveying of Hydrographer’s Passage through the Great Barrier Reef, a route
that reduced the voyage from Australia to Japan and Korea by several hundred
miles.
"She had a very good name among the Navy people who served on
her," say the current owners, a couple from New Zealand. "Previous commanders
have been in touch with us and commented on what a good sea boat she
is."
Top: No hint of military austerity remains aboard
Flinders. Her spacious accommodations, hot tub,
toys and tenders promise nothing but luxury. Even her high-tech helm is comfortable. Photograph by Ivor Wilkins. Bottom: The super quiet interior floats free from the steel framework per
engineering by Van Cappellan. Photograph by Tony Gatman. (Click images to enlarge)
After decommissioning, she was purchased from the Australian
Navy by the current owners, a bold move for the couple as they were already
engaged in another major conversion at the time. Inspired by the success of
former U.S. Treasury Secretary William Simon’s Itasca, the couple
purchased a 50-meter Greek deep-sea salvage tug named Asteri. "That was
bought on a bit of a whim," the owners confess. "The boat was famous in Europe
and had conducted more than 500 salvage operations. We were enchanted by it, but
from the outset it was a project fraught with difficulties."
The owners contracted the rebuild to Northport in Whangarei, a
maritime town 100 miles north of Auckland. Delays, cost overruns and a change of
ownership at the yard prompted the couple to bale out on the boat, but not the
dream. "We decided to sell Asteri and keep an eye out for something else.
In doing so, we looked for some more internal space, a better flow between decks and more head
height," the owner said.
Top: Photograph by Tony Gatman. Bottom: Photograph by Ivor Wilkins. (Click images to enlarge)
In Flinders the couple saw the potential to achieve all
these goals and more. Whereas the Asteri conversion was largely a
hands-off affair – the owners contracted the work to the yard and collected the
product three years later – they decided that Flinders would be a
hands-on business. They secured dock space with a 70-ton gantry crane at
Whangarei and set about assembling a team of contractors. "We had hoped to
appoint a management team so that we could just oversee things on a monthly
basis, but it didn’t work out that way. Our involvement escalated," he
said.
That was an understatement. A floating barge with a two-story
structure comprising project office, workshops and stores, plus six trailers
accommodating the design team formed the nucleus of a project community that
became known as Flindersville. Some 10 designers set to work on systems, naval
architecture and interior space planning. At its height, there were more than 70
employees on the payroll.
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