THE
WYLO YACHT
WYLO
WYLO
II
TAI
TAKI II
WILPY
YOU CAN
HAVE YOUR
OWN WYLO
ON THIS
WWW SITE
BY CONTACTING
THE WEB PAGE
AUTHOR AT
martin.mcerlain
@start.com.au
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| Wilpy launched in Mary River |
Long before
'girl power' happened to the world, Jacky Curran and Jo Birch were doing
things that were usually reserved for men only.
While cruising the Gulf of Carpentaria in their Waterwitch, called "Banda Naira", they
met Nick and Dorothy Skeats aboard "Wylo II", and decided that they had
to have one. They bought the plans off Nick and headed for Maryborough
in the Great Sandy Straits. Here they rented space in a shed, on the banks
of the Mary River, to build their 'Wylo Yacht' already named "Wilpy". The
fact that neither Jacky or Jo could weld or use oxy-cutting tools did not
deter them and with a few lessons and practice they were ready to begin
making the frames. Two years of hard work later "Wilpy" was launched in
November, 1985 and is a credit to both their determination and skill.
"Wilpy" has since been sold and is now owned by George Tucker, a Vietnam veteran and ex U.S.
marine, and has been renamed "Gypsy Boots". George is a boilermaker by
trade and was very impressed by the quality of construction on his boat. |
"Houses are but
badly built boats so firmly aground that you cannot think of moving them.
They are definitely inferior things, belonging to the vegetable not the
animal world, rooted and stationary, incapable of gay transition. I admit,
doubtfully, as exceptions, snailshells and caravans. The desire to build
a house is the tired wish of a man content thenceforward with a single
anchorage. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, unwilling
yet to accept the idea of a final resting place.
It is for that reason perhaps, that when it comes, the desire to build a boat is one of
those that cannot be resisted. It begins as a little cloud on a serene
horizon. It ends by covering the whole sky, so that you can think of nothing
else. You must build to regain your freedom. And always you comfort yourself
with the thought that yours will be the perfect boat, the boat that you
may search the harbors of the world for and not find."
by Jonathan Cape |
For those wishing to build their own "Wylo" write to Nick Skeats
at: c/o 21,The Avenue, Brockham, Betchworth, Surrey.RH3 7EN,England.
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