Restoration of NZ’s oldest surviving yacht

Jessie Logan
Gaff Cutter LOA 12.34m (40ft 6in) LWL 7.62m (25ft)
Designer: Robert Logan Snr 1879
Builder: Robert Logan Snr
Launched: 1880

Jessie Logan is a double diagonal centre boarder. She was launched on 24th January 1880 to take part in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta

Second Class race. Robert Logan Snr designed her and owned her during her first season. For the next nine seasons she proved to be unbeatable in her class except on a couple of occasions – for example

when the rules were changed to allow much bigger yachts into her class. Angered by the introduction of handicapping designed to exclude her from prize money,Jessie Logan was sold to Wellington owners in 1889. She raced there for some years but was converted to an oil launch some time after 1905. For the next 85 years she was active as a settler’s launch in the Marlborough Sounds and later as a fishing boat out of Nelson and Motueka.

Keith Pine and Harold Kidd brought Jessie Logan back to Auckland in 1988 and relaunched her on the 121st anniversary of her original launch date, at Devonport Yacht Club,

the closest practical point to the site of Robert Logan’s original shipyard. The Rotary Club of Takapuna used the occasion to raise money for charity.

Keith Pine and son helping with the restoration

Jessie’s sailing team at Kawau Island. Keith Pine (seated)

Jessie Logan tied up beside “Ferro”, another Logan boat associated with Keith Pine

Jessie under shortened sail on the Waitemata