tophatyachts.com

Lamoore Yacht Sales have recently listed White Tie as sold.
Does any one know where she has ended up?
Would be good to keep track of that famous little boat.
Cheers,
Tom

Tom,

Could you tell us WHITE TIE's story please.

Phillip
SEAKA

Hi Philip,

White Tie raced in the 1978 Solo TransTasman race and was knocked down about a dozen times in horrendous conditions but still finished in a good time. She was lent to the skipper by the factory for the race. There is a picture of her at http://www.solo-tasman.co.nz/history/ and the full story is on the net somewhere but I cannot seem to find it this afternoon.

She was in a pretty sorry state when she was recently up for sale. I hope she has found a good home.

Cheers,
Mark

Hi All,

Found the little buggers! The sites with the story of White Tie (Mk11 Tophat) and cyclone Hal were listed in an earlier discussion. For those interested see:

http://users.tpg.com.au/kateh1/tophat/f ... ualify.pdf

http://users.tpg.com.au/kateh1/tophat/f ... tasman.pdf

Cheers,
Mark
Sotrm Petrel

Thanks Mark for digging those up again, i remember seeing them last time but didnt have the time to read them then..& then forgot.
Absolutely well worth reading both of them!!

Yes she was in poor shape in the photos, next time im talking to John or Aaron at Lamoore's ill ask them if they knew her history, & i'll try to get the contact details of the new owners.

Interestingly the MkI they also have there now is Calypso, who was owned years ago by Bill(user name Bornfreee), who used to also own Night Cap( & Blue Moon ).

Forgot to mention the Solo Trans-Tasman race starts to tommorow
http://www.solo-tasman.co.nz

White Tie is a Mk11 Top Hat and was Mike Garret’s (Formit Fibreglass) demonstrator boat in 1977.

Wearing sail number 2332, her picture features in many advertisements and boat tests around that time and later.

Mike sponsored Nick Creech in the 1978 Solo Trans Tasman race by loaning her to Nick for the race and the 500 mile qualifier prior to the race.

Nick wrote articles about both trips which were published in Sailing magazine in April and June 1978.
Nick also sailed White Tie solo to New Zealand prior to the race .

Changes from standard included, lower companionway filled in, one size up on standard for the rigging, storm boards for all cabin windows, electric autohelm, Wattas electric generator (fits in the outboard well) and luff downhauls (and other sail handling aids) to make solo sailing easier. No motor was fitted.

She appeared on a Pittwater mooring recently within view of Nick’s front yard looking rather neglected and was for sale with Lamoore Yacht Sales.

Has a Flemming wind vane fitted and was eventually sold to a new owner who (Lamoore told me) plans to fix her up and do some cruising.

If you have any doubts about the seaworthiness of a well prepared Top Hat, please read the June race article. At one stage they were recording 70 knots on Lord Howe Island for nearly 24 hours when the competing boats were in the area and she was knocked down more than 10 times (and came up again!) – still racing!

I doubt that there are any other Top Hats around which have taken that kind of punishment and she came through with only a bit of minor damage to the spray doger.

Hope the new owner recognises what a valuable piece of Top Hat history he now has on his hands.

Pictures of White Tie are still available on Lamoore web site. You may recognise some of the interior from the pictures in Peter Dabbs boat test article.

Cheers,
Tom

Hi Everyone
After recently noticing I have a new Tophat neighbour, I rowed past on the way back to shore today and low and behold it's White Tie!
She is in need of some love and attention, so for the record, she is moored just off Clareville Beach.

If I see signs of life anytime I'm out, I will go and say hello and pass on our best wishes and see if they will keep us up to date with her nursing back to health.

Cheers
Dean

I saw her yesterday on the way back from our lunch stop at Clareville to the mooring at Careel Bay. Had a brilliant morning's sail, then had a late lunch and decided to motor back to Careel through the moorings at Clareville.

Saw about a half dozen Top Hats, including Tails, White Tie and Boss, and a couple of other's who seemed to be un-named. Some in great condition, others as badly off as White Tie, who still has the self steering attached to the pushpit.

Michael

Any recent news about White Tie?

Cheers,

Tom