Description
This book covers a unique period in the history of yachting and boating in New Zealand that coincided with Jim Young’s life as a boatbuilder/designer/yachtsman.
Born in Wellington, Jim Young’s affinity with boats began with canvas canoes on the Waiwhetu Stream in Hutt Valley, before moving to Otahuhu and Sandringham, aged 10, and then to Auckland’s North Shore.
He started a boatbuilding apprenticeship in 1940 working on the construction of wooden naval vessels and general boat maintenance until 1945.
It was an era that saw dramatic advances in design and construction technology from what was an ancient craft, steeped in tradition, unchanged for centuries, with the use of kauri for planking and framing and pohutukawa for knees.
Today the change still continues apace, as boat builders of the past half century have had to relearn the trade completely as wood has been steadily replaced by synthetics.
Jim Young passed away on June 18th 2020. Aged 94 years. His contribution to New Zealand sailing spanned 71 years including winning national sailing titles, boatbuilding, yachts and powerboat design.
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