Sunday Island name

Posted byRichard HewsonPosted inUncategorized

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all!

Our family traveled to Malta for Christmas but returned to Palma due to a high number of COVID cases in Malta.

While in Malta we have registered our Koopmans 45 “Sunday island” to Valletta Malta and received our new official number, call sign and MMSI.

People often ask the origins of the name “Sunday Island”. Previous owner of 30 years Peter Voogd chose the name Sunday Island from the story of a young man J.W.Wray living near Auckland in 1937. Having no job he started building the wooden yacht Ngataki, from logs collected from the beaches.

With friends he undertook long voyages in the Pacific, one of the first islands discovered was Sunday Island. There is a book of his hand: South Sea Vagabonds, a remarkable story how to design your own boat, to build it and make it seaworthy, without money, and sail the seven seas.

Sunday Island is part of the Kermadec group otherwise known as Raoul island to the North of New Zealand.

The boat was well build and survived, she is now in the collection, with other iconic yachts, of the British Maritime Heritage Museum.

We are now back in Palma and our intentions to return to “Sunday Island” for the new year have been flawed with Emilie testing positive to COVID. Thankfully Emilie is recovering well but we remain stuck in Isolation at our house. What a shame we are not Isolated on Sunday Island in the Pacific!

Hopefully we are back onboard for some time in January.

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Published by Richard Hewson

Richard Hewson is a Tasmania-based ships captain, marine surveyor, and experienced sailor with a lifelong connection to the sea. With experience in project management and vessel commissioning, he has operated and raced a wide range of vessels—from dinghies and Maxi yachts to tankers, icebreakers and research vessels. Richard has competed in major offshore events including the Sydney to Hobart, Fastnet, Middle Sea, and Transatlantic races including the Mini Transat. In 2012, he skippered the winning yacht in the Clipper Round the World Race. He has sailed to every continent and explored all corners of the world from Antarctica to south pacific atols and recently completed a three-year family voyage from the Netherlands to Tasmania. Richard holds a Master Class 1 (unrestricted), RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, Engineering (1200kw) and commercial diving certifications, and is an AMSA-accredited marine surveyor. He is also affiliated with the Australasian Institutes of Marine Surveyors and is passionate about all things that float.

One thought on “Sunday Island name”

  1. Hi Richard and Family Sending our best wishes to you all. Hopefully you will be back on board soon and Emilie will be well. Sydney Hobart race was a wild ride with many yachts pulling out with breakages. Black Jack won over the line, Law Connect then Scallywag. We had all the family together at Lou’s house in Collaroy Plateau with George and Family flying down for 4 nights from Brisbane and Charles driving down from Sunshine Coast. Lots of requirements and tests having to be carried out to get back into Qld!!! Our testing in NSW is in chaos! We are driving to Qld 1 Jan but don’t know whether we will be allowed in as you have to take a test 72 hours before your arrival time but it can take up to 5 days to get your results / the figures don’t seem to work!!! George went home and is isolating and still hasn’t got his results and it is 4 days since the test. Oh well covid fun!! We celebrated Lou’s 37th birthday on Christmas Day. I still remember you singing Happy Birthday to her when you were sailing with Charles in a 420 Regatta at Manly Qld when she was about 10! Good luck with your adventure. Kind regards Howard and Susie

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