Tony Mackay - The Halvorsen Story at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2023
The Presentation:
From humble beginnings on the south coast of Norway, farmer Halvor Andersen learned to build boats to help pay for his growing family. His son Lars Halvorsen made it his career, working in the United States, his homeland of Norway and eventually taking his skills and family to South Africa and then on to Australia. His five sons and family created what became the largest and most famous Australian boatbuilders of their era, later taking their skills to Hong Kong and China, with exports all over the world. The story is one of hardship and passion, stoicism in the face of great adversity, and the culmination of wonderful vessels born from a highly skilled designer’s eye and the determination to maintain the highest quality standards.
The Presenter:
Tony MacKay has been on board Halvorsen boats all his life, having owned nine substantial cruisers, all of which were significantly and lovingly restored. Through his involvement with the Halvorsen Club, he has passed some of this passion and energy to like-minded owners of these beautiful craft, also assisting with the improvement of skills and historical information. He has also represented the family for significant events at the Australian National Maritime Museum, exhibitions, on water parades, birthdays and even eulogies. It has been a lasting passion.
Thanks to Utas and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Пікірлер: 8
Great Biography, Excellent Presentation , Extraordinary Family, Beautful Boats....Thankyou
Brilliant Tony.
Excellent presentation Sir, you know your stuff. Beautiful boats, great family story of skill and perseverance. Beautiful boats aye
Wonderful presentation, thank-you. During the 1970's we owned and lived aboard PEER GYNT in San Francisco Bay. She was built by Halvorsen in 1947 and placed 3rd in that year's Sydney Hobart. Brought by ship to the US she raced in San Francisco Bay's K Class and did a Trans Pac race in the early 50's. She retired from racing sometime afterward and was regularly cruised on the West Coast of the US and Canada. A very strong and beautifully built sea boat comfortable and capable in any weather. We sailed her from SF to Mexico and Hawaii and back in 1979-80. Unfortunately, she now languishes in a harbor in Vallejo, California and is in need of a total rebuild.
Fantastic (and fascinating) presentation. I remember as a 5 or 6 year old living in Sydney spending our Christmas holiday in a Halvorsen - a small one - 27 ft? We spent the few days in Broken Bay finding secluded beaches (some with natural waterfalls) so my parents could indulge in nude sunbaking with the protection of coconut oil (SPF 0). The sight of the fleet of beautiful wooden boats surrounded by pristine bushland at Bobbin Head is something I'll never forget.
Wonderful presentation Tony. You really know your stuff!
Its kinda funny...There were a lot of fine power boatbuilders in the northeast U.S. and Great Lakes at this same time, but in New Jersey there were a lot of Norwegian American boatbuilders, and they nearly all built some kind of very fine lapstrake (clinker) rough water powerboat. Many were admired and variations were built out on Long Island and down the coast. Though small frogs in a big pond, they had extensive influence.