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Photograph courtesy of Sandman Yacht Brokerage
Tern II : Historically Important Boat For Sale
Tern II was owned for the years 1910-1912 by Claud Worth, a prolific writer at the start of the 20th Century who, like Harrison Butler, was an Ophthalmologist. InYachting Monthly, October 1936, Harrison Butler wrote in an obituary for the recently deceased Claud; “I had not associated Claud Worth with yachting, but we and his sailing partner Devereux Marshall, soon found that we had not only a common profession but identical interests. I was asked to sail on Maud, and any practical knowledge that I possess began with the lessons I learnt from Worth and Marshall”.
Tern II was extensively written about in Claud Worth's highly influential book Yacht Cruising. He used her as a test-bed for several innovative metal fittings, and he sailed her to the West Coast of France, the voyage being written about in great detail in the Royal Cruising Club's Journal for 1912. The trip was awarded the prestigious RCC's Romola Challenge Cup.
In 1953, Ben Pester, sailed Tern II out to New Zealand, this epic nine month adventure being awarded the Royal Naval Sailing Association's Hammond Cup and being written about in Ben's book, Just Sea and Sky. Forty-Six years later, Ben sailed his McGruer designed 36 foot yacht, Marelle, round Cape Horn.
An attempted crossing of the Pacific from New Zealand to Seattle in 2004 got as far as Tonga where Tern II was abandoned after taking a battering in bad weather. In 2006 she was rescued and shipped back to New Zealand by Australian shipwright and new owner Mike Lyon. She's since had much major restorative work completed. Tern II is currently (February 2018) being offered for sale as a project by the Sandman Yacht brokerage for £20,000.
Originally launched as White Kitten, it was Claude Worth who renamed her Tern II. It would seem that she was briefly called Ladybird sometime before Claud Worth owned her.
Tern II Statistics
Built : 1899 by Harry Stow & Son in Shoreham, England
LOA : 39' 1"
LWL : 30' 6"
Beam : 9' 0"
Draught : 6' 0"
Displacement : 10 tons TM
Lloyd's Register : N° 106786
Signal Letters : JFQR, MFDK
Sail Number : 132
Tern II Custodians & Home Ports
Mike Lyon (?-2006-2018...) Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand
Lyn Avatar (?-?) Tonga
Mick Reynolds (1991-?)
Bill Cunningham (1972-1991) Cambridge, Thames Island North, New Zealand
O'Dare (1957-1959-?) Southampton, England
Lieut Ben C Pester RNZN (1953-1956) UK => New Zealand
Lt-Col DB Brodie (?-1947-1952) Southampton, England
Clive B Wright & GMG Farmer (?-1923-1939-?) Southampton, England
Claude Worth (1910-1912) Bursledon, England
WI Beaumont (?-1902-?) Shoreham, England
Page last updated : February 2018
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