Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Friday 30 November 1928, page 3


STRADBROKE II.

NEW MOTOR YACHT

LAUNCHED.

TRIUMPH FOR BRISBANE.

The largest privately-owned motor yacht riding the waters oí the Com-monwealth was launehcti into the Brisbane River yesterday.

The vessel is the Stradbroke It-. Us owner is Mr. G. W. Whatinoie, the ceremonv of launching was performed by the Mayor cf Brisbane (Aluerman W. A. Jolly, C.M.G.), and the christen-ing-the breaking of a bottle of cham-pagne over her bows-by little Miss Joyce Wright, whose acccmpcnyir.g speeeh was: "I have vtry great, plea-sure in christening this boat 'Strad-broke II.' "

Tile new vessel, which io aOft. long, 18ft. 6in. beam, 105 tons gross, and will be driven by an 80 horse power Wilson marine engine, has c-een built to replace the Stradbroke, which now flies the pennant of the commodore of the Geelong'Yacht Club, it Is built in the style, as Mr. Whatmore saiû, of the good old-time clipper cruisers, and is entirely the proa«« ot Erisoanc brains and brawn.

Following t r_> launching at Norman R. Wrights yards at Newstead, Mr Whatmore entertained the visitors who had come to witness the launch-ing." At this function the commodore of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club (Mr. Victor Campbell) occupied the

chair.

ORNAMENT TO THE BAY.

Tile toast of "Success to Oiradbrokt II.," coupled with the nome of the owner, was, proposed by the Mayor who said that the boat would be an ornament to the Bay. One of the things that appealed to him was the way a lew of the citizens realised that the Bay was a great pleasure report. The launching.of.the boat was an import-ant event, and he congratulated Mr. Whatmore on his enterprise, and Mr. Wright (the builder) and the people of Brisbane upon the fact that such a boat .could be built in Queenslanu.

' Mr. H. M. Russell, M.L.A., support-ing the toast, said that Mr. Whatmore always had been to the fore in '.wig the Bay as a pleasure lesort. TJntre was no sport in the world that fur-nished better citizens tî.an yacln.ng, and aquatic sports ¡{encrat'.y.

Mr. Thomas Welsby predicted that in 50 years the best of the yachting ni Australian waters would be held m Moreton Bay.

Mr. Whatmore, replying, said it had been worth the trouble, and the "slight expense" of building the boat, to ^ee so many yachting friends before him, and to hear all the kind remarks thty had made, but which he did not as-serve, for he was a plain, blunt man He was not sure; however, that tnc.v all appreciated the-wonderful &ifts ot Nature. Nature had pioviued lit Moreton Bay one of the most majestic stretches of water in the world, and, doing what he did, he was only re-sponding to the call of Nature. Many people left visitors 1o call attention to local beauties. What would people in Melbourne say if they could ex-change for the Yarra the beautiful Brisbane River? No words would be able to express their pleasure.

Other speakers were Mr. C. M. jen-kinson. ex-Judge Jameson, Mr. Nor-man R. Wright (the designer and builder), Mr. Cecil WiUon, of the Wil-son Engineering Works, at which the engines were made, Mr. J. F. Maxwell, M.L.A.. Mr. Reg. King, M.L.A.. Mr. James Love, and Mr. J. R. s. Plum-ridge.