Hi everyone,
I’m trying to track down the yacht my grandfather Ivan Vitali built in the early 70’s, the yacht was called Telstar, sail number 1263. Built and first sailed in
New Zealand.
He passed away in 1974, before I was born and
tracking down his yacht is a way I can get to know him a little.
The
boat was
sold after he was died to a
member of the Devonport YC here in
New Zealand, (I’ve chatted with him) who then
sold it 8 years later to someone who hit a reef in Noumea, but thankfully the vessel was eventually recovered and restored in Westhaven around 1989.
It was approximately 34ft and of a similar design to S & S 34 of the same era. The
hull was red below the
water line, with white above it and wooden
cockpit made of kauri then fibreglassed over.
It started out sailing around the
Auckland region – Kawau, Waiheke, my grandfather sailed it to Noumea and
Fiji and it was eventually sailed all over the world.
Ivan Vitali was a
member of the Panmure Yacht Club and I’ve spoken with his brothers and John Bennett at PYBC.
Do you know anything about this yacht and where it may be or anyone you may think can help? Please add to the topic, send them this thread or get in touch with me with my details below.
I'd love to find it, have a look at it, go aboard and keep my
family - and Ivan's great grandchildren - updated with where it is today.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Drew
Thompson
andrewt212@gmail.com