Visit our Popular Forums

Rustic Charm · 04-01-2016, 23:00

The Defender is a well known Tasmania tall ship which many Tasmanian's contributed financially in having rebuilt ready for the 2000 bi-centenary of our country. Unfortunately the vessel was owned by an absolute moron who is really infamous for his appalling treatment of vessels in Tasmania. Now it seems he's responsible for the sinking again of this once beautiful wooden Ketch. Whilst the headline claims vandal's did it, it is just as likely that it was in such poor condition without anyone checking on it that it just sunk.

The Lady Gillian is another once beautiful derelict boat still owned by this moron, going to rust in our Tamar River. Every time I go up and down our River I sigh at what's happening to The Lady. I well believe she's well past being able to be saved. The first picture is of the The Lady Gillian, stuck in the mud, covered in sea gull ***** and rusting away. The other two are reports of The Defender.

http://cdn2.shipspotting.com/photos/.../2/1328264.jpg

The publicly-funded Tallship rusting and rotting in Qld | Tasmanian Times

Vandalism suspected as historic tall ship Defender sinks in Townsville - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

clownfishsydney · 05-01-2016, 03:09

My wife and I saw this in August 2016 when we were in Townsville. We commented at the time on the very poor condition of the ship. There is now way that it has been vandalised, except perhaps by the owner. Very sad.

Rustic Charm · 05-01-2016, 03:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by clownfishsydney

My wife and I saw this in August 2016 when we were in Townsville. We commented at the time on the very poor condition of the ship. There is now way that it has been vandalised, except perhaps by the owner. Very sad.

2016?

Yeah, every boat he buys ends up disintegrating. The upper Tamar near Launceston is an eyesore where his property is.

Delancey · 05-01-2016, 04:14

The Lady

Delancey · 05-01-2016, 04:15

The Defender

Rustic Charm · 05-01-2016, 04:19

Thanks Delancey

goat · 05-01-2016, 05:10

Really? The owners name is Les Dick?

**childish snigger**

goat

**HappyMdRSailor** · 05-01-2016, 05:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by goat

Really? The owners name is Les Dick?

**childish snigger**

goat

Does than make him a strapping lad???

Rhapsody-NS27 · 05-01-2016, 06:18

Sad to see any ship going into such disrepair.

Wasn't vandals sinking the ship, it was leaving it to rot.

Cadence · 05-01-2016, 08:59

Sad but everything seems to wear out and repair costs way out do new build. Why one individual would do it multiple times? I hate seeing ship bone yards. I would rather see hulks used for artificial reefs, a good burial for a fine Lady, so to speak.

redhead · 05-01-2016, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by goat

Really? The owners name is Les Dick?

**childish snigger**

goat

Thanks for posting this. I just asked my husband if his brother's name was "Moe".

I am embarrassed at myself.

Lizzy Belle · 05-01-2016, 10:24

So, so sad ....
Makes me angry when people leave their boats to rot

Quote:

Originally Posted by goat

Really? The owners name is Les Dick?
**childish snigger**

Haha, glad I wasn't the only one with that reaction

alansmith · 05-01-2016, 10:30

So sad to see heritage ships like this be treated so poorly. I am not defending the owner of this heritage piece. So no flames please....but I can not imagine how much monies it would take to keep a boat of this size and age in working shape. That seems to be the problem with these huge projects. I know in America we have some fine heritage pieces that have been preserved, but at huge costs. There in lies the problem of who will pay the costs? In America it takes Federal level participation on heritage pieces. This individual may or may not known what he was getting himself into. Maybe he is trying to get some sort of insurance payout for the loss now. Nonetheless it is always sad to see things go "under" like this fine ship.