Kathleen Gillett Yacht: Featured in the first ever Sydney to Hobart race, to race in the historic Balmain Regatta

She raced in the first Sydney to Hobart and circumnavigated the globe – now the historic Kathleen Gillett will race again in this weekend’s Balmain Regatta. See the incredible pictures.

Peter Chubb and Terry Daly getting the boat ready for Sunday’s event. Picture: Rohan Kelly

She was the second Australian yacht to circumnavigate the globe and raced in the first Sydney to Hobart – now the ‘grand lady’ Kathleen Gillett will return to competition this weekend after being found in disrepair in Guam and “brought back to life”.

First setting sail more than 80 years ago, the yacht famously built by marine artist and Sydney to Hobart race co-founder Jack Earl in 1939 will take part in the classic yacht division at the Balmain Regatta on Sunday.

Kathleen Gillett crew preparing to return to racing at the Balmain Regatta this Sunday. Peter Chubb, John McCormack, Terry Daly, Maria Tzannes, Dudley Heywood, Callum Hindhaugh, John Stanley and Caitlin Allen. Picture Rohan Kelly.

The Kathleen Gillett in action

She was the second Australian yacht to circumnavigate the globe in 1947, before later being found in disrepair in Guam.

The Norwegian Government bought her and gifted her to Australia as a Bicentennial gift.

Balmain Regatta Commodore Campbell Reid celebrated the involvement of the historic yacht in Sunday’s event.

“We are honoured that Kathleen Gillett will make her return to sailing competition in our event. Like the regatta itself, she is a rich part of Australia’s maritime story,” the commodore said.

The Kathleen Gillett preparing to return to racing at the Balmain Regatta this Sunday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“Her presence among the modern and historic yachts and our convoy of tugboats and working launchesadds enormously to the unique spectacle the regatta creates each year.”

The Maritime Museum will bring together legends of the yachting industry, such as 60-year veteran John Stanley, to race her in the historic Balmain Regatta.

“Since the boat has been here (Maritime Museum) the boat has rarely been used,” Mr Stanley told the Inner West Courier.

“We’re taking part because of the history of the boat – it‘s a classic, (as well as a) famous regatta that’s been around nearly as long as the Australia Day regatta.”

The yacht was the second Australian vessel to travel around the world

The Balmain Regatta was founded in 1849 and is now Australia’s last surviving suburb-based community regatta.

The return of the historic event will comprise of at least 30 entrants in the Classic and Modern Work boat Convoy, which starts and finishes between the Balmain Sailing Club at Water St Balmain and Cockatoo Island.

Historic yacht Kathleen Gillett preparing to return to racing at the Balmain Regatta this Sunday. Maria Tzannes and Hannah Hansen getting the boat ready to go out sailing. Picture Rohan Kelly.

This will be the first event the Kathleen Gillett has been involved in since 2018, however crew member John McCormack said it would see far more action, as the Maritime Museum hopes to keep it from being “just an exhibit”.

“When a boat just sits forever, it deteriorates and no longer becomes a sailing boat and the idea is to get it moving again,” Mr McCormack said.

“It’s a static exhibit right now and (the museum) wants to make it a useful sailing boat again.”