Gipsy Moth IV scheduled for launching on Saturday

by Sail-World NZL on 16 Jun 2006 It is expected that Sir Francis Chichester’s yacht Gipsy Moth IV will be relaunched at 4.00pm on Saturday.

The painting is largely complete and the opportunity has been taken to give Gipsy Moth IV a good refit as she nears the halfway point of her round the world circumnavigation.

Down below the original fuel heater has been refitted, which used to sit alongside a very comfortable padded and gimballed chair to give Sir Francis the occasional break from the elements.

The vane gear has also been restored and refitted. It is modelled on the type produced by Blondie Hasler, and was developed over the course of several singled handed Trans-Atlantic races in which Hasler and Sir Francis competed in the early ‘60’s.

A cocktail party and fundraising auction for Gipsy Moth IV will be held on 22nd June at RNZYS, where several pieces of the original keelbolts will be auctioned amongst other items.

Gipsy Moth IV is due to leave from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at 1100hrs on 23rd June, weather permitting to sail across the Tasman for her next stop in Sydney – which was Sir Francis’ only stopover port during his circumnavigation.