General Jackson

[ballystick 79]

We have owned General Jackson for around 3 years in Tauranga, a Compass built GRP Farr 38. I was unsure if we (wife and I) could handle such a large yacht but it has been a great boat so far. We club race it, cruise it and fish off it, what a well set up boat it has turned out to be for us to enjoy.

The boat was formerly Jenny G, a well known yacht raced in the Auckland area for several years by Alan Gibbs with the name derived from his wife. It was extensively renovated after changing ownership into the state it is now, focussed on extended cruising from which we have benefitted from!

A 40hp Yanmar was fitted, 120 litre fuel tank, linear autohelm, wheel steering. The interior was completely changed to remove wood and provide extra storage to suit the cruising life. The forward berth has a fold up base for quick sail access, it has 2 double quarter berths and now a cabin table built by David Peet that slides down to provide another double. Rosewood flooring is fitted and an electric toilet plus holding tank. A 500 litre built in water tank supplies the H&C pressure water with inside and outside showers. A NEXUS network sailing instrument system is backed up by a Garmin chartplotter/fishfinder plus a SSB radio. We have a TV/DVD that is fitted for cruising and a 250W solar panel assists with the electrical demands and is removed for racing. Engine driven refrigeration supplies 2 fridges and a freezer.  The transom is opened up for easy access from the rear transom scoop.

We have upgraded to Burton Sails membrane type with a cruising set utilising a new stack pack sail cover and furling headsail. The sail plan of a Farr 38 is simple with a single spreader setup and basic sailplan, a higher spinnaker halyard allows for larger than standard spinnaker. We have antifouled it with Hempel Globic NCT which seems to do a good job of keeping the growth at bay. Anchoring is operated from the helm using a Manson Supreme which is great for 2 handed cruising. A full bimini that folds back for racing is complimented by full sides and covers to provide a great area for extended living.

We will be cruising the Mercs and the Hauraki Gulf this summer, all going well and looking forward to it, call out if you see us.

Fair winds and kind seas, Andy and Michele

 

[chariot 244]

Good boats. Used to be forward hand on Club Fed years ago. They love going up hill. 

[Deep Purple 520]

Was mainsheet trimmer on Mint owned by John Faire in the early 90's. Fun boats. Many an after-race function on the Dave Giddens skippered Jenny G. Namesake owners wife Jenny Gibbs always turned up with massive food platters and rum.

 

[Hapuka 1]

Great pics! We had a very similar experience Andy. Bought well known Tauranga Farr 38 "Otway 3" last year and wondered if it would be too much of a handful to sail 2-up offshore with the wife.... but we have also found it a great cruising boat and a lot of fun to sail. Plenty of performance and speed but also very easily driven with smaller amount of sail up offshore. Sailed her up through Coromandel/Barrier around the top and down the west coast to Nelson and have had a great summer cruising home waters of Tasman Bay, D'Urville Island and outer Sounds pretty much all 2 handed. Has worked out well as a roomy fast cruiser. 

 

[ballystick 79]

Cruising down to the Sounds and Tasman area is on our agenda, hopefully we can get down there and meet again. Couple of years away at present but nice to gather information from others and dream at present!

[Jono G 43]

Back in the day there used to be the Farr 38 Nationals.

We were motoring back into Westhaven on the Saturday afternoon (on Otway 3) and watched Jenny G getting towed in behind Alan's launch at 23kn. The bow wave was up higher than the boom! Amazing sight. Alan Gibb's launch was the Lassiz Faire with 2 x 1000 hp motors in it. Warwick 60?

[B00B00 317]

41 minutes ago, Jono G said:

Back in the day there used to be the Farr 38 Nationals.

We were motoring back into Westhaven on the Saturday afternoon (on Otway 3) and watched Jenny G getting towed in behind Alan's launch at 23kn. The bow wave was up higher than the boom! Amazing sight. Alan Gibb's launch was the Lassiz Faire with 2 x 1000 hp motors in it. Warwick 60?

I remember that too. Was an amazing sight. Think I was on Mint for that one. 

[brendong 5]

End of Te Kouma race, Alan's chopper flew in, picked him up and back to Auckland, we all got pissed ...........I think we had the better end of the stick

[Deep Purple 520]

9 hours ago, Jono G said:

Alan Gibb's launch was the Lassiz Faire with 2 x 1000 hp motors in it. Warwick 60?

Had a cannon on the bow that fired potatoes. 

I remember one day Allan was pacing the marina, brick to his ear. Jenny said he was uptight about the "cottage" next door in Paratai Drive being for sale and development might block his view. She smiled and said she'd bought it but hadn't told him. Had the largest arms collection in NZ and a huge shooting range under the house

Both Jennys were the centre of attention back then

[Hapuka 1]

On 11/07/2021 at 9:15 PM, ballystick said:

Cruising down to the Sounds and Tasman area is on our agenda, hopefully we can get down there and meet again. Couple of years away at present but nice to gather information from others and dream at present!

Yeah would be great to meet up if you get down south here Andy, keep us posted! I'm sure it wouldnt be the first time General Jackson and Otway have rafted up!!

[marinheiro 359]

On 11/07/2021 at 3:40 PM, Deep Purple said:

Was mainsheet trimmer on Mint owned by John Faire in the early 90's. Fun boats. Many an after-race function on the Dave Giddens skippered Jenny G. Namesake owners wife Jenny Gibbs always turned up with massive food platters and rum.

 

I sailed on Flight Path in the early 80's with 2 owners. Had alot of great racing. We had a few wins, Amnesty would have had the most with Angstrom and White Lightning fighting it out with us. When Bevan Woolley showed up with his (can't remember her name) she was often first across the line

The Akarana winter series were awesome, first season they had downwind starts, everyone running line abreast under spinnaker until we reached Izzy Bay buoy with a mega pileup of about a dozen trying to get around.

[Cameron 93]

Bevin had Acclaim

[Bigcat 1]

Hi Ballystick, here are some photos of when we did up 'the General'.

She was still red with the name 'Jenny G'. very race, rallied and rolled - if you could point at it, it leaked.
First memories of taking her away was just after we got her - night race to Kawau... bailed her out before we left, as she leaked like a seive. Brought a handheld compass, and a chart for navigation....I recall halfway through the trip Joe going down and asking why his bag was floating, so much water ingress... then it rained like hell when we got there and had to pull a sail over the deck so we didn't get wet while sitting inside!

She was very water damaged, as you may be able to tell from the photos - I have more but they are tucked away in storage somewhere... 
Ant and his brother Simon did the refit - General was launched and about 2 weeks later left for Fiji with RAYC Fiji race.
Lots of offshore trips, Airlie Beach regattas and memories from our time with this boat.
My son was 10 days old when he took his first trip on General - it was cruised with Ant and I, and Tristan, I recall doing some ladies racing for a time, but mostly the guys raced it on Wednesday night and rum racing. 

We heard you were around Kawau at Xmas but couldn't find you...we now have Marcato (62ft Simonis sailcat) and Bullrush (the kids have Bullrush)...if you see us on the water come say hi!

Janine, and Ant
 

 

[ballystick 79]

Thanks Janine, great info. The renovation was amazing and it is reasonable condition which is tribute to Simon and Ants. I thought it went overseas but not sure which place exactly except Airlie Beach for one. We were around Auckland for Xmas and spent NY period around Kawau with my son's young family aboard - 7 in total. The weather could have been better but we survived!

Everywhere we go someone tells us they sailed on it, drank rum or even had their first spew on it, it is great to discover the history. Now back in Tauranga after our cruise ready for fishing, overnighting and midweek racing again. 

Cheers Andy & Michele