Letters (3) by Jack Earl to Curly

MLMSS 11951/Folder 1X

fonds

23 January 1943, 29 November 1945, 1 December 1945

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Drawings

9673881

0.3 metres of textual material (1 outsized folder) - manuscript in ink

Jack Earl (1908-1994), sailor and accomplished commercial artist, was one of the founders of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and later sailed the ketch 'Kathleen Gillett', named for his wife, around the world.

Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file

Three handwritten letters in ink by Jack Earl, residing aboard the ketch 'Kathleen' (aka the Kathleen Gillett) in Mosman Bay, to friends Cob and Curly (also spelt Curlie) aboard the 'Wypru'. Earl writes about the recently completed ketch's performance under sail, the possibility of her mandatory requisition during wartime, and his desire to sail together on a long voyage. Subsequent letters give an insight into the lead up to the inaugural Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, which included notifying Curly of an opportunity to sell the Wypru to a potential buyer with 'plenty of sugar' interested in participating in the race. One letter includes a hand-drawn silhouette in ink of a ketch under sail.

Chronological

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder.