A brief history of a tin can

Here is a brief, but bizarre, history of the Happy II courtesy the  Queensland Maritime Museum. 

- http://www.maritimemuseum.com.au/ -

 

One of the smallest boats to sail across the Pacific Ocean, Happy II was the second attempt by her owner, Howard Wayne Smith, to solo circumnavigate the world. After departing from the USA east coast, through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific, the first boat was wrecked on a reef off Noumea, New Caledonia. Undeterred, Smith built Happy II and continued on his circumnavigation, eventually making landfall near Ballina, New South Wales. However, Smith had arrived without a visa. Also, Australian Customs imposed a $2 000 bond on the boat to cover import duties. He had no money to pay the bond, but was given a tourist visa for 3 to 6 months, which allowed him to stay in Australia. Smith breached conditions of his visa, for which he faced the courts and was deported. Still unable to raise the bond on Happy II, he would have to forfeit her.

 

Smith approached the Queensland Maritime Museum with a view to the Museum buying the boat so he could pay the bond to Customs. The Museum declined, so Smith offered to donate it to the Museum. However, Customs would only release the boat when they received payment for the bond. The Museum declined again. Customs allowed Smith to return to Canada and retained the boat.

 

Just before Expo 88, Customs offered to give Happy II, which was now deteriorating in their store, to the Museum. The Association accepted the offer and Happy II became the property of the Museum. Restored by Museum volunteers, she is displayed in the grounds of the Museum.

 

Particulars

Length overall: 13ft 10" (4.22m)

Length waterline: 13ft 8" (4.17m)

Beam: 6ft 3" (1.91m)

Draft: 3ft 7" (1.09m)

Displacement (cruising): 2 240 lbs (1 016 kg)

Sail area: 180 sq ft (16.72 sq m)

Headroom 4ft 10.5" (1.49m)