ragamuffin 2 yacht

Sailing vessel, MMSI 235054047

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The current position of RAGAMUFFIN is at North East Atlantic Ocean reported 3 days ago by AIS. The vessel RAGAMUFFIN (MMSI 235054047) is a Sailing vessel and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) .

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RAGAMUFFIN current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of RAGAMUFFIN data.

Ragamuffin 2 Sailing Tour

For those wanting a longer trip around the Whitsundays away from the crowds with a relaxing atmosphere, look no further than Ragamuffin 2.

This 3 day/ 2 night trip is top value, and taking just 13 passengers in total, Ragamuffin offers an intimate sailing experience of a lifetime, in paradise.

Ragamuffin's design makes her an incredible sailing vessel, and guests are able to assist the crew set the sheets and pull the ropes for hands-on experience, or if you prefer to relax, take a seat on the spacious deck and enjoy the serenity as the vessel makes it way around the Whitsunday Islands.

There are many stops along the way, including a number of different snorkel sites so guests can see the best fringing reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and there many opportunities to see the friendly marine life and exotic corals.

The highlight stop along the way certainly has to be at Whitsunday Island, where guests can soak their feet in the pure silica sands of Whitehaven Beach.

Spend a number of hours exploring, wading in the cool water of the Coral Sea, sunbathing and even join in a guided bushwalk through the National Park to get to Hill Inlet Lookout - where the view of the islands and the beach below is breathtaking.

Back onboard, indulge in freshly prepared meals by the crew, enjoy some friendly banter with new-found friends, curl up with a book or just take in the amazing sunset with a tropical drink.

**Please note this tour is no longer in operation. For similar options, please refer to  Small Group Sailing ,  Backpackers (18-35's) , or ask one of our friendly consultants.

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Graham 'Scooter' Eaton and Keith Batt next to Maxi Ragamuffin. Photo credit Jim Gale.

There are three Ragamuffins racing to Hobart, not just two

Ragamuffin 100, with 88-year-old owner Syd Fischer on board, and the TP52 Ragamuffin, helmed by his grandson Brenton Fischer, have receievd a lot of pre-race publicity. But there is a third Ragamuffin the race as this story from the Rolex Sydney Hobart media team's Jim Gale explains:

She was one of the greatest maxi yachts of her day; winning line honours three times, first as Bumblebee IV in 1979, and then as Ragamuffin in 1988 and 1990 and she last raced to Hobart in 1993.

For the last 20 years she has been thrilling charterers in Queensland, but in 2015, Maxi Ragamuffin has been painstakingly brought back to full racing trim. On Boxing Day spectators can marvel again as the 36 year-old German Frers design punches her way out through the Heads, bringing back so many memories of one of the great eras of this remarkable race.

The big boats fighting it out for line honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart have always held an irresistible glamour. These days it’s the mesmerizing speed of a Wild Oats XI , the jaw-dropping acceleration of Comanche .  Lithe, athletic, not an ounce of fat to be found anywhere in their exotic carbon-fibre hulls, these giant blue-water skiffs epitomize the modern, professional aura of elite sport in 21 st century Australia.

In the 80’s and 90’s, the age of the great aluminium hulled maxis, it was all about resilience and power. The stately American Nirvana may have wrapped that power in Newport Rhode Island elegance; the pretty Siska in brash West Australian bravado, but it was still raw power.

When John Kahlbetzer‘s Bumblebee IV burst onto Sydney Harbour in 1979, she oozed brute force.  A prize fighter, uninterested in a points decision when a knockout would do.

These big, heavy maxis roamed the world, from one big race to the next. They were little ships. Be it Valetta, Monaco or the CYCA marina in Rushcutters Bay, we plebs would gaze in wonder at the wealth, and yes, a different kind of power, that these giants represented.

“She is a very powerful boat, and she bites if you let her get away from you,” muses Graham ‘Scooter’ Eaton , Maxi Ragamuffin’s tireless boat manager come skipper. “She is a tank, state of the art in her day, no compromises.  But a cruising boat compared with today’s V70s.”

Kahlebetzer won line honours in 1979, then took her overseas to beat the best in the world. In 1984 Syd Fischer bought her, called her Ragamuffin , and campaigned her in six Hobarts, winning line honours twice; in 1988 and 1990. However, soon the first carbon-fibre maxi, Windward Passage II, would bring the curtain down on the aluminium age.

It has been a mammoth job getting Maxi Ragamuffin back to racing trim. “She’s been fully stripped and rebuilt from stem to stern,” Eaton says “We took 95 percent of the deck gear off.  All the winches were stripped and we found that 50 to 90 percent of each winch had to be rebuilt and there were no spare parts available anymore. Everything had to be custom made in Sydney.

It hasn’t come cheap.  Keith Batt, the CEO of  Nant (Whisky) Distilling Company and Maxi Ragamuffin’s owner, thinks there hasn’t been much change out of a million dollars. Buying the boat was the cheap part. But he has no regrets.

“It’s been just incredible, the enthusiasm and passion that everyone involved has brought to this project, which started as a marketing idea.  I do some sailing and I asked if we could sponsor a boat in the race.  When they came back with the cost, I thought we might just as well buy a whole boat.  I googled boats for sale and there was Maxi Ragamuffin .  I flew up to Queensland straight away. “

For Batt, his attitude to the boat is similar with his approach to whiskey making.  “We make our whiskey in traditional ways, in restored stone buildings, built by convicts in the 1820s.  We like tradition.

“This boat represents something about Australia.  Everywhere she goes people come to see her because they remember her and tell their kids about her.”

And in keeping with the whiskey tradition, Maxi Ragamuffin will carry a very unusual cargo: two barrels of whiskey will mature on the way to Hobart. 

“In the past they used to mature whiskey by putting it in barrels as ships’ ballast,” Batt explains.  “They discovered that this gives the whiskey lovely colour.”

Of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Batt says: “We’re going to be trying hard, she is stunning to sail. To see our helmsman, Roger Snell, put her through her paces is amazing. He throws her around like 20 footer.  She loves going upwind.”

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts on Boxing Day, December 26, at 1pm AEDT and will be broadcast live on the Seven Network throughout Australia, webcast live to a global audience on Yahoo!7 and live streamed via mobile.

By Jim Gale, RSHYR media 

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Sparkman & Stephens “Ragamuffin”

Sail Number: 70

Current Name: Spirit of Koomooloo – ex, (1988) Margaret Rintoul II, ex (1968) Ragamuffin

Type: S&S 48

LOA: 48’8″ / 14.83m – LOA: 48’8″ / 14.83m – LWL: 36’0″ / 10.97m – Beam: 12’6″ / 3.81m – Draft: 7’9″ / 2.36m – Design Number: 1949 – Rig: Sloop – Displacement: 30,654 lbs – Ballast: – Sail Area: 1,050 sq ft – Sail Number: 70 – Designer: Sparkman & Stephens – Built By: Quilkey Brothers, Sydney, Australia – Original Owner: Syd Fischer – Current Owner: Mike Freebairn – Launched: 1968  

Historical:

Ragamuffin has raced in 21 Rolex Sydney Hobarts, three Admiral’s Cups – 1969, 1971 and 1973

Legendary owner Syd Fischer has represented Australia internationally in 5 America’s Cup campaigns; self-funding all (a record shared with Sir Thomas Lipton). Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Yachting Awards 2013, Award for services to Yachting 2003, mentor to many of today’s sailors including Ian Murray, James Spithill.

In 1968 the first of Syd’s yachts named Ragamuffin hit the water. Syd built her in time for the Admiral’s Cup trials. She was the top point scorer at the ’68 Cup for Australia, with the team finishing 2nd overall.

The boat went on to win every major race it contested in Australia, with the exception of the Hobart race. As of 2010, she has sailed 25 Hobart races under the names of Ragamuffin, Margaret Rintoul II and Spirit of Koomooloo.

Known Racing History:

1971 – Fastnet Race Winner

Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Crew & Notable Guest):

Owner/Guardian: (1968) Syd Fischer Owner/Guardian: Mike Freebairn

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RAGAMUFFIN is a 62 foot heavy displacement ketch, but, as a Bob Perry design she will sail to weather.  She extrudes classic old world charm with her top side teak and below deck woodwork.  She is one of the most photographed boats in the Virgin Islands. RAGAMUFFIN's tender is a 15ft RIB with a 50 hp motor.  We have a 20 inch Apple G5 IMac Free WIFI available on board and on shore in most ports. We also have a kayak, SUP, and snorkel equipment and some water toys

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If you would like to spend some time ashore before or after your cruise.   We recommend the Galleon House or the Green Iquana in down town Charlotte Amaile, St. Thomas We recommend Myett's or Elm Beach Suites in Cane Garden Bay as good choices for three or more days to end your cruise.

Sailing Yacht Ragamuffin

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