In 1946 the American boating magazine Rudder published details of a rugged, narrow beamed, three-masted schooner.

Halfway across the world, a 39 year old Geelong grocer, Geoff Wood, saw the design and liked what he saw. It was, he decided "a lot of yacht for your money".

On a vacant block in Fyans Street, Chilwell, he began the construction of the world`s first Marco Polo, which he called ‘Ile Ola’.

It was the start of love affair that has lasted 44 years and covered well over 600,000 sea miles.

When Herreshoff drew out the lines of his Marco Polo, he had in mind a strong comfortable and sea kindly boat with an easily handled spread of sail. Double-ended with a hull length of 16 meters, he gave her a long water line length of 15 meters, a narrow beam of 3 meters and a 2 meter draft.

From the year of her launching, 'Ile Ola' has cruised the ocean waters of south-eastern Australia and the western Pacific with unfailing regularity. By 1990, her outstanding record of ocean races stood as follows:

Sydney-Hobart: 1
Sydney-Noumea: 9
Melbourne-Devonport: 17
Sydney-Vanuatu: 2
Melbourne-Hobart: 16 of the 23 races
Sydney-Fiji: 3.

The principal objects achieved in the design are:

1. A very long cruising radius under power.

2. A sail plan that can be handled by one man on watch.

3. Extreme seaworthiness

4. Shallow draft which not only will allow her to visit unique places but will often avert serious disasters.

5. She is cut away aft so that she will lay-to a sea anchor with her head into wind, and a balanced rudder designed to swing all the way round.

6. Her wind resistance is cut to the minimum for laying at anchor in strong winds and for driving economically under power.

7. She is arranged to sleep ten people comfortably.

A sense of humour
camera and films
swimmers
beach towel
hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
jumper or jacket
toiletries
insect repellent
all in a soft bag please.

BYO Alchohol (Please No beer bottles). 

Our Itinerary typically includes the following destinations:
* Blue Pearl Bay
* Mantaray Bay
* Langford Reef & Black Island
* Whitehaven Beach
* Hill Inlet
* Border Island
* Nara Inlet

Departs Abel Point Marina
3 Day 2 Night

Departs Abel Point Marina every Wednesday and Sunday at 10.00 a.m.
Returns every Friday and Tuesday at 4.00 p.m.

Copyright (c) 2001 dPhoto All Rights Reserved

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