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Community & Business

23 July, 2021

Sammons legacy sets sail

AFTER a lifetime's dream of constructing his own 18 foot long sea vessel, Dr Bill Sammon’s legacy was honoured at the Tinaroo Sailing Club when IONA took her first sail across the dam.


Tom and Sheila Sparks on IONA on Friday at Tinaroo Dam.
Tom and Sheila Sparks on IONA on Friday at Tinaroo Dam.

BY ELLIE FINK 

AFTER a lifetime's dream of constructing his own 18 foot long sea vessel, Dr Bill Sammon’s legacy was honoured at the Tinaroo Sailing Club when IONA took her first sail across the dam. 

Although Dr Sammon sadly passed in the beginning stages of the Welsford-designed Pathfinder, the Wooden Boat Association of Cairns (WBAC) was determined to complete this project after being gifted her by his wife.

Now a long five years on, the President of the WBAC Chris O’Keefe said that launching the boat made him feel beyond proud for their small group of boat enthusiasts.

“I feel immense pride that our members have banded together to produce such a beautiful boat with a finish equal to that of a professional builder,” he said.

“It certainly wasn’t easy, and near impossible at times given the delays imposed by COVID and other projects, however each of our members had one thing in mind, to complete her as a personal tribute to Dr Sammons.

“The launch is one of the highlights of our annual flagship event, The Great Tinaroo Raid, which will once again be held at the Tinaroo Sailing Club where we are made very welcome.”

Tom and Sheila Sparks of the WBAC have now purchased the boat and affectionately named it IONA at the launch. 

The rest of the program after the launch of IONA covered many events from paddling and rowing races, a Seagull outboard race and a peculiar propulsion race.

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