Windward II History
Compiled 2006 by Phillip Masaad

1929-1931: Edwin H. Webster. Registered in Hobart

1931-1975: James March Hardie (During this time registration changed from Schooner [last entry in current evidence is 1948] to Auxiliary Cutter [first appearance in Lloyds Register of Yachts in 1954] and she lost her foremast. This may have occurred prior to 25 June 1979 because the second Supplement for the Lloyds Register of Yachts notes that her rig was altered from schooner '60. I'm assuming this was the previous rig alteration.) Prior to 1956 she had a Petrol Motor 4 Cy.3"-43/4 Bergius.26. This was changed to a Petrol 4-cyl. 14/19 BHP Morris '56. The Windward II last appeared on the RSYS register in 1965 but Hardie remained her owner until 1975 (possible untl his death).

Hardie had used his previous yacht, the Morna primarily for cruising but with the purchase of the Windward II, he was able to compete seriously and so began the love affair with Sydney Harbour, Windward II and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

Windward II quickly made a name for herself in the following season, winning the 1932-33 Fairfax Cup. Windward II went on to win the Fairfax Cup four years in a row, adding to her laurels in 1933-34 the Gascoigne Cup. In the 1936-37 season, having lost the Fairfax Cup to the new yacht Era, she simply found herself another cup to conquer, which in this season was the Revonah Cup.

The Depression Years and the Second World War took a toll on the yacht clubs, both in membership and in craft, but in the first year of peace, 1946; Windward II together with the yachts Thetis, Norn and Morna restarted the racing seasons for a new era. Despite her age and the competition of new yachts, Windward II blitzed the 1948-49 season by winning the Fairfax, Norn, Bayly-Macarthur and Boomerang Cups. It was an end of an era, for in August 1949 J.M. Hardie retired from his position as Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yachting Squadron.

Windward II played an interesting role in Australia's yachting history. In 1935 Lou d'Alpuget joined the crew under the command of James M. Hardie and remained as such for sixteen years. In 1951 Lou d'Alpuget wrote a small book called 'Let's Go Sailing'. It was the beginning of Lou's four decades career as Australia's premier authority on yachting. The experience he gained gave him the authority to begin writing and as such, he never stopped.

James Hardie provided the Foreword for 'Let's Go Sailing', here is an edited extract: "When Lou d'Alpuget joined the racing crew of the Windward II some sixteen years ago, his aquatic repertoire had been confined to surfboats and a few seasons' sailing in open skiffs. Thus, for a period he and the mate, a gentleman of considerable experience had certain differences on which part of the anatomy should face forward.... and the fact that the same mate now refers fondly to the author as 'my boy', it will be seen that both have greatly broadened their outlook."

1976-1977: Sold to K.S. Hansen, still registered in Sydney and still rated as an Auxiliary Cutter.

1978-1980: Sold to M.R. Garrington-Copeland. In the followig year her rig was changed, as noted above. Reigstered in Sydney. He may have owned the Windward 2 longer but these dates are the only ones verified by evidence.

1980-1994: ?

November 1994-November 2000: Lindsay Truman. Brisbane.

November 2000 - present: The Woodsman Pty. Ltd. (James M Woods) At the time of purchase, James was the owner of Ron of Argyll, the 1928 gaff topsail ketch which was in charter service out of Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Islands but had no vessel at his home port of Melbourne. The classic lines of Windward were evident and enticing. Windward II was in excellent structural condition but requiring some cosmetic work to bring her back to top class condition. She was sailed in December 2000 from Brisbane to Port Phillip Bay Melbourne arriving on 31 December 2000.

In February 2006, Windward suffered significant damage during a classic yacht race out of Williamstown. See photo gallery. The resulting damage prompted a restoration project under the supervision of Dan Atkins at the Wooden Boat Centre in the Melbourne Docklands. See the restoration story.

Now back in full service, Windward II has again started to gather some trophies including a first in the Classic Yacht Division at Skandia Geelong Week in January 2008.