Peterson SP30 'Indian Pacific'

Hi Folks,
First time poster, I would like to share some information on design one Peterson SP30, a modification to Doug Peterson's 30 done by Rob Mundle and built by Rick McGrath of Aquacraft in 1981/82. The vessel in the pictures is Indian Pacific, she was the first of this design. The boat later moved to Melbourne before her third owner moved her to Lauceston after replacing the rig with swept back spreaders and a single backstay to replace the running backstays. She was also repainted and renamed during this time to 'Pacific Spirit.'

She started a cruising career and made her way north to Townsville. On her return this owner (known but won't publish) decided that he would prefer a larger yacht. Amazed with the huge number of yachts in SE Qld he chose to leave her for sale in Mooloolaba and return to Tassie by rent-a-truck. This is where I came in, buying her in 2002, initially as a live-aboard before I met my wife. Pacific Spirit has remains and is used for day, weekend and holiday sailing.

Over the years from time to time I had attempted to find more information on her as the only clue I had that she has a history was the handwritten 'Indian Pacific' on anything that could float free if the worst ever happened. I didn't have much luck, however the interest was really sparked up when I pulled her rig for new standing/running and electrics in 2022. I was busy with the riggers and crane operator and my daughter who was spectating was engaged by a chap who was asking her questions. His interest was because he said that the boat looked just like a racing yacht he did some work on many years earlier that belonged to Syd Fischer - Indian Pacific. My daughter told me this later, she thought it strange as the boat's name is Pacific Spirit, not Indian Pacific. Of course we were now at home and that unkown person is somewhere...

So a couple more years have passed and after some robust discussion with a friend about the virtues of AI I had been talked into installing and trying ChatGPT. My plan was debunk my friend's glowing recommendation, I thought what a better example than to seek information on my boat. I haven't been able to find much on her, so neither will ChatGPT, or so I thought. It came back with lots of info on the standard Peterson 30, but when I drilled a little up popped some believable information. So I asked for it's sources so I review myself, one of them seabreeze forum. Sure there was within these pages some posts on the SP30 design and a guy who seemed to know, a user called 'R13.'

So I contacted R13 and asked about my boat, Rob was amazing. He knew of my yacht and immediately rattled off some previously suspect but not confirmed details. He then went further and gave me links to various editions of Sailing Australia that had adverts from Sailsport (Rob Mundle) showing Indian Pacific. Rob wasn't finished there, he was sure that there was a review published but he couldn't put his finger on it as the digitized source of Sailing Australia magazine was missing 3 editions. So he checked in with the ANMM in Sydney, they have the full set. Rob then made an appointment to view the archives and boom, he found the review.

Rob (R13) was kind enough to go to this effort, so once he had a photocopy of the review he has scanned and emailed it through to me here in Brisbane. I'm very grateful for Rob's sharp memory and keen interest to uncover more information on a boat that his only involvement was watching her leave the fleet for dead in a few JOG series races off Sydney in the early 80's.

So besides publically thanking Rob for his help and knowledge, I wanted to put this information up here to help someone else in the future that is researching this design. This has been quite an emotional journey for me to finally get answers to many of my questions after owning this yacht for nearly a 1/4 of a century. Not just answers but to see that my very boat is the one in the magazine, wow!

Thanks R13!

PS - because I'm a new member to the forum the site won't permit me to upload the scanned articles or current photos of Pacific Spirit. If you are interested please send me a message and I'll work out another method to get them to you.

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PhilY said..
The SP30 Indian Pacific was the second yacht owned by John Eyles, following on from his J24. He then had the Farr40 in which he won the Hobart in '84 and then a Davidson36. The name came from a few skiff mates, who when told he was going to buy a yacht and it was taking him so long to make his mind up - it took as long as the Indian Pacific train is- forever...
I sailed with John on all of these, till he retired. Nice to know the SP30 is till around. The Farr40 is at Port Macquarie and the Davidson36 is at Westernport Marina. None of these had a number like some owners, they were all just called Indian Pacific.
John unfortunately passed a few years ago.

Thanks @PhilY, I appreciate the added input. I knew John Eyles had several 'Indian Pacific' yachts so had assumed his ownership of my yacht at some point. I'm curious if you may have some photos of the SP30 and any history/racing results? (I've sent you a DM with my contact details).

I'm putting together all the information I can dig up into Pacific Spirit's folder. It feels a bit like I'm trying to put together a "family tree" for her. Although she has been known as Pacific Spirit since she retired from racing and for more than half her life, she was still one of the Indian Pacific's and she has a history which I feel as her longest owner that it is my responsibility to gather and be the custodian of this history for her.