72' HDML Venture II ex ML1200 at Cape Town,Dec 2005.Courtesy of Carl at International Yacht Brokers Cape.

72'  HDML Koura P3564 ex ML1350 at Paeroa Maritime Park,New Zealand in 2001.Pic courtesy of Malcolm MacGregor of Wellington,NZ.  

72' HDML ex ML1349 later Haku P3565.Post-war ketch conversion now Black Watch at Auckland,NZ.Pic  Alex at Beacon Brokers.Info Bob MacDougall.

Fairmile B ML406 as Motunui at Whitanga,NZ.PicAlex at Beacon Brokers.

Fairmile B ML426 as W Savile Kent at Australia.Pic James Knight.

72' HDML Paea at Picton,NZ 2004.Ex P3552 ex ML1184.Pic Malcolm MacGregor.

72' HDML Takapu at Fiordland,NZ.Ex P3556 ex ML1188.

Challenger in Easter 2006 courtesy of Roger Pearson in Melbourne.See http://www.boatcruises.com.au/ - www.boatcruises.com.au/

112' Fairmile B's  Challenger I ex AV 2769 and Sandra ex AV 2770 at Queensland.Courtesy Tony Maxfield and Paul Butler.

72' HDML Mako ex RNZN P 3551 ex ML 1183 at Williamstown,Melbourne during Easter 2006 courtesy of Roger Pearson

HOW ABOUT A FAIRMILE B BASED YACHT

This vessel is advertised on a Greek Brokerage website for 225,000 euros. She looks very similar to the WESTERN LADY's down in Torbay, does that mean that she may have fulfilled the same ASR type role.

Link http://www.yachtsgreece.com - http://www.yachtsgreece.com

I have no idea about the original ID or the current name, when entering the website go to motor yachts and enter  MY/2075.

Christian can you help?

Also another FAIRMILE for sale in the USA currently known as le Blanc. I have lost the link to the brokers, if I find it I will add a link.

Still its nice to know that they are still around and earning there keep, which is always the best way to maintain anaything.

Hi d-zine

The upper boat is Golden Arrow,thought to be ex ML917,the lower boat is Maryland Independence,ex RCN ML120.(built Canada by Le Blanc)see both and more at Yachtworld.com,type 60-120ft,power,used,built 1939-1947 into the search page and you'll see a whole host of interesting craft.

p.s.No,not one of the ML's converted to RML's for ASR work.These were all in the late 400&early-to-mid-500 pennant numbers.Well spotted though,the aft deckhouse is reminiscient of these,although the Western Ladies are more similar to the 10 boats converted as Army ambulance launches which had longer sickbay deckhouses.The Western Ladies had their short sick-bays extended aft to accomodate more passengers.

Regards,

Christian.

Which reminds me,here's a few more boats relevant to this topic,all in New Zealand,all pictures courtesy of Bob McDougall:

Fairmile B KAHU at Auckland 2002.Ex ML411

HDML Tarapunga at Queen Charlotte Sound 2002.Ex ML1187.

HDML Tamure at Auckland 2002.Ex ML1193.

HDML Kuparu at Devonport Naval Base Auckland 2002.Ex ML1348.

With many thanks to Bob for letting us all enjoy his wonderful photos of these surviving motor launches,which all seem to have benefitted from the New Zealand climate.