Menu

The profiles listed in this Register have been documented from the stories and photos contributed by custodians and others who willingly shared information. Readers who have additional information about the history of any Couta Boat are invited to forward it to couta_profile@coutaboat.com.au so that it can be added to the Register.

Kasey RF26

Boat Details

Sail Number:
RF26
Boat Location:
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Bay, Perth, Western Australia.
Current Custodian:
Rob Cameron, Peter Ferry, Peter Forbes, and Matt Zimmerman
Year Built:
Built over nine years from 1983 to 1992
Designer & Builder:

Designer: Ken Lacco

Timbers Used:

Keel, Bow and Stern Post: Tallowwood
Plate Casing: Merbau
Ribs: Celery Top Pine
Towards Stern: Silver Ash
Transom: Mahogany
Thwart: Merbau
Original Decking: Celery Top Pine
Deck Bearers, Strake and Spars: Oregon

Dimensions:
Length: 26 ft.
Beam: 9 ft. 11 in.

History

Custodian: Mick Reilly; 1983 – 1995
Kasey was designed by Ken Lacco of Rosebud and built by Mick Reilly in Laverton, Melbourne over a period of nine years during the 1980s. Mick had gone to Ken Lacco for a set of plans. Ken drew up the plans for the boat, similar to the design of Kate C305.

During the build, Mick and his son Andrew were fortunate to have Harry Clark, the traditional wooden boatbuilder from Williamstown, to oversee the laying down of the keel, planking and ribs. For Mick, the build was a great learning experience, as prior to this he had very little knowledge of boat building. On completion, the boat was named after Mick’s daughter, Kasey.

Kasey sailed out of Hobsons Bay and Sorrento on Port Phillip, and the family enjoyed many happy days in her before she left for the west.

Custodian: Kane Williamson; 1995 – 2006
In 1995, Kasey was sold to Kane Williamson in Western Australia. Kane owned Mercedes and was having her restored at the Wooden Boat Shop, Sorrento. He wanted to add to the growing number of Couta Boats in WA.

He saw Kasey in the water at St Kilda Jetty. In September 1995 Kane purchased her and trucked back to Royal Perth Yacht Club. She competed in the Cockburn Sound Christmas Regatta that year and won Division III.

Custodians: Julian Walter; 1996 – 2006
By September 1996, Mercedes was ready to be launched, so Kasey was sold to Julian Walter in December, 1996 and penned at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club where she has remained.

Custodians: Rob Cameron, Geoff Cornwall, Peter Ferry and Michael Hanrahan; 2006 – Present
In 2006, Julian sold Kasey to crew members Rob Cameron, Geoff Cornwall, Peter Ferry and Michael Hanrahan.

Custodians: Rob Cameron, Geoff Cornwall, Peter Ferry, Peter Forbes, Murray Frean, Michael Hanrahan, Michael Jurat, and Matt Zimmerman; 2006 – Present
Creating a successful syndication, over the years the custodians have rotated. Martin Jurat, Murray Frean, Peter Forbes and Matt Zimmerman have all helped maintain Kasey to a high standard.

Custodians: Rob Cameron, Peter Ferry, Peter Forbes and Matt Zimmerman; 2006 – Present
Rob Cameron and Peter Ferry continue to retain their interest from the original syndicate of 2006, along with current custodians Peter Forbes and Matt Zimmerman.

Over the years, the custodians have come from varying backgrounds: corporate manager, farmer, school principal, teacher, financial advisor, software tutor, ex-shipwright and a gastroenterologist. Notwithstanding, sailing on Kasey was always a level playing field! The most colourful introduction was when Julian Walter sold his Halverson and advised the broker that instead of paying a commission, he would offer a share in Kasey.

Martin Jurat arrived one Saturday as Kasey was heading out to race and introduced himself as the new co-owner of Kasey, much to the bemusement of himself and the other unsuspecting owners. However, Martin, having served his apprenticeship under Steve Ward during the period of Australia II being built in WA, was soon in sawdust up to his elbows as he, Peter Ferry and the other co-owners stripped Kasey back to bare timber and refurbished her totally in 2010.

In March of 2015, Kasey followed the path of other unfortunate Couta Boats by capsizing and sinking in 10 metres of the Swan River, Perth not far from the clubhouse. The mast was just protruding above the water and sitting in the middle of the channel, the main thoroughfare between Perth and Fremantle, so it was deemed necessary to tow her underwater to the side of the channel. After several attempts at free diving, a tow rope was secured to the bow and a slow tow commenced, unfortunately resulting in her mast breaking before the tow was completed. However, by Sunday morning she was back in the pen and two weeks later, racing once again, not missing a race as the weekend in between was a long weekend with no Club racing!

Aside from the custodians, the crew deserve recognition for their contribution to not only race day but during the off season when wooden boats demand so much ongoing maintenance. Kasey has always enjoyed tremendous support by crew on race day and appreciated their volunteered time to assist with maintenance when required.

Such is the love and passion for wooden boats!

Race Record

1995: 1st Division III, Cockburn Sound Christmas Regatta
2004: 3rd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2005: 1st Championship, Couta Boat Club
2005: 1st Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club,
2006: 2nd Championship, Couta Boat Club
2009: 3rd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2011: 2nd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2012: 3rd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2013: 1st Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2014: 1st Division II, Rottnest Festival of Sail
2014: 1st Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2015: 3rd Championship, Couta Boat Club
2015: 2nd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2015: 2nd Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2016: 3rd Championship, Couta Boat Club
2016: 3rd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2016: 3rd Spring Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2016: 2nd Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2017: 1st Championship, Couta Boat Club
2017: 2nd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2017: 2nd Spring Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2017: 1st Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2018: 1st Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2018: 1st Spring Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2018: 2nd Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2019: 3rd Championship, Couta Boat Club
2019: 1st Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2019: 1st Spring Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2019: 2nd Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2020: 1st Championship, Couta Boat Club
2020: 2nd Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2020: 3rd Spring Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club
2020: 1st Summer Consistency Series, Couta Boat Club

Hardback Coffee Table Couta Boat Book

The Hardback Coffee Table Couta Boat Book is now available for order.
The book is a fascinating mix of wonderful photos and interesting stories.
CLICK HERE to Buy The Tradition Lives On – a Register of the Historic Couta Boats