The 'Moonduster'

 


My mural of the legendary yacht, 'Moonduster' was completed on 11th August 2024 on the East Pier wall.

She was designed by German Frers Jnr and was launched in Crosshaven, Co. Cork in Spring 1981. Her equally-legendary owner-skipper was Denis Doyle. Together, they shared a glittering 20-year partnership in the Europen off-shore racing scene.

They competed in the early years of the Round Ireland Yacht Race from Wicklow harbour, winning the race in 1984 in a record time of 88hrs and 15mins. This record was held for a number of years.

It was a wonderful double act that ended with his death in 2001 shortly after completing his final Fastnet race aged 81 aboard his beloved boat.

I recall how when the majestic 'Moonduster' berthed in Wicklow harbour, local people were amazed by the yacht's unique styling and glistening timber construction.

In 2002, 'Moonduster' was sold to a seemingly well-resourced Norwegian who had plans to incorporate her into his planned off-shore sailing and adventure school at his home town of Trondheim. At first, things seemed to go well, but as the years passed, the yacht was unused and left languishing in the inner dock in Trondheim. 

Despite efforts over the years by various members of the yachting fraternity in Ireland to bring her home to be restored to her original glory, sadly, they proved unsuccessful due in part to the boat's complex ownership. The grey ghostly figure of the 'Moonduster' continues to be moored in Trondheim in an increasingly deteriorating condition.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to My Blog

Image
  Hi everyone, For close on 50 years, I have been the resident artist of maritime murals on the East Pier of Wicklow Town Port in Ireland. This blog aims to create a digital record of my 70+ maritime-themed artworks, and the stories that inspired them, for your enjoyment and for posterity. The East Pier at Wicklow Port continues to be my second home where, as a marine artist, I love sharing my art with so many of you who enjoy walking along the pier from time to time. This vast outdoor canvas has enabled me to create a unique gallery of nautical-themed murals, thereby fulfilling my desire to make the pier a better place for everyone! Fascinated by ships from the age of 9, sketching became my childhood hobby, which I continued as I grew older - capturing visiting ships to the port in pencil sketches and ink drawings. In the summer of 1976, I got permission from the then local Harbour Master, Captain Willie Kinsella to retouch a mural of the Greek ship, the 'Eliana' which had bee...
Read more

The 'PS Waverly'

Image
  The 'PS Waverley' is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world.  She was named after Sir Walter Scott's first novel and was built in 1946 by A & J Inglis in Glasgow, Scotland to replace a 'PS Waverley' that was sunk in 1940 while helping to evacuate troops from Dunkirk. Bought in 1974 by a registered charity, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS), and following a successful public fund-raising appeal, she was restored to her original 1946 appearance to operate passenger excursions around the British coast. I recall how the vessel's owners decided to operate a short series of passenger tours in 1984 from Dublin port and docking at Wicklow Town, Arklow, and on one occasion onward to Rosslare. A shorter series of tours was conducted in 1985 when I decided to create a mural of the 'Waverley' on the East Pier. I included a Scottish flag in honour of the vessel's Scottish roots. This coincided with my early years worki...
Read more

The 'Eliana'

Image
The Greek-registered cargo ship, the 'Eliana', was the first maritime mural painted on the old east pier. It was created by a crew member of the ship in 1971.  In 1976, I was requested by some local people to revive the piece as it had suffered deterioration. This was my first artwork on the pier. The 'Eliana' was a large vessel which regularly deliverd phosphate from Casablanca, Morocco to Wicklow Town harbour. This was used as a component for fertiliser that was produced in Arklow (the 'Eliana' being too large to birth there). I have fond boyhood memories of being allowed to play on the ship's decks and having my first 'foreign' meal there - spaghetti bollanaise!
Read more