Designed and built by Muir’s Boatyard for Des Ashton of New Guinea, 33ft Lahara was launched in December 1951. 

 

She finished second on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1951, and in the following year Lahara competed in the Trans Tasman race, again finishing second on handicap just 48 minutes behind Ladybird. 

 

It was during this Trans Tasman crossing that the sturdiness of a Jock Muir-designed boat was again highlighted. Revelling in strong south-westerly gales, Lahara logged a trip of 187 nautical miles in the one day.

 

With her tall masthead rig, she was the forerunner of a design that was to become known as the Abel Tasman design, from which six subsequent yachts were built. She had a beam of 9ft and a draft of 5ft, and was built of Huon pine with laid beech decks. 

 

Lahara was later purchased by Ray Joyce, who undertook a restoration of her in the early 1990s.

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