SV May Queen

Australia’s oldest floating wooden sail trading vessel

Ship’s Log

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Known Owners and Crew of the May Queen (Compiled by Bob Chesterman)

Dates Skipper/Helmsman Crew Owner Special Events
1867 William Thorpe Launched June 1867
1868 William Nicholls/Thomas Oldham John White 8 Jan 1868 1st H Regat.
1868 T.Oldham John White 1 Dec. 1868 1st H. Regat
1869 W. Nicholls John White 9 Dec. 1869 1st H.Regat
1870 William Bell William Bell 25 Apr-1870
1870–72 William Bell
1873–1888*? W. Nicholls Henry Chesterman Owner 31 July 1873
1876 W. Boucher Henry Chesterman
8 Feb 1882 H. Chesterman Henry Chesterman 2nd H. Regatta
4 Jun 1883 Edward McKavoy Henry Chesterman
16 Feb 1888 Edward McKavoy Henry Chesterman
1890 Edward McKavoy Henry Chesterman
1890’s Jim Miley (Tom??) Joe Connors, Alf Nicholls Henry Chesterman 1896 Christmas Photo
1917 Henry John Price (Harry)
1924 Alan Langford ('Stormy') Alan Claude Boxall Purchased 1 Sept. 1924
1927 J. Langford (same as above) Benjamin James Boxall (‘Gentleman’ Jim) A. C. Boxall 1927 RH Regatta
193? J.F. Madden A. C. Boxall
Harry Price A. C. Boxall
Benjamin James Boxall (‘Gentleman’ Jim) A. C. Boxall
22 Jul 1931 W. A. Sward A. C. Boxall
1932–1942 Clyde (C.E.) Heather Colin Millington Boxall/Chesterman 1930s
23 Feb 1942 D. W. Bluett
1946 W.(Walter) Bluett* Chesterman & Co. 9 Feb 1946 RH Regatta
Feb to Dec 1946 Clyde McKay Chesterman & Co.
1946 W. Bluett* Chesterman & Co. 12 Feb 1946 RH Regatta
1947 W. Bluett* Chesterman & Co. Feb 1947 RH Regatta (2nd in Race)
1949 W. Bluett* Chesterman & Co. 1949 RH Regatta
4 Feb 1949 R.(Bob) C. McKay
1950 R.(Bob) McKay Chesterman & Co. 1950 RH Regatta (3rd in Race)
1951 R.(Bob) McKay Between 1951 and 1956 crew numbers dropped from a total of three to two persons. Chesterman & Co. 1951 RH Regatta
1954 R.(Bob) McKay Chesterman & Co. 1954 RH Regatta (2nd in Race)
1958 Graham Madden Chesterman & Co. 48 HP Gardiner Diesel Engine
1959 A. Langford Chesterman & Co.
1960 Trevor Tuttle Graeme Hodge**, Ray Tuttle, Gordon Brown Chesterman & Co.
1973 Trevor Tuttle Wayne Evans, Reg Riley, Joe Heather Chesterman & Co.

Notes

  • * Helmed during Regatta only
  • ** Graeme drowned whilst boarding the MQ at night approx. 1963

1860 Nautical Map of Derwent River and Hobart Town

This map shows the waterways that the May Queen predominately worked. The map pre-dates when the May Queen was built by seven years. (Hover on the map to see a detailed version.)


Map Source: W.L. Crowther Library, State Library of Tasmania