57' Alden Ketch (1951) - WRAITH OF ODIN

Wraith of Odin, thought to be the only remaining build of the original 823 design series, developed from John Alden’s own Malabar XIII. Wraith was built (1949/1950) on a beach in Australia by master boatbuilder, Alf Jahnsen for Dr & Mrs O’Brien, then of Mosman Bay Sydney. Competing in early Sydney to Hobart races through the 1950’s and coastal races in the 1960’s, later cruised trans pacific including a Cape Horn passage.
Purchased from Mrs Dagmar O’Brien in 1998 in poor but structurally sound condition, the current owner undertook a 5 year complete and detailed restoration at Port Macquarie NSW. Since her restoration, Wraith has won every concourse event entered in Australia and New Zealand plus a number of major classic events including the New Zealand Classic Challenge Series plus the prestigious 2010 Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta (the only Australian yacht to have won in the events 170 year history).
On returning to Australia, Wraith of Odin in 2015 won the 179th running of the Australia Day Anniversary Regatta, becoming the only yacht in history to win both events.
The images included were taken mainly within the last season, 20 years on since Wraith’s restoration, exemplifying the commitment of her owner and dedicated crew to maintaining and successfully campaigning Wraith in classic events along the east coast of Australia.
The recently publish, Classic Yacht Association of Australia’s, 42 Australian Wooden Sailing Boats project , lists Wraith of Odin, alongside timber yachts whom have made an important contribution to Australian maritime history – https://online.flipbuilder.com/qdaw/rrhf/