By Bruce S. Kershaw

     Steven Campbell

     The Stevenson Pocket Yachts seem to draw a fair amount of attention from our mates down-under. BYYB member Steven Campbell is building a Weekender. Here’s what Steve has to say about himself, and his boat.
     "By training, I am an accountant, but I now work as project manager in the Strategic Planning, Business Process area of my current company. I work for Linfox, which is the second largest logistics company in Australia. My aim is to retire at around age 55 and to the cruise on a sailboat, probably around Australia and the Pacific. So I really only work to support my dream. But then I have not met too many people who work for any other reason.
     I have been married for 20 years to Giuli (pronounced Julie) and we have two boys. Robert, aged 19, and Anthony, aged 15. Robert has finished his secondary education and is currently working as a forklift driver while he is waiting to join the Air force. Anthony is in secondary school and is our musician. He plays trumpet in Junior and Senior band, the Senior Stage band and the Jazz band. Giuli works as a career in an Aged Persons home.
     We live in Pyalong, in country Victoria. It is about 50 miles from Melbourne, which is where I work. We moved here about four years ago to get away from suburbia. We are on 5 acres and only have three neighbors. We currently have three cows (lawn movers), two dogs, five cats and a duck. We had a few more ducks but they were taken by foxes. The cats keep the rodent population under control, which in turn means we are not likely to find snakes near the house. The area around us has tiger, brown, and black snakes. A six-foot black lives in the culvert at the end of our drive. Snakes are protected in Australia, but as far as I’m concerned, the only good snake is a dead snake. In the four years we have been here, we have only seen the one snake on two occasions.
     Giuli and I are both ex-Navy and during our time in the Navy managed to live in quite a few places around Australia including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Darwin. After a life of having to pack up and move every 2 years, staying in one place is fantastic.
     I grew up in Woomera, South Australia, home to the Australian space program. My father worked on the Black Arrow and Black Knight programs. Woomera is at the edge of the Simpson Desert, in the middle of nowhere. It was also the home base for the Americans who were working at the Norgunga base. I don’t know what they did there, but I think it was part of the early warning system."
     I started sailing when I joined the Navy, and sailed whenever I had the opportunity. When I left the Navy, 16 years ago, I stopped sailing. Probably because I did not have my own boat and was not close to facilities. Six years ago I was on holidays with the family at a resort on Lake Hume. They had Hobie Cats for use by the guests, so I took my boys out on them. Then I remembered why I had enjoyed sailing and discussed purchasing a boat with my wife. When I ran out of reading material, I picked up my first copy of WoodenBoat, just to have a read. I was then hooked. I needed a boat that was not just another plastic production job designed by accountants. (ie: How many people can you jamb into a limited space?) I wanted a wooden boat and I was now convinced that I could build one myself. It took my wife about three years to accept that I was serious and now she just humors me.
     This is my first boat building project, but definitely not my last. The urge to build has been getting stronger over the last few years. (I should have never read that issue of WoodenBoat.) I had ordered plans for Tango, a Glen-L design, but after studying the plans and instructions did not feel confident that I could complete the boat. Prior to starting this, my only experience with any building tasks was putting up a few shelves. My family and friends are amazed at the progress that I have made and that it even looks like a boat. I had looked at hollow masts etc., but Terry’s words of wisdom to not over engineer have hit home, so this one is being built pretty much to plan. However I did scarf the ½" ply so that I could loft the bottom out without having any joiners. I have also left the rear cabin bulkhead without any cutouts into the seats. I probably will not overnight, so I did not see the point to being able to use this area from the cabin. It means I will have a larger storage area accessible from outside.
     I have ordered my sails from Paul rather than going with the polytarp. I’m not sure if I will have them in time for my initial launch date, so I may have to rig up polytarp to start with.
     I chose the Weekender after visiting the Stevenson’s site and lurking on the BYYB, BBS. I have made mistakes etc., but the process has built my confidence and I am now convinced that I will be able to take on a bigger project. I would like to build the 26’ Norwalk Island Sharpie next, as this is still trail-able but capable of extended coastal cruising in comfort. After that I would build the Beauhler design, Emily. A 30’ vessel for my retire sailing.
     The problem with building the Weekender is that boat building is contagious and I also have a list of smaller craft that I would like to build. Oh, and one of the Stevenson’s pedal cars for my nephew. The Weekender will mainly be used for day-sailing and camping holidays (but probably not as the accommodation). We have a lake, (Lake Eppalock) which is a water catchment dam about 20 minutes from home. So a lot of my sailing will be done there. I am also pretty close to the Melbourne, and a number of other lakes. I hope to finish by March, and have it at the SA Wooden Boat Festival, which is held at Goolwa. At some stage I also plan to take it to Sydney so I can sail in Sydney Harbor.
     Another sailing goal is to sail it on the large salt lakes in the middle of Australia. These are normally dry, but every ten years or so, the Cooper River System (also normally pretty dry) floods and the lakes are filled.
     My other interest is computers, and I do some programming for the fun of it. I have acquired a Palm unit and am trying to work out how to write programs for it. Mind you, I don’t have much spare time at the moment.
     I am planning on a total renovation of our house, which will start once the Weekender is finished. Our house has a four-car garage that I use as a workshop. So I have plenty of space, but it never seems enough. Our weather never really gets that cold. (Not compared to some of the temps quoted on the BBS.) So I don’t have too many problems."
     One of the things I asked Steve about was his thoughts on the Back Yard Yacht Builders Association. "This is a good question," he replied, "as it is unlikely that there will be many other Aussies who join. So the possibility of sanctioned events etc. is slim. I know of a number of Stevenson designs being built and at some stage would like to organize a get-together. I joined because I use the resources of the BBS and I believe that if you receive value from a service you should support it. The best way to support the people who have helped me was to join the BYYB."

     Thank you for your time, Steve. It sounds like you’re as busy as the rest of us.

     We’ll be watching for you in the ‘Launchings’ Column.

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