A living classic in the heart of Auckland
Some boats feel alive the moment you step aboard. Little Jim does. The varnish glows. The kauri warms under your hand. She moves with a lightness that only a Logan design can deliver. She was designed by Arch Logan and built by Bill Couldrey, then launched from Westhaven, Auckland, in 19 November 1934.
From that day she has been part of our harbour’s story. She carries the sail number A16. She has raced and cruised the Hauraki Gulf for generations.
The Arch Logan lineage
Arch Logan shaped the yacht’s character. He defined the lines and supervised key structural work. He then oversaw construction at Couldrey’s Sulphur Beach yard.
The hull is triple-skin kauri. The skins are laid diagonally and fore and aft for strength and stiffness. The result is light, tough, and enduring.
The sheer is fair and the counter flows with an elegance that only Arch Logan could draw. Under sail she carries a Bermudan rig, the tall triangular layout now standard in modern yachts. The design uses efficient fore-and-aft sails that allow her to point high and maintain balance with little effort. It delivers performance without fuss and makes her surprisingly easy to handle, even when sailed short-handed.
Little Jim marked Arch Logan’s return to major keel yacht design after more than two decades. Her 1934 launch helped reignite Auckland’s keel yacht tradition. She replaced the earlier 1901 Little Jim, reportedly wrecked on Christmas Day at Catherine Bay, Great Barrier Island, after being dismasted in a gale. All five crew survived.
1934 Classic Arch Logan ‘Little Jim’: design and build
On paper she measures 42 feet 10 inches (13.06 metres) overall. Her beam is 9 feet 1 inch (2.7 metres). Her draft is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres). Displacement sits near seven to eight tonnes.
The keel was poured in the Logan fashion. The builders set the bolts and mould, then laid the hull above the timber backbone.
The deck fittings reflect her era. Bronze glints beside varnished coamings. The cabin profile remains low and purposeful. The look is classic Logan with a touch of Couldrey’s practical sense. The effect is timeless on the water.
Race honours that span nine decades
Little Jim did not wait long to make her mark. She won the Heather Cup in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta in 1935. That win set a pattern. Titles followed through the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The list includes Jellicoe Cup, Freyberg Cup, and multiple Harbour and Around Island trophies. In 1987 she claimed the Trimmer Cup. In the modern era she returned to the front with Classic Yacht Regatta A Division wins and a Coastal Classic Division podium in 2023. In 2025 she secured the E J Mitchelson Trophy and the Ranger Tiller series.
This record matters. It proves the hull. It proves the stewardship. It also shows how a classic can remain quick with care and smart sails.
Restoration that respects the original
A full two-year restoration by Peter Brookes in 2007 to 2009 returned her to peak condition. The work returned the exterior to its original style while updating systems and interior layout for modern cruising. Structural items were inspected and renewed as required. The cockpit and services were refined. The outcome preserved her essence while improving reliability and comfort.
Later work kept the standard high. Standing rigging was replaced in 2017. Paint and coatings show careful upkeep. The sails cover racing and cruising needs, including main, multiple genoas, staysail, cruising yankee, gennaker, and spinnaker.
Step below and the tone remains classic. Two settee berths and two quarter berths provide real sleeping space. The galley holds a cooker, fridge, and sink. The head is forward. Storage is sensible and dry. The timberwork feels right for a 1930s yacht that still earns her keep.
1934 Classic Arch Logan ‘Little Jim’: how she sails today
Short-handed sailing is easy. The alloy spar and modern running plan keep loads reasonable. She tracks well and balances with little helm. Underway she lifts cleanly and holds pace with boats far younger. Off the wind she settles and rolls on. Upwind she rewards tidy trim and good headsail choice.
On deck the layout is uncluttered. The cockpit is secure. The helm position gives clear sight of the luff and tell-tales. The hardware suits her size and purpose.
Under power she runs a Yanmar 3GM30 diesel with 27 to 30 horsepower through a feathering prop. The installation is tidy and proven. Manoeuvring in Westhaven is straightforward. Range and reliability suit regular sailing and classic regattas.
Cruising life on the Hauraki Gulf
This yacht was built for our waters. She sits well at anchor. She rides kindly in a sloppy easterly. With a sun cover up and the kettle on, the cabin feels calm and bright. The lazarette swallows cruising gear. The fridge keeps supplies cold on a hot January afternoon. The shower is the morning swim.
The berth at Westhaven makes spontaneous sailing easy. You can leave work, step aboard, and cast off within minutes. She slips out past the bridge and into open water. Rangitoto lifts to starboard. The city slides away. It is hard to beat.
Provenance and cultural weight
Little Jim stands among the finest surviving Logan yachts. Her lines connect directly to vessels like Rainbow and Tawera. The story stretches back to the earliest days of organised sailing on the Waitematā. Period records, photographs, and even film capture her construction and launch.
Books, museum references, and club archives continue that thread. Owners and crews have preserved logs, trophies, and anecdotes. The yacht has worn the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron burgee for much of her life. She remains a familiar sight at classic events and summer anchorages.
For many of us these boats are more than timber and fastenings. They hold memories of first night sails and first regattas. They teach trim and tide. They build friendships that last decades. This yacht has done that since 1934.
1934 Classic Arch Logan ‘Little Jim’: the offering
The Trade A Boat listing sets the price at $120,000 ONO. Ownership options are flexible. Full purchase is possible. A quarter or half share is also on offer. The sail wardrobe is extensive. Racing and cruising gear are included. Safety kit suits in-shore use. The standing rigging was renewed in 2017. The Westhaven berth sits close to the gate. The package is complete and ready.
This is a practical classic. You can race on Saturday and cruise on Sunday. You can sail with two aboard and still move well. You can join the Classic Yacht Association events and feel part of something bigger.
Becoming the next custodian
Custodianship matters with a yacht like this. The boat has crossed many wakes. She has won silver. She has sheltered crews through long Gulf nights. Your role is to keep that rhythm going.
If the listing speaks to you, take a peek at its listing on Tradeaboat. Arrange a proper look and a sea trial. Feel how she trims. Watch the bow wave at seven knots. Then picture summer evenings in Administration Bay with her tan sails drying on the lifelines.
Owning Little Jim means more than buying a yacht. You step into a line of New Zealand sailors who keep history alive by using it. You get a boat that sails beautifully. You get a story that you can add to, one coastal breeze at a time.
Check out the listing on Tradeaboat.
