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Maxi Ragamiffin was built by Kelly and Haugh boat builders in Mona
Vale, Sydney, Australia. She was launched in 1979 as Bumblebee 4 for
Sydney yachtsman John Kahlbetzer. At the time she was the worlds state
of the art maxi yacht. The first offshore race that she entered was
1979 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in which she took out a convincing
line honours victory.
In 1980 she competed in the Long Island Sound Series and the New York
Yacht Club Series and took out line and handicap honours in both events
and line honours and 3rd on handicap in the Greenwich to Newport race
on the East Coast of USA.
1981 saw Bumblebee take out line and handicap honours at the
Mediterranean Maxi Championships and the World Cup in Sardinia. Other
achievements that year included gaining Line Honours and 2nd on
handicap in the Middle Sea Race.
In 1982 she competed at the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in
Florida and gained 2nd place overall. The Maxi World Championships
were held again in 1982 and Bumblebee was placed second.
In 1983 Bumblebee was purchased by Australian yachtsman, Syd Fischer,
and renamed Ragamuffin. Mr Fischer made alterations to the hull and
incorporated a new longer stern, a new keel and added 3 metres (10 foot
approx.) to the height of the mast. With the new configuration
Ragamuffin took out line honours at Hamilton Island Race Week 1984, and
line honours in the Sydney to Hobart 1988 and 1990. Other placings in
the Sydney to Hobart include a 2nd in 1986 and two 3rds 1985 &
1989, giving her six placing from eight starts. In the two races that
she did not gain a place she was retired due to gear failure.
Ragamuffin gained 4th place at the Clipper Cup in Hawaii in 1986. In
1988 the event was renamed the Kenwood Cup and Ragamuffin was placed
7th. Later that year she returned to Sydney to dominate the Sydney to
Hobart Yacht Race.
Anton Starling, of Joico Hair Care Products, purchased the vessel in
1993 and renamed her 'Maxi Ragamuffin'. He found that a then 14 year
old maxi could not match the speed and agility of the newer, lighter
maxis (up to half the weight of Maxi Ragamuffin) and put her up for
sale having owned her for less than 12 months.
In 1994, she was purchased by Whitsunday yachtsman Bernard Heimann and
converted to being a day charter yacht. She now runs scheduled day
trips sailing to glorious island destinations, offering snorkelling and
SCUBA diving, and cruises to beautiful Whitehaven Beach and Blue Pearl
Bay.
Most recent racing achievements include Line Honours in The Great
Whitsunday Fun Race, September 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003 and
achieving the coveted Line and Handicap double in the 1998 Whitsunday
Vista Cup.
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