When Mr. Graham Chadwick decided to build a 26 foot catamaran he really meant business. To achieve this he added a deck to the side of his house covered by a metal awning. That was five years ago. Today his boat is moored on the waters of Midmar Dam.
Patience was the name of the game, and slowly frame by frame and sheet by sheet of marine plywood, the cradle on his deck began to fill up. Eighteen months later the first hull was completed with port holes intact and fitted with bunk beds and storage lockers. Then work on the second hull progressed a little faster as various little pitfalls were understood and more easily avoided.
The construction of the cuddy took place in his garage and it is fitted with cooking facilities, sink, and cupboards rather like a caravan. When all was complete with hours and hours of sanding behind him, layers and layers of fiberglass were applied after which it was ready for the trip to Midmar. Numerous friends arrived and loaded a hull at a time on to the dolly hauled by a large Bakkie. Mid clapping and cheering it made a successful journey from Windermere Gardens, Howick, to a site at the Midmar Yacht Club. Here it was all assembled and the 10.4 meter mast needed many hands and many ropes to set it in position. The final paint of colour gave the "Cat " a really polished look and it's name TRYFAN, emblazoned on the side has its own story to tell.
As a young man Graham scaled Mt Tryfan in northern Wales. At the summit were two huge rocks nicknamed Adam and Eve. An agile person could jump from one to the other. Graham felt he wasn't as agile anymore so couldn't jump from one hull to the other, so hence the cuddy. It solved the problem! Should those hulls not be called Adam and Eve?
With pride, Graham and his wife, Loraine can enjoy all his hard work and say " Mission Accomplished." It is a great achievement for a 78 year old gentleman of a determined spirit and he thanks his many helpers who were there in his time of need.
News kindly supplied by Shirley Hardwick
Photographs kindly supplied by Keran Ducasse.
Top: Graham and Lorraine Chadwick at Midmar Dam, with Tryfan, Graham's Catamaran just behind them.
Below: Tryfan
