A Brief History of Dogbark:
An Open 60 originally built in Australia for the 1990-91 BOC Challenge (single-handed around the world race), she made her first and second laps around the world as “Jarkan Yachtbuilders” helmed by Kanga Birtles. Kanga said that in the first race, which she completed in 135 days, she took good care of him. The only damage suffered in the entire lap around the world was a bent stanchion. She looked good too, with a racy red kangaroo on her bow!
After her BOC days, she moved to the east coast, where she was known as Margaret Anna. She raced the Bermuda One-Two, and held the elapsed course record for several years.
She then moved out west, where she was re-named Prime Time America. After being for sale for a few years, she was purchased by our good friend and chief navigator of Kotuku Al Hughes. Al named her Dogbark, and sailed her to Hawaii in the Singlehanded Transpac three times, winning line honors as the first boat to finish each time. Unfortunately, Al then got really involved with Kotuku, racing with us and helping us on a VanIsle 360, a Pacific Cup, an Oregon Offshore, and several Swiftsure, Round the County and Southern Straits races.
Meanwhile Dogbark waited…and waited…but she waits no more!
Basic Specifications:
- Built in 1990 in Melbourne, Australia by Jarkan Yacht Builders
- Designed by John King
- Length: 60’ overall
- Draft: 9’6” fixed keel, with water ballast (reduced to 7000lb per side)
- Beam: 15’6”
- Displacement: 23,000 prior to being converted, est. 26,000 in expedition trim
Layout: Originally configured for one; now laid out with 3 sleeping cabins, a U-shaped galley to port with nav station to starboard, a son/dining area that seats 8, and beds to sleep up to 8 comfortably (with room for 1-2 more if necessary for short trips
Safety features: Crash bulkheads fore and aft, heavy duty composite construction, hard dodger, separate track and inner stay for storm trysail and storm jib
Sail plan: Asymmetric spinnakers set from pole or sprit, genoa on furler, solent jib on furler, fully battened mainsail with lazy jack system