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Mistral II.
Mistral II is a classic yacht designed by John G Alden as design 145. She was built in Sydney in 1922 by W M Ford Boatbuilders, Berry’s Bay, Sydney, NSW, often referred to as ‘Wattie Ford’s’.

Features
Mistral II is 63 ft (22 metres) plus bowsprit and bumpkin by 15 ft and displaces just over 36 tons. She was initially designed as a gaff-rigged schooner, though has been modified over the years with several different forms of rigging. She is being restored to gaff-rigged configuration.

She was carvel planked in New Zealand kauri hull planking, with spotted gum internal structure, tea-tree knees and breast hooks, and copper sheathed to the waterline.

History
Mistral II sailed in the first five Sydney to Hobart yacht races. She was one of the nine yachts to participate in the first Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1945.

Owners
Mistral II's first owner was Mr E. P. Simpson, who took ownership of her on 20 September, 1922.

A major restoration project of Mistral II commenced in 2019 by her new owner, the Windeward Bound Foundation Ltd, in Tasmania. She’s being restored with the assistance of skilled shipwrights and young Tasmanians taking part in a job skills training program named M.I.S.T.R.A.L. funded by the Tasmanian Government. When complete she’ll join the tall ship, Windeward Bound, as a sail training vessel.