Boat Register

Additional Build Notes

Current Owner
Bill Bunting (Purchased 1957) - see notes

Known Owners

Exported to USA via US Agent, George O’Day, Boston
March 1953 – see F1001.

First owner – WJ McHugh, original name “Snafu”

History

Regular competitor in Firefly Association North America (FANA) events, 1960’s.

Now raced in local club events during the summer, owner ice-yachts in the winter.

1960 – FANA Junior Champion helmed by present owner, (Cottage Park YC, Whinthrop MA)
1960 – FANA National Champion (Cottage Park YC), helm Bjorn Sundby, crew Doris Sundby. c40 entries. Bjorn, who was at one time Chairman of FANA, repeated this success in the 1961 FANA Championships, now resident in his native Oslo, and very active in the Snipe class.

Laid up c 1967 in a barn for some 45 years by Bill Bunting, (now living Whitfield, Maine, USA) who reported (March 2013) “One day, I realised that were I to die, “Luna” would likely be auctioned off in pieces in different lots, never to be sailed again.

So, I restored her.

On our first sail in some 45 years, on a grey day with a raw building wind, I quickly lost my nerve, lowered the mainsail and retreated home under jib alone. I could hardly believe that as a young teen-ager I had fearlessly sailed this treacherous widow-maker across outer Boston Harbor without ever capsizing or even thinking I was about to. I had never felt so old so suddenly. But, like a rider thrown from his horse, I tried it again on a day with less wind, regaining confidence AND quicker reactions! The next year I re-started racing, single-handed, with the Laser fleet.

I now credit “Luna” with having turned back my age clock, at least for a little while. For my having rejuvenated her, she has rejuvinated me!”

Bill has recently fitted a locally fabricated alloy plate, rudder, and a suit of sails from Hyde, USA.