Bill Wright - The Boats of Norman R. Wright & Sons - at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival

Presentation: The Wright tradition started in 1909 when Norman Wright opened his own business in 67 Newstead Terrace, Newstead. His first commission was Superb, a shallow draught gaff-rigged centre board yacht, built for James Hogan Smith. The yard’s prestige grew rapidly, in part thanks to the exquisite vessels sent down its slipways (including such boats as Olivene, Pathfinder, Stradbroke II and Juanita) but also due to Norman Wright’s personal reputation, built when he worked as a tradesman at the renowned Whereat’s yard. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the building of recreational craft was suspended in the wake of a wholesale diversion of resources towards the military effort. Post-war, the company has produced a huge range of yachts, luxury launches, work boats, pilot boats, restricted 21 class yachts and skiffs. This presentation will feature pictures and descriptions of some of the more notable vessels to be built by Norman R. Wright & Sons.

Speaker: Bill started as an apprentice boat builder in 1971, working in the shed and loft until the mid-80s moving into the design role when his father, Ron Wright, retired. He and his brother took over the management of the boatyard in 1987, relinquishing it to a younger team in 2018. He still does some design work and is a qualified AMSA Surveyor, a member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. His interests are sailing his old Dragon class yacht and long-range cruising in his motor boat.

Presented at the Australian National Maritime Museum Wooden Boat Symposium, as part of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2023.