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Ragamuffin History

Maxi Ragamiffin was built by Kelly and Haugh boat builders in Mona Vale, Sydney, Australia. She was launched in 1979 as Bumblebee 4 for Sydney yachtsman John Kahlbetzer. At the time she was the worlds state of the art maxi yacht. The first offshore race that she entered was 1979 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in which she took out a convincing line honours victory.

In 1980 she competed in the Long Island Sound Series and the New York Yacht Club Series and took out line and handicap honours in both events and line honours and 3rd on handicap in the Greenwich to Newport race on the East Coast of USA.

1981 saw Bumblebee take out line and handicap honours at the Mediterranean Maxi Championships and the World Cup in Sardinia. Other achievements that year included gaining Line Honours and 2nd on handicap in the Middle Sea Race.

In 1982 she competed at the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Florida and gained 2nd place overall. The Maxi World Championships were held again in 1982 and Bumblebee was placed second.

In 1983 Bumblebee was purchased by Australian yachtsman, Syd Fischer, and renamed Ragamuffin. Mr Fischer made alterations to the hull and incorporated a new longer stern, a new keel and added 3 metres (10 foot approx.) to the height of the mast. With the new configuration Ragamuffin took out line honours at Hamilton Island Race Week 1984, and line honours in the Sydney to Hobart 1988 and 1990. Other placings in the Sydney to Hobart include a 2nd in 1986 and two 3rds 1985 & 1989, giving her six placing from eight starts. In the two races that she did not gain a place she was retired due to gear failure.

Ragamuffin gained 4th place at the Clipper Cup in Hawaii in 1986. In 1988 the event was renamed the Kenwood Cup and Ragamuffin was placed 7th. Later that year she returned to Sydney to dominate the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Anton Starling, of Joico Hair Care Products, purchased the vessel in 1993 and renamed her 'Maxi Ragamuffin'. He found that a then 14 year old maxi could not match the speed and agility of the newer, lighter maxis (up to half the weight of Maxi Ragamuffin) and put her up for sale having owned her for less than 12 months.

In 1994, she was purchased by Whitsunday yachtsman Bernard Heimann and converted to being a day charter yacht. She now runs scheduled day trips sailing to glorious island destinations, offering snorkelling and SCUBA diving, and cruises to beautiful Whitehaven Beach and Blue Pearl Bay.

Most recent racing achievements include Line Honours in The Great Whitsunday Fun Race, September 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003 and achieving the coveted Line and Handicap double in the 1998 Whitsunday Vista Cup.

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