Pacific lady fine wines

The Schooner Derwent Hunter was designed and built in 1946 by Walter Wilson for Mr Arthur Drysdale who was the owner of the Wrest Point Hotel on the Derwent River. The design brief for the Derwent Hunter was for a fast sailing vessel resembling a grand banks schooner that could be used for gentlemanly pursuits. Most importantly though was Arthur's aim and to supply fresh fish directly to his Wrest Point Hotel. The outcome was a vessel which was fast and seaworthy which is still turning heads today as she leaves many modern yachts in her wake.

The Derwent Hunter was sold to the CSIRO in 1949 when Arthur Drysdale sold the Wrest Point Hotel. The CSIRO purchased the Derwent Hunter to become Australia's first oceanographic research vessel. For over 12 years, from 1949 – 1962, she worked under sail roving from Antarctic waters in the Southern Ocean and as far north as Noumea and the outer Pacific basin.

 Probably the more colourful 12 years, the Derwent Hunter was part of a commercial enterprise that also seemed to operate running adventure tours to interesting "voyages" from Darwin through Indonesia and Malaysia in the early 1970's. In 1969 The eye catching lines of the Derwent Hunter brought her fame and fortune in 1969 when she was chosen by Paramount Studios 0-Ten Network to become the “Pacific Lady” in the hit family television series “The Rovers”.

Tropical sailing on a traditional tallship is one of the truly great adventures, that has inspired many generations to leave their humdrum lives and head to sea. The eye catching lines of the Derwent Hunter brought her fame and fortune in 1969 when she was chosen by Paramount Studios 0-Ten Network to become the “Pacific Lady” in the hit family television series “The Rovers”. 

The Rovers was based on the adventures of the crew of the Pacific Lady, an island schooner owned by Captain Sam MacGill (known as ‘Cap’ for short), played by Eddie Hepple. In the series the ship cruised the east coast of Australia under charter to Bob Wild and Rusty Collins played by Noel Trevarthen and Rowena Wallace. 

The Derwent Hunter has been sailing the sheltered waters of the Whitsunday Islands for over 20 years and is multi award winning for Adventure and Eco Tourism. The Derwent Hunter has been delighting guests by offering traditional sailing, snorkelling, eco interpretation sharing knowledge about the Whitsundays original inhabitants, the Ngaro Aboriginal people, the local ecology & geology. 

 Purchased in 1980 by Mick Galpin, the Derwent Hunter was used again for fishing and charter adventures at Lord Howe Island and Middleton Reef. Mick undertook a major refit, reportedly spending the same on the rebuilt as he did purchasing her. He also undertook numerous voyages from Coffs Harbour to Lord Howe carrying freight for the islanders with some interesting cargo which included livestock.