STARSHIP
Australian Cruising Machine
STARSHIP is a 13.5m (~44') multichine aluminium cutter, designed by Max Riseley. She was first launched in 1989, and is still owned and sailed (out of Pittwater, Sydney) by her builders - Andrew and Vicky Bray. Having accomplished their dream of sailing around the world with their two young children, Starship was returned to their front yard (where she was originally fitted out), and remained for 14 years, while the children attended high school and university, and became independent. The yacht was relaunched in 2009 and has since cruised closer to Australia. The above video was taken off Broken Bay in 2025.Starship is a bespoke vessel incorporating many unusual features, including a sealed aluminium mast (in a tabernacle) and a fully retracting ballast keel.
Andrew ( an engineer), had built and cruised two yachts in the SW Pacific before building Starship, and has contributed numerous technical and cruising articles to over 20 yachting and boating magazines from the early 1980's, often published internationally under his Andrew Aussie Bray byline. Many of those articles were written or researched on board this yacht and many persist (credited or not), on the Internet .
This web site documents aspects of the yacht , outlines some of her cruises, and samples a few associated magazine articles.
Starship - Overview
Design Dimensions:
LOA : 13.48m
LWL: 11.0m
Max Beam: 3.95m
Draught - variable : 2.4m to *m
Keel is ballasted and must remain > 2.2m when under sail!
Displacement: 9 tonnes (+ Leggo and other cruising overburden)
Water Capacity: 2,000 litres in 8 sub-sole tanks (where contributes to stability)
Diesel capacity: 2 x 200 litres
Auxilliary Engine:
BMW D50-2 -( intercooled )
Propeller 3 bladed fixed x by
Rudder :Transom hung - retracts ~ level with skegs.
SAILPLAN
SLIPPING/LIFTING DIAGRAM
World Circumnavigation 1989-94
Circumnavigated via South Africa, Europe, and Panama , giving primary school aged children (Sarah and Christoper ) screen-free introductions to Planet Earth!
With circumnavigation achieved and childrens' high school and university years ahead, Starship was craned ashore in 1995 and stored where she could be easily maintained, and refurbished.
Cruising resumed following Starship's re-launch in 2009
2011 - Shakedown cruise Sydney to Lord Howe Island returning via Port Stephens
2011 Cruise Sydney to New Caledonia returning via Brisbane
2012-13 Australian Mainland circumnavigation
