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 amateur builders - Andrew and Vicky Bray. Having fulfilled their dream of sailing around the world with their two young (then!) children, Starship was returned to their front yard (where she was originally fitted out), and remained for 14 years, while the children completed high school and university, and became independent. Among various changes, the original white hull paint was removed (above waterline) and the bare aluminium clear-coated with Nyalic, prior to relaunching in 2009. Since then the yacht has been cruising closer to Australia. The above video was taken off Broken Bay in 2025.Starship is a very 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 contributed numerous technical and cruising articles to over 20 yachting and boating magazines from the early 1980's until retiring (at 70), in 2019. Many were published internationally under his Andrew Aussie Bray byline, and some were translated into French, German and Italian. 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 (some details have of course evolved over the decades), outlines her history, and samples a few associated magazine articles.
Design Dimensions:
LOA : 13.48m
LWL: 11.0m
Max Beam: 3.95m
Draught - variable : 2.4m to ~1m
Keel is ballasted and must remain at or below 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 16"x10"
Max ~7 knots @2800 rpm
Routinely ~5.5 Knots @1800 rpm
Rudder :Transom hung - retracts ~ level with skegs.
SAILPLAN
Keel is raised and lowered by two 50mm stainless butress thread screws, powered electrically. The screws are self-locking and can support the hull at any draft. However for peace of mind two steel pins are inserted prior to routine slipping. This also allows the screw mechanism and drive to be dismantled for maintenence.
SLIPPING/LIFTING DIAGRAM
The mast can be raised or lowered using jib pole and anchor winch, and rolled forward to stow for cruising in canals with low bridges.
Sealed mast significantly improves a yacht's capsized righting moment. All Starship's halyards are external.
Retracting keel allows access to shallow water (for more sheltered anchoring, or to explore rivers and canals) but also to dry out between tides - for convenience or maintenance. It also reduces the loaded height if transported by low loader on land.
VOLO (round bilged, retracting keel, built by Max & Sandy Riseley)
Cachelot (round bilged, retracting keel)
ADJA (fixed keel multichine)
"A cruising scribe's life is terrible hard" said Alice
Preparing an item for the Voyaging column in Yachting World Magazine, on Starship, anchored in Traitor's Bay, Hiva Oa, 1993.
...................................................................Much of my writing springs from personal interest and practical experience in amateur boatbuilding and cruising, combined with my background in professional engineering, amateur radio, and now (2006) 25 years experience as a technical writer. My first decade of writing involved quite a deal of field testing and reviewing of boats and gear, working as technical editor for a magazine group in Sydney (Australian Boating, and Cruising Skipper magazines among others), but I became completely freelance before we set off on our circumnavigation in Starship. My "Practicalities" series of articles (initially commissioned by Yachting World magazine) is now in its 12th year and includes over 100 articles delving into technology and innovation in yachting gear and equipment, worldwide. Articles from this series have been published in many countries, and some even translated into French, German, and Italian (see list ). Closer to home for the past decade my growing interest in electronics has spun off into writing the Electronics Column for Modern Boating magazine.Acknowledgement
I 'm very grateful to the many sailing friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers who have, and still do share their practical experiences with me, and in many instances permit me to photograph details of their boats to illustrate my articles. It's not often possible in magazine articles to include direct references to when and where a particular photo was taken, or to credit folk who have contributed ideas to my research. There are many others who have helped in similar ways over the years, but I would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions over many years of Max and Sandy on Volo, Ruth and Jenno on Heckau, Jim and Anne on Insatiable II, Steve and Linda on Beowulf, Tony on Freedom, John and De on Innisfree (now on Sotalia), Raud on Little Wing, Peter and Joan on Downunder, Jon and Roxanna on Xaxero, John and Jenny on Burramys, Mike and Di on Pangolin, Frank on Swagman, Keith Thiele on Spitfire, and Ley and Niel on Crystal Blues .Thank you all.*I adopted the "Aussie" nickname to distinguish myself from the editor of Yachting World magazine, who is also an Andrew Bray. This began as practical measure when I started writing regularly for that magazine in 1992 (initially as their voyaging columnist and then contributing a practical article most months until 1998) and has stuck since. Sometimes my work appears under the pseudonym " Aubrey Gowen" - which were my father's given names.
MAGAZINES THAT PUBLISHED ARTICLES by Andrew (Aussie)* Bray. Many were researched, written, or related to experiences gained on Starship.AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINES
Australian Boating, Cruising Skipper, Trailerboat Fisherman (Technical Editor)
Offshore
Riviera
Modern Boating (Electronics Editor)
Australian Yachting
Multihull World
Power Boat
Australian Amateur Boatbuilder
Tradeaboat (Crusing Around Column # episodes)OTHER SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MAGAZINES
Sailing Inland & Offshore (RSA)
Boating New Zealand
EUROPEAN MAGAZINES
Yachting World (UK)
Yachtiing Monthly (UK)
Practical Boatowner (UK)
Segeln (Germany)
Loisirs Nautiques (France)
Nautica (Italy)NORTH AMERICAN MAGAZINES
Sail
BoatWorks
48 North
Southwinds
Good Old Boat
Diver (Canada)
Latitudes & AttitudesASIAN MAGAZINES
Asian Marine
Sea Yachting
World Circumnavigation 1989-94
Following a post-launch shakedown cruise to Queensland and back to Sydney, Starship 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
