About Project Endeavour: Designing the Scientific Equipment

The following individuals and organisations supported Project Endeavour and Jon Sanders' triple circumnavigation of the world.

Individuals

Individuals who supported Jon Sanders' historic voyage include:

Dr Jim Chute
was a Scientific Advisor to Parry Corporation and Manager of their Technology Division. Before it became the Parry Endeavour, Sanders' yacht was known as Challenger. Challenger was designed by Phil Curran for Chute who sailed her in the 1979 Parmelia Race from Plymouth to Fremantle to celebrate WA's 150th Anniversary. 16

D H (Nobby) Clark was a British Squadron Leader and the adjudicator for Sanders' voyage on behalf of the Guinness Book of Records.

Sir Charles Court, AK, KCMG, OBE was the 21st Premier of WA, serving from 8 April 1974 to 25 January 1982. He was the honorary timekeeper for Sanders' triple circumnavigation of the world. His relationship with Sanders began due to his role as Premier at the time Sanders began his double circumnavigation on the Perie Banou. Sir Charles provided a foreword to Sanders' book about the Perie Banou voyage, Lone Sailor.

Dr Kim Klaka led the team of Curtin University naval architects and engineers responsible for design work on the Parry Endeavour which included strengthening the hull and building a new keel and shortened mast.

Kevin Parry is the WA Entrepreneur and owner of Parry Corporation who sponsored Jon Sanders' voyage. Parry bought the yacht Challenger and financed the project for approx. $600,000. He was the head of the Kookaburra syndicate which won the right to defend the America's Cup in Fremantle in 1987. 17

Parry first met Sanders in the early 1980s at a time when Sanders needed a sponsor for his single-handed double circumnavigation of the world on the Perie Banou. Sanders owned a block of land at the top of the Darling Range in Armadale valued at $15,000. He proposed that if Parry bought the land for $12,000 he would display any logo of Parry's choosing on the Perie Banou and name Parry Corporation as the major sponsor for the journey. Parry responded that he would buy the block for $16,000 if his company got something out of it and Sanders completed the trip he would return the block to Sanders. The Perie Banou incorporated the name Halls Head into its logo, Halls Head being the name of the residential complex Parry Corporation built in Mandurah. 18

Dr Tim Pauly was a WAIT masters student from Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) at the time of Sanders' voyage. He was responsible for the design, installation and testing of the electrical and electronic systems and daily monitoring of Jon Sanders' progress through a remote ARGOS position system. With Jack Seabrook, Dr Pauly participated in regular scheduled radio sessions with Jon from the Royal Perth Yacht Club. He analysed and reported on the Altimeter data and sea mount detection work conducted by Jon Sanders.

Sir Charles Court at the launch of Project Endeavour, December 1985. CUL00039/10/3.

Sir Charles Court at the official launch of Project Endeavour, December 1985.

Records of Project Endeavour.
Sir Charles Court at the launch,
December 1985. CUL00039/10/3.

 

John Dawkins, Kevin Parry and Don Watts, 25 May 1986. CUL00039/12/90.

Records of Project Endeavour.
John Dawkins, Kevin Parry and Don Watts, 25 May 1986. CUL00039/12/90.

Emeritus Professor John Penrose was the Director of the CMST at the time of Sanders' voyage. He was in charge of the scientific package carried on the Parry Endeavour and part of the Project Endeavour Management Committee, with responsibility for overseeing the vessel refit and budgeting. He was in regular contact with Jon throughout the voyage and monitored the progress of the Parry Endeavour using the Argos satellite position global network.

Des Piesse is a WA boatbuilder and yachtsman and was responsible for the considerable modifications to the Parry Endeavour. In particular, he was involved in the strengthening of the bow and reinforcing the internals of the vessel.

Colin Sanders is Jon's brother and at the time of the triple circumnavigation held the position of Director of the National Parks Authority for WA. He owned a third of the Perie Banou.

Hugh Schmitt was a WA journalist who covered both of Jon Sanders' voyages on the Perie Banou and the Parry Endeavour. He wrote regularly for the West Australian and the Daily News Schmitt collaborated with Jon Sanders to write Lone Sailor, a book about Sanders' double-circumnavigation of the world and subsequently wrote Sextant, Sea and Solitude, an account of Sanders' triple-circumnavigation of the world.

Chris Sherlock worked with Rolly Tasker Sails at the time of Sanders' voyage. He built the mainsail, headsail, storm jib and lightweight number one jib without the aid of computers.

Jack Seabrook was Jon Sanders' radio mentor for his voyage on the Parry Endeavour. He was a former Rear Commodore of the Royal Perth Yacht Club and a friend to Sanders' parents. He chaired the committee to follow the double circumnavigation of the Perie Banou. 19 In his words:

It was an honour when Jon asked me to head his organising committee for his double circumnavigation in 1981-82, and monitor his progress by radio for his triple-rounding attempt. 20

Rolly Tasker, AM is a WA sailmaker and yachtsman responsible for shortening and strengthening the rigging on the Parry Endeavour. He won Australia's first sailing medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Rolly Tasker's biography Sailing to the Moon by Roland Perry was published in 2008.

Jon Sanders with John Penrose's son David. From Project Endeavour photograph album and scrap book compiled by John Penrose, 1986 - 1988. CUL00040/1.

John Penrose's son David with
Jon Sanders. David's blue teddy
bear accompanied Sanders on his
triple circumnavigation. The bear
is now on display at the
Maritime Museum in Fremantle.

Records of Project Endeavour.
Project Endeavour photograph album
and scrap book compiled by
John Penrose, 1986 - 1988.
CUL00040/1.

Organisations

The Australian Bicentennial Authority was established to plan and coordinate a nationwide program of celebrations in 1988 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia. A month before his triple circumnavigation, Jon Sanders sailed the Parry Endeavour to Sydney to seek sponsorship. 21 The Authority endorsed his journey as an Australian Bicentennial Activity.

Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) managed the preparation program for Jon Sanders' triple circumnavigation of the world, including a refit of the yacht and design of scientific equipment. Founded in 1985, the Centre was part of WAIT, now Curtin University and its areas of expertise include marine acoustics, hydrodynamics and underwater technology.

Parry Corporation sponsored Jon Sanders' triple-circumnavigation of the world.

The following companies supported Jon Sanders' voyage by provided equipment and materials. Their company logos are painted on the side of the Parry Endeavour.

Australian Audio-Visual

Hempel's Yacht Paints

Honeywell

Interstruct

MILEC

National

Pentax

RAC Insurance

Raytheon

Seabrake

Shaklee

Woolworths

CMST staff and students saluting Jon Sanders on his departure from Fremantle. CUL00040/1.

CMST staff and students saluting
Jon Sanders on his departure
from Fremantle.

Records of Project Endeavour.
Project Endeavour photograph album
and scrap book compiled by
John Penrose, 1986 - 1988.
CUL00040/1.



The Parry Endeavour docked in Fremantle prior to departure on the triple circumnavigation. Challenger [Endeavour]: mast removal, ca 1986. CUL00039/9/1.

The Parry Endeavour docked in
Fremantle prior to departure on
the triple circumnavigation.

Records of Project Endeavour.
Challenger [Endeavour].
Modifications, Sounder and
Pre-departure. Ca 1986.
CUL00039/11/94.



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