The Age of Elegance
Lady Enid recreates that classic age of yachting enjoyed in the 1960’s when sailing was more about elegance and chic than corporate sponsorship and carbon fibre.
Become involved as much or as little as you like, help set sails, take a turn on the helm or lean back and relax with your favourite book, listen to music or simply daydream and be beguiled at the uninterrupted beauty of the Whitsunday Islands.
An elegant day adventure in the Whitsundays, Lady Enid is aimed at couples wanting to experience a luxurious day out with low passenger numbers and highly attentive service.
The experience of sailing on this beautiful and rare classic yacht gives as much to the day as the destination.
Nicole and Jeremy Graham
Owner Operators
A History of Lady Enid
Launched in 1961 this beautiful John G. Alden Ketch takes us back in time to the days when Australia’s most famous sailing races were dominated not by technology and sponsorship, but by beautiful timber boats designed with timeless, graceful lines.
Built by John Cockle at his builder’s yards in Milperra, Sydney this majestic vessel was named after his wife Enid.
Lady Enid is well known within the established Australian yachting fraternity and has a long tradition of racing including five Sydney to Hobart races and 15 Brisbane to Gladstone races, sealing her place in Australian racing history when she came first over the line in the first ever Sydney to Brisbane (now Mooloolaba) race in 1964.
Her Journey Continues...
Enid was then purchased by the McRae family, who continued racing Enid in the Sydney to Hobart races. The McRae family owned McRae Knitting, which was well known for their brand – Speedo.
Norm Thurecht who owned large sawmills in Brisbane and whose love of timber yachts saw the Thurecht family own Enid for 26 years, Norm skippered Enid in many races before he put her into retirement.
Enid Cockle herself, at 95 years old, visited the ketch Enid during the refit in Ballina NSW (June 2015) with her two daughters Liz & Sue and reminisced about the build and how exciting it was for the kids to witness the pouring the keel in the backyard. They also talked about John’s love of racing and the many family holidays to the South Pacific.
Home in the Whitsundays
The Graham family now own this beautiful lady and have given her a home sailing the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. They gave her a wonderful restoration over a period of six months. She now sails guests around the Whitsundays as a day sailing experience.
Jeremy and Nicole wanted to showcase Lady Enid as an elegant adventure sailing experience through the magnificent Whitsunday Islands to Whitehaven Beach. They are no strangers to tourism having successfully provided many wonderful memories with Sundowner Cruises from Airlie Beach to many locals and tourists alike.