Launched in 1971, Pannawonica, the 52 foot timber gamefisher built by David Pleysier and designed by U.S. nautical engineering firm, C. Raymond Hunt, is regarded as one of the best performing gamefishing boats ever built in Australia – and is perhaps the most iconic and famous of them all.
She developed a legendary reputation from her very earliest days, arriving for the gamefishing season in Cairns from Perth – a 4,800 km journey around the top end of Australia – at record speed.
She continued to undertake this epic journey most years, and made her mark as an awesome fish raiser, with the ability to head out in conditions others wouldn’t. She helped her owner, Sir Garrick Agnew, onto a slew of record fish, and ultimately into the International Gamefishing Hall of Fame.
Commissioned by Agnew, an Olympic swimmer turned successful West Australian business figure and resources entrepreneur — she was named after the town, Pannawonica – the site of one of Agnew’s ventures.
With jaw-dropping sleek lines, a sublime finish and exceptional build quality, Pannawonica became the “benchmark by which others were judged” and re-defined high-speed, big-sea performance from her unique 24 degree Hunt designed deep vee hull.
She is gamefishing and boating royalty in Australia; and even performed royal duties in 1979, hosting King Charles (then Prince Charles), and helping him to land a 540 lb Marlin on a memorable day west of Rottnest Island.
PANNAWONICA x MORETON BAY CLASSIC 2024
Now owned and run by highly respected skipper, Simon Carosi, she is now based on the East Coast out of Southport and in immaculate order after major recent re-fits.
On the 25 June 2024, her unmistakable profile was sited in Manly Harbour, Brisbane – rumbling her way towards the “starting line”, for a cameo appearance in the 3rd annual Moreton Bay Classic.
Bill Wright Trophy
Simon Carosi’s original intention was to keep things low-key, and amble in behind the classic cruisers for a placid trip to the finish line at Horseshoe Bay, Peel Island – without “making a scene”.
With a huge fleet of classic boats assembled – the largest to date – for what has now become a landmark boating spectacle, the siren sounded for the shotgun start, and with the roar of diesels, horns, plumes of smoke filling the air, and more than a sprinkling of competitive spirit — it was on.
With the first couple of kilometres a washing machine of wakes and boats jostling for some clear passage, legendary builder / designer Bill Wright made a nice clean start, swiftly onto a 15 knot plane, breaking from the field in his attractive 1988 Norman R. Wright launch, Magellan.
Miamba – designed and built by Wal Shirt, owned and skippered by Toby Blundell, and freshly re-powered for the occasion – quickly loomed on his left shoulder, before roaring past.
Seeing this play out, Simon Carosi in Pannawonica, (in an only natural human reflex), leaned on the throttle a bit more than anticipated, and cut a hard course to the south for some cleaner water – giving chase.
Australia’s Classic Boats, in pursuit of Panna in our camera boat directly behind, could not keep up when Simo gave the Detroit 6V92s their due, sending our 16 foot centre console airborne on more than one occasion…
Pannawonica was soon in the mix with the leaders, and from there, it was a three horse race to Horseshoe Bay, with Miamba and the very sprightly Kingfisher – a 1971 Hugh Morris – putting a large gap in the field as they went scuttling past the 20 knot mark.
Despite giving them a start, Panna was in control at all times, and rounding towards Peel, Simo let the levers down slightly further, and flew effortlessly past the two worthy contenders. The site of the famous Pannawonica in full flight, despite the benign conditions, a feast for the senses.
Not 10 minutes into the race – and a touch premature – MBC organizer Paul Crowther quipped over radio that “Pannawonica had just dropped anchor in Horseshoe Bay”.
Over the next hour, with grey clouds beginning to part, stunning craft filtered into the anchorage at their own speeds, in a marvellous parade. The “race” is only a bit of fun; the day, and the community that has been created over the last three years, is something very special.
That was of little consolation to Toby Blundell though, who had done his level best zig-zagging in and out of Pannawonica’s wake in the newly beefed up Miamba to pick up a few extra knots — before surrendering to the inevitable.
“Bloody Pannawonica”. He was heard to remark on the beach, from behind his beer.
“This was supposed to be our year…”
All in good fun.
Boatbuilder Ian Eastgate, who also crafted the beautiful trophies: the Ron Jenyns (RIP) Cup and the Bill Wright trophy – and Bill Wright himself – made the presentation to Simon Carosi, who was delighted he had made the trip up from the Gold Coast for the day.
“What a perfect day. How good is this!”
In a humble speech, Bill Wright – whose exceptional craft include a few of the world’s best gamefishing boats – made comment that Pannawonica stood as one of Australia’s best “if not the best” gamefishing boat ever.
A memorable cameo for a day that celebrates classic wooden boats and our great boating history.
Full profile coming to Australia’s Classic Boats.
By Nick Cornish
Videography & Photography | Tristan Davies and Jarrod Hellmuth
