Jack Earl (Australian sailor)

Jack Beaumont Earl was born in Durban, South Africa, in 1908 before emigrating to Australia in 1911.[3] His childhood was spent on Darnley Island in the Torres Strait where his father was an administrator and schoolteacher.[4] Earl learnt to sail with the Islander children in dugout canoes[3] and in pearling luggers around the islands of northern Australia.[4] Schooling required a move to Sydney.[3]

As a young man, Earl earned a living as an artist for the newspapers Truth and the Sunday Times.[5]

In 1933 Earl married the school teacher and author Kathleen Gillett.[4] Gillett was from a seafaring family.[6] At the time of his marriage Earl was living on a cabin boat at Rushcutters Bay.[5]

Earl and Kathleen had two children, Mick and Maris.[7]

The 'Kathleen' on Sydney Harbour, Boxing Day, 1993

Prior to World War II Jack Earl and Kathleen spent six years designing and building the ketch 'Kathleen Gillett'.[1] 'Kathleen' was designed by renowned Norwegian naval architect Colin Archer,[8] and was a 43’ gaff rigged ketch.[2][8] She was built at Gladesville, Sydney by Charlie Larsen in 1939,[9] and moored in Mosman Bay during World War II.[6] 'Kathleen' was used for coastal sea patrols during this period.[8]

Earl had originally planned to sail around the world with his family,[7] however finances and practicalities meant the decision was made for Kathleen Earl and the children to stay at home.[1] 'Kathleen' left Sydney Harbour in June 1947, with thousands lining the shore to see her off.[10]

'Kathleen's' crew consisted of Jack Day, Keith Humphries, Lyell (Mick) Morris and Don Angus (navigator). Humphries left the yacht in Queensland due to seasickness, and Will ‘Digger’ Sinclair joined the yacht in Durban. The circumnavigation took 18 months and covered 26,000 nautical miles and garnered great public interest throughout Australia,[7] helped by regular feature stories in Seacraft magazine.[11]

Earl painted pictures during the voyage to pay for supplies.[7]

Earl sold the 'Kathleen Gillett' in 1950, and after many owners and trials, in 1988 the Norwegian government presented the boat to the Australian National Maritime Museum as a bicentennial gift, where it remains in sailing condition.[7]

The foundations of the Sydney to Hobart race were laid on boxing day in 1945[2] when a planned cruise by Earl to celebrate the end of WWII[7] was turned into a race with friends featuring nine yachts. The race was won by the Englishman Captain John Illingworth's 'Rani', and the 'Kathleen Gillett' finished third on handicap.[1][12]

Earl has been described as Australia's leading maritime artist,[13] painting yachts and historical maritime events on commission. He was initially trained in art by his father Frank, whose own father had been a professional artist. Earl later studied at the Julian Ashton Art School,[11] and the Royal Art Society.[5]

In the 1950s, he became a full time marine artist.[9] Earl's work is popular in yacht clubs around the world.[14]

Earl was awarded an OAM for service to yachting and to marine art in the 1994 Australia Day Honours List.[15]

Earl was awarded the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Blue Water Medal[11] and was inducted into the CYCA hall of fame in 2019.[2]

• Jack Earl: The Life and Art of a Sailor by Bruce Stannard, Weldon Publishing, 1991, ISBN 978-1863021760[3]