From the log of Saltwater People Historical Society by way of Three Sheets NW.
Rupert Broom’s AFRICA designed by Bill Garden and “beefed up” by Frank Prothero. Photo by Jim Williamson, mid 1940s.
AFRICA Owned and sailed by master sailmaker, rigger Rupert Broom, at helm. Shared by support crew Miles McCoy. Photo by Jim Williamson, mid 1940s. AFRICA was designed and built by Bill Garden for Rupert Broom, shortly after WWII. She was lightly framed and planked and proved unsound. Rupert took her to Frank Prothero who beefed her up a bit.
Rupert commuted to Port Madison with AFRICA until AFRICAN STAR was completed at Maritime Shipyard by Ole Running, the old time Swedish master shipwright. About 1947, AFRICAN STAR was designed by Billy Atkin, slightly altered by Rupert and Ole Running. She was definitely heavy built, but very durable. Rupert commuted daily, winter and summer and hunted the tide rips and gales wherever he could find them in Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.