LOA: 15.2m, Beam: 3.6m, Draft: 1.3m
Propulsion: Inboard motor
Engine: Twin 120 hp diesel
Construction: American style raised deck cruiser, twin screw, Carvel planked Huon and Kauri pine on hardwood frames.
Owner: Bill and Yvonne Maxwell, Perth, Tas
Built at Coverdale’s yard at Battery Point, Hobart for Sydney architect Reginald de
Prevost, Tanda made its maiden voyage from Hobart to Sydney in August 1927. She
remained there in private usage for some 14 years, including for the onboard marriage of
the de Prevosts and later sale to her second owner, who changed her name to Esmeralda.
Requisitioned, commissioned and later purchased by the RAN, she served in WWII as
HMAS Esmeralda, a Harbour Channel Patrol Boat, part of the so-called Hollywood Flotilla
of former private luxury cruisers, principally defending Sydney Harbour and later
Queensland waters. She did not take part in the action against the raiding Japanese mini-
submarines, being laid up that night with engine troubles. Tanda was armed with twin
stern-quarter depth charge racks, hand-dropped smaller depth charges forward of the
wheel house, a Vickers machine gun mounted on the aft coach house and an extremely
optimistic wire- trailing anti-aircraft rocket. Post-war, she co-pioneered the Whitsunday
tourist trade from Mackay before returning to private usage in Brisbane. She then returned
to the Northern Queensland tourist trade, before resuming private usage in the northern
rivers area of NSW. She then again returned to Queensland. During this time she
underwent a number of further name changes, including Ralda, Dorothy 2 and then Lady
Margaret, under which name she moved to Darwin in 1992 to serve as the transport and
accommodation vessel for a big game safari tourist operation. Purchased there in 1997
Tanda was then trucked to Paynesville for restoration, a process continued by her current
owners since her purchase in 2018. After extensive research the new owners promptly
reinstated her original name, Tanda. Today she is again a comfortable family cruiser,
proudly awaiting her centenary in 2027.