Timely photo of The Star's historic yacht race photo | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

A historic photo in The Star last Friday has a link to some sailing history made the next day.

The McMillin syndicate's veteran keeler Southern Fun, which had been out of the water for six years until two months ago, finished the season in its old position as Lyttelton's top yacht after winning the Naval Point closing day race. The prize for the race was the Tucana Trophy ? and Southern Fun skipper Ian Franklin was thrilled to spot a photo of Tucana racing 40 years ago in our Looking Back page in The Star last Friday.

"Tucana is in Auckland now ? and all restored," he said. "She was on the water at Viaduct Basin at the boat show last month and looked absolutely beautiful."

Franklin has been racing keelers for 30 years, but can't remember racing against Tucana. The old Bermudan sloop, built in 1905, was just before his time.

However, Franklin and his crew are etching their own bit of history with Southern Fun, now 24-years-old and something of a classic itself.

The Davidson 11m yacht was queen of Lyttelton harbour for many years, but after being taken out of the water in 2001 was idle until this year.

After a refit and repaint the yacht went back in at the end of February ? and has proved to be the boat to beat at Lyttelton once again.

"We put her in the water for the Canterbury championships and she was the top line honours boat," said Franklin. "She got three firsts and two seconds, but missed out on handicap."

"I've really enjoyed sailing her again and it was especially enjoyable last weekend. The old boat just nicked away from them beautifully. We're getting her back to where she was."

Regularly crewing on Fun since the comeback have been Hamish and Jo McGowan, Mel Selwood, Jason Griffin, John Tiso, Peter and Karen Clark, Tyrone Franklin, Andrew Duff, Barry Willcox, and Dave Poyner.