The original Meltemi design had a clipper bow, much like Thunderhead #720 and before her, Kirawan II/Hother #428.  Rhodes treated the design as a "stock" boat, and made various modifications for different customers.  For one sistership, he designed a spoon bow, which reduced her overall length by 10 inches.  For another sistership, he specified iron ballast instead of lead.  Owing to the lower density, 6" was added to the draft of this version.

The sistership "Mim" in the photo above sails in Australia.  She features both the spoon bow and deeper draft modifications.  She was built over a ten year period (1965-75) in a back yard by an electrical engineer in Australia.   She was solidly built, with beech planks on spotted gum frames and a Dynal sheathing. She has a rigid deckhouse, that was added sometime later.  She has a boomkin that supports a permanent mizzen backstay, instead of runners.

Her new ower reports that she is a very comfortable sea boat.  He expects to cruise the Pacific in a year or two. Maybe the east coast of USA.

Are there other sisterships around?  Please contact Jim <architect"at"whitsunday.net.au>