Caplin’s second owner was Mr George Thomas Gillies of Oamaru, New Zealand. Despite many rumours, the purchase price was not officially disclosed, although it appeared that Mr GT Gillies had, as was his custom, got himself a bargain.
Under the guidance of Don Stronach, an Oamaru ship’s pilot who had originally recommended Caplin to Mr Gillies, the yawl left Wellington, where she had been put up for sale, for Oamaru on Monday 29 July 1940, with GT Gillies and his sons George, Edgar and Bruce aboard.
Cook Strait lived up to its reputation and Caplin spent some time running under bare poles. Akaroa, on Banks Peninsula, was reached on the Wednesday, and by Saturday evening Oamaru, destined to be Caplin’s home port for the next 55 years, welcomed the yawl.…