The project to restore the yacht has been five years in the making, with Peter Ryrie bringing it to Griffith after his friend who owned it passed away.

Mr Ryrie’s late friend John Bridgewater had a life-long dream to restore a yacht.

He purchased the Primavera but became ill and was unable to finish the project.

It was the second time the Primavera was launched yesterday. It was first launched in 1955.

“It was emotional,” Mr Ryrie said yesterday.

The 84-year-old said it was a big project.

He said it wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of Angelo Maloni and David Blake.

“I had a pretty good idea that everything would go all right,” Mr Ryrie said of the launch.

He said he thought about his late friend and how proud he would have been to see the Primavera launched.

“It was a happy moment but it was a sad moment,” Mr Ryrie said.

The yacht will now stay in Lake Wyangan for a month or two before stage two, which includes building a deck and putting the canopy back on, starts.

“It’s been an awesome little project,” Mr Maloni said.

“It’s been great fun.”

Members of the Griffith Sailing Club gathered to witness the launch yesterday.