Its a pity we have't heard any more from James, I was hoping he might be able to persuade the original owner (of 40 years) to provide the life story of this vessel.
My interest was sparked again when I read the centennial issue of the JRA magazine and saw the photographs of Mandarin Star.
The two boats are remarkably similar. They are both about the same size, same oval transom, same details at the bow and same shaped cabin with the distinctive forward slope to the front. They are both said to have been built in Hong Kong. Mandarin Star was said to have been shipped to the UK and then later to the US. Daisy Mae was in the US.
I am wondering if they are the same boat. Daisy Mae has a different arrangement of cabin windows, and a transom-mounted rudder, but these could easily have been later modifications.
According to the article in JRA Newsletter #38 Mandarin Star was built in 1900. If this is true, and if Daisy Mae is the same boat, she could well be the oldest Chinese junk still in sailing condition.
James appears to be no longer a member. This is an appeal to James, Shyam, or anyone who knows the current situation regarding Mandarin Star or Daisy Mae.
There's got to be an interesting story here.
Edit
I have just gone back to a previous thread here when Shyam had the boat and sold it to James. This thread has more photographs, and a hint from Shyam that the previous owner had more photos and was willing to tell the story. It also states that Daisy Mae was built in 1964 which does seem more likely than 1900. I am still intrigued at the very close resemblance between Daisy Mae and Mandarin Star. Are you still out there somewhere Shyam?