Model ship builder sails into unexpected treasure at Vancouver auction

VANCOUVER – A scale model of an 18th-century ship has sailed off with some unexpected booty following an auction in Vancouver.

Seventy-two-year-old Victor Jankovic hoped his 2.4-metre long, nearly two-metre tall model of the sailing ship HMS Royal William would land between $9,000 and $12,000 during bidding at Maynard’s Auction House on Wednesday night.

Instead, the lovingly crafted replica, complete with radio-controlled sails and rudder, a working engine, rows of tiny brass cannons and dozens of metres of hand-twisted rigging fetched $18,400.

The successful bidder attended the auction in person but has not been identified.

Jankovic is pleased at the return for the countless hours of work he put in over the six years it took to build the 1/32 scale model.

He says most of the money from the sale will be donated to his wife’s church, St. Peter and St. Paul parish in Vancouver.