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1837-2014 Australia Day Regatta
Endorsed by Celebrating 92 YEARS OF BUILDING SUCCESS www.awedwards.com.au
White Bay Cruise Terminal RAS Main Arena (Skoda Stadium) Newington College Liverpool Courthouse 8th 17
From the President
This has been a time of double celebration for Sydney Harbour. In early October 2013, the International Fleet Review, which hosted ships from twenty nations, was a spectacular celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy and commemorated the arrival of the first seven ships on 4 October 1913. Today’s celebration on Australia Day reminds us of our history, honours those who contributed to that history and celebrates the foundation of our nation. In doing so, we acknowledge the first Australians and pay respect to the Gadigal and Cammeragil people, recognising them as having been fine custodians of Sydney Harbour. On this 178th Australia Day Regatta on Sydney Harbour, hundreds of sailors and their families will participate in a wonderful spectacle on one of the world’s greatest waterways. The Anniversary Regatta, as it was then known, commenced in 1837 just one year after South Australia was proclaimed a colony and before Victoria, Queensland or Tasmania (it was still called Van Diemen’s Land) were formally declared provinces. There is no better way to mark the birth of a nation surrounded by sea and developed through our great maritime heritage than by participating in the Australia Day Regatta. We welcome all those who have entered their craft, large or small, old or new. With the support of our host clubs they will celebrate Australia Day on more than 20 different waterways. If you are not able to participate on the water, please join the many people who line the Harbour foreshore as spectators. Among the extensive fleet of vessels on Sydney Harbour will be tall ships, modern yachts of all descriptions, classic heritage gaff-rigged boats, modern and traditional skiffs as well as the famous Sydney ferries, naval and merchant ships and hundreds of spectator craft, all flying the Australian flag. I again acknowledge the Armed Services for their continuing support of our nation. Their participation in the Australia Day celebrations demonstrates their capability and enables us to express our appreciation for all that they do for the Australian community. I particularly thank the Royal Australian Navy for the provision of the flagship for the Regatta and in doing so, again congratulate the Royal Australian Navy on its recently celebrated centenary. To all participants, we extend our best wishes for a happy and successful Australia Day. Charles Curran AC President
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Australia Day Regatta Schedule of Events
Saturday 18 January 2014 1230-2030 Botany Bay – Navigators’ Cup short ocean race. Start off Kurnell. Div 1; to Bondi and then Port Hacking. Div 2; to Wedding Cake Is and then Port Hacking. Conducted by Cronulla Sailing Club Sunday 26 January 2014 1100-1800 City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Trophy short ocean race, Sydney to Botany Bay and return, conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Starts north of Shark Island, finishes south of the Flagship moored off Rushcutters Bay 1315-1800 178th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Harbour, conducted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron on behalf of the Australia Day Regatta Inc. Open to all classes of keelboats, old and new, fast and slow, small and large, spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions, and including boats from the RSYS, SASC, SFS, CYCA, RPEYC, MHYC, GSC and RANSA fleets 1430-1800 Lord Mayor’s Cup for modern 18-footers – Australian 18-footer Sailing League 1300-1700 Centreboard Regatta, Rose Bay – Woollahra Sailing Club 1300-1700 Botany Bay – Botany Bay Regatta incl Councillors’ Challenge – Botany Bay Yacht Club, Georges River Sailing Club, Kogarah Bay, Sailability, Kurnell Catamaran Club, St George Sailing Club and Yarra Bay 16ft Sailing Club 1900-2000 Botany Bay – Families Afloat Flotilla 1350-1600 Brisbane Waters – Gosford Sailing Club 1200 Hobart, Tasmania – Sandy Bay Sailing Club 1000-1600 West Harbour, Sydney – NSW Radio Yacht Association Regatta, Drummoyne Sailing Club 1300-1600 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard Regatta, Greenwich Sailing Club 1300-1630 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard and Twilight Keelboat Regatta, Greenwich Flying Squadron 1300-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Keelboat Regatta, Parramatta River Sailing Club, 1300-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Centreboard Regatta, Hunters Hill Sailing Club 1400-1700 West Harbour, Sydney – Dobroyd Aquatic Club 1230-1630 Lake Illawarra – Centreboard, Sailboard and Trailable Yacht Regatta, Illawarra Yacht Club 1300-1600 Lake Macquarie – Wangi Wangi RSL Sailing Club 1130-1400 Manly – Sailability Regatta, Manly Yacht Club 1300-1700 Pittwater – Keelboat and Dingy Regatta, Avalon Sailing Club 1330-1600 Pittwater – Multihull and Keelboat Relay Regatta, Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay 1300-1600 Chipping Norton Lakes – Centreboard Regatta, Chipping Norton Lakes Sailing Club
Other Australia Day Harbour Events
0830 P&O Cruises’ Ships, The Pacific Jewel at 1230 Tug and Yacht Ballet – central and eastern Athol Bay and Pacific Dawn at Point Piper Harbour 0830 The Body Science Great Australian Swim 1300 Tall Ships – sail from Bradley’s Head and finish Series Final, Farm Cove under the Harbour Bridge 1100 Ferrython – Start Fort Denison, around Shark 1300-1400 Harbour Concert at Blues Point Reserve Island return under the Harbour Bridge 1400 Awesome Forces – RAAF FA18 Hornets – 1100 NRMA’s BBQ by the Bridge – Dawes Point Park Sydney Harbour 1145 Picnics on the Point – Sydney Harbour 1400 Tinnie Muster – Athol Bay Foreshore 1800 Harbour Concert at Darling Harbour 1200 21 Gun Salute at Mrs Macquaries Point, 1900 Darling Harbour Australia Day Spectacular Farm Cove
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Advisory Council
Supporters of the 178th Australia Day Regatta The Australia Day Regatta Committee again expresses their Patron sincere thanks to all who have contributed to the planning Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, and running of the 2014 Australia Day Regatta, the financial Governor of New South Wales supporters, the yachts and sailing clubs who support them, the volunteer race officers and most of all, those who Advisory Council Members 2013-2014 participate on Sydney Harbour or on one of the many Mr Charles P Curran, AC (President) waterways around New South Wales. Mr John Jeremy, (Chairman) Rear Admiral Timothy Barrett AM CSC RAN, We also acknowledge the supporters of this historic event, Commander Australian Fleet especially the Royal Australian Navy, and in particular, the Mr Mark Bethwaite, AM captain and crew of the flagship for this year’s Regatta. We Mr Phillip Black also express our thanks to the Royal Australian Army and Mr Howard Elliott, President Yachting NSW the Royal Australian Air Force for their special contribution Mr Angelos Frangopoulos, to the spectacle on Sydney Harbour. Chairman Australia Day Council As always, special thanks go to the City of Sydney and the Mr Adrian Gruzman, Commodore RANSA Lord Mayor, Councillor Clover Moore, who hosts the annual Sir James Hardy, Kt OBE, prize giving for the Australia Day Regatta in the historic and Life Member Australia Day Regatta splendid Sydney Town Hall. Air Vice-Marshal Mel Hupfeld, DSC A major contributor to the management of the Regatta is Air Commander Australia again the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, ably assisted by Mr Malcolm Levy, the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. Commodore Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Councillor Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor City of Sydney The 178th Regatta Program Mr Graham Nock, AM OBE Honorary Editor: David Salter, Mr Howard Piggott, ADR Management Committee Commodore Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Photography: John Jeremy and Steve Oom Major General Michael Slater, AO DSC CSC Design: Jan Harper Commander Forces Command Mr Liam Timms, Printing: We Print it Commodore Sydney Amateur Sailing Club Australia Day Regatta Inc., Mr Nicholas Whitlam, PO Box 1682 Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Chairman Sydney Ports Corporation Phone: 0419 695922 Management Committee Members 2013-2014 Website: www.australiadayregatta.com.au President, Charles Curran, AC Email: [email protected] Chairman, Mr John Jeremy Deputy Chairman, Mr Charles Maclurcan Honorary Secretary, Mr Peter Hemery Treasurer, Mr Fred Bevis Assistant Secretary, Ms Bernadette Kerrigan Committee Members Mr John BiffinOAM Mr Colin Chidgey Mr John Curtin Judge Colin P Davidson, OAM Mr David Davis Mr Bruce Gould Mr Steve Oom Mr David Salter Mr Peter Scott Mr André van Stom Honorary Handicapper Mr John Maclurcan
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Chairman’s Welcome
On 26 January 2014 we will celebrate the founding of modern Australia by conducting the 178th Australia Day Regatta on the waters of Sydney Harbour, the coastal waters of New South Wales and other enclosed waters including Lake Macquarie, Pittwater, Botany Bay and Lake Illawarra. Boats taking part will range in size from radio-controlled model yachts to state-of-the-art ocean-racers. Every Australia Day the hundreds of boats that participate ensure a spectacle of sail on our waterways and help make the day a great pleasure for everyone on, or near, the water. In October 2013 Sydney Harbour was the scene of a spectacular celebration of the centenary of the arrival of the Australian Fleet Unit, led by the Flagship HMAS Australia, in Sydney Harbour for the first time on 4 October 1913. The many warships and tall ships on the harbour for the International Fleet Review were a memorable sight and the flypast of aircraft and helicopters added to the excitement of the occasion. Sydney Harbour is an ideal location for a maritime event of this type and the focus on ships and the sea reminded us that Australia is a maritime nation. We are surrounded by water and we are as dependent today as we have ever been on ships for the transport of our exports and imports, and for the defence of our country and its people. The Australia Day Regatta has been sailed every year since 1837. Originally known as the Anniversary Regatta, it is a remarkable celebration and a great opportunity for sailors young and old to get out on the water and enjoy the day with family and friends. Many people help make the Australia Day Regatta a success. The yacht clubs which organise the various events, the volunteers who give their time throughout the year and on the day and the advertisers in programme. In particular, the Australian Defence Force provides enormous support by providing the Flagship for the Regatta and displays for the people of Sydney. The Management Committee thanks everyone who helps create such an outstanding and memorable event. Come and sail with us in the 178th Australia Day Regatta on 26 January 2014, enjoy a day of fun and spectacle, and continue an important Australian tradition. John Jeremy Chairman Australia Day Regatta Management Committee
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Perpetual Trophy and Medallion Winners
Perpetual Trophies and Medallions won in the 177th Australia Switzerland Insurance Australia Day Challenge Cup Day Regatta held on Sydney Harbour on 26 January 2013 1st on handicap Division 1 RSYS: Akela Alan Mather and at satellite Australia Day Regattas on other waterways in Davidson Family Trophy New South Wales were presented at the Sydney Town Hall 1st on handicap Division 2 RSYS: Jedi Sandra Entwistle where winners were guests of the Lord Mayor of Sydney, RANSA Trophy Councillor Clover Moore. 1st on handicap Division 3 RSYS: Dreamtime City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Cup Lyndsay Brown and Jim Littlefield Line honours 18 Footer: SMEG Nick Press H. C. Dangar Memorial Cup Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Trophy 1st on handicap Classic Division 2: Sana David Mathlin 1st on handicap in division having the greatest number Centenary of Federation Medal of starters on Pittwater: Satchmo Peter Kinder 1st on handicap Classic Division 2: Sana David Mathlin Australia Day Council Youth Sailor’s Trophy Australia Day Council Trophy Lodka Julian Valaire 1st on handicap Classic Division 1: Gretel II Michael Maxwell Bass & Flinders Trophy Victor Everson Trophy Fastest Boat on Yardstick, Botany Bay Regatta: Scratch winner Historical 18ft skiff: Mistake Harold Cudmore Into the Mystic Neil Tasker TNT Trophy City of Sydney Sesquicentenary Ocean Race Trophy 1st on handicap Historical 18ft skiff fleet: Mistake Handicap winner SOPS Div1 PHS: Balance Paul Clitheroe Harold Cudmore Geoff Lee Ocean Racing Trophy Avalon Sailing Club Line honours CYCA Ocean Race: Vanguard Richard Cawse Handicap Optimist: Ripple Brooke Wilson Hunters Hill Council Trophy Handicap Flying 11: Wave Runne Sarah Parker and 1st on scratch in the division with the greatest number of Lewis Molloy starters: Little Demon Too: SangJin Goodridge Scratch Laser: Seedy Chris Dalison Hood Sailmakers Senior Sabot Shield Scratch 29ER: Maelstrom Andrew Barker & Brenden James Line honours One Up Div, Senior Sabot: Little Demon Too: Handicap Wooden Yacht Division: Garriad Mick Morris SangJin Goodridge Handicap Open Yacht Division: Satchmo Peter Kinder Northam Family Junior Sabot Trophy Botany Bay Yacht Club Line honours Two Up Div, Junior Sabot: Back in Action Handicap Division 1: In Tune David Craddock Tahlia Phillips and Ryan Ewings Handicap Division 2: Wayfarer V Peter Richardson
6 Handicap Division3: Vaya Con Dios Ian Anderson Handicap Laser: Banana Custard Craig Birdsall Handicap Division 4: Stelle Tony Brauer Handicap Mirror: Celia May Declan Curtin Chipping Norton Lake Sailing Club Illawarra Yacht Club Scratch Seniors: Puffed Out David Cox Trailable Yacht: Rostered Off Jim Curry Dobroyd Aquatic Club Open Mono Hull: Energy Australia Dante Olivieri Scratch Flying 11 Junior: Shark Bait Finn Stewart Open Multi Hull: Silver Fox Paul Leauadais and Oliver Ashton Access Dinghy: Amy Snowden Scratch Radial Senior: Grey Beard John Fuller Junior: Purple Haze Patrick Corbett and Brad Bower Scratch Optimist Junior: Lodka Julian Valaire Windsurfers: Peter Demol Scratch Laser Senior: Ikara Greg Phillips Kurnell Catamaran Club Greenwich Flying Squadron Handicap Division 1 Senior: Digital Tour Guide Glen Billington Scratch Sabot One-Up: Flat Chat Matt Burke Handicap Division 2 Senior: Taipanic Peter Blackhouse Scratch Sabot Two-Up: Miss Behaving Sarah Imlay Manly Yacht Club and Meggie Struthers Scratch 303 Access: Ing Jude Cole and Tony Jones Scratch Twilight Yellow: Disco Trooper Ross MacKay NSW Radio Yachting Association Scratch Twilight Red: Dolphin 11 Johan Brinch Scratch A Class: Warren Norrie Scratch Twilight Green: Tana Pam Joy Scratch Soling One Metre: Paul Derwent Scratch Twilight White: CavSav John Veale Scratch Marblehead: Pat O’Brien Scratch Twilight Blue: Avanti Peter Clark Scratch 10 Ratter: Pat O’Donnell Scratch Division 1: Forte Forever Jim Lelliot Scratch IOM: Matthew McAnna Scratch Division 2: Out of Africa Harvey Porter Scratch RC Laser: Graham Brown Scratch Junior Laser 4.7: Breakwind Ben Struthers St George Sailing Club Georges River Sailing Club Handicap MG14 Senior: Into the Mystic Neil Tasker Scratch Laser: Sterile Virgin Frog Martin Wilson Handicap Skate Senior: Grey Ghost Keith Sington Scratch NS14: Einhorn Tim Dunstan and Christina Dunstan Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club Gosford Sailing Club Scratch Division 1: My Kindy Paul Sharp Handicap Laser: Fowl Play Riley Pike Scratch Division 2: Three Blind Mice Mark Horton Handicap Mixed Fleet: Impulse Ross Bradley Scratch Division 3, Non Spinnaker: Yes Dear Michael Paull Handicap Etchells: Turner’on Iain Turner Scratch Trailer Sailors: Upshot Colin Cain Handicap Yachts Division 1: Inception John Sprague Scratch Multihull: Madneeka John Fairfull Handicap Yachts Division 2: Zen Graham Puglisis Yarra Bay 16ft Skiff Sailing Club Hunters Hill Sailing Club Scratch Skyrider 2nd Season: Ferg Harrison More Scratch Sabot One-Up: Little Demon Too SangJin Goodridge Scratch Skyrider 1st Season: Ullman Sails Jessica Shelley Scratch Sabot Two-Up: Back in Action Tahlia Phillips and Scratch Bics: Jenko Alexander Chesterman Ryan Ewings Scratch Mono Hull: Spellbound Doc Davidson Scratch Laser: 181099 Paul Miller
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177th Australia Day
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177th Australia Day
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Host Clubs on Australia day 2014
Many yacht and sailing clubs contribute to the success Greenwich Sailing Club, PO Box 5110 of the Australia Day Regatta, not only in conducting the Greenwich NSW 2065 traditional regatta on Sydney Harbour but in organising Gosford Sailing Club, PO Box 187 Gosford NSW 2250 and conducting regattas to mark Australia Day on other Hunters Hill Sailing Club, PO Box 11 Hunters Hill NSW 2110 waterways in New South Wales, from Lake Macquarie in Illawarra Yacht Club, PO Box 148 Warrawong NSW 2505 the north to Lake Illawarra in the south and inland to the Kogarah Bay Sailing Club, PO Box 242 Chipping Norton Lakes. Sylvania Southgate NSW 2224 Local civic and municipal authorities also support these Kurnell Catamaran Club, PO Box 255 Caringbah NSW 2229 regattas and the Australia Day Regatta Inc is appreciative Manly Yacht Club, PO Box 22 Manly NSW 1655 of their contribution to the success of these events. NSW Radio Yacht Association Host club mailing addresses: 25 Fiona Road, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australian 18ft Sailing League, PO Box 42 Parramatta River Yacht Club, PO Box 227 Double Bay NSW 2028 Gladesville NSW 2111 Avalon Sailing Club, PO Box 59 Avalon Beach NSW 2107 Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay, PO Box 78 Newport NSW 2106 Botany Bay Yacht Club, 44 Endeavour Street San Souci NSW 2219 Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, PO Box 484 Milsons Point NSW 2060 Chipping Norton Lakes Sailing Club, PO Box 358 Moorebank NSW 1875 St George Sailing Club, 2 Riverside Drive Sans Souci NSW 2219 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, New Beach Road Darling Point NSW 2017 Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, 1 Green Street Cremorne NSW 2090 Dobroyd Aquatic Club, PO Box 70, Five Dock NSW 2046 Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club, PO Box 100 Georges River Sailing Club, PO Box 111 Wangi Wangi NSW 2267 Sans Souci NSW 2219 Woollahra Sailing Club, Vickery Ave Rose Bay NSW 2029 Greenwich Flying Squadron, PO Box 5092 Yarra Bay 16ft Sailing Club, PO Box 198 Greenwich NSW 2065 Matraville NSW 2036 Find a reason.
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The Unsung Men Behind the Boats
We all admire the extraordinary range of yachts that grace racing sailor in the various Sydney Harbour skiff classes. Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day Regatta, but who His first yacht design of note was Vagabond II (1915) among us consider how they came into existence? but he is best remembered for Ranger (1933), the sturdy David Salter recalls some of the great designers and raised-deck 24’ gaff sloop that spawned 9 or 10 copies builders behind the Sydney fleet. and which still race as a class. Maluka (1934) was designed by Gale to have true sea-keeping qualities, and sailed to In many ways a yacht is like a house. When it’s finished Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and Cooktown. Restored by and functional, few people remember the architect or Sean Langman in 2009-10, Maluka has completed two builders who transformed it from the original abstract idea Sydney-Hobart races. into practical reality. On the water, this failing has been Gretel II magnified by the rise of the fiberglass, factory-made boat. Alan Payne Thousands of identical sloops are manufactured every Alan Payne (1921-1995) is generally month on Detroit-style production lines in France, Germany, considered the first modern Scandinavia and the United States. Their designers may Australian naval architect to be be vaguely recognized, but the maker is now a brand, known for the racing yachts that not a person. emerged from his design studio. It wasn’t always thus. Until a generation ago, yacht London-born, he emigrated to designers (more accurately, if they had qualifications, “naval Australia aged four and received his architects”) were genuine waterfront celebrities. Everyone formal training at Sydney Technical in the sailing community was familiar with the names of the College and the Cockatoo Island major designers, and the craftsmen who built their boats. Naval Dockyard. His breakthrough design was the light- Often those roles were combined, so that the builder was weight 35-foot cutter Nocturne which confounded the also the designer – and then raced the yacht he’d created. experts by winning line honours in the 1952 Sydney-Hobart. It was a close-knit community in which the paths of these Solo, a much larger Payne sloop built in steel, won outright gifted men often crossed. Together, their talents helped in 1956 and Janzoon II (an early Australian fiberglass yacht) shape the unique character of Australian yachting. was runner up in 1961. The popular Tasman Seabird class of 1959 proved to be one of Payne’s most durable designs, The Designers with Cherana winning the Sydney-Hobart that year. Payne Walter Reeks Era became internationally known for his elegant 12-metres Although not the first professional Gretel (1962) and Gretel II (1970), both of which raced with naval architect in Australia, Walter distinction in the America’s Cup. Mister Christian Reeks (1861-1925) was the first to Ron Swanson make a lasting impact on local yacht The son of a Norwegian rigger who design. He migrated from England jumped ship from a disabled four- in 1885 and was soon prominent masted whaler at Fremantle, Ron within the fraternity of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Swanson is perhaps better known at Kirribilli. Two of his best-remembered yacht designs as an offshore sailor and boat-builder were Era (1887) and Thelma (1889). A syndicate of than a designer. Adopting Alfred Squadron members sent him to the US in 1888 with a plan Turner’s “metacentric shelf” theory of challenging for the America’s Cup, but the project was in collaboration with Wally Ward, abandoned. A few years later, the Balmain Ferry Company Swanson designed a string of trade- commissioned Reeks to design a new and more agile mark double-enders that dominated style of ferry for harbour work. The original double-ended, local ocean racing during the 1960s. screw-driven ferries that Reeks produced became the Among the best known are Camille, a 36-footer that distinctive template for all large Sydney ferries until 1984. represented Australia in its first Admiral’s Cup campaign in Cliff Gale 1965, and Peter Kurts’ first ocean racer Mister Christian. Edwin Clifford (“Cliff”) Gale Cadence, a 30-foot Carmen classer designed and built (1886-1968) was entirely by Swanson won the 1966 Sydney-Hobart, with Swanson self-taught yet his boats have himself coming second in Salome. In 1967 Swanson endured for more than 80 years. yachts took the first five places in the Montagu Island Race. He left school at 12, and by 14 He died in 1990, by which time his name had become was designing sailing craft using synonymous with strong, sea-kindly and remarkably fast the ancient technique of carving yachts. small models to scale. By the Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) age of 19 he’d produced 150 Ben Lexcen (1936-1988) became a yacht designer literally such models. A dental mechanic by accident. At the age of 22, while working as a sailmaker by trade, Gale was an active Ranger
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The Unsung Men Behind the Boats
at the Brisbane boatyard The Halvorsen Brothers of Norman Wright, he fell For more than 40 years Trygve, Lars, from a mast and was laid Harold, Carl and Magnus Halvorsen up in hospital for months. ran two of the largest independent To help him pass the time, boat-building business in Australia, Wright made Lexcen (then yet still found time to design and still using his original name race some of the most successful of Bob Miller), a drawing powerboats and offshore yachts in board. Miller drew a radical Australian sailing history. Trygve was three-man 18-foot skiff Australia II the inspired, instinctive designer of called Taipan. Its successor, Venom, won Miller the world a string of champion ocean-racing championship – and another self-taught designer was born. yachts – Saga, Peer Gynt, Solveig, He created the first Apollo for Alan Bond, then Gingko, Anitra V, Norla and Freya which won Anitra V Ceil III and Rampage, all of which had outstanding offshore an unprecedented (and so far unequalled) three Sydney- records. For Bond’s 1974 America’s Cup challenge he Hobart races in succession. All were built by the Halvorsen designed Southern Cross, then Australia, and in 1983 the boatyard. Magnus was the master navigator and tactician. winged-keel Australia II which won the Cup for Australia. But as builders, perhaps the crowning achievement of Lexcen died in Sydney aged 52 from a heart attack. the Halvorsens was the construction of Gretel (1961-62), Australia’s first 12-metre, at their huge shed on the The Builders Parramatta River at Ryde. George Griffin Nicknamed “Gorilla” because of his sometimes gruff exterior Cec Quilkey and extraordinary feats of strength and agility, George Griffin Between 1965 and 1985 – a period now recognized as was one of Sydney’s most influential the golden era of Australian offshore racing – the words mid-20th Century yachtsmen and “built by Quilkey” were an accepted guarantee of world- boat builders. His boatshed at The class workmanship. The boatyard of Cecil George Quilkey Spit was the centre of local sailing at Dolls Point produced some of the finest wooden activity and eventually formed the yachts ever made in this country – Salacia II, the original first premises of what became the Ragamuffin, Vittoria, Mercedes III and IV, Koomooloo Middle Harbour Yacht Club. These and the incomparable Love and War. Apprenticed to days, Griffin is best remembered for Lars Halvorsen & Sons at age 14, Quilkey was quick the sequence of fast little fractional to master the demanding fundamentals of the trade. sloops he built for harbour racing But young Cec wanted to take his skills to another level. – Julnar, Eventide, Bimini, Ariel and At one stage his business employed 17 tradesmen Eudoria. But he also ran a charter and their work was of such high quality that he was the “boatbuilder of choice” in Australia for Sparkman & Eudoria and hire business from his boatshed, and built some sturdy larger yachts for that trade. They had Stephens. His trademark construction style was three such distinctive features that for 30 years the phrase “Griffin skins of 3/8” Oregon over laminated Queensland maple boat” stood as shorthand for a whole style of yacht. Today ribs, with a Honduras mahogany fit-out. they are much sought-after by classic boat enthusiasts. Bill Barnett Billy Fisher Born into a family of boatbuilders and shipwrights, Billy Some craftsmen build yachts, others just build boats. Bill Barnett is in many ways the archetypal Sydney Harbour Fisher was firmly in the latter class. His yard at La Perouse waterman. He’d built his first dinghy by the age of 14, on Botany Bay was most active in the pre-WWII period and and all his waking hours were spent either sailing or built everything from fishing boats and ferries to dinghies, making boats. In adulthood he acquired a small portion 18-foot skiffs and proper yachts. Billy had no pretentions of waterfront at McMahon’s Point where he built his own about the fancy details of the shipwright’s craft. With few house and boatshed. Barnett was a leading skiff sailor exceptions he designed and built his boats by eye – the and in 1951 made headlines with Myra Too, an 18-footer traditional “rule of thumb”. Anyone wanting a boat would he’d designed, built and then skippered to win state, just be asked what overall length they had in mind, and national and international titles. Much of his business what use they intended for the new boat. From that point time in the 1950s and 60s was devoted to building they simply had to trust Fisher to build them a craft to meet surfboats and immaculate Dragon-class sloops. Barnett- their expectations. The notable exceptions were the yachts built Dragons are now collectors’ items. Perhaps the he built to the designs of Cliff Gale. That so many of these highlight of his career was the period (1966-70) during are still sailing is a testament to his craft skills and choice which he built the 12-metres Dame Pattie and Gretel II. of materials.
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The View from the Start Boat
Race Officer: Charles Maclurcan (timer) Flags: André van Stom Recorders: David Davis, André van Stom, Kevin Dixon, Maggie Stewart Thursday the 26th dawned disappointingly. Grey, windless and showery. How many skippers would be convinced that a picnic sailing day on Sydney Harbour could be fun in those conditions? Turns out we needn’t have worried. More than 80 yachts sailed in eight groups combining classic and gaff yachts, non-spinnaker entries and the Historical Skiffs. We set off in the RSYS Gitana early, as usual, and set up a start line east of the flagship. The weather had reduced the number of recreational motor vessels. But as always seems the case, no sooner had we setttled into position than our water was disturbed. The spectator fleet accompanying the Ferrython steamed right through our line. Fortunately, the special Commonwealth Bank labeled buoys are quite large and – despite our concerns – the pin mark survived unscathed. Competitors soon arrived. Sponsors flags were dispensed to them as requested. The wind remained stubbornly absent. Meticulous risk management-style pre-planning ensured that we had an ace up our sleeves for this very situation: out came the specially ordered curried egg sandwiches. Delicious. Immediately post consumption wind arose and, almost miraculously, the 40 minute start sequence commenced exactly on time with 5 to 8 knots of breeze. The boats were away and a result guaranteed. It was quite an effort to keep track of all the contestants. Most starts were spot on with the occasional contestant a little early. In an effort to simplify our calculations after- wards one boat was informed that she was starting in the wrong division. She restarted correctly. Sequence completed it seemed no time at all before the first finishers were approaching. Most were easily identified but a few boats had sail numbers either non-existent or very difficult to read. With the fleet finished it took some time to confirm and computerize the results, and I specially thank the two volunteers involved, Maggie Stewart and Kevin Dixon. A pleasant wrap-up took place on board Gitana once safely back at her berth and the Day declared a success by all. Next morning I was able to return to the ship to vacuum up detritus left after numerous biscuits and cheese – and the occasional glass of wine. Charles Maclurcan sydney - belmont - yokohama
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