Windling World: December 2006

DECEMBER 2006 Mr Boatus Uninteruptus Moonen’s Masterpiece The Garnalenschuit An Adventure Sail Bogie’s Boat Sea Cloud The beach is in sight, the editor at the helm ! Another year of Windling World completed, a total of over eleven years. As previously advised and with much personal sadness, with this issue | must beach the old girl, Windling World, and say goodbye to several hundred friends, some never met. Then again, it need not be goodbye and while we all draw breath ( I’ve often reminded you that the air is still free !) we can keep in touch. The cover image has been carefully chosen. It certainly looks like the vessel is in rapidly shallowing water and being driven towards the beach, doesn’t it 2 A dramatic shot by my Dutch friend, Hans Staal. Ever since the news broke, many of you have asked what am | going to do to fill my time ? Well, the aim is to sail my boats, perhaps more often with my Ancient Mariner friends and to continue to write on the joys of model yachting, perhaps for two or three or | started WW virtually on a wing and a prayer with twenty brave souls as ‘subscribers’. | was fed up with the over-serious and often argumentative attitude prevalent in model yacht racing which, let’s face it, most of us get involved in so as to be able to relax and have fun. The equivalent of fullsize ~cruising’ seemed the way to go and led to my coining of the word ‘windling’ and the birth of a mission to encourage people to shed what stigmas may have existed about men caught ‘sailing toy boats’. | have tried to make WW one of personality while retaining a variety of different aspects of model yachting in its content, as well as light-heartedness and humour. A reader, Peter White in UK said it was akin to a “fresh breeze blowing in from the Antipodes’. Without doubt, the big plus for me has been the resulting friendships and trusts it has spawned – so many friends-nevermet in some 17 countries, this at a time where the world population seems to pay scant attention to their fellow men. more magazines. Ill continue to go and call on my equine friends from the paddocks each Monday morning — they are happy with carrots and a bit of soft-voice chit chat ! (You should speak Horse you might learn summat, like patience for starters). | have often thought that windling could just be of some benefit to all those boffins at the United Nations in New York, were it made mandatory that they go out together every lunchtime in Central Park (above) to windle (not race) model yachts. Perhaps they’d learn to relax and get on with each other as the wind blows some sense into their heads ! | am saying nuffink, other than it was a case of “unacceptable generosity’, the monstrous cheque (er, check) received in my mailbox on a late January, humid Thursday from a sailing “brother’ of mine overseas. | sent it back with a grateful letter. With WW’s future then in a ‘sea of uncertainty’, | would not have been able to sleep at night had | accepted it for it was just too much, while quietly speaking volumes for friendship. Going back slightly in time, | thank those who gave such help and in so doing showed how much _ one little magazine really meant to them. Closure has been created by “I’ve drank to your health with others, I’ve drank to your health alone, I’ve drank to your health so many times that I’ve almost ruined my own” ‘Borrowed’ from Latitudes @ Attitudes Attributed to Admiral William F ~Bull’ Halsey This final issue has so many fantastic new models, including an abundance of square-rigged boats, further proof indeed of continued growth in interest in model building and sailing. Queenslander, Rick Mayes’ Sea Cloud (below) is just one of them as | break from tradition and leave you to discover the others for yourselves. An award winner ? Could be, read elsewhere. my refusal to re-programme my brain and further invest in equipment to cope with advancing technology. | am purely and simply a “scribbler’, not a computer geek. BANG! My special thanks to WW’s “Keepers of the Spirit’ (of windling), my friends, Ken Impey and Tony Searle in the UK, Barry Gibson in Australia, Andrew Charters in the USA and Stuart Broome in New Zealand. They have been a tower of CO the Covers Front: “Shallows Ahead !” Harald Kossack’s Hoeker fishing vessel, photo by Hans Staal Back: ‘Gone Windling’ Photo by Richard Gross, encouragement to me. To my friend of some 25 years, Derek Cookson (right). | could not have done it without your computer expertise, your proof-reading and your patience. Here’s to continued friendship with all of you. Rates _THE TWEED built by Warwick Stephens Warwick Stephens of Christchurch New Zealand built this one inch short of six feet model of The Tweed, the boat that started life in 1830 as a paddle steamer called Punjab. The brothers Willis who bought her and converted her into a clipper ship, took out the boilers and added 90’ to her hull length, took lines off the Cutty Sark and then sailed her seventeen times to New Zealand transporting immigrants, one of them, on an 1874 voyage being Warwick’s Great Grandfather, John Millow. Warwick started on the model in 2004 and it took two years. The hull is fully planked in cedar, the masts and yard out of Southland beech, the sails from Egyptian cotton which Warwick and his wife (inset above) bought on a visit to Egypt that year. The 1/48th scale model is fully radio-controlled and is transported fully-rigged. It has no false keel and the ballast to the waterline has been achieved by the placement of scale ‘wool bales’ made out of lead and placed in the hull. On each of The Tweed’s return voyages to England she returned ballasted with wool and tea. The model has 6” of depth of hold, has a 10” beam and the weight of ballast is 13.5 kg. A magnificent sight on the water, she has been sailed on Christchurch, Lake Victoria in and (above) Pp in Lyttelton harbour. BOGIE’S BOAT The late Humphrey Bogart, the screen legend actor was a keen and capable sailor who after his death, his son said (of his father) that he was very serious about his yacht Santana and quoted his father as having said ‘an actor needed something to stabilize his personality, something to nail down what he really is, not what currently he is actor) (an pretending to be’. Familiarly known as ‘Bogie’, by friends and in time by fans, in his case something was that sailing and designed the by boat Olin being the addition of a holder installed around the base of the Stephens was a schooner called Santana in 1935 drink launched which steering binnacle. Bogie bought from June Allyson and Dick Powell in 1945 and owned until his death in 1957. In Bogart’s time of ownership he The sailed boat the extensively, 62’ often long for Santana 35 to 45 weekends each year. It is said that he made but one change, that star of Casablanca, many when films including asked by a competitor in a race what made the go so fast, had replied, “Scotch”, and walked away. (Continued overleaf) (Continued from previous page) Built for Mr W.) Stewart Jnr, Olin Stephens had tried in vain to convince the owner that she would be better rigged as a yawl but he wanted a schooner. She was sold to Charles Isaacs, a businessman then married to Eva Gabor, who was to keep the schooner for two years before selling her to George Brent another actor of the period. He then converted her to a yawl and after three years sold her to yet another well known actor, Ray Milland who kept her for a mere 3 months. In 1945 Santana was sold to Powell and Allyson, the latter it has been said, wanting a hiding place to store her jewellery had a special compartment built in the Stateroom. Bogart had sailed aboard Santana and bought the boat. He was a keen ht > yacuisman “the trouble sailing her in races, often with respectable results. The love of Bogie’s life was the With having 7 model yachtsman, Lloyd ~Swede’ Johnson to build a model of Santana which at the funeral service stood beside the pulpit, that model seen in the Dec O5 issue of Classic Boat magazine. After his death, Santana was bought by a San Diego interior decorator and her next owner, remembering how she had looked as a_ schooner, quickly had her reconfigured back over the side’ actress, Lauren Bacall but he often sailed without her. and was quoted as having said, “the trouble with having dames on board, is that you can’t pee over the side !”. Upon Bogart’s death in 1957, Bacall commissioned WW reader and to one. From 1971 the boat changed hands several times and in November 1997 Santana sunk in her berth in San Francisco and was severely damaged, it was said by some “to a stage beyond repair’. Enter Paul and Chrissy Kaplan who would purchase the boat and carry out a costly and _ lengthy restoration. Thanks to them Santana sails once Santana again, a reminder of a boat with a modellers, fascinating operational period of native of Kaplan San (below attracted not Paul the several least Reck an ship of these artisan of California who had played a big part in her restoration. some seventy years. A being has Francisco, centre)) had Paul won numerous regattas in a variety of boats, had sailed aboard Maxis and had in cruised both extensively Northwest and the Caribbean. His wife figures that over the years they have owned 37 boats. Paul and Ken Keefe were to jointly take over an old boatyard the in 1996, | He built at a half inch to the foot scale, a 32” long model (above) for the their a boatyard of dirt and mud and dilapidated buildings made, and with fittings Kaplan’s home, spinning making and which everything all winches his graces custom own rope the bronze from bronze obsolete equipment and form Keefe bolts and plates taken from the ‘real’ Kaplan Maritime Inc situated on the West Coast at the end of the deep-water Santa Fe channel barely boat. five nautical miles from the centre (in of San Francisco Bay. Both Lloyd Johnson and Don Frakes photo below) built RC sailing models of Santana side by side. Intent on creating a modern boatyard, after time, enormous effort, boatloads of money, top notch staff and an undying vision, it is today one of the leading boatyards on the US West Coast. Paul and one Erica, (shown have been of two daughters, in so the April issue) co-operative in making use of material possible. They maintain a superb website towards ensuring that this amazing boat, Bogie’s boat, will be enjoyed, more importantly her history never forgotten. Today, Santana sails on, both the real boat and in model guise. Long may she be around and may model shipwrights continue to be attracted to both her lovely lines and her amazing history. What INE AGL Why. the hell not do you think? Shall we have a go?” Where’s Sawyer that and boyhood Tom That Finn documented Huckleberry spirit of adventure most of us old fellas once had … where doing different things, new and sometimes “could be dicey’ things were just plain fun and always an adventure ? I’m not suggesting that we go sail our little boats around the world, and via infamous Cape Horn, but “open water sailing’ on stretches of ‘ocean’ presents us with relatively safe challenges. crossing was with duly photos and featured in WW/Aug 1998 Issue. Others have sailed in salt water, but here | am talking about making it a real adventure, planned and executed because the boats are small, the distance is substantial and because the crossing is there to be challenged ! Fellow Auckland Ancient Mariner The late Euan Christchurch, Sarginson of New Zealand took the bull by the horns, enlisted the support of friends including one who had a yacht, and upped and sailed a 1950 A Class boat (see pic) across Cook Strait … that often “rough as guts’ 25 nautical mile bit of ocean that separates the North and South islands of New Zealand. model yacht sailors, John Stubbs Richard Gross it seemed, and had that spirit lurking within of adventure them. Last Summer, armed with the former’s ketch jaunty, schooner and Maggie, the they latter’s set off from Buckletons Bay aboard a 16’ runabout, to sail the little model boats to Kawau island 4 nautical miles away. It was a good day well chosen to Thoughts that arose in discussion suit the 1100mm long boats as the sea was calm but the wind afterwards included the need to pick a day that had at least a beam or following wind, the tide going in the same direction, and allow more time next trip and have more rations. (It is hungry unfortunately was coming at them straight from Kawau. The tide also was coming in which meant that they were constantly tacking into an ever increasing tidal flow. and work Things were not going well but thirsty most as realise). the sailing was good as the day was a lovely one, the sea clean and as blue green as one could imagine. Undaunted, they battled towards the windward island. typifies that ! Came the ferry, as well as water taxis, their wakes creating some severe tsunamis (to the little Summation: boats). A floating ‘beast’, a gannet, lost interest as the adventure continued a great sail on the water and a against They hope to do it again, after they adversity Tide a reef, Rock pond, and it was loads of fun. and navigated dangerous change from sailing on the tiny a all, “that “crossing’ to Kawau is Half there (below) w. si .t to be crossed”, as Tom Sawyer would say. oh (Story by Richard Gross) Kawau ahead. Eventually, estimating that at their rate of progress the crossing was likely to take several more hours and with the sailors feeling hungry and knowing that lunch was probably on the table at their beach house, John and Richard, (and Derek, a friend from Australia), eventually bowed to the pangs of hunger, altered course and headed homewards in a following wind. 1874 Barque James Craig Photographed by Barry Gibson off Cunningham Pier in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. She was called Clan Macleod, made 23 roundings of Cape Horn and was beached, abandoned, re-floated, and later restored in NSW. She is now berthed Wharf 7, Pyrmont at as Sydney’s own tall ship. 9 By Richard Mayes Completed in February, the main Launched as the Hussar V in 1931 winch motor’s gearbox then suddenly refused to play the game and | had to send it back to England in Germany for owners Edward F Hutton, a successful stockbroker and Marjorie Cloud his wife, Merriweather NYC heiress Post, for a replacement. With luck on my side the planned launching was however Sea was at that time the largest private sailing yacht in the world at 360’ in length. After a varied and colourful period she was purchased in 1978 by a German shipowner realised in Queensland, group and converted into the cruise ship she sails as today (photo at right). Australia. In 1995 1 had obtained plans, photos, technical data sheets and cruise booklets at no cost whatsoever from the owners. These | must admit this project took a lot longer than | had anticipated, nearly 11 years of construction and completed as later intended in time for an official launch on the 25th April this year, which was the 75th were to prove invaluable. A book, Sea Cloud -a living legend, also was of great help in the researching Anniversary of the real Sea Cloud’’s of ship details. launch in Kiel. 10 | | know that Mark has several new seats all Windling World, so | am not going is made from 6mm ply for the keel keep with painted colours are displayed and on the Lido lead. When the keel is lowered it radars, then the front of the bridge her wartime a mechanical drop keel with a 6.2 kg activates the two shape, braised cord and braid thread. On the outside and fibreglassed on the fitted my _ wife’s The bowsprit safety net is handmade using two thicknesses of and the hull has been resined on is plastic card, finally realised’ made and spars are turned from dowel She their onto from 3mm mahogany. All the masts inside. made from ‘a 43 year old dream The deck is 1mm ply with 3mm X superstructures detail; blue. ply for planking. all of stockings, painted with PVA glue to and frames, with 1.5mm hoop pine the ply, wealth the covers made from building details of the model. She planks glued a lifeboats carved out of balsa and to be lengthy with regard to the 2mm Jelutong included chairs, tables, upper deck lounge models to get into this last issue of deck tablecloths one on are on tables and chairs, with a bar with cupboards under and behind. top of the wheelhouse, the other On the forward bulkhead of the aft on the lower platform. cabin is a notice board with a photo of the ship and a map of the Agean Sea, the wheelhouse fitted out with which all wheel and look great full detail when the lights are on. The aft capstan has a brass cap on it with the words “Sea Cloud 1931 Kiel’ engraved on it. Total weight is 80 Ibs, total length is 7’. | cheated with the sails which are made from modern material of one and a half ounce spinnaker cloth. Four | have also fitted 98 small lights all over the ship and within, and she certainly looks a picture when lit up (pic top page 10). Five winches control all the sails and spars, standard servo spanker/topsail, channels are used to sail her, the a fifth for the speed controller. This controls the two winches project has been frustrating at times but is now a rewarding one, fulfilling a 43 – year dream of building a fully working model square rigger finally control all 11 jibs/staysails so they can tack over, there is one winch to control the main mizzen spars, control another to mast the realised. foremast spars. 11 The Garnalenschuit for shrimp fishing — Model and story by Hans Staal After my last model, a Wieringer Aak | wanted to build a smaller model which could fit in my car with the sails up and with the false keel attached. Having lived for sev- | will give readers a bit of information about my Garnalenschuit SCH 48 built to an overall hull length of 60 cms and an all up weight of 6 kg (with the false keel attached). | built the model in oak using 6mm frames eral years in The Hague, and with the fishing port of Scheveningen only 3 kms away | also wanted it to vessel from be a the area. | chose the flat bot- tomed —_Garnalen- schuit from 1700-1900 the period and obtained plans from the local fishing and museum. maritime These boats were used for shrimp fishing Coast, but and on the North Sea because at that time the hull planking also in 2.5mm oak. To get the hull plank- ing to the right shape | Scheveningen had no harbour, the ships had to be beached in front of bent’ the planks using the heat of an electric paint stripper, a method that the village and their flat bottoms worked well which was easier to handle than a gas flame. were massively constructed. 12 The deck is pitch pine, the mast, POND WINDS boom and bowsprit made out of oregon pine. The inside of the model is covered with a layer of epoxy in order to make the hull completely watertight. | made the sails from cotton and before | made them they were painted with Dylon, a dye that you put in the washing machine with the material. (If you don’t fancy brown clothes afterwards, make sure that you run the washing machine at least four times before “EITHER | GET A SMALLER you put clothes in !) The model has four channel RC. DOG OR A BIGGER BOAT” The staysail is so small | did not bother to use RC with it. The mainsail is attached to a winch and the spanker has its own winch with a two sheet operation. The electric motor has a speed controller and there is a servo for the rudder. It was not easy to get all that equipment into so small a model. Above is an RC sailing model by WW reader, USA, of the Fred Abbe 21’ in the Sandbagger Shadow built in 1906, the original that is. A lovely guy, Fred wants me to consider doing a coffee-table | sail her on a lake just 2 km from the North Sea and most of the time we have enough wind but the false keel is necessary. generally sail wind force 4. it | can up to book on our wonderful pastime ! BACK ISSUES. Some are still available at usual moderate cost. Let me know. ! eXts ie fe “~ Richard Mayes Decade’ Award Winner. Shiter tte SIunlews Crctaonbolaw By Robert L Summers Courtesy of Bob Hicks (Messing About In Boats) SALT LIKE Yous*s HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ROOKIES 7.4 —— 14 Christmas Card image. The model fishing boat Jean et Renee owned and sailed by Claude Voisin of Montauban, France. Photo use courtesy of both the owner and Swiss Mini Sail. WINDLING is that love of model sailing vessels, and the enjoyment of relaxed sailing without competitive pressure, often with the added benefit of good company of like-minded souls. – rome OE OO — eacee ~ MATTERS NOT * i WHETHER — YOU WIN OR LOSE… “, ~ eid fT ae act ¢ WHAT MATTERS Most TS WHETHER WIN OR LOSES Or the tide A Life should not be a journey to the safely the in an intention old of arriving attractive and well my sideways, Chardonnay in one hand, in the thoroughly used worn and out, other, up body and_ totally screaming friend, A salute to early who wrote and for over the first few Electron legend, model manufacturer, ?) sign pondside (at at most a and years of In some countries it is known water, glide this survive ever known There though? even a (fermented care or attention’) Val now book about it by Harry G Frankfurt, WW- a Philosophy without University. as was the case Moore’s is a_ written Plonk(ing) Suppose you’ve ‘made it’ produces as ~Bullshit.’. class Oh, | hope so ! They are great little boats ! & now 93, by other terms, but in English it is universally graciously. Will Dave (at right) relationship upstream so. with with Hawkins support. eight plonk do noteworthy favoured labelled | Clifford enjoyed a probably ‘brewer’ among with whom | have Footy Survival ? On Footy a friendship indeed worded by Abel !) when the yacht my many blessings, as lake dear to the hearts of windlers, Spencer, Zealand his posted right) New and Infidel. | counted An early once John yacht ‘Gentleman’. Zero tolerance ! late renowned (New Zealand National in my _ books, a true and issues. designer of such famous New Zealand racing boats as Buccaneer Townson, yachting Treasure friend efforts WW, WW “WOO my deserved one with The Des much an who encouraged and supported preserved body, but rather to skid in chocolate but of oe grave with brief mention around, Leroy Professor at Mmmmm eh? ! 16 So Supply exceeds demand I’d say ! Breweries ! of Princeton much Dts 7f. Andrew Charters of Reader, Doug McMain South Carolina built this schooner (below). built the Bluenose schooner below and is looking forward to sailing it, perhaps (he says) against one ofthe She is the Silsbee, a Starling J Elizabeth design by Burgess, launched 1905. aa schooners ie. of Alan Suydam featured in the December ‘05 issue of WW. lan Carter of the UK made this model (below centre) of a originally called the Mull boat Head built on the island of Westray Islands of Scotland). (Northern Orkney The in Laurie model is a ninth scale and is 36” long and original owned by of Bay, New Zealand has built two different Vic Smeed designed boats, a Gosling called Psycho and a radio controlled rudder only. The Manning Stanmore was lan’s family. Starlet he named Kermit, the models seen below (with him and wife). He sails w Brian is part of the regular fleet of boats sailed in Auckland j j Mariners. Ancient with i t ih Auckland’s Ancient Mariners windling group and Cuthbert’s latest boat, (left) a Rival sloop of 1937 vintage design, got involved upon retirement. the leaf) Conti overleaf) (Continued 17 Wasa dat ? Auckland Ron Rule of RC model of the 64-gun Swedish warship Wasa. The real boat launched in built this 1627, capsized Stockholm same harbour year. The in the wreck was discovered in 1956 after extensive research she was raised in and 1961. The model sails well, the masts rotating to sail into amazingly the wind. (Photo by This nice Brixham Trawler (below) Richard was built by Terry Thorpe of Not- Gross). tingham in UK and later sold to another windler. Below is a rum trade schooner built and owned by Rex Rouse of Now lug here !_ A rather nice pearling lugger (above) from John Berridge, a modeller in London who has used a process of building the hull painted strength. out of and then paper which is fibreglassed for The George Bizet is seen on its maiden voyage. Mr Berridge Snr had purchased a Auckland, fullsize boat and taken it to Ceylon sails with the Ancient when windling he had been posted there Onepoto. (that country at that time considered a rather “choice’ posting. 18 New Zealand. group Rex Mariners at ° The Prins Willem was the largest ship at the time of the Dutch East India Company, VOC). (the It was built in 1649 in Middleburg in the Netherlands classified and as a “Spiegelship’. As a result of the start of the first England war with (1652-1654) the vessel was altered to accommodate 40 cannons and was then used as a warship over a period of 3 months, during short which, period for she a was used by the Admiral of the fleet Witte de With. In She 1662 during severe a Madagascar. replica left) was in’ returned to the WW reader, Wim Moonen of the Netherland’s examples of shipmodelling have appeared in this magazine over the years and (at built Holland 1984-1985 and then the harbour of Den Helder within the theme park Capa Holland. storm, she sank near A was Netherlands where she now sits in he has recently completed this incredibly detailed RC sailing model of the Prins Willem. later was shipped to Japan for display at a museum at Nagasaki. (Continued overleaf) 12 (Continued from page 19) The Prins Willem was built to a scale of 1:50 and has an overall length of 155 cm and a beam of 30 cm. The hull is made of selected fine grain oak taken from an old table, all the carvings out of with pearwood, mahogany and teak also used. The winches are made from parts taken from old video recorders. The model took Wim three years to build and it appears from photos he has sent, to have been built in such a way that the entire superstructure ~detatchable — top half makes can be separated from the hull for transporting model in family car. the the transporting easier The model weighs 13kg, 6kg of which is the keel. Wim was keen to make the boat A as light as possible. As we get older, we pay more attention to the weight and size. from this Master Shipwright, in fitting inclusion, this story on a Classic model this last WW. 20 ; Editor Mark writes about his one time trader as Old Blossom | call her the ‘gift’ boat, the trading sloop Blossom (of Bequia), because she was gifted to me by late “Ancient Mariner’ and friend, almost Warren Hastings, then ‘gifted’ to the bottom of our sailing pond at Onepoto in Auckland when she sprang a leak. When we bought another property | gifted her (deck cargo, boat dog and cobwebs included) to Bob Walters who has now brought her back into service, no doubt convinced of my story that she had been regularly bringing Ghobadi Bhaba_ bananas _ into Auckland where they were making me a small fortune. a really (She’s fast boat, you must understand that !). His sailmaker (wife Pam) has run up new sails and Blossom is again being windled (above). He might even let me helm her one day ! New owner Bob (bottom pic) is praying she won’t sink again . . . and has hopes for regular good supplies of those bright yellow island bananas, and other stuff as seen. Behind dog Bob, Mo_ his (the Rear Commodore) is keeping an eye on things! “f v4 Horatio’ s VICTORY – the most famous of Flagships Mark Tindall of Kent, England built this 58” long overall model of Lord Nelson’s VICTORY which he launched in April this year after a one and a half year period of construction. He purposely made the model smaller than his previous boats, as he is unable to lift large displacement models any longer, and of course they have to be transported between home and sailing areas. He chose to model VICTORY in her Trafalgar condition, but without the ugly often contentious davits that are The model required 16 Ibs of ballast and is fully rigged including royals, but minus staysails between the frequently shown. He also decided to show all the gunports open as though cleared for action masts as shown in the lower photo taken in his workshop. 22 The totally ‘effervescent-withenthusiasm’ model yachtsman, Ron (Boatus Uninteruptus) Rule by Mark Steele Ron Rule’ of Auckland, New Mariners Zealand’s Ancient sailing group lives to build and sail and | have always felt that every club or sailing group would benefit hugely not only from someone personality from and interest of humour, in his his but prolific turnout of new models with something often built over the past two or three weeks. He keeps interest high, dares to be different, a bottle boat and a foot-shaped ‘Footy’ with a toeshaped tow boat behind as prime examples ! Had he lived time, he have also known as in Julius Ceasar’s “must have a Plan B” he would probably tell you. (Look closely, there is probably a third model as a Plan C in the car as well !). would been Always prepared to go a bit ‘over Boatus the top’ when participating in any Uninteruptus, as event, he embraces the concept of indeed he is at the windling for what it is intended to be, light-hearted fun and a good referred to pond. day sprinkled with the telling of jokes and the sharing of friendly It is highly unusual rib-poking for Ron to turn up at a sailing lake banter ! with only one boat in the car, garnished with good (Continued overleaf) (Continued from previous page) Born Somewhere in an Auckland suburb in 1932 (which Ron is always quick to add, “was a good year for good looks and bright minds !”) perhaps between _ periods spent as volunteer fireman, ambu- lance driver and chairman of various committees, including volun- his early interest in the water came from when the family lived in the Far North in a house opposite Lake Ngatu where most of his time was teer driving for the Cancer Society, he made beautiful copperwork which spent swimming, making he sold tin through dinghies, rafts and sailing. art galleries. A most varied life fol- lowed here and there At in boat New Zealand _in- the cluding ownership of f[ a fruit shop and _ years show he attended, he met Bob Walters who spent got where in Real when Estate, manag- him involved ing his own company (he adds), “his wife joined him as a receptionist and he offered her ten shillings a week and a perk that she could sleep with the boss !’ He had yacht passionately in model building and sailing which was to become an ‘addiction’. He has now built 21 boats including seven Footy yachts, three Smeed Starlets, a Bluenose schooner, a Thames barge and a square-rigged pirate ship (seen photo above centre). Always bubbling with enthusi- asm is he usu- ally first at the pond with several boats and a few jokes. A really nice guy (he will an aptitude for the arts including copper sculpting and enjoyed motorbikes, off-road cars and model tH! be unbearable now !!!!), | salute Ron Rule ! building. 24 , boa. ; Heard on the Wireless It is time abenine to recall an early con- ~, tributor to Windling World, one who modelled and sailed Windling who for don’t those know. is the us’ of moxtel sik in bouts for hor w mi pleasure, fulaxation and nus, a oppused Scotland. He dressed and looked the part but was always quick to remind all that he was never in ty facie, Serigus racing as sie a Your editor is writing a regular col- umn on windling in The Model Yacht, the quarterly publication of the US Vintage Model Yacht Group. It is edited and produced by Earl Boebert. The first column appeared in May. It is called Windling World and any WW readers interested in a free copy of The Model Yacht can either email Earl with a request at or write to him NE, c/o 9219 Flushing Meadows Albuquerque, NM_ 87111, USA. If you like the magazine after Waswegiats Sandé seeing an issue , it could be worth subscribing to. the navy. He died early and WW chooses to remember Mark Sandy write Cousins, this photo appeared on also plans about in Boats, the WW Cover, April 1997 issue. to periodically continue for to Messing published in the Murray White’s lovely new model USA. He has been writing model yacht articles in that for many years. He also started a regular column ‘Where the winds blow’ of Joshua Slocum’s Spray of which is free to readers. STOP PRESS in Duckworks Online magazine all The ‘ornery = scribbler’ will be scribbling on in praise of little sailing boats. after her launching April 27th in Auckland. Photo by Richard Gross. de} THE (VERY LAST) BIG SHOT Reader, John Butterwith of Devon, England with his Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Jane Winifred after a windle on a cold Spring day. 26 An old Navy Toast) May no son of the r (Losing my) ocean be devoured by his mother’, Bearings A pretty little three-master schooner (below) from Dave Shull whose | ‘ave a luvly little muddle yot that | sail mostly quite a lot, and often when windling I’m mumbling rot, like “Guys I’m in front ” even when lam not ! : ; line-control models were shown in an issue not long ago. | think this one is called Titan. I’m gonna go all ‘seryus poo-umosophical’ now for the last time, as | quote Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): = Moving stuff! SNIFF! SNIFF I; 1 fink | may just wanna cry II! ‘In the love of narrow souls | make many short voyages but in vain | find no sea room, but in great souls | sail before the wind without a watch and never reach the shore’. These little ones (above) are not worrying about anything – they have got a race to sail – must get a good start ! ‘The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.” Mark Twain f watched him prepare to launch, he seemed angry, sad and bitter. a then with great finesse | “At peace with the world, (while shouting “YES !”) Isn’t he just ? Pp he launched his | When a man’s gotta rest, Futaba transmitter ! rest he must !’ EMBRACE WINDLING With those last thawts | exit the AS A HAPPY, Amanat step for one small stuffed bear ! (I ‘litter-ree’ world. Its been one giant RELAXING PASTIME ! fink Ill go write for TIME now !!! cel af Gone Seidling :i TIve gone down to the pond, the wind not yet blowing and the ketch ow the water I’ve placed. There’W be no surprises when the wind risey The day ix aw great one, I’ve nowhere to go and I’m free ax w seabird to choose. The hint ofawindle, it grabbed me at daww with the coloury of morning just hues. TPwa man of the windle, a fan of the wmnde, If yowre wondering why yowre unable to get me, I’ve gone winding, left my cellphone behind. Winding WORD 28