- Description of contents
NOVEMBER 1973 In the Tideway fatigable worker for greater international co-operation Windscreen sticker, 3 in. dia. in blue and white, of Birmingham MYC. We understand that the source of these has. dried up; many clubs ask if there is somewhere to get this sort of thing at reasonable prices — any readers know? South African Yachting Talking to Keith Gerson, Commodore of Durban M.Y.&P.B.C., at Fleetwood, he mentioned that Durban is the only really operative club in South Africa, that at Johannesburg lacking a suitable water and thus only able to sail on visits to Durban twice a year. Durban club has about 80 members and has about 55 M and 10r yachts registered. plus a couple of As. Littlejohn, Witty and Priest designs predominate in the Ms and average about 10 entries per race. The 10s include Crackers, a Warlord and several Follies, a design by C. Gurney of Durban which is basically a stretched-out Littlejohn Cormorant M, giving a 60 in. w.l. and 28 lb. displacement, which can prove more than a match for current designs. Again, about 10 entries per race is average. Their water, built by the Municipality in 1945, is 165 x 65 yd. and 27 in. deep and the club has exclusive use on race days. With Durban’s glorious year-round weather, conditions are excellent and the sport is moving steadily ahead. It is hoped that a new lake will be completed in the Johannesburg area in the not-too-distant future and there will then be the added zest of inter-province competition; there may even be an international in the Republic one day! South African enthusiasts not already in touch can write to Keith Gerson, c/o 684 Umbilo Road, Durban. Club Notes A couple of issues back, readers who detected a slight difference of opinion between power boat and yacht clubs using Witton Lakes will be happy to know that any misunderstanding has been resolved, apologies offered, and the clubs are now entirely happy again. Walter Hood With regret we report the death of Walter Hood, a founder member in 1931, of Swindon M.P.B.&E.C., and ‘father’ of the type of steam launch for which Swindon is still known. With his steamer Truant Wally won all the major steering trophies in the South in pre-war days; although he was less active after the 1950s he never lost his interest and will be missed by many club members. Leroy C. Bartlett We also regret to report the sudden death of Col. Leroy C. Bartlett in California. Although not perhaps widely known outside America, ‘Bart’ was an inde- a on the model scene; his current main interest was R/C yachting but he retained interest in vane sailing, scale type power boating and model engineering in general and was a natural gentleman who will be very hard to replace. Daisy Vanner For as long as many can remember the slight figure of Daisy Vanner has been a familiar sight at southern regattas. Indeed, she was at the St. Albans weekend only a few weeks ago and the thought that we would not have her very long in our midst had been voiced by several people. It will not come as a shock to learn that she passed away in her chair on the night of the 17th September after a life span of 84 years. Married to former President of the M.P.B.A., Ted Vanner, Daisy had lived for model boating all the years of her married life and when Ted passed on she con- tinued to join in. While she could she was an able assistant at many of the small tasks that helped us to enjoy our sport and, at the same time, they gave her much pleasure and satisfaction in the performance. We have, sadly, heard for the last time the ‘First Lady of Model Boating’ making her annual thank you to the members of the M.P.B.A., but we say thank you, Daisy, for having helped us so much in the past; the memory of you and Ted will long remain with the model power boat fraternity. — Jim King FROM THE M.P.B.A. PRESIDENT Dear Model Boaters, Subject: NAVIGA 1975. WELWYN GARDEN CITY My reason for this appeal is to ask for cooperation from every member of the M.P.B.A., whether he or she is internationally minded or not. Your Naviga 75 Committee is now getting its teeth into the nitty gritty of the organisation of this event, and is trying to the best of its ability to make it one to be remembered. I am now asking each and every one of you for any ideas and/or suggestions (obviously of a constructive nature) however insignificant you think they are, also including the ones that you are sure ‘they have already thought of’. August 1975 may seem a long way off but some inquiries we have made for hiring, buying or begging are met with replies that these were booked ped year, so please do not hesitate to send in your etters. As I see this appeal, it ensures that all members are seemingly attending an International Committee meeting and, most important, nothing is overlooked to make the European Championship in England a great success and free of any criticism, however small, after the event. Frank Bradbury, President, M.P.B.A. Address all correspondence to: 30 Greenpark Road, Northenden, Manchester 22 461 a a TS MODEL BOATS 1973 BRITISH MARBLEHEAD CHAMPIONSHIPS Bournville, 25-27 Aug. Report by M. Harris HE 1973 ‘M’ Class Championships were held at – Bournville on the 25th-27th August. There were originally 27 entries from 11 clubs but, unfortunately, one of the Scottish entries had to withdraw at short notice. This entailed completely rewriting the racing schedules. Bournville members had put in a lot of hard work to prepare for the race. The lake had been sprayed with Anticide to destroy weed, but as it turned out, this action had not been taken soon enough. Parts of the lake had pieces of partly destroyed weed floating, which made the racing a bit of a lottery on the first and last days. The wind conditions over the weekend varied from light ‘A’ rig beat and run to zero any direction. The O.0.D., Mr. Joe Meir, started the racing at 10 a.m. and said he was intending to sail 10 heats the first day. Racing commenced, and after six heats boats going well were Pterodactyl 27, Sweep 25, Aeolus 23, Martini 20 and Miffy 19. Racing finished for the day after nine heats had been completed under trying conditions. The leading boats were Pterodactyl 34, Sweep 35, Aeolus 33 and Miffy 32. Sunday was probably the best day of the race. It was cold and a lot of the weed had sunk to the bottom; nevertheless, as on every morning of the Championship, the Bournville members, aided by some of the competitors, turned to and dragged the lake. The racing commenced at 9 a.m., and as a dinner was being held in the evening racing was to be terminated early. The O.0.D. said he intended to do eight heats. The wind was steadier and had a little more weight in it on this day. During the first two days of the Championship, two members of the Durban MYC who had competed at the ‘A’ Class Championships at Fleetwood, visited Bournville. Unfortunately, they had to leave on the Sunday to return their hire car to London, but while at Bournville both of them had taken part in the racing. On the Saturday, Mike had helped Bryan Jones sail Shazzan as the skipper, Harold Dovey, had to go to a wedding. Harold sailed four heats and then dashed for the church. He was probably the only one in the congregation carrying a five-foot pole and wearing plimsolls! The other South African, Keith Gerson, had the pleasure of sailing with Chris Dicks. His comments as he was leaving were ‘I’ve never learned so much in such a short time’. The Sunday racing was carried on at a fairly fast pace due to the better wind conditions. Leading boats at the conclusion of 17 heats were Pterodactyl 67, Aeolus 63, Sweep 62, Sir Prancélot 57. The Bournville dinner was held in the evening Top, Harry Briggs and Chris Dicks had a guying match out and back; both dropped their spinnakers shortly after this picture was taken, Second, Dick Seager’s Aeolus leaves the bank while Aqua-Jet approaches. Third, Bill Sykes (far boat) off, and bottom, Graham and Bryan Jones ready for the Reeves and one of the welcome * Williams. East Anglian 3 entrants, C. 478 NOVEMBER at the Rowheath Pavilion near the lake. Guests included Ken Jones, Commodore of Birkenhead MYC, and his wife; Ken had the pleasant duty of proposing the health of the club on its 50th anniversary. The final day dawned sunny and with a fickle swinging wind. The O.O.D. stated that he would halt the racing at 3.30 p.m. and do outstanding resails. Four heats had been completed by 1 p.m. and the O.D.D. stopped the racing and told the competitors that he was only going to carry on sailing the heats which affected the top seven boats, these being Prerodactyl, Sweep, Aeolus, Sir Prancelot, Shazzan, Martini and Road Runner. Only one more heat was sailed, as by now the wind had died to real drifting conditions. Some confusion arose when the resails were being done as Sweep had a resail with one of the Scottish boats. When the resail was to take place it was found that the owner had packed and left for home. As the resail could not Position 1973 be taken this caused a tie for 3rd place between Aeolus and Sweep. The prizes were presented by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to the winner and runners-up. Chris Dicks broke his normal tradition and made a speech thanking the O.O.D., officials, the Bournville Club for hosting the event and the ladies of the canteen for keeping the competitors supplied with tea and meals. So ends the 1973 Championships, amongst a storm of controversy as to the suitability of the venue. The club did more than was necessary to try to ensure that the water was clear. Some clubs boycotted the event as a protest. This is not an attitude that encourages support at other venues. Inland lakes with tricky conditions produce patient skippers. It was noticeable that some boats’ mast positions, while fine for sailing in fresh breezes, caused many to have difficulty in beating in light conditions. No. Boat Skipper Club Design Points 1 1775 2 3 Pterodacty| 1911 1928 Sweep Clapham Fleetwood Clapham C. Dicks — Pterodacty! C. Dicks — Pterodacty| Seager — Aeolus 89 1811 Sir Prancelot Aeolus C. Dicks 1686 1800 Martini Shazzan 5 6 ra 1803 8 KS72 1804 1797 Miss Conduct Capella Cachuca i’d 1916 1910 1842 1922 1794 1943 1893 Lady Luck Topcat Kazak Norfolk Lass “FE Bilbo Baggins Miffy Scapa wir KS260 9 10 11 12 13 14 » é ; 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 = | «61765 1929 1818 1917 1792 1900 1616 726° Road Runner Twister = ~» Oriel Sharon Ichthyosaurus Wagwun ~G@? “a : a’ ¥- Aqua-Jet Snowy > Gin Fizz On Sunday, 8th July, R. and D. Harvey, all members ventured forth at the crack their models around Mersea All four boats are of the powered by Merco 61 the fuel capacity and, D. Priestley D. Seager W. Sykes M. Dovey H. Dovey M. J. Harris J. Mathieson J. Beatty K. Roberts R. Noble B. Tibbets |. Taylor W. Grint H. Briggs G. Reeves K. Armour D. Cowie D. Pratt M. Hopkins G. Danks C. Williams G. Griffin M. Taylor J. Hyde M. Ongers Prior, P. Yates, R. Newman of Mid-Essex Boat Modellers, of dawn (5.00 a.m.) to drive Island, off the coast of Essex. Tiburon design and all are engines. The only difference is in externally, superstructures and hatches. The the different ideas on 124-mile trip includes a distance of 14 miles through the West Mersea moorings with a speed limit of 5 m.p.h. To make it fair, each boat was timed through this area — the time allowed was 15 minutes, anything under or over being adjusted to this in the overall time. It is not possible to navigate completely round the island due to a causeway known as the ‘Strood’ which connects the island to the mainland. The idea was, therefore, for two models and chase boats to start from the south side to finish on the north. The other two models and operators would then be picked up to do the course, finishing on the south side. The weather was ideal — bright sunshine with a force three blowing on-shore. Richard Prior was the first away and soon disappeared round the bend in the creek. Three or four minutes later Don Harvey followed after him. Both boats negotiated the moorings with no problems. Don overtook Richard just south of East Mersea where Richard was refuelling as rapidly as possible. He soon took off after Don but a few yards on the prop shaft in his model Bournville Bournville Bournville Bournville Sykes — Sweep Harris/ Dovey — Martini Lewis — Loop 2 Shepherd — Step 2 Paisley Birmingham Birkenhead C. Dicks — Pterodacty| Shepherd — Step 2 Cleethorpes Stollery Fleetwood C. Dicks — Mod. Pterodacty!| Draper — Sailplane Southgate Norwich Stollery — Hector Adams Cleethorpes H. Briggs — Bilbo Baggins Leeds & Bradford Paisley Shepherd — Step Out — Bournville Dovercourt Bournville Birmingham Harwich Cleethorpes Bournville Clapham Bournville Lewis — Mod. Loop 2 Witty — Kingfin Draper — Sailplane Witty/Harris Mod. Wasp Draper — Sailplane Witty — Mod. Bambi Draper — Aquaplane Stollery Harris/Dovey — Martini 76 73 73 71 69 67 61 59 58 56 54 51 50 50 50 49 49 49 42 37 36 34 30 29 25 Round the Regattas or, more correctly, round Mersea Island Three of the four boats which took part — the fourth had left when the picture was taken.
