Model Maker: Volume 3, Issue 31 – June 1953

D. J. LAIDLAW DICKSON 36-in. CLASS NATIONAL WE are pleased to record the first National victory for the young Doncaster M.Y. & P.B.C. achieved most convincingly by L. Aldam sailing his “Duck” Katinka, which marked up 66 points in the eighteen heats run. In view of the limited entry—only ten as against twentyseven last year at Clapham—it was possible to run the event without splitting into divisions, more satisfactory, perhaps, to the entrants who always had a chance to make up leeway. Boats were entered from Doncaster, Bradford, Birkenhead, Guildford and Bournville, and the first five places were divided amongst these clubs, so that honours were distributed as widely as possible. Second place went to Jimmy Edwards of Birkenhead with his Ariel, whose low number of 234 indicates a long and interesting past. Jimmy, it will be remembered was mate to “A” Class 1952 winner Yeoman, and showed all the skill expected of so experienced a skipper, being the only entrant to risk sailing with spinnaker set on the second day’s racing. As there seems to be some doubt as to what constitutes a “Duck,” readers may be interested to have their points very briefly summarised as follows:— 1. 2. 3. Flat sheer—dead straight from stem to stern—and uncambered deck. Well-rounded deck edge to decrease windage on the windward side and minimise fuss on lee side when sailing with gunwale awash. The “Duck” Bow. This is the result of abbreviating a 48 in. boat to 36 in., and is achieved by a series of circular arcs teach- ing into the above-water waterlines. Transom-step, which minimises back pressure by ventilating the transom and makes the boat leave an almost clean wake. Some early Ducks lack this feature and have the counter sliced straight off. These features result in a short boat that enjoys the powerful shoulders and quarters of a bigger boat, and with much longer and easier sailing lines than could normally be incorporated on 36 in. L.O.A. As such, “Ducks” in 4. general carry a greater area of sail than other boats in the class. Katinka, the winner appeared to be almost Heading: Winner L. Aldam, in beret, and his mate, with the winning yacht, the duck Katinka Left: “Jimmy” Edwards’ oldtimer Ariel which attained second place largely through the skipper’s sailing skill 320 —— + REPORTED BY June 1953 CHAMPIONSHIPS AT LARKFIELD TARN identical with D. A. MacDonald’s Quackie II which won last year, and keeps the “Duck” flag flying merrily in the 36in. Class. Third boat Mallard was also a “Duck” and finished only three points behind Ariel. Apart from Thanet, sailed again by A. Trueman of Guildford, which came seventh in 1952, none of the boats had competed last year. However, in spite of the reduced entry, the standard of workmanship was high and Larkfield Tarn, Rawdon, Near Braford, was a tricky enough water te tax the skill of all the skippers. Surprisingly enough, this lake is situated nearly 800 feet above Leeds, almost on the highest ground for miles around, being fed by springs. As such it can enjoy some tricky winds, with an area of occasional dead water which succeeded in catching one or two unwary skippers, as on one side is a sloping hillock, and on the other some scattered industrial buildings. The whole of the catwalk surrounding this fairsized lake has been erected by members of the Bradford Club from hard won timber, and is a tribute to their enthusiasm. We were particularly interested to see how Bernard Reeve’s design for MopDEL MAKER would shape on its first public appearance. In the hands of skipper R. Harris from Bournville, Harlequin was by no means disgraced in fourth place. The boat had-only been in the hands of skipper and mate for a week or two, and probably had enjoyed no more than half-adozen evenings’ sailing before this national test. Reference to the detailed results will show that on the run it dropped only four boards, as against the winner’s slightly better figure of three boards lost. On the beat, however, it showed that some further trimming and experiment will be necessary to iron out its teething troubles. Of the ten entries only one this year sported Vane steering. This was the elegant Lamouette from Doncaster, and the complete gear we are “informed weighs only 23 oz. Last boat Sea Hawk had to claims to distinction, being the only hard chine sharpie sailing, and also the only boat with coloured sails, carrying a bright blue suit. No less than three boats had canoeshaped bodies, with similar sterns to bows, including the second boat Ariel. A word of praise is due to H. Chadwick of Bradford, a junior who sailed like an old hand and managed to do very well, particularly on the beats, taking points from some of the leaders, and remaining very definitely the skipper in spite of his years. A_ recently registered boat which should do better in the near future is F. Jenson’s Swift II, which like Tamsin I in foreground, starting a run against the winner Katinka. Centre: A. Trueman’s Thanet sails Curlew II. Right: Lamouette the only vane-geared boat takes it quietly with Tamsin iit just ahead of HiCvVEL MAKER A characteristic shot of the winning boat Katinka getting away clear from her rival of the heat MopEL MAkeEr’s Harlequin the leads blue-sailed sharpie Sea Hawk On the right: K. V. Chadwick his starts Mallard, a boat which took third place Harlequin suffered to some extent from its very newness. A number of boats performing at Larkfield Tarn may also be expected to appear again in the MopEL MAKER Trophy at Doncaster in July, we understand, and will be better by then for additional outings. Meanwhile, we would congratulate one and all on two days’ sporting sailing which undoubtedly resulted in the victory of the best boat—though the longer experience of Ariel’s skipper came near to pulling off a surprise. Heat | No. Name Skipper Club |——-—— ———S— Number | I i[2|3iays 6/7) 8 9 10 NW} 12 13| 14 15 | 16/17 18 Vises bad Steel Ee eso bit | = 726 Katinka L. Aldam | Doncaster | 2 | – 22/222 2/2/12 -{2/2/2/2{/2{2|- 234 | Ariel J. Edwards | Birkenhead 2\/-|2 – | – =|a|- ~|i{2}2/-/2]2 2|2 is 630 | Mallard 535 3/3/33 3 | A. Trueman ics eal an Ks acd nal ac cl al es 3}-|3}-}-1-]3]3/ 3/3] – [3] 3] 3] 33/3 ]3 |K.V. Chadwick Bradford | 818 Harlequin | R. Harris 405 Thanet | Points Place 66 59| 2 | |2/2/2/-|2/-|-|-/-|2/-|2|2|/-/2/-{2)2 SB) F919 fn | Shy a) Sulla fel ad le | peal Fe feelel 3) ats Be Pe fo ese GH | ice ee Guildford 22/2 -|-|- ee aie |== aly IN THIS LOCKING | | | ANGLE | | | This handy addition to the home workshop is based } | | | on an old _ speedometer cable and power is supplied by a portable electric drill. An angle clamp fitted to the bench in line with the drill chuck holds the outer cable firmly in position, and FIXING SCREW HOLES T © me ADAPTOR | OUTER CABLE SET “8 BACK ® THESE a handle (A) of mild steel with an internal diameter (X) equal to the outside diameter of the outer cable is sweated on. The driving nose (B), also of mild steel threaded externally to suit a 0 in. – 1 in. capacity drill chuck, and bored internally (Y) to suit the diameter of the inner cable is also sweated THREAD TO SUIT CHUCK FACES P 72— i | B | THREAD FOR. OTHER ACCESSORIES POLISHED below the end of the handle as shown, and the small collar (D) is adjusted to bring the polished faces of (A) and (B) firmly together. An adaptor (C) is made from mild steel with (Z) threaded internally to suit the thread on the driving nose; and by removing the chuck and fitting the adaptor, grinding and polishing accessories can be used with the unit. on; and when soldering the components (A) and (B) on to the shaft the outer cable is set 4 in. 354