Windling World: April 1996

April 1996 Nova Scotia’s Rene’s BIG Boa ts | John Spencer 1931-1996 fa WIND Kiwi designed and Kiwi built WARRIORS At the helm. the night before themselves into had almost stoned moronic senselessness on beer and spirits, and a few had erased themselves and or some poor victim out of this Last dusk, first dawn. world in which I now windled so I was determined to conclude 1995 with an activity that I peacefully. secretly hoped the ‘new’ year would include Not that I don’t enjoy company, but plenty of, so it was while others in Spice, rigging her with her largest your editor is a simple man, who the older he gets often finds both solace and pleasure in simple moments, and an activity such as a solitary sail in noiseless conditions that is quite rare in the noisy world sail, and quietly launching her into we inhabit. New Zealand were either lazing away the last few hours of sunlight within a rapidly dying year, I was unloading the Fun Fellow /sland the waters of Onepoto. on There was nobody to be seen, and That it was /sland Spice | chose to windle away an hour at last dusk of the old and first dawn of the new while the last remnants of the sun with, for me had meaning. Within made the my past ‘life chapter’, the islands of breeze moved the yacht up and down,and the Caribbean had been ‘home’, and in June I will be closing another across the lake effortlessly, and I chapter repeatedly affectionate Auckland’s north shore. exit, occasion where I was while I a brought stood, enjoying gentle her so close that to when downwind I could hear the water with – a lengthy fulltime another group period of association of lovely islands…those of Fiji. ripple in her wake. The next morning – the first day of The 1996, I was back again before 7.30 reported for the first windle in a then brand essentially used in a racing sense new here in Auckland. A nice, well built and _ still unspoilt year. exciting on in this little Warrior’s issue yacht, are Doubtless I thought at the time, the and morning radio would tell of bad windle equally well which can be news somewhere – perhaps even of said for any radio controlled yacht, so it is only change of affitude that a fatal accident after the revellers of attractive Wind they is required in order to do either, rather than a change of boats. We also look at Canada in this issue – and at big Rene Serrao’s equally big sailboats out in Nova Scotia, among other aspects within the world of fun sailing. I won’t wish anyone a happy new year, instead I’ll just say: Enjoy this first issue within the three month and a bit old 1996, and make every present day count. You can do worse than windle my friends, for a windle is far divorced from a wasted moment ! Enjoy ! Mark Steele Nate written in the form of a personal tribute, what I hope will enable some of you who knew little of the man other than he ‘designed boats’, to gain a better insight on the world of a man who dared and succeeded in being ‘different’. That item is includéd in this issue starting on page 7. He was different right through to the end – his private cremation just yesterday (7th March 1996) in the northern city of Whangarei, and | feel terribly honoured and proud to have been included in the less than a dozen persons he wanted only to be present. I will not talk about that for he would want it that way. (Mark Steele) Publisher/Editor. Windling World anon profit specialist magazine with limited circulation and available only on subscription. This issue had been written, typeset and only requiring paste-up, when my good friend, supporter and advisor, fellow ‘Keeper of the dream’ and regular contributor John Spencer died suddenly at nine minutes past six in the afternoon on Publisher/Editor Mark Steele. Keepers of the dream: John Spencer Mark Steele Ken Impey Tony Searle Monday 4th March. Editorial Address I have decided to hold back what will be his last “Spencer on windling! until the August issue – instead have Forrest Hill, Auckland 42 Trinidad Road, NEW ZEALAND. Phone & Fax O9 410 4402. STAN AND GORGE… Talking about their girls ! “they are grand old ladies alright” Stan Butcher who lives in Milton, Loeston-Super-Mare, and George Marsh who lives in Clevedon, north Somerset are friends – both highly enthusiastic builders and sailors of gracious looking model sailing vessels. Their creations came to my notice in August last year, when the former’s superb ketch ‘Irene’ and George’s equally impressive Grand Banks schooner ‘Elsie’ appeared in Marine Modelling magazine, the photos taken by Chris Jackson at a scale sailing day held at Woodspring. I wrote to each of them, we started corresponding, and Stan & George opened up and started talking about ‘their girls’. Ye Gads ! the cads ! How could they ? According to Stan, the ‘About my own Irene, she has a 43 inch length, a half inch short of a foot beam and a draught of five and a half inches. She was my first effort at building a plank real full size Trene’ was built in Somerset in 1907 – 85′ in length and with a beam of 2I’ – a draught of 9′ and was the last boat ever to be built at Bridgewater. She is still sailing today, owned by a Leslie Morrish and is the subject of a book by him called ‘Good night Irene’. on frame hull and I actually used plans of a trading ketch by Harold Underhill, cutting out the twenty odd shadows for the frames using quarter inch ply, then mounting these to a jig using one-eighth of an inch and three eighth of an inch ply Jor planking. Two coats of resin on the inside made it all very stable. I also got in touch with the real Irene’s owners who invited me on board, and heaps ofphotos taken helped immensely with deck detail, her sails then made by my good friend Stan Butcher, Ray ownet-builder complete and she handles well in a good and skipper of the ketch Jrene stiff breeze.’ seen top right. ‘About Davis. She took me a year to ELSIE, Mark’ – (this is George Marsh’s tattle tale – Ed) ‘I have had two ELSIE’s in my life, the long version and the short version. The former concerns a frame. He then became converted and wanted one too so a GRP hull eventuated. I made the first ‘Elsie’ in 1970, then sold her when I moved back to Somerset. The original ‘Elsie’ was 124 feet long by the way. My present ‘girl’ as I have said, has ‘The first Elsie which I made in 1970 (above) and below right showing her paces’. Centre pic at right is of Stan’s ketch Irene, pic below in this column is of George’s current Elsie. man from your country. Back in April 1970 in Model Boats I saw the plans of the Shearwater by New Zealander MWP.Russell so I built one in fibreglass and took her to the lake where I met a John Mayger (not the Prime Minister geezer !) sailing his square rigger, and he said to me why not build a boat like my ‘Water Witch’ (his) ? Back at his house 1 went through book after book until I decided on ‘Elsie’ and built her plank on a GRP hull, she is decked in mahogany, deck fittings of pear and apple tree timber, a mast of pine, and blocks handmade of Hickory. She’s got five pounds of lead in the hull, a Jurther six straight along the keel. On the water, d, ee sp of rn tu od go a up s ck pi e sh , Mark and she certainly seems to command attention ! She’s a grand lady allright !’ Stan has also built a lovely looking Colin Archer, and among George’s fleet is an equally impressive Le Havre pilot boat ‘Jolie Brise’. Maybe down the track in a future issue I’ll show you these. Very many thanks to both gentleman for photos and details. (Editor) The ‘Whale’s Tale Geoff sorted out the fleet in the league round in Napier, it would not surprise me if he won the one metre Nationals Fah…Mate ! Anyway how are you doing with your Windling I say Wyde, you were around in 1915 so you would remember the ill-fated schooner Strathcona built by Chas Bailey Jnr. Well Titchenor wrote about her in Marine Scene last year, and Falmouth World subscriber efforts… Mate ? We need to push the present total of 800 up…hang on – there is one zero too many in that – it should be 80. ee. ty = model builder Ken Impey who got the article from Mark, has a magnificent RC model based on this boat about to be launched. Watch it Fah ! I’d be 81 if I was born in about 1915, Impey’s Grace Mary. back but I boat do called Anyway from Fiji discovered this know the I’m just where I magnificent hundred foot schooner Whale’s Tale and did a day cruise on her. She would make a real beaut RC I got two more last month, but I agree, let’s try or we will never get the ice cream cone each that Editor has promised us. Anyway let you and I ‘drag’ between now model. and the next issue, and see who I understand Ed’s new boat may be okay Fah ? What’s that ? No,we can get the most new subscribers a gaffer, if and when it is ever built. don’t need to wear fishnet Her fibreglass hull is quite a stunner stockings and wigs “Ballast Head’ and is exactly like Dave Heanly’s – or use Mascara ! I meant have a Shamrock seen with Dave. You know I would not “drag’ race ! Sometimes I worry about you mind getting one of those Aussie skiff’s like Geoff Davies Mate. The way Fah ! I really do. STOCKINGS AND WIGS ! You know I Sundays ! only wear that on John Spencer passed away at his home *Kimiroa’ on Deeming Road just up the rise from the car ferry landing at Okiato, Russell in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, suddenly and quietly in the late afternoon, Monday 4th March 1996. Just about that time, two of his close friends, Peter Taitt and the Editor were supping with husband and wife Doctors, Evan & Ann Begg in Wellington, all the while extolling to them the many Spencer talents and wizadry as a yacht designer, Evan’s recently completed Spencer 2.4m Firebug already admired in the Begg’s garage. John’s passing has left hundreds of admirers and connections within the yachting arena both here and overseas saddened, and this Melbourne born legend who achieved success as designer of so many boats from the Flying Ant through Cherub’s and Javelin’s, to the 18.8m all-black hard-chine plywood rocket ship Jnfidel that set a TransPac class record and is believed to be still on the US West Coast, Buccaneer a 22.2 metre plywood Maxi, for Tom Clark (now Sir Tom Clark) and in 1971, New World -a20.8 m schooner for US shipping magnate George Kiscaddon, among so many other Spencer creations. Well known for his monthly columns FRESH PERSPECTIVE in Boating New Zealand (he was voted the most well read columnist in the magazine) John also had a great interest in youth, and this no doubt resulted in his creation of the 2.4m easy to build Firebug now being so successfully presented by Peter Tait and with over eighty sets of plans sold throughout New Zealand and overseas. Indeed the very day before his death, I was proudly handing over two of these completed boats, Fiji Fun and Fiji Friend, to the Lake Brunner Yacht club – sponsored by Fiji and destined for youth training in the waters adjacent to Moana in Westland. Peter Tait and I knew that John was pleased. His interest in radio yachting is well documented elsewhere – he was the Inter- national One Metre Technical Secretary, and although a back injury of many years ago made his life merry hell (he named two of his own one metre designed Continued on page 8 7 Continued from page 7 yachts Sheer Hell and Merry Hell) he enjoyed and supported the concept of windling, wrote for the Editor’s publication’s Fiji ONE and of course was a fellow keeper of the dream and regular columnist to this magazine. His ‘Fiji Magic’ RC schooners whose permission to include in their Traplet plans service he gave willingly to UK’s MARINE MODELLING, continue to be in steady demand (Barry Gibson’s ERIC launched in Australia can be seen in this issue). My own Fijipsy Jack seen on the back page was built by John specially for me – in fact he took the photograph in the driveway of his sanctuary ‘Kimiroa’ within which so many have spent many hours talking, and in my case listening and learning from the man I took to Fiji and later christened, Ratu Sir Jone’. He gave help and advice willingly and did not suffer fools lightly, had a memory as sharp as the sharpest of blades, wrote all letters and articles in longhand, had no phone and no fax, and only recently (so that he could see the last America’s Cup) indulged in a TV set. He was a prolific correspondent, his letters to me almost always bearing doodles of schooners in island waters which he knew that I loved as much as he did – and other boats. These were his most recent – on two letters that awaited my return to Auckland after John had slipped away. John Spencer is already missed, and his passing already mourned. This quiet recluse whose photograph shown above I took on my last visit this year, had a keen sense of humour and enjoyed occasional moments of hearty chuckling. Those who may have dispensed with him and considered him not worthy of friendship are the losers.Those like Susie and those like Keith Kear (his best friend), Peter Tait and I, revelled in being his friends and this tribute is on behalf of those mentioned and any others who may consider they share these sentiments. My trips north will never again be the same for me. His last article for WW I have decided to hold and publish in the August issue. Let out those sheets John, may the ride be lengthy and rekindle memories of Infidel and Black Panther as you race downwind, the breeze upon your neck, the taste of the sea upon your lips. Fair sailing in that great big pond in the sky old chap, we are all the richer for having known you. Good windling, iy many Vinaka’s, and the warmest and most sincere of goodbyes. Mark Steele Grant was also producing a very nice little RC yacht called a Wind Warrior. I immediately roped Grant onto our Sail-Ex °95 event organising committee and several of his boats that he designs and constructs, were on hand for the day in question. In mid February 96 I caught up with him again for the purpose of taking a few photos for this article dealing with what in reality is a high quality little yacht designed along the lines of a modern harbour racer, that responds well and looks the real thing when fitted out with computer cut graphics on a nice paint job. –\Warriors– on the Wind. The Editor has a go with the home grown Wind Warrior’s. Grant McKinnon of Auckland is a keen big boat sailor and owns a Townson 22, Pied Piper Class called Jnfatuation which he sails out of Buckland’s Beach Yacht Club – one of Auckland’s biggest yacht clubs. I was put onto Grant last year by Des Townson who told me that The Wind Warrior specifications are 670mm length, 235mm beam, 26Omm draft and a mast height of 870mm. Grant has built and sold some thirty-five to date, and each Thursday eight to ten Wind Warriors can be seen at Bucklands Beach YC marina with skippers hard at play on a set course. One of Grant’s own two boats which he races as well as using for demonstration purposes has it’s fibreglass hull in black and livery like Black Magic – right down to the sponsors advertising and the silver fern on the hull. I did not ask Continued on page 10 Continued from page 9 him, but I suspect its name must be Black Magic. Wind Warrior sails are made of three quarter oz polyster with provision made for adjustments to alter trim in different conditions, and spars are tapered aluminium. Sail Day’s, demo days, all class regatta’s – call them what you like, are they important or a waste of time, do they achieve the desired effect of drawing outsiders into the sport or hobby of model yachting (or radio yachting, depending on which description you personally favour) or do we just get on quietly with ‘our thing’ and ‘to bleedin blowflies ‘ with anybody else ?’ Having a go myself after some photography, I found the black boat not only highly responsive, but she ran true on the wind, and bolted out of the blocks in the fresh conditions each time it was behind her. They looked good too and although they are not claimed to be scale models, After all, the more boats on the water the less room on the pond for you and I who just want to ‘windle’ peacefully, eh ? The more boats on the water, the more ‘frequencies’ the more likelihood of somebody else sailing “your ‘’ boat when you thought you were !_ Do we need them – HEY – PISH OFF AND GO these boats are very realistic on both the hard and on the water. What’s more, at the price of NZ$650 ready to sail (in other words complete with radio gear) PLAY PING PONG ! it depends on where one stands Well does it not. If you are of the purely racing kind who must at all costs sail to compete, and who get their adrenalin from weekly competition for this trophy or that trophy, and what you get for what you pay represents an exceptionally good deal. They are also suitable as an ideal learning tool for beginners, and as a boat just to windle with others or on your own…ideal. 10 for whom fun sailing or ‘windling’ is aimless and pointless – and who still is a ‘camaraderie’ think that photographic accessory (one chap told me his grandmother made the most beautiful camaraderie – 1 think he thought it was a ‘jam! !) then I would tend to think that you would see the wisdom in getting new people into the fold so that racing does not ultimately die from the smaller and smaller fleet syndrome. Standing on the windling podium, since starting this magazine and Whether we face up to it or not, we doing a bit of ferreting, it has been all die (Okay so I’m dead, I don’t plainly evident that there are a great care if there are two boats or twenty many people (to be fair, two racing Buster !) but aside from moreso dying, it is an accepted fact that building and the leisurely sailing, even on in the their UK) own perhaps who – and enjoy just passers-by while they windle for enjoyment, the sailing models that they own and may well have also created. For that reason, I think that sail days have a very valid reason for being held periodically. When held, presumably people who what with family come to watch are attracted by the idea (and we have all had childhoods where sailing models we enjoyed and remember well) and by having a programme of either fun racing and free sailing or demonstrating with maybe seven or eight different options or types of available boats, some interested spectators may find exactly what they are looking for. commitments, other sporting commitments, acute lethargy, what’s on TV that day, fleet numbers have and continue to dwindle – certainly here in New Zealand, there must be some concern and surely there must be a need to see new sailors emerging ? Continued on page 15 11 Stretching it in Nova Scotia. The YNjud humping Wiindler creator of the BIG Serrao’s. Rene Serrao (it was thanks to Chris Jackson writing in Marine e Modelling, July 95 issue),who first brought his name to my attention. Rene – who lives in Nova Scotia having had a look at the John Spencer Why not’ one metre plan, decided it was a bit small for his liking and decided to scale it up to a four foot long version. Since then, a Serrao five footer and a six foot long version have been built by Rene, culminating in the creation of ‘Mud Thumper’ no less than eight feet in length but not a development of the ‘Why Not’ style. Instead she is styled more on a _ modern A big yacht for a big man – “Mud Thumper’ dwarfs it’s creator ! America’s Cup or 10 Rater type round bottom hull, and features a retracting canard for reducing wetted surface and enhancing downwind performance (as Rene pointed out) © like that used in ELLIOTT MARINE. This boat weighs in at 38 pounds and her 110 inch long mast supports 2,700 square inches of mainsail and jib. We have been in correspondence for some time now and Rene is also a subscriber to WW and is also . President of the Maritime Ship Modelers Guild, Rene (from his photographs) is a big chap so it is understandable why the one metre he considered a mite small. 12 their newsletters to be a very ‘[ am also building a 1:8 active group, with Rene obviously ; scale full rig half model very much the driving force. They River Rat’ Rene. centre shopping at work Exhibitions and at County Fair’s. hold picnic regattas, show their of my latest cat schooner a van > \. It is great to have someone like Rene’ Serrao as a subscriber to WW – his enthusiasm seems to know no bounds , and he is enjoying his windling in Scotia, Canada. Rene is also an accomplished illustrator. his Maritime Ship io ee ey er Modelers Guild newsletters full of humorous sketches – this one . showing the dangers of “eal ccna The Serrao’ 5′ is now a class with thirteen registered or listed, and / : regattas are planned, and if any readers in New Zealand fancy the idea of building one, the Editor holds plans very kindly sent by Rene – of both the four and five footer’s. In fact he would dearly like to see a Serrao built in New Zealand. The Nova Scotia MARITIME SHIP MODELERS GUILD appears from You can write to Rene Serrao c/o Maritime Ship Modelers Guild, 1675 Lower Water St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1S3 Canada, 13 Nova Ltsetherah Secret Spy camera seen on Trimaran ! KOLUMN These days everbody is spying on everybody else, and Alan Hayes has been no exception – seen one Sunday with what he referred to as a ‘Tri-Cam’ -mounted on his Mini 40. .. and we don’t mind if our yots don’t RATE whatever that It was not the other Ghost Train of means, because WE are all Editor’s Fun Fellow Jsland Spice, determined (it was reported) to ascertain PREPARE TO WINDLE ! so bewtiful ! 9% Heerdigan he was photographing, but the why the Fun Fellow in question was so consistently fast ! (Later he even had the trimaran deliberately up-ended, the mast and the pod bearing the camera under the water in order to photograph the keel of the Editor’s boat !) It seems spying is not confined to the America’s Cup ! i Peter Muntgrimarie report from Naughty Gal News. “3+ Z ‘k: ia It’s a fact ! Just after the Editor had handed over two “Just because I’m little does notmean ay yacht can’t e an seery-us-lee ! new Fiji sponsored (Spencer designed) Firebugs to _— the Lake Brunner Yacht Club at = Moana, Daniel Lowe who built es par Fiji Fun an; d Fiji Friend pre : to test sail the latter in early March. (Photograph by Mark Steele) John Spencer Kids photosfrom Barry Gibson Ri eo in Victoria, Australia. aA For racing or windling, Tony Abel’s 1 Metre N I R A D N A M Tony Abel Model Racing Yachts Petersfinger Noon’, of ‘High Road, Salisbury and UK good several produced yachts, in looking one his have metre *“MANDARIN’ is no exception. tid ‘Continued ‘from page 11 Bob Capon of Poole in Dorset puts on two or three ‘Sail Days’ each year – attractions that “show and tell’. ‘Cruisers’ or windlers take great delight in bringing their boats to Seen these, where there are no prizes to available as a kit from the makers be won, and as we have done in at Auckland twice with Sail-£x, there Zealanders of two hundred and has been good sailor participation and good public attendance. Several new people have also been wooed and now sail, people who have unusual model craft and who dort normally sail regularly have attended, and I tend to feel that such days have good value and are well worth the effort. What’s more, a the quoted ninety Mandarin cost pounds, for fifty is New pence including delivery. Alternatively, hull and drawings (including parcel post delivery totals sixty nine pounds. (including Drawings postage) costs only nine pounds. The hulls available are of course GRP. A cedar wood kit (for those who like to plank yachts) is another alternative. these types of occasions usually bring out the best in all of us ! above, Looking at the plan that I was kindly sent by Tony, methinks it would make a nice little boat for Sunday windling. *in New Plymouth in boisterous conditions in it’s first outing, it spent 80% of it’s time upside down’ e c n a m r o f r e p h g i h a is 0 4 i n i M The r (o ks ea fr d e e p s r fo e n i h c a m g sailin f o t bi a o d to ke li o h w for those o n y ll ua rt vi th wi d n a !) g n i w ro l ia nt te po d te mi li un is e er rules, th to d e e n o n d n a t, en pm lo for deve t gh ri e h t e s u o t g n i v a h t u worry abo d n a e l d d i m e th n w o d t li sp the hull e h T . s m a e b f o e l p u o c a h t i joined w it d n a d e s u l il st e ar gs ri old it ct fa in ns io it nd co l al in performs t ar e th f o e at st y m p u d ne clea d ce ra I me ti t rs fi e th an ar trim against it ! d e t c i r t s e r n u e h t n e v i G materials. e b n a c it , s s a l c e h t nature of o i d a r l al h t i w s a , t u b expensive n a s A . e b o t e v a h t o n s e o yachts it d n i n a r a m a t a c e n o is e r e h t example, w e N f o a e r a h t u o m y l P w the Ne e n o a s a fe li d e t r a t s t a h t d Zealan , y a w a n w o r h t s a w l e e k metre. The 16 The Mini 40 class was conceived by a group of Paris based modellers For those thinking of getting into this exciting area of radio yachting, who already had the larger 2M class but a lake that was too small, and their wisdom told them that it was easier to make their boats smaller those in Auckland can get in touch than to enlarge the lake. a little practice, they don’t tip over with me for a trial sail. They are a lot of fun, and contrary to popular belief, multihulls do tack and, after all the time. Multihull sailing in New Zealand started in New Plymouth – always first to a good thing these guys who were the first to show real interest The most recent regatta in New Plymouth in January saw two Ghost Train boats (Noel Heerdigan’s and and commitment with one metres. mine) arriving late on a Saturday There dozen night for a Sunday morning regatta. another At the lake we found the NP crowd are multihulls now in half N.P a with about to be launched. Eugene Amor having is McCullough designed Ghost Train everyone took turns at ‘cartwheeling’ that evening, until a and there are now three of these, very strong squall one in New Pymouth and the other fleet requiring a rescue craft to pick two (one of which is mine) up all the boats. moulding hulls to the Andy in Auckland. I have been interested in multis for a few years, and after building my boat (with help of some masts off a not so old RM) I found sailing it so it took another two months to make time to have it painted. Short Sharp Shock had it’s first outing in competition in New Plymouth in boisterous conditions, spending 80% of the time upside down, but I returned a couple of months later having learned pretty quickly, and the attitude of my boat had reversed and so had the race results. secret practice, and decimated the On the Sunday morning after a few warm up races for much fun, a_ a midday conditions, start Bruce in moderate Ewing’s own design tri thEwing Thing winner of the first regatta, had a bad start and capsized, and as_ continued, Short the racing Sharp Shock commenced taking line honours and eventually the regatta from Ewing, Noel’s Snoopy and Eugene Amor’s Miss Charlotte. A great time with a great deal more learnt about both design and the beasts’. ,i ? Alan Hayes sailing of these eal ail, ‘Leura to ‘Lingalonga’ down Auckland way. ? a at em it /a [4 e th le nd wi t ee fl ly mi fa Sirebug Mark Steele enjoys a morning with a difference without even taking to the water Chevalier The idea started way back in October last year, after the first issue of Windling World had made its appearance – a discussion between Peter Taitt (the man behind the Firebug project) and the Editor. Sticking to my beliefs that sailing does not necessarily have to be competitive I suggested that the windle concept could even include sailing dinghy outings provided they were leisurely, and had a and of friendship good content camaraderie in the way they were carried Sailing Club on the inner reaches of the Waitemata harbour, an hour prior to an Auckland high tide. It does not take long to nig a Firebug, and with young Chris sailing his Kingfisher, Jamie and friend aboard Get a Grip, it was left only for Peter to cast off aboard Sprite, with the coloured sails rapidly filling by a ten to fifteen knot breeze from the north that saw the trio under sail towards Eric Armishaw Park near the Western motorway, where I rejoined them armed with the all important bag of coffee and refreshments. out. (By the way. if you check your New Zealand Pocket Oxford Dictionary, camaraderie is described as Comradeship, mutual trust and friendship, all of which fit snugly into what I perceive as good ingredients to windling.) Much discussion and many telephone conversations followed – this all leading to the morning of January 22nd when Peter and his two sons, along with a friend of one of them, and a car with a triple-deck trailer (known as the ‘Pancake Stack’) with three de-rigged John Spencer designed Firebug’s met me at Point With the 2.4 metre yachts up on a sandbar a couple of metres from the park, we lingered a bit longer than intended, photographed the yachts before it was time to take advantage of the fresh nor easterly that would take the trio off on the Jn coming issues… wind for the sail north to Point Chevalier beach, second intended landfall, In head inshore from way out in the centre of amid much attention from school holiday Further Cliff Hawkins – from refreshment – dispensing by the ‘shore model to interest in the three boats lined up side – and a sail of one by a chap who had seen the Auckland zest and crazy abandon. further north and around the headland, prior to the downwind blast back to the Barging onwards ! Thames Sailing Barges sailing club, I left for the office having – barge racing or windling they continue to enjoyed two and a half hours watching attract. and photographing one adult and three windling West Wittering Windler ! A semi-scale of the GRP Windling yacht We look at wonderful sailing waters of a harbour that Chris Galley’s Galley 56, has seen the start and finish of many a Whitbread ‘leg’, and hundreds of regattas The new EC12 boats ~ is it a new charge that it is equally famous for. towards renewed popularity ”’ The Firebug – designed by John Spencer – friend of both Peter Tait (seen get- Grace Mary – Another beauty – the latest ting a grip on a handle of coffee cup) and the Editor, is a sailing dinghy going places fast, that for young- Rum laced coffee on Frisky Whisky on the sters is an ideal introduction to both boatbuilding _ for The Mullet boats at last – yachting with As the boats left to explore another area advantage built John Spencer’s very last column. was dead keen to have a go. delights and taking scow Laid to rest but the memory lingers on. them at the Boat Show in Auckland and dinghy Surrey to New Maritime Museum. by side with their bows on the shell beach sampling Lancashire Zealand, his books, his photography. his crew’, again a bit of a lengthy linger due youngsters the Temptress of Lyttleton, more on the Gaff Cutter in Christchurch, seen on the cover. the Waitemata in order to make landfall families. at difference. the fleet tacking several times in order to picnicking look Nobby a good subject for windling with a But back to the windle at hand, which saw weekday August we from Falmouth’s Ken Impey. loveliest lake in New Zealand. Red Git and others and sailing. For inshore exploratory sailing of !The home grown ‘little ‘uns’ created by Daniel and Neville estuaries and inlets it of Greymouth on the West Coast of New looks like sheer fun, and that is what windling is all about. Anyone requiring a flyer Zealand’s South Island. Still schoonering on ! Another Fiji Magic and details on available plans, write to Peter Tait, Firebug HQ, 40 John St, schooner completed in UK – the basis for an update on John Spencer’s cat-rigged schooners. Ponsonby, Auckland. 19 a Fourteen sails and where’s the ji rum | With a great deal of help from Bob and detailed construction notes, AURORA took about four months to complete. I fibreglassed a plywood floor down in the hull to take the winches and radio gear, made a plywood deck with simulated planking sheet cut to fit and laid on top, made bulwarks out of one-sixteenth ply with a hardwood rail, and a main hatch (which is oversized to give access to the interior) was also made of ply. I find it does not detract from Tony Searle of Poole fills us in on the construction of his AURORA. My love affair with square rigged sailing ships started after I met Bob Capon, also a member of the Poole club, and saw his beautiful Man O War, one of four that he owns. When he offered to make me a fibreglass hull I was well and truly her appearance, and I have managed to hide it with a couple of hooked. hatches and ships boats. My vessel is a 74 gun frigate of 1806, and it s 40″ hull has a half inch plywood keel moulded in – a 15pound false keel is bolted into. this when sailing which only takes mere minutes to fit or remove thus making it easier when the model has to be transported from the car I managed to find a sheet of plastic mesh the correct size for the stern cabin windows, and with a couple of fancy belt buckles cut for the gilden ornamentation, and a fair amount of car body filler I was rather pleased with her stern end appearance. to the pond. 20 The hull was given two coats of enamel paint followed by two coats rather small, a servo in the st ern gives me rudder control. of semi mat varnish, with red below the waterline and bands of yellow I am very pleased with the way Aurora sails and I have had a gr eat and black above, the gun ports picked out in black on the yellow, I think she makes a fine sight. The deal of fun sailing her. She sails b est in a stiff breeze and stands up well masts, spars and bowsprit are made when it does blow, but tacking is a from hardwood dowel planed down to size, which some modelmakers feel is too brittle. Rigging was done bit tricky. She is a very different but impressive windling vessel. with various sizes of thread tedious but I enjoyed it. The sails were cut from a light polycotton fabric, and after cutting out, the seams were run up on our old Singer sewing machine, and then came the really tedious job of stitching on bolt ropes etc. When all fourteen sails were finished I was Dimensions: Her length overall is more than pleased that was over, and to simulate the seams, lines 52″ plus her 12″ bowsprit. Her height is 39″, beam 10” and she were ruled with a soft pencil. The weighs 18 Ibs. I havent worke d out figurehead was made from a rather pleasant looking female plastic the sail area. model, cut up and mounted with WINDLING WORLD is the journal of more car body filler. The Quiet Little Windle Club A homemade winch controls all sails except the staysails, with lines an entirely fictitious, non-membership organisation acting in name only as the publishing body for Windling World. running through pulley wheels up onto the deck, then via homemade blocks cut from hardwood to the It represents all those who enjoy the pleasures of model sailing craft not centred only upon racing, those who derive satisfaction from good camaraderie and the friendship associated with such activities, and those who enjoy a ‘quiet little windle’ even if it is of the solitary kind. spars. The pulleywheels are brass and purchased from the hobbyshop, the strops formed from brass or Windling is very much an attitude! copperwire. As the scale rudder is 21 H G R R R A A A e th r fo t ee fl d xe mi the il Ne to g in go ) ne wi of le tt bo (a Y H P O R T Lineham sailing the big vintage ten rater PROWESS over Steve Walters sailing his Fun Fellow. Nowt too seereeyus but good fun and much better than staying in bed ! Guess what ? Our Editor has been showing much progress with his sailing – has even been ‘Wurld Champeen one week and holder of Ratu Bula Vinaka’s Someone wrote and said that I don’t look ! ’ ed ff tu ‘s d an d’ gi id ‘r ok lo I at th d xe la re , er tt la e th on u yo r fo ws ne t go ve I’ , Well by ya r fo yt ra rt po w ne a ‘s re he t bu Bayken of Cows, and if he cant get a good 4un then nobody can, Brownie Box camera or no BBC ! he “t om fr l al u yo to e om lc we g bi a d An deputy’, good wishes too as we present at th t go ve I’ k in th (I c’ ri te is ‘h d ir th is th wrong !) I mean ‘historic’ fourth issue. Talking about techolodgeanickle progress these days – now here in Noo Zealand we have ‘“Tricam’ shown on this page strapped starboard side on Alan Hayes’ p ar Sh t or Sh n ai Tr t os Gh d te in pa w no Shock. Nobody has seen the pitchas mind you, and rumour has it that the best ones are underwater shots when the shorty sharpish shocker pokes its mast downunder goose-style looking fer submarines ! Does it matter ? Cousteau takes his best photos underwater, right ? Don’t twy to twick me now…I’m having a bad day as it is ! What a nice morning it was ! A gathering of Auckland subscribers to Windling whatsit at Onepoto lake on Sunday 10th season ender breakfast December- a windle, and a three race series with all in prized coconuts ! He orders me to say that his /sland Spice is just scentsayshunal – or summat sounding like that ! e th up d ne ea cl es vi Da f of Ge e pi ap ch ce Ni Napier round of the prestegyus one metre league in February, his new Aussie skiff MATE giving them all the ‘bums rush’ as they say. He will race that up north in the seventh Nationals. Good fleet in Napier too – twenty-four. EGGS-SEALANT, EH ” er tt cu ff ga at Th ? eh y, wd be a s e’ sh Oh Temptress seen on the cover of this issue. of ly an He ve Da by d ne ow once Christchurch now in the hands of Euan Sarginson. Readabitabouther August issue…I thinks ! in the So that’s bout it ! I’ve informed and educated and I’m pooped, and now I am offer for a session with my Cycleologist. the renowned Professor Yoopayuppa Andayerelax of Hitaly now in trendy and very uppish Remuera. l al sh I , up t ge t n’ do en th st gu Au l ti Un wave goodbye to myself who shall then wave back to me ! Touching,ch ? Abel Deputy Dis and Dat. Second Townson First ‘Fiji Magic’ Electron Worlds in Fiji -July. in ‘stralya ! Word has been received from Michael Dennis – Gen Mgr at Toberua Island Resort Fiji, that this wonderful regatta is again to be held there in July ‘96. Details from ‘Swamp Duck’ man, Dave Moore in Auckland, Telephone 09 415 6320. Stern Plate & — She is the first “Fiji Magic schooner’ to The Truly be launched (that we know of anyway) Classic in Australia, and the man who built and we Windler owns her is Barry Gibson of Victoria and a subscriber to WW. With her yellow paint job with double red stripes – and blue and white graphics, she is a right bewdy, no question about it. There is still steady demand for FMS plans and you can write to the Editor. Wooden Electron down Gisborne way ! ihe In the past I knew a delightful old gentleman reflection who – probably introduced me on to ‘windling’ – albeit without the use of radio. His name was George Phillpott, to which I can almost hear you say “GEORGE WHO ?” She looks (which like a Townson is fibreglass) and Electron she is an In the August issue perhaps, Electron except that she is made of wood. Built and owned by recall those times at the Graham I’ll Round Pond in Kensington, when | was Wallen of Gisborne (a WW subscriber) both his ‘gofer’ and friend. she sails well – that is what is important. 23 The story of one man’s love for Fiji He drives a car with the registration plate Fiji 1 (well Fiji is Number One he always says, but only if you ask). He has a 1M called Fiji Flyer, and a one metre John Spencer designed and built “Fiji Magic’ schooner called Fijipsy Jack. He writes articles about Fiji and includes poetry about Fiji in books that he publishes, and he travels throughout New Zealand promoting…you guessed it, Fiji. At regattas and other sporting events that are sponsored by Fiji, you won’t ever see him running around pushing brochures up anyone’s nose -aside from a banner and Fiji flag displayed – and a Fiji logo perhaps on his shirt, this man believes that the Fiji product will quietly get almost everyone inthe end. He calls it ‘Fiji Magic’ …and never mind his name – it’s FIJI he wants you $0 warm, SO firiendly, and so near to New Zealand. wigy to remember. Al N FIJI VISITORS BUREAU, P.O.Box 1179, Auckland, New Zealand. SJ] Tel O9 3732 133 – Fax O09 3094 720 tetas