Windling World: August 1996

q keen a Windler. To add to my woes, I am being At the helm. | ‘returned to Fiji’ this month to be ‘thanked properly by the Industry’ (I am told) and then in August, I am covering the second Electron RC Thinking about considering pondering whither we goest ! It seems strange, here on the 3rd Worlds – again in Fiji and at the darling wee resort island of Toberua. It is not an easy life being a Retirement Actor, believe me ! July – to be sitting at home in my study on a bright and sunny Winter’s day and working on this issue, having retired after fifteen years with Fiji at end of June. I am trying to adapt to it, and telling myself that I hate it while I work on this issue started in late May. The trouble is, I am being deceitful with myself, for at the moment I actually am quite enjoying it ! My fourth volume of poetry Against time and tide is almost out, and I am now only at the stage of ‘thinking about considering the idea of mulling over the possibility ofgiving some thought’ to chasing a bit of writing I hope you enjoy this issue which includes the very last article of ‘John the writer, windler and late keeper of the dream’, articles on both the Lancashire Nobby and the “very Kiwi’ Mullet boats, and separate articles on two friends of mine. Both originally from England, one is a builder/windler (or is it a windler/builder ?) of beautifull RC sailing models who lives all of a work under my travel writing and public relations ‘arm’ (I can’t yet say hundred metres from me, the other, it is a company), Wordsmoke whose drawings of the NZ scow RANGI were the initial inspiration for Tony Searle and Ken Impey to Communications. As they say, where there’s smoke there’s fire, but higher on my ‘agenda of thought’ is a weekday windle…or two even… maybe ! My present profession, I have decided is Retirement Actor ! a remarkable elderly gentleman build such models, and who as an author has written several books on various types of sailing boats and is highly respected as a documenter of maritime history. I am the lucky one, for they are both my friends. Model sailing ships have this uncanny ability of widening the circles of good camaraderie, and Breezehunter building core friendships. I am a hunter of the morning breeze There is also a little insert which acts as a ‘voyage plan’ with one more issue to go – our fifth in December. As we near that critical point we have to decide whether we head out on a reach and extend the windle (Windling World), or alternatively head for home and end it. I crave your indulgence – send no money just say YES or NO and stick the coupon in the post. It set to windle before it rises, in from the gulf or from land towards the sea, the breeze is full of surprises. It’s arrival non precise I rig Island Spice, an eager-beaver becomes a wait-er, I dream of the seas and hope that the breeze, will come sooner rather than later. Mark Steele/1996. would be much appreciated. I don’t want to just have to send a sudden, cold note in January saying ‘I am sorry but the windle has ended’ ! If we are going to continue for another year, I would like to be able to announce that in the December issue. I hope we do continue, for GOSH! I’ve got so many interesting subjects to write about ! Meanwhile, ENJOY ! Alae Windling World a non profit specialist magazine with limited circulation, and available only on subscription. Publisher/Editor Mark Steele Keepers of the dream: Ken Impey Tony Searle Mark Steele Ken Black Mark Steele Publisher/Editor. ‘Oh to place the thing that I hold dear, upon waters still, knowing that the wind will kiss the sails, give it life’ eleets kram. Editorial Address: 42 Trinidad Road, Forest Hill, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone & Fax O9 410 4402 We are getting closer to the staging still if the event is marred as one or of a major milestone-event in radio yachting history in New Zealand: two have been in the past, by silly Just five months off Graham Bantock – the World one metre Champion and some of the finest than exponents of model yacht racing racing. displays that amount to little more bad there sportsmanship, are arguments more than where protests and there is actual if all goes will be in Wellington for the One Maybe Metre World Championship. (perhaps) according to plan, there will be a Without much doubt, the Zealand media will choose New to ignore it, focussing their efforts instead on further analysis, counter analysis, authoratative comment and in depth coverage on rugby, for radio yacht racing in the eyes of the mass media still amounts to nothing more than big boys mucking about with model yachts On the other hand, that other ‘sport’ where thirty full grown men chase an odd shaped ball around a paddock and think nothing of knocking the hell out of each other – they are obsessed with ! club’s sailors – learning of Electron’s curve with one on a metres, with New Zealanders also sailing for that island nation. Is that a good thing ? I would say YES, for with the distance between Europe and New Zealand we may not see as large a turnout of sailers from the Northern hemisphere, and I would argue that one metres need to attract new devotees with competitive urges. Given luck and blessed with good sailing conditions, it will be a big It would be a pity therefore, if the Wellington Fiji team made up of two or three Fiji efforts fail to draw to the scene of the regatta the biggest ever assembly of spectators – an equal pity if the wind were to decide to go on holiday, and sadder event in radio yachting for this country, and it would be a pity if it is totally ignored by business brokers and merchants choosing to adopt the media stance predicted. eya yf. Magic on the Mersey… The hardy Lancs Nobby! North Wales, 1928 lie’ ‘Neloff The ‘Nobby’ is the name given to a small sailing boat used for fishing purposes along the NorthWestern coast of the U.K – an any one article in this magazine. Without it however – and other sources, the article would never have eventuated. currents and shifting sand banks. Today, the name Nobby may not be used in every port where motorised conversions are still in use for area of large tides, strong For over a year now, Len Lloyd of Southport in UK and I, have been in regular correspondence, and thanks to this gentleman who by the way is an authority on the Lancashire Nobby, I have been able to put together this short story, in the hope that it may be useful to readers in learning a wee bit about particular types of sailing craft from other countries, and who knows, perhaps inspire readers towards building a sailing model. The ‘Archives Extracts’ on the Nobby from the North West Model Shipwrights put out by Len is not only extremely detailed and full of interest, but it is too lengthy in relation to the space available for fishing, and in both Maryport and Southport many refer to these craft as ‘smacks’ or ‘trawlers! without defining the smaller cutter by the name now commonly used – ‘nobby’. In Fleetwood, they are simply called ‘shrimpers’ and in Morecambe… ‘prawners’’. The area of use, or ‘the Nobby coastline’ to which the Lancashire Nobby became indigenous is a long one – from Cardigan Bay to the Solway Firth – a coast that includes Cardigan, Caernarvon, Flintshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Westmoreland and Cumberland, but the Nobby also migrated into Scotland and across the Irish Sea to Peel. Continued overleaf Continued from page 5 Nobbies were usually built extremely strong in order to allow them to rest on the ground on their bilges, and to withstand the very tortuous sea and wind conditions, and although many are still in use as working shrimp boats, a great many have been purchased for conversion into useful pleasure yachts, and a bit like the Thames sailing barges, owners take great pride in ‘showing them off and in preserving them. There is nowa flourishing Nobby Association with an annual ‘Nobby Race’ for the most amazing trophy I’ve seen – the Prawn Trophy included 385 sq ft of Mains’l. Len Lloyd’s reconstructed sail plan for the Nobby Linda, built in 1918 is shown above. dominated by a huge silver prawn, All Nobbies from whatever port or the spoils of victory for this race boat yard, were in their definative held on the Mersey in June. In this footers, and names such as Hearts form, traditional English Gaff Cutter rigged, but they did not set a topmast, the main mast usually extended further beyond the hounds event, twenty-eight footers are competing with larger thirty-six of Oak, Spray, Naiad, Hannah than was customary with some other Hambleton (with her dark tan sails), cutter-rigged vessels of the time, Comrades, Venture, Sir George and the jib halliard was taken to the Pilkington and Peggy are names on masthead. the lips of spectators. It is the event and the atmosphere and the spirit in which the event is raced that matters here, and to lose means nothing, but not to have competed would be unthinkable. Sail plans for these craft varied, but a 34′ Nobby would have carried a sail area 775 sq ft that would have Fishing gear was stowed on deck including the anchor of about 5Olb in weight. On deck also was a Shrimp boiler. Hull lines and dimensions are unique to each nobby, and no two nobbies are identical, though all bear a ‘family likeness’ instantly recognisable to the keen and practiced eye. We windlers are a very mixed bunch of people, and from diverse areas of trade, some experienced in yachting, many like my friend Mark, openly admitting to a background with little or no full size or model sailing experience. As a full size boat designer and builder, I drew on the history of it all from days long before I was born, and I mean, a hundred years before I was born, when schooners were using ginormous fisherman staysails known as *Gollywobblers’. John Spencer’s last column ! I really enjoy seeing models of some of I admire those who build sailing replicas them sailing on English waters when I get Marine Modelling magazine in the mail of old yachts, even if doing so is not my each month. Early English and American workboats, as well as some in Australia and New Zealand had to work for men’s designed to rules that do not allow much lives, and their livelyhood depended on those 19th century boats. involved in radio yachting in the one thing, but I get bored to death by yachts in the way of development, yet claim to be “development classes’. When| first got metre class, I designed hulls based on the concept of 19th Century American They were largely built by eye and ‘Rule sharpies, and they proved competitive. of Thumb’ – on the beach, and by those who would be sailing them, and were way I then went on to design the Fiji Magic ahead of racing yachts in seaworthiness, schooner, using 19th Century sail plan as well as fast design. The great ‘yacht’ of ideas that also date back as far as 1830. 1851 was the schooner AMERICA, built This proved to be fast as well as simple to to a fishing boat design. build and sail with an unstayed rig. Continued overleaf Continued from page 7 Bay of Aslands WhenI see old boats in model form, I am sometimes horrified by the sails on them, for old photos showed them to have very nice sails, handsewn from cotton and tanned. I think that if you build boats like that, give them a fair chance to sail as well as they did 100 years or more ago, and it really does ‘get my goat’ when I see fine models with sails looking like a ‘ John Spencer @. bunch of warts and carbuncles. Even flax sails never looked like that, 1931-1996 OW indling vith whim and hing though they stretched badly. Canvas was Bay of Islands Radio cotton and called Japara in weights of four ounces per yard or less. In my young Yacht Club revived. days I found ‘handkerchief lawn’ best for our model yachts, and then discovered In memory of it’s founder, the late John some stuff called “Medapolin’ that was Spencer, the Bay of Islands Radio Yacht even better. If you wanted them tanned or Club has been revived, and is a paid up red , there were ways your mother knew member how to achieve that – especially if she Yachting Association. of the New Zealand Radio was a ‘Geordie’ like mine. She also taught me at an early age how to hand-sew, Commodore Mark Steele and Honorary embroider, darn my own socks, and to use Secretary/Treasurer, Ken Black, both life an old Singer treadle sewing machine. members along with Peter Tait also a life member make up the ‘executive’ of the It has long been very useful to me – to be club, able to do these things well if I had to, but following: which has as it’s objective the mostly for making or repairing sails. My sewing machine has of course long been ‘To an electric one and is now 4O years old. controlled encourage and _ promote Those fishing and pilot boats of a hundred emphasis on the pursuit of the windling or a hundred and fifty years ago, were concept dependent on good hand-sewn sails, as recreational were the Clipper ships and others. serious, highly competitive racing – and Sewing machines introduced problems for of such – the vision of the late John the seamen of those days, for sails sewn Spencer”. yachting of with radio particular leisurely — sailing purposes, rather for than the friendship and camaraderie benefits with them often suffered badly from chafed stitching. Always give your Membership is by invitation only, and mostly beautifully constructed scale _ the Bay of Islands area is represented models the best opportunity for best effect by and best performance…give em the best sails – ones without ‘warts and : carbuncles’’. correspondence Dick Wood also to Secretary/Treasurer, a member. Ken _ 2/17 All Black, Kiteroa Terrace, Rothesay Bay, Auckland. With mountains ofsail and thoughts of ale… Mullet boats race for ‘the Lipton !’ Mark Steele fuels thoughts for a very different RC boat. ‘A Like the scow, the ‘mullety’ or mullet boat goes way back to the which Mullet boat owners race with zest and crazy abandon annually. early days of the colonisation of New Zealand, and in the case of the It appears that Lipton latter, gather receipt of a photograph of a group having talked to some people with of mullet boat owners, all attired in from what I can acted on more than a haze of knowledge, the absolute splendour, peaked caps et mullet boat probably dates back to al, taken in front of the huge Victorian style Esplanade Hotel at the late eighteen hundred’s era. Devonport overlooking the Perhaps the most impressive silver Waitemata harbour, which tongue trophy in New Zealand – and I am in cheek they said in a not referring to the rather hideous Lipton requesting a trophy, letter to was (in my opinion) America’s Cup, is their clubhouse. So impressed he the Lipton Cup which resides in the promptly despatched the imposing Ponsonby Westhaven, Auckland – a trophy trophy which has been competed for annually for something like presented by Sir Thomas Lipton for seventy – five years. Cruising Club at Continued overleaf Continued from page 9 The mullety was of course designed for the purpose of netting mullet, normally found in shallow waters, estuaries of Auckland’s and in the Hauraki Gulf. Chris Galley lives in West Wittering in Built of Kauri pine, they were usually about eight metres in length, West Sussex, UK, and enjoys laid-back drew model yacht sailing. “A pleasant sail approximately 600mm of water with the and a nice chat with fellow sailers’ says centreboard up. Usually they carried a Chris, ‘is what I enjoy most’. cutter rig and were sprightly on and off the wind, and according to one Originally his interest was in model knowledgeable gent I spoke to ‘they flew power boats, which were later stuck in the loft for years while women, motorcycles like a goddam bird ‘ when on a reach !’ and full size boats occupied his attention. Described as the ‘Harley Davidson’s of the harbour’, those who sail them, Be rebuild them (many retrieved from submerged in the mud situations) and adore them -yet thrash them about with do or die attititude in their Lipton Cup Classic- just to get their boat’s name on that impressive trophy. have ensured that the mullety has become a classic type of craft, spoken of in hushed tones .Indeed names like Corona, Tamariki and Valeria (which my source believes is still used as a fishing Somewhat concerned that many of the – boat despite having won the very first yachts available ready-built did not resemble a real boat, he headed for the Lipton Cup race) are to mullet fans, as drawing board, the end result being the revered as Black Magic. Galley 56. Actually the boat is 55″ in I had hoped to have a mullet length and is all GRP. He adds that that boat the yacht took him a year to design and encounter myself – and came close to build the plugs, while his wife took less time to produce their first child. This doing so aboard the 75 year old Wairere, but she was sold again, and ‘leads’ me nowhere. got good looking boat – ideal for windling on I had also hoped to find the lake or pond, is supplied in any colour someone with a model mullet boat, as combination, uses three channel radio what a subject this craft would make for (the third operating a servo to adjust the exciting RC sailing .Maybe that will still slot between the main and the jib), has a happen when someone is ‘fired’ enough beam of 17.5″, a draught of 11″ and by enthusiasm. In the meantime I will keep on trying – weighs 27 Ibs. keep on hoping. Thanks to Bill Barry, Editor of Boating New Zealand, the photograph of leading Tamatea and Girlie Those interested can write to Chris Snatcher Galley at 12 Cambridge Avenue, West serves to illustrate this brief look at the ‘mullety’. Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NE in the UK. 10 years of windling promptly rolled over and sank ! Nobody had explained to me that the hull reduces by the cube and the sail area by by Tony Lench the square, so the ship was grossly oversparred. I resolved the problem by I have always had a great love of ships, this preoccupation largely directed at sailing ships and in particular – square riggers. I cannot think of any form of transport that can compare to the beauty of the Clipper ship, which must making the keel much deeper, and have reached it’s peak of perfection built a number of small square-rigged with ships like Ariel and Taeping when the China trade was at it’s height. ships and a revenue cutter. In more although she remained tender, she did sail after a fashion. I also sealed all the numerous hatches. Following this uncompromising start, I recent years – the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, I have worked on several larger In my later teens, I had an urge after building small static models, to build a working sailing ship, and I acquired the hull lines of the Cutty Sark and decided to rig.it as a barquentine. After all, the old ship had been cut down to this rig in working models, tending to concentrate on lesser known ships such as a Blackwell Frigate, an Elizabethan Galleon, and the American Clippers Rainbow and Ann McKim. Many years ago I also built a small working model of the small Tasmanian Barque Harriet her later trading days. McGregor which in her own way was a true Clipper. I knew nothing of working models which soon became abundantly apparent. I built the hull with plywood In my earlier modelling days I never sections, planked with thin ply and then showed any interest in Sailing Barges, covered it with fabric. There was access despite there being a class of 1:24 to all compartments so that water could working barges in the annual Thames be emptied out. Unfortunately, water could also gain access the same way ! Shiplovers’ rallies at the Round Pond in The ship was duly taken to a pond in made any impression on the modelling London and launched with due community. Kensington. They were all free sailing boats as radio control had not really decorum by a starict on children’s The number of boats had declined in the cighties and I decided to build one television, with a small bottle of lemonade. It staggered a few yards and 11 Continued on page 18 Thoughts of fancy, yachts of rapture… Mark Steele looks at the wonderful sailing models of Roy Lake. still cycles regularly at 68, in order to keep fit, but has a consuming interest in making model boats with which he windles regularly. I have known Roy for several years, and at this years Sai/ Ex he turned up with several sailing boats in From a 22″ twelfth full size model of a seven metre Laurent Giles Yawl, to a 4’3″ length overall three masted wishbone schooner carved out of a solid block of Kauri wood, the sailing models of Roy Lake, originally from Walton-on-Thames in Britain are works of art. order to support our efforts, which he demonstrated. A few weeks ago, he took me out to his special lake and I photographed his latest creation – perhaps some may say his finest to date, Amalfi IT, a three masted schooner with beautifully crafted balsa crew at work on the deck. Born in 1928, their creator came to New Zealand in early ’61 via Panama, the Caribbean, Tahiti and Fiji aboard the ‘Southern Cross’ – a free passage to build houses. Today he still lives in the same house on Auckland’s north shore, and this former British Cycling Champion 5′ long schooner barge ‘Ruby’ The Hon Edward John Balsa of Cowes and daughter Penelope Jane Parker-Bowden of Mayfair aboard ‘Tadpole’, ~— Roy Lake’s sailing vessels sail as well as they look, and Amalfi IT demands attention, and brings out the cameras to record her sailing style and elegant looks. as easy enough to fall in love with and to ‘desire! as she is light and easy to hold and study from different angles. Canitinntionsiaat 28 The little Yawl Tadpole built in 1.5mm Ply…a beamy little boat with ample detail and crewed by a father and daughter is particularly appealing, and though I havent seen her personally on the water, she is | Roy with the 26″ long Amalfi H on the wind ; an. turn of the century barge yacht ‘Joanna’ = Dhows, Scows, Prows, even a following Albatross ! A capsule look at Clifford W Hawkins. e by Mark Steele The name Clifford W Hawkins first came to my attention in the pages of Bearings – a now defunct magazine that was once the official organ of the Hobson Wharf (Auckland) Maritime Museum. He was building a museum standard scow for display purposes for them, his name later regularly appearing on the covers of beautifully produced and authoratative noticed in the library, and in books particular A Maritime Heritage loaned to me by my now late friend, John Spencer. “Take it and read it” John had said to me: “You’ll learn a great deal – all accurate”. I soon discovered that Cliff Hawkins also ‘ lived on Auckland’s north shore and after { I had seen his splendid model of the scow at the museum, and after a telephone call, I was being welcomed into his home, — . brought the story to it’s conclusion – the where I have been a fairly regular visitor since. Huia lost off New Caledonia in January that year. Born in Surrey, Cliff arrived in New | Zealand on the ‘Remuera’ in 1925-aboat that was later sunk off Scotland at the beginning of the war. A soft spoken and kindly gentleman, and a photographer of | Out of Auckland (Shipbuilding in the province) followed in 1960, A Maritime Heritage (in 1978), Argosy of Sail (A _history of sail through the eyes of a photographer) in 1980, Prows of exceptional merit, his books today all out of print, included Log of the Huia in 1947 (after he had becn away on the actual scow to Fiji and Noumea), and then a second edition published in 1951 that =‘ Indonesia (1982), The Dhow (after many years of research and travel, studying, measuring, photographing and talking to the people who still build and sail them), a – book that was also published in 14 French, and his last book Convicts and Kauri, the story of the HMS Coromandel Very shortly (August 9,10 & 11) Wyde, (in 1993). some nine or ten Kiwi Townson ‘Electron’ sailors will be at Toberua Cliff went out of his way to do a voyage Island, Fiji, competing in the second on the ‘Pamir’ in his later years, wrote “World Championship’ for the class. regularly for BEARINGS and continued Among them will be last years winner, with his photography which he does to Don Lidgard, and the Editor who is this day. flying in as a journalist by Air New Zealand to do several reports. It was his drawing of the RANGI which I took to England and gave copies to both Tony Searle in Poole and Ken Impey in Yes Fah, and before I forget, Mark is no longer with the Fiji Visitors Bureau, instead is working from home, and has set up a wee operation called Wordsmoke Falmouth that inspired them to build their own RC scow models, and quite recently, Cliff and Sheila returned to UK and took Communications. time to visit the former in Dorset. Slowing down with age, Cliff Hawkins WORDSMOKE ? still has a sharp mind, still takes a keen hot word He’s not trading in processors again is he ? interest in the sea and the boats that sail Talking again about Fiji, did you know on that they are taking steps to register for it, and wonderful their though Waitemata and home provides distant view regularly a a team to take part in the one metre of the beckons worlds in Wellington next year, and his that attention through binoculars. Ed’s Bantock Bikini Fiji Flyer (Seen above) has been offered to Fiji’s Michael Dennis for the series ? There are some extremely learned and talented people in New Zealand, and the modest Clifford Hawkins, Fah ! We are not doing too well with our author, subscription push are we ? Nuff said – it is photographer and builder of that excellent model I speak of, continue to enjoy, whose friendship I like pushing a traction engine up Mt is Everest ! One guy said to me, he only certainly among buys them. Talk to him and I sense, that were would be regularly pondside MAYFAIR ! Is that another windling magagine Fah ? it not for his age and his eyesight, he windling Continued on page 23 with me. 15 4 A gaff Cutter \ of the South Temptress of Lyttelton Temptress in a mixed fleet. I first met Dave Heanly on a visit to Christchurch in 1995 – at Lake Victoria where I enjoyeda sail of Phowie (pronounced Fay) and a bloke called Dwayne ! his Shamrock, later learned about another boat of his – the circa late 1800′ style gaff cutter Temptress of Lyttelton which Between her launch date and 1995, formed part of the April issue Dave appears from the logbook to cover. have enjoyed many occasions of Built on a converted steam launch pleasurable sailing – on sunny days, others wet and bleak, and of course fibreglass hull, at a scale of 1″ per some days of disappointment, as foot, Temptress was launched on the 15th September 1993, at Queen well as is to be expected, some Elizabeth Park lake by Margaret, to time. breakages of equipment from time who said a prayer and blessed her. With her crew aboard (Dave’s scale boats usually have figures as crew) her logbook lists them as having Sailed within mixed fleets, the yacht had her moments of both success been Captain Marne whose wrote on her logbook on 18/6/94, nickname was Punga, ably assisted an unusual and eerie experience.. and delight for Dave, and as he by Aroha Simmonds, Brenda, 16 Roy Lake’s fleet continued from page 13 ‘Weather fine and mainly sunny – wind NE variable, stiff breeze at times, later There are so many others also – and all ready to go sailing, but prod Roy and you can soon detect that it is the 43″ Charisma – a model of a 36′ ketch) that he holds a special affection for. Designed by clouding over with wind falling off: Earth tremor at 3.25pm preceeded by a shag Slying from the depths to burst from the surface of the lake !’ American Pete Cullen (who Roy tells me, still has a boatyard at Marblehead on the US east coast) it is easy to see why this builder is charmed by this particular model of his making. With an eagerness to demonstrate at shows, and a willingness to pass | The owner-builder’s favourite – The 18″ bowsprit was made of aluminium tube, painted to look wooden, and her sail wardrobe consists ofjib, stays’l, main and jackyard tops’l. She has a length overall of 86″, a beam of 12.5″, maximum freeboard of 5″, a draught of 10″ and carries eighteen pounds of ballast. Her sail winch was made from a six volt casette player, and there is not a lot of power in it, which requires luffing to get the sail in. on modelling skills to others, this then is Roy Lake, and I have kept this text relatively short, to enable me to let the photographs depict a few of his marvellous examples of Later sold to Euan Sarginson, Temptress is now within his vast collection in Christchurch. .is, ;. ‘sailing art’. 17 Continued from page 11 for myself. A friend lent me the plans for the Lady Daphne – a ship whose only real distinction seemed to be that she sailed herself for some time after having been abandoned by her crew. I built her in a similiar way to my first disastrous effort, and she turned out to be 46″ on the hull and heavy with it. ‘Elizabeth Jonas’ 1 installed 2 channel RC – one channel for steering, the other for sheets and Jonas. In addition we have an vangs. Whilst not being fast, Kate as I assortment of rigs from which to called her, has always been an adequate choose. Peter has a lugger and a topsail and consistent sailor. At about the time schooner, and I a three masted Clipper I was building her, Tony Williams of Barque as well as a Brig. the Broomfield Club was building his barge James Piper from which he We like to think that in our small way subsequently started producing GRP we are keeping old traditions alive as hulls for fellow club members. This we enjoy our windling, even though our resulted in a tremendous resurgence of friends may consider us just a little interest in barges, to such an extent that eccentric ! I suggested to Mike Taylor of the Scale Sailing Association, that we have an rons annual barge championship. With the limitations on frequencies on the 27 MEG band, and the numbers of boats entering, it seemed a logical step WINDLING WORLD to split the entrants into Staysail and is the journal of Bowsprit classes, which followed the The Quiet Little Windle Club traditional practice for full sized boats. Our Editor (Mark) very kindly offered an entirely fictitious, non-membership to have Fiji sponsor the Bowsprit Class organisation acting in name only as the publishing body for Windling World. who now compete for the Fijipsy Jack It represents all those who enjoy the Trophy. In addition, we have a third class for the “Little Un’s Trophy for pleasures of model sailing craft not cen- which small kit-built ships compete. tred only upon racing, those who derive satisfaction from good camaraderie and During the off-season in our Autumn the friendship associated with such activities, and those who enjoy a ‘quiet little windle’ even if it is of the solitary kind. and Winter, when the weather permits, Windling is very much an attitude! a friend and I sail our non-competitive boats. Peter has a period warship, and I- an Elizabethan Galleon the Elizabeth 18 —” coming issues A right whopper of a windler! Rex Cotterell’s R Jucker Roy Verden who lives in Watford, UK is a subscriber to ‘Windling World’, Thompson. and sent me this photo of his 1/12th Sheer Grace. Ken Impey’s, Grace scale model of a 27foot four berth Mary. sailing boat ‘Gooseander’ featured by Yachting World in 1974. Sizing down ! From ‘eighteen’s’ to Electron’s – Don Lidgard still champion(ing). Pilot Cutters John & Pete show their sailing beauties. Photo courtesy Ian Tunstall Photo Collection. Another hellish regatta Launched in 1975, it has had two subsequent re-fits, and was awarded a bronze medal at the 60th Model Engineer Exhibition at Olympia, London a few years ago Roy drew up the plans himself, and the in paradise ! The Editor follows the Townson’s on ‘Cocktail Sound’!’ A Friendship sloop model to blow the mind ! model also has an electric motor and Show and tell ! Sail Ex ‘96 propeller in a cut out of the rudder. demo day. Roy also has the Rangi scow drawings by Cliff Hawkins and aims to build one For the Northcote Cup … a someday. windling we go at Kawau Island. The EC12 has a real niche in the radio model yacht scene, but what is so different about it, many people tend to ask ? Well, it is a ‘one design’, it is a big boat 1500mm in length with an 11 Kg displacement, it sails like a real displacement keeler and looks like one, it’s hull is a ‘real’ scale model, and on top of that, it is a period piece…196O- 1970 12 metre America’s Cup vintage. The EC12 began life as a towing tank model designed by Charles Morgan as a Ian Hull Brown’s new EC 12 Holly J. possible Cup defender. Charles Black moulded the first hull in fibreglass using the tank model as a plug. Since then, Constitution, and we have developed a tule aimed at being both acceptable and much has happened. Inability to stabilise a one design rule has prevented workable. International acceptance. The one-design concept aims to control all features of design which affect the Will the EC12 experience a fresh breeze of enthusiasm ? Here in New Zealand, we basic performance of the yacht, and the now have the plug which was intended to hull, deck, rudder, sail and mast be used to re-establish the OD hull as an measurements are strictly controlled. International Class, and a growing band Other features such as rigging, sail materials, paint systems, sail draught and radio equipment have tolerances. of EC12 enthusiasts really do believe that the new boats are about to become as popular here as they once were, and that given time, it will again be an To say that the EC12 can ‘sail on wet grass’ may be an exaggeration – that it can sail where few established classes can, is International Class. We have established the class based on not. Having no fins, no spade rudder, it’s this plug, we have had two moulds made, internal ballast, and a draught of a mere we have a proposed Owners Association 20 200mm, weed-infested ponds 300mm ‘dressing’ of the surface of the plug for deep are no hindrance. It also sails like a casting a mould, and checking the real keeler, needs sail change-down at the symmetry have been time-consuming. As right time, as well as real concentration the producers make little or nothing from on steering, rounding marks, their work, patience has to be displayed. straightening and coping with gusts. The steering committee are dedicated to getting all systems properly established. It is a slack bilged hull with a smallish rudder, and heels more than than a deep- The first batch of 14 hulls have been finned keel design, and is quite different delivered, and Max Lewis sailed his new when compared with either a one metre or boat Holly J at the Nationals. The Editor an RM. The EC12 reacts comparatively of Windling World was most enthusiastic after spending an afternoon sailing Paul slowly – it needs sailing all the way. It is possible for the skipper to set up the rig and have a variety of personal ideas about how the best boat speed may be achieved, and well set-up boats are generally equal in speed, with a new boat providing little advantage. Though a period piece, the EC12 is not slow, and will beat the best RM in light shifting conditions, and will not be too far behind in all others. Here in New Zealand, the EC12 Owners Association will manage the production, The old against the new: The old hulls are of the distribution and registering of all hulls. There are about ten or twelve OLD hulls pinched bow version, whereas the new hulls are wider in the forward deck stations, underneath, fuller in the bow sections below the waterline, fuller on the which were registered at the time of the rocker from aft of the rudder up to the transom. They don’t squat on the transom as do the older hulls. PS. Nationals in November 1995. Providing the registration of these hulls is maintained annually, those boats shall be ‘grandfathered’ as long as they are owned Simmonds older boat in Napier last year, and all I can add is…he aint seen nothing by their 1995 owners – a policy that yet ! Wait till you sail one of the new should for the first time, guarantee onedesign for this class. EC12’s Mark ! The Owners Association President is Paul Simmonds, P.O.Box 279 Napier, the There is no reason for modellers or windlers not to be atracted to this class of Secretary is Ian Macintosh 101 Muritai Street, Nelson, and the Secretary is Ian Hull-Brown, P.O.Box 6157, Te Aro. as. boat. A new hull costs $175, Owners Association membership $10 and Registration $11. The production of hulls has been frustratingly slow, for the plug arrived in NZ in poor condition, and the 21 good book and a bit of the Editor’s I think I may also be in love, I think – with Mary Grace – or is it Grace Mary (The latter is right – Ed) another right little beauty of a schooner from the Falmouth friend of Mark, Ken Impey. I can hardly wait for the December issue of Wondling Wind – er Windling World, where I think there will be a story on her. ‘Her’ is what you see Fiji rum, and I’m content to just below. Rum mid the Southerlies ! Bring back that first photo someone said ! I did not realise you cared ! Right now it is Winter here, and a think about windling. Well it does not seem to be happening does it ? Come to think of it, you would not know would you, so bear with me and I will tell you: As I write this, a Southerly is blowing Autumn leaves across the back garden, but that has nothing to with what I am about to tell you does it ? Well you don’t know cos I havent told you yet have I ? I am Almost time to fly now – talking ‘almost always’ time to do summat about ‘subscripshuns’ and it is here I’ll have to apologise to one don’t you find ? Never enough time Eric in UK in that I sometimes can’t to do what some of us really enjoy doing best…nowt, zilch, zero ! It is ‘spiel’ proper-like ! not a perfect world is it ? Then Subscription (Got it there !) total is again, still in the mid eighties, and the ruffles the water, and you place publisher feels we may not maintain your wee yot (well mine is a wee that level one) on the pond and she gently come December when when the wind rises and renewals are due – and that would departs… well, maybe sometimes a mean wee windle makes the world ‘near that an April 1997 issue would, might, could, be the very last. Tf Deputy Dis and Dat. 22 I say Mah « we are a bit tT tn ou atyle this issue, but Md has told we to @lek te the story and speak good Pnglieh, ae ane of his readers in UK finde the loowe style and ‘goofy’ talk a bit hard to tke Well you have to go with public opinion Wyde, as cach wibseriber te very Well what do you know ! That is one of those Fiji trophies above – being held by important, Without thin job | would he the winner of the third annual Fijicicle on the dole | run by the Solent Club in UK – Gordon Maguire who…wait for it…was a Watch It’s worrying all right… am on the dole, but I’m not changing my birth name to Leader on Conner’s boat Winston in the last Whitbread. Pretty important WIDE – not for anybody | people often sail radio yachts ! Well done Gordon ! Steen Jlate And how about the photo ‘below what I am about to tell you’ Fah ? That is a es a, relaxed young windler if ever I saw one – with a schooner Over in Gisborne, made by Jacqui Wellington of Jack Spratt Yachts. Less talk more pitchas ..er pictures, this time. NZ they are a mighty keen lot – and Graham Wallen is one of the keenest…with a three boat fleet. What’s he looking for though ? Maybe there is a fourth boat in the back of the car…sort of spare eh Graham ! Small yachts for windling or large ones ? In the case of Rex Cotterell it is a case of the latter, his R Tucker Thompson seen ‘windling by’ at Auckland’s Panmure Basin. (Pic by the Editor) 23 The M.a, IC Of Fiji… ‘Fijimminy Cricket!’ One of the many Fiji Magic RC Designed by the late John Schooners in New Spencer – as a way of Zealand and many saying thank you’ to Fiji parts of the world. for their sponsorship of one Others include. metre racing in in Wellington. Jim works for Air New Zealand | | Fiji Fun, ‘Fijimminy Cricket’ was Jim Watson of Lyall Bay | Fijipsy Jack, New Zealand, built and is still owned by | | Fiji Magic wh | Fiji IV, Blue Fiji, Frankly Fiji, – iji Janner and (who fly to Fiji) F ) Fiji Flying Fish. but all his RC yachts carry the ‘rainbow effect’ livery of Air Pacific ) (who also fly to Fiji), | | and Fijiminny Cricket, still going strong, still turns heads in waters off Wellington. | the friendliest islands on earth ! For more information on Fiji as a holiday destination and how to get there, contact your local Travel Agent ‘ or the FIJI VISITORS BUREAU 5th Floor, 48 High Street, Auckland. PO Box 1179 Auckland @ ° > e o Telephone 0-9-373 2133 or 373 2134. Fax 0-9-309 4720.