Windling World: August 1998

/\[WIbNeDLING | Marguerite ‘FIJ| MAGIC’ and in focus. ct the helm Gary Robert Both Baigent and Savary, whose cover photos We all go out and race or windle, very often perhaps taking for granted our pleasures gained from model yachts. As a small-time publisher | am oft reminded through letters from friends, and model _ sailboat afficionados, just how many others there are like us all over the world, and just how ae vit kk Ree passionate some mL | iJ 1! [3s of us are about ei 3 x j ‘ aha “a our hobby. Donald Rogers of California seen -/ here is one of my Victoria, and Dave Blinkhorn — of England (WW(April *97 ONCE JUST READERS, NOW FRIENDS. issue) were readers, all now once are friends. Also talented with the camera, his photo of the model Zulu Auricula heading for open waters, was his Christmas card to me last festive season. Cover photo selection is always an important task, for the boats large or small, have got to be caught clearly, preferably just at precisely the right moment, & the Marguerite In March | cruised both leisurely and deliciously through the late Adrian Hayter’s long out of print book Sheila in the Wind, having been told by Hamiltonian Russell Rimmington who now owns the boat, that | must read it. Indeed | found it hard to put down, but chose a long, cruisy read. Hayter’s descriptive account of crossing the bar into Westport on New Zealand’s West Coast, is one of the finest bits of ‘sailing designed Sheila in the April issue, Barry Gibson in Rebecca model appear in this issue, have succeeded. journey’ writing. readers, his little catboat freesailer was shown sunny of The Albert Strange | believe, is in the process of being fully restored in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. Ever enjoyed a windle where everything was right ? One day in May all conditions were absolutely perfect, and the mood within me gelled with the way that Island Spice wanted to be sailed. The sun on a late rise, but not too hot, the wind fresh but not gusting, the water clean and flat, the ever-present Shag on his lakeside perch, beady A eyes following the : boat’s course into the Humdinger wind. A memorable sail – a humdinger of a start to the day. ofa windle Yack Editor/Publisher Above left, Club ‘Sail In’ day 1998, above right, the author with vane boat. Minutes of the first General Meeting of persons interested in forming a model yacht club in Christchurch, NZ, show that the meeting was held on June 17th 1898, Mr H.R.Webb voted to the chair. That meeting brought the CHRISTCHURCH MODEL YACHT CLUB into existence – the object of the club (decided a week later), to provide “amusement, improvement in model yachting, and give all possible encouragement to the designing, construction rigging, fitting and sailing of models of all descriptions’. Another objective was ‘to induce members to take interest in naval & maritime affairs’. | like that last bit, and | wonder if they all did ? There were “Stewards’ who measured all yachts, and annual subs were five shillings, Juniors paying two shillings and sixpence, It appears they also used to fine members for misconduct – Rule 16 was ‘any member misconducting himself, or doing anything likely to injure the club, shall be liable to have conduct inquired into by the committee, if found guilty, may be fined a sum not exceeding five shillings’. The club’s station was to be Victoria ay Waters – Lake Victoria as it is called now, in Hagley Park. In the early years there were negotiations with the golf club to buy their shed, eventually the club had one built – a shed sometimes called a ‘pavilion’ used until 1969. (continued on page 4) There were two sizes of yachts catered for – Four foot Sixes and Two foot sixes, handicaps worked out according to size, and today, a century later, the club still has yachts of different sizes competing in the same race. The very first event recorded, was won by Skipper sailed by W.Mason who received a cup, second and third finishing skippers, one pound and_ ten _ shillings respectively. In the ‘old days’ there were several other model yacht clubs around the country, and the club was challenged in 1899 by the Otago MYC, the matches held at Lyttelton and at Victoria Water. Weed was always a problem, with cutting and use of weedkiller. In 1903, a company called JONES & SON, donated a_ shield for Interprovincial competition, the programme for the 1904 event including a procession of boats, canoe races for ladies and men, a duck hunt – even a greasy pole. In the club’s executive, at one stage there were seven Vice Presidents elected, and in 1940 when | joined the club at 15 as a schoolboy, Mr L.J Ruxton was still the Secretary and Custodian after a period of twenty with the names of winners of Club Championships from 1921 when they started. The water was boiled for tea over a 44 gallon drum, ‘Billy’ Beauchamp being in charge of this. | can still remember him lighting up the fire before races in which he competed with his boat Avenger – a boat painted red with a huge sunrise on each side of the hull. Three of the first six championships were won by a yacht called Pateena sailed by M Patterson, but a much more famous yacht of the period was Dolphin, owned and sailed first by Austin Semmens, then by Bob Munro, who sailed it to win six Championships to add to the first one by the original owner. Now owned by Euan Sarginson, the boat has been completely restored (Story — in WW/April *97). It has beautiful lines though beamy, not difficult to see why it was so successful. In 1967. Marbleheads were introduced and building the yachts was a Class project, and in 1968 plans for the new clubhouse were approved and building started. The club hosted the first free-sailing Championships for RM’s that year, and | remember winning the second, sailing my Caprice in 1975, again in 1980 with a boat called Gemini. years. Races were held on Saturday afternoons, generally over six lengths or one mile, so one had to be reasonably fit if the wind was northeasterly. Afternoon tea, with the long table in the Committee room at the back of the clubhouse lined with cakes and sandwiches made by the wives, the walls covered with shields The club is now enjoying something of a resurgence, and an increasing. membership augurs well for the future. (Malcolm Scott has been Secreary of the club for 27 years, and Treasurer for the last 3 years, and his quick glance at the early years by way of this story is greatly appreciated). (Editor) Recent trends in the design of one metres, have seen more and more boats come out with a raised foredeck and a cockpit (bet Ed has a ball with that one !). The concept of these has been around for awhile – both Metric Mess and Zakazany, which were Spencer designed ‘Merry Hell’s’, had dished decks back in 1990, and Cut Cat – a modified Merry Hell, was the first to have a raised foredeck and a cockpit in 1992 – long before the Aussies even started in one metres. The idea has been popularised with the prominence and success of the TS 2, more commonly known as the Aussie Skiff, and now it is standard to see new designs with such deck layouts. There can be little doubt that the look of the skiffs has attracted more competitive (am I allowed to use that word in this mag ?) skippers to radio yachting, as the boats now look more like the high performance racing skiffs seen in harbours. There will always be debate on wide boats versus narrow boats, but there can be no doubt that the wider skiffs do perform in all conditions. In Australasia they are winning all the major regattas, and in the UK, skiffs took top places at the Nationals in a predominantly light air contest. , The NZ Two Dogs design is a narrow between the compromise European boats and the wider TS 2 boat -a reflection perhaps of the designers “The author’s Aussie TS2, below NZ *3 Dog! ahead of a V2. confusion between his English home country and his adopted New Zealand. It has already had success in a modified form with a second placing in the World 1M Championships in 1997, the wider TS 2’s taking six of the top ten places. There are now a couple of designs in NZ which are performing well – with the 3 Dogs (Good grief – we are going to the dogs ! – Ed) in the hands of designer Martin Firebrace, showing speed that may be hard to equal, and the V2 designed by Ian Vickers dominating two major events recently in NZ. The test will come at this year’s 1M Nationals expected to be in light airs, and the real proof, at next years WORLDS in Malta in April lan Hunt’s stunning Sydney based In the December issue | carried a brief story on lan Hunt’s square rigger (which | incorrectly *Clipper’). labelled Now the as a truly magnificent model County of Inverness has been launched, and this is the result. With a hull length of 7’9” (and overall length of 9’ seven and a half inches), a beam of 13”, and a total weight of 81 lbs, the model was entirely handbuilt except for 11 ventilators, and to do this, lan also built the circular saw which cut the timber. In my esteem, | think it is fair to say that he can be acclaimed as the “sole whole caboodle builder !’, The only materials used were timber and brass, construction – plank on frame, double plank, French Carvel method. Timber used was Kauri planking, Spiny Ash frames, Pacific Maple for Stem and Stern pieces, with the keel (upper and lower) of White Pine. All deck machinery is of wood and brass, with both deck houses and the fore and main hatches lifting for internal access. Because of the large size lan was able to make most things work, – the Royal Topgallant and upper topsail yards slide down the mast controlled by the working halliards, the chained down anchors can be put overside using the anchor cranets, and the fully detailed quarter boats can be launched using the working davits, when the chain and rope gripes are cast off. County of Inverness was launched at Wentworth Falls lake on Béeee et tte ae eee ees 20th Sept 1997. The lake is 62 miles West of Sydney in the Blue Mountains. It was windy and squally, but the boat handled the conditions like a veteran Cape Horner, the Channel Nine television station providing a 4 min feature spot on the event. An idea of the level of interest Mon Ami Rene Dupuis (my command of French astounds me sometimes !) who built, owns and sails the Chasse- Maree Marguerite which forms part of the cover, is a 64 year old who lives in Macon in South Burgandy. Retired from the Post Office, he is seen below in Square-rigged models in Australia (lan said) can be judged by the fact that after being shown in all states of a nation of 18 million people, it elicited just three enquiries, one of whom wanted to know if lan would build him a model of a World War II Corvette – for nothing of course, other than ‘the fun that lan would derive out of it!’ For comparison purposes, lan’s earlier model – the Albion Line passenger Clipper Timaru built to 1/43 scale some 45 years ago, seen astern of the County of Inverness in the photo above (with lan in the middle) gives an idea of the difference in size. checking details prior to launching the model at a “sail-in’ that he organises each year at St Point. He is ee Clockwise from eer Ken with ies a ship lover of both sailing boats, and historic period boats from the 17th & 18th centuries. The excellent cover shot of Marguerite is by Robert Savary, a Swiss friend of Rene’s. | have to fess up and say that Rene’s English is far superior to my French. Milton Thrasher of Sarasota in Florida, U.S.A is editor of an excellent breezy little publication covering the AMYA’s Region 3, but he is also the ‘producer’ and advocate of the 48” International One Design RC Scale Yacht. Of Classic lines they are fibreglass hulled and semi-scale models of a world famous 33’5” IOD by Bjarne Aas of Norway, built for Cornelius Shields who founded the IOD class in Larchmont N.Y. The full scale IOD Class is raced at Long Island Sound, as well as in San Fransico, Maine, Marblehead, Bermuda and_ in Norway. The model has a thousand square inches of sail on a 62” high mast, and weighs in at about 15 Ibs. It’s keel is 3.5” deeper than to scale, in order to achieve the same stability as the full size counterpart. As of Sept *97 there were 28 of these boats sold, with the boats produced by two builders. There are twelve of these sailed at the Sarasota Model Yacht Club who also sail the Soling One Metre. The typical IOD model enthusiast is a former large boat sailor, who appreciates the lines of the model’s traditional long overhang – deepkeeled day-sailers popular on Long Island Sound. Milton Thrasher first started tinkering with the IOD 48” boat when he resided in New York, re-kindling his interest when he moved to Florida and retired. More details on this graceful looking four foot yacht can be obtained from him at Milton Thrasher Model RC Yachts 4258 Hearthstone Drive, Sarasota Fla 34238, U.S.A. Tel is 941-966- 9172/Fax 941-966-9179. The boats are available in different stages, including ready to sail. The late Peter Mulgrew wrote in the introduction to his book The Gentleman’s Magellan: known as Golden Hind) rounded in 1578, Cook on the Endeavour in 1769, and with Resolution in 1772, rounding from West to East. Cook “Cape Horn for all it’s fearsome reputation, is no more than an island at the bottom of the great Andean chain. Only 1300 feet high, it stands like a minor sentinel between the two great southern oceans, and must be the last word in the vocabulary of sailormen, it’s ironbound reputation having struck consternation into men’s hearts for rounded Cape Horn again in 1775, centuries’. Ferdinand Magellan was the first to make a significantly historic voyage in the area, sailing the 110 ton Trinidada in 1520, and was killed on the same voyage after discovering the Straight later named after him. Drake aboard Pelican (later to be and then in 1896 Joshua Slocum sailed sti 12 tonner Spray (an RC ‘ sgt e8 model by “= Falmouth’s , Ken Impey seen at left) to become the first to sail singlehanded through the straight, round the horn and sailed around the world. The famous Argentinian yachtsman Vito Dumas wrote: “Lives there a sailor who would (Continued page 10) not have made a Cape Horn passage in his own small vessel, rather than any other voyage in the world’. The lure of the horn continues to taunt and tease seamen, remains their “challenge’ until they round it, and though some who do are lucky, and find the waters around the horn almost docile on occasions, at other times there is an eternally boiling sea under which lies a terrble cemetery of seamen. Larsen-the first British Square-Rigger to round in almost 100 years, and my memories of that day 9th 1991, I will take to my grave. We had enjoyed a great celebration, had the customary (simple- cape on over thirty occasions.” Rimmington continues: “More commonly called *Cape Stiff’ it is notorious: Not only is it 57 degrees South, it is known for it’s huge seas, strong currents and storms. The sea bed also shallows from over 4,000 metres to 90 metres close to the cape, and there is up to seven knots of current West to East. My journey was aboard the vessel shown in the painting at right of her ‘rounding the horn’- Soren the ‘Golden Earring’ consume a fitted bottle of champagne, hold some ice around the earlobe, place a champagne cork behind the ear, insert the hypodermic needle, and put in the earing !) . We had also sprinkled the ashes of old seafarers, | wanted a photograph of Cape Horn for the article – enter Russell Rimmington of Hamilton, NZ – the man who flew me over the Waikato on 12th November 1994 aboard his vintage DeHavilland “Tiger Moth’ biplane. “Rounding Cape Horn in a Square Rigger under sail was a life ambition for me. My Great Grandfather Ernest Parker, a partner in a shipping firm, had doubled the – December memorial and service had conducted to over a 10,000 other seafarers drowned off Cape Horn. We were lucky, and when we rounded it was quite remarkable. The sea colour changed within a day from the blue Pacific, to the seedy grey of the South Atlantic, and the Cape (seen in my photograph) was clearly visible, the weather in most benevolent mood. | had done it and had rounded Cape Horn aboard a Square Rigger !” Again from Mulgrew’s — highly readable book: The tremendous force of the gales through the straights and channels around Cape Horn, and the oft unprecedented height of it’s seas, are caused by Westerly winds which travel in a belt around the world in this southern latitude. Their passage is barred by the great height of the Andes ranges that run down the spine of Chile. The airflow is therefore diverted south down to Cape Horn, and forced through the relatively narrow gap that separates Tierra del Fuego from the Shetland Islands in Antarctica, and this concentrated wind force starts the notorious gales. Waves of up to 120 feet high have been reported in this area. Herman Melville’s words perhaps best sum up A windler gone windling. Cape Horn’s sometimes benevolent attitude to those involved in the task of rounding. ‘And ye lucky livers, to whom by some rare fatality, your Cape Horns are placid as Lake Lemans, flatter not yourselves that good luck is judgement and discretion, for all the yolks in your eggs, you might have foundered and gone down, had the Spirit of the Cape said the word’ The Editor’s appreciation both to Russell Rimmington and to Squaresail Pacific of the Soren Larsen which will feature in a future issue. owners Ken Black became a 4 ““ “keeper of the spirit’ ars of windling in TM@ May 1996, and was the editor’s regular sailing companion & friendly foe in the ongoing Fun Fellow “Serious HA racing match HA’ \ : Ken Black series for the Ratu Bula Vinaka Nuts. He was also the big pusher for the continued life of the Bay of Islands Radio Yacht Club, insisting that | should be “Questionmarkdore’ as he called the position of Commodore. The Fun Fellow project owes much to Ken Black, in that he gave much time selling the boat to Yachting New Zealand who now have 20 in use for youth training. Unwell for a considerable time, Ken who was at one time a member of the NSRYS slid off quietly on the morning wind of 30th May. | am saddened that | never got to say goodbye, so on behalf of readers thanks for your friendship and for the memories Ken ! | suspect you let me win at Onepoto on many occasions ‘World Champion’and | shall remember you also for your humour, Fair winds and numerous gin and tonics, upstairs Ken, and to Ngaire and their sons and families, sincere sympathy. 11 The editor relays Peter Smith’s story of … NS ¥ s 2 Ny WARY NINA \ \ ANAS SS S Syh } INAS \ NY NY NY A couple of years ago I chanced upon a book by Peter Smith called from another Peter (Tait.) The book is about her restoration, the discoveries made by Peter after rowing out with her then owner to inspect the boat at the time moored across the inlet to Tauranga in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty. As Peter wrote: “The rapid heel as we climbed aboard was disconcerting and | wondered how far she lay down in a breeze – how much of a sea came over her ?’ The owner added: “| pump her out about once a month when she is on the mooring’. Not easily put off, she was purchased: “As we left, we rowed around her, the fast ebbing tide easing past the fine bow sections. On the stern was the name Dolphin. She was not much like a sleek, efficient Dolphin but she had an air about her”. Peter Smith is not only a yachtsman and author – add to those, one who is pretty skilled at boat restoration, but is an educator and a talented artist. And what of Rebecca – built in 1902 by the Ewen brothers in New Zealand’s north island city of Whangarei, and christened Dolphin.? ‘she was not As Peter wrote remarkable in any way – just a typical home-built, 24’ straight-stemmed, counter-sterned gaff cutter’. Thirty years later she would be purchased by Albert ‘Chuck’ Taylor of that city, and raced by him for some fifteen years. Between 1902 and 1973 when Smith bought her, renamed her Rebecca, she underwent several cabin structure and rig changes, was sold a few times, fell into some flattened by — following year. the were me attracted What wonderful pen and ink drawings within, and the fact that the boat described by the author as *an elderly lady of unknown virtue’, was an old boat and | am fascinated by old sailing boats that have survived. was S Sou’ Westerly when tacking in Auckland’s Panmure river in 1962 where she lost her keel and given an extensive refit by a Mr Rax the Rebecca – the restoration of an old yacht and promptly borrowed it disrepair, NAINA S RRS a 12 Peter decided to sail her back to Auckland – a coast-hopping trip with a friend voyage peril, aboard of – a near when “~~. Vy changing tides, =~ rising winds and a SRA torn sail reduced Smith to a state of “fatalistic inertia’. ws, ; per nary ~~ The restoration was carried out beside the Smith house in Kiwi do-it-yourself fashion – no boat shed, just a tarpaulin suspended from a concrete wall over a pole suspended from two other posts. Peter & Jill Smith were to keep Rebecca for six years, sailing her extensively and only parting with the Cutter in 1978 when The size of WW precludes details of the painstaking period that followed, but on Christmas day 1972 – after 10 months of work (as Peter was to write), ‘the buoy was dropped with mainsail and staysail set and she moved easily and fast, with no pressure on the helm and was noticeably responsive to small changes in wind-strength A lively lady indeed, in contrast to the stolid old girl we had sailed out of Tauranga. The long evening light gilded Motuihe Island, Waiheke and the Coromandel beyond, glinted on varnish and paint, and threw soft shadows on the three arcs of sail. It was a golden evening’. 13 concerns for his health arose. He built a lovely display model of her which they still have, and talking to Peter, it is obvious that his Rebecca years were special to him Rebecca is still in Auckland, again approaching a need for another refit. Peter & Jill now own and sail Pacific Icon – a 35’ sloop he designed and built. With his health improved, he still enjoys his boats and his sailing, and | suspect, he may build an RC Rebecca,? Of old salts and clippers, schooners and Bugeyes… and a mermaid of the fleet called Cathryn. The Great Schooner Model Society in Maryland, U.S.A, was launched some six years ago by it’s founder and present Commodore, Melvin Conant there are no dues – and there is no committee. The steadily growing fleet assembles usually just twice a year on a lazy river beside George Surgent’s place (see profile on G.S.on P.22), and includes Lynx, a couple of Gloucester schooners, Sharpie and Coastal schooners and two handsome ‘Bugeyes’ – technically ketches but their masts are nearly equally in height. (a story on his Baltimore Clipper Lynx apeared in the April *98 issue)) aided by a solid group of schooner enthusiasts. Mainly old salts sail but youngsters are encouraged and time is made for them, as if the society is to survive, youngsters have got to be brought into the fold. (Continued page 15) The Society may be unique for it has no charter, no by-laws, no Secretary, and no Treasurer as 14 The Society which is based in the Chesapeake Bay, at a meeting in May, welcomed the arrival presented World’s of by editor promotes the sailing, exemplary a Interest is growing, and this year the G.5.M.5 fleet will Below; Windlers five. include two pilot schooners of the Virginia and New York harbour types. medal Windling – which The ideals of fun friendship conduct, and and lovely mermaid fine fleet who Deputy Commodore Surgent presented it for 1998 to the Founder and Commodore Melvin Conant. The Society has reciprocated and the Dec issue of WW will have details. little of the is Cathryn, is seen in BEARINGS p 23, (ll bet she not only keeps them young = at heart, but keeps them in order also. | drink to the Society Good windling and long life to a group that enjoys model sailboats, and are true windlers at heart. To Friends ! So much exciting material is at hand from all over the world, but space in this issue being rather tight, it has precluded the usual full column list, | will revert to having that from the next issue which will include that long promised Peter Tait story on the scow Owhiti, a fine new 8luenose, a tea clipper Seawitch, a story on my Washington friend George Steele, another story on basic free-sailers, a look at a great UK group called the SOUTHWATER DABBLERS, a story on the Fun Fellow una-rig boats, readers models, *Starlet’s, launchings, Seawinds’, Smeed a Louis Heloise, Roger Dearborn’s Canadian boats and so much MORE, – s, I ak eh George Surgent’s sharpie schooner 15 The German company GRAUPNER | believe, started it in 1995, introducing an event raced in Germany for ‘non racing’ sailing models, which attracted thirty eight entrants. A second regatta in 1996 saw 61 skippers, re-enforcing the belief that there are many people in the world who show interest in taking part in simple racing events, but do not want to build a special boat such as a one metre or Marblehead – or get involved in that serious a level of racing. by Ripmax, and _ attracting 21 entrants. Viewed by large crowds, the event is to again be held this year on Sunday 6th September, Robin Redhead of the UK (featured in the August 1997 Issue of WW), in 1997 on behalf of the Model Yacht Sailing Association, convened and when it is expected to see a greatly increased turnout of boats. Races run as a single fleet, with entries ran a similiar event in London, sailed on the famous ‘round pond’ in Kensington, the event sponsored divided into 3 groups based continued page 17 16 on hull events, friendly length, bring to yet atmosphere, like the Graupner the quite model water in a competitive sailing boats (scale, semi scale and of ‘classic’ lines – the MYSA event reported e ven had a ten rater within the m ixed fleet). Such events are increasi ng in popularity in the UK and Eu rope. “Sport Sailing’ because of th e non serious aspect, is bereft of agro, instead fostering interest in boa ts and a good feeling of camaraderie. Thanks to Robin for the report and photos. which as it’s name suggests, brings together for a day of sa iling, all those who favour the Jolie Bris e and Bristol Pilot Cutters in RC model format. They are great vi ewing Opportunity occcasions for spectators, and with wives putting on the refreshments at John’s Big Day, that event in particular, gains in popularity year by year. One of the photos sent is so good, it has: become this issue’s C.W shot b elow. John Collins, some readers may remember from WW/Decemb er 1996 issue, is a pilot cutter model fan, and sails a Jolie Brise, while once every year, convening a gathering of skippers and boats simply k nown as John’s Big Day. Separate to th at, he also organises Pilot Cutter Day 17 A shark investigates an A Class record-setter… 1950%s built William Fraser crosses COOK STRAIT ! Cresting a northbound Cook Strait roller William Fraser (named after Euan’s grandfather) underwent a rig revamp with a new set of sails made by Laurie Wales, was converted to radio, and with the help of William Lee and his 38’ keeler Taurewa I! , everything was set for the historic attempt. After When planning for their Centennial, among the ‘possible events mooted for the Christchurch Model Yacht Club, was the crossing by a model yacht of Cook Strait the 25 mile stretch of water separating New Zealand’s North & South Islands. re a night moored in Tory Channel, an early start was made on March 27th, the 56kg, It seemed a ‘fun’ thing to do, and Euan Sarginson who had restored a fleet of vintage boats, including a 1950’s Highlander A Class originally moulded by the Cooke brothers of Christchurch, selected the boat after sea trials. Originally a vane boat, the two length metre in model lowered into the (continued page 19) 18 waters of Cook Strait where condit ions expected were sea fog, winds from the SE and a confused sea. From the outset the boat sailed well hard on the wind and a course plotted and checked by the GPS. The inter-island ferries made regular appearances and the Willia m Fraser take the boat back to the South, and finally the model hauled aboard the keeler in the shadow of Pencarrow Light, Wellington just before 6pm. can be seen above heading for Wellington, with a ferry heading fo r Picton.Several dramas occured including adjustment of a jib stay (with Hugh Hobden hanging over the side to effect repairs) a breakage and quick onboard repairs, and a_ bizarre investigation by a shark (see photo below) that seemed confused as to whether this object was worth *meeting’ or ‘mating’ with ! It was a great achievement – an epic crossing of an often notorious 2 5km stretch of water by an RC model be st suited because of size and weight. Just 24 hours later, the remnants of a tropical cyclone blasted through th e area ! That she was made in the fifties and never intended for big sea water, makes it even more astonishing. That ‘spirit’ of boyhood adventure the editor wrote about in the APRIL issue, seems alive in the South « there is even talk about a race across Coo k Strait for similiar RC boats ! Thanks to Hugh Hobden rr ny (words) and Euan (pics) ht ‘\ GREAT EFFORT | MeL | i Nye Wind fluctuations, a battery chan ge, the non appearance of big winds predicted, the arrival of big seas , cellphone conversations with fami ly and the media, a tide threatening to \ layin { e h t t se to d e d n e t n i r e v e n e r e They w e h t n o e m a c y e h t n e h w , world alight t rs fi ’ h t i w d n a l a e Z w e N scene in a of e su is v o N / t c O e h t n ‘i n o i ment e n i m f o e n i z a g a m le tt li previous called ONE. e re th t rs fi e th h t i w r, te la s h t n A few mo e r e w ey th r e c n e p S n h o J y b t il bu boats Z N n r e h t r o n a in ol ho sc A hot news: t, ec oj pr g n i d l i u b l pi pu a ed ut it st city in it ok to ce fi Of t is ur To al on the Fiji Nati s r i r a M d n a s, ad in it d e s u d n a d r on boa h t i w , K . U e th in e n i z a g a m g Modellin d re ti re a t go , al ov pr ap s er gn the desi e r o m p u w a r d to er ne British engi e re th a s; an pl ed il ta de d n a e descriptiv issue building story resulted. y a m I e s o p p u s I ? t ar st it d di w But ho d n a , it h t i w o d to te mi have had a te la e th of s r e b m e e th d e n n a f perhaps m s a i s u h t n e s ’ r e c n e p S n h o J r e design f o e v o l n w o s hi d n a s nd la is for the Fiji ’. ty li bi si os ‘p e h t g in is ra y b s schooner e r e w e m i t e h t at Z N in st re te in The real e th of r o s n o p s e th ji Fi h t i w , es tr one me ke li t a o b a f o h t w o r g e h t d n a Nationals, , er on ho sc ed gg ri tca , st ma d e y a a nunst th wi e os th to d te mi li e b to g in go s wa th wi e os th s, ul so r ei th in e c n a m o some r a g in il sa y b t en er ff di e b a desire to model yacht with some ‘character’. k c a J y ps ji Fi e, in rl te wa e th n o e A metr n o n e e s , n u F ji Fi d n a ) ft le e v (abo in l el ss Ru f of er at aw se in y a d launch e th r fo er rm fo e th s nd la Is of y a B the , er ld ui -b er gn si de e th r fo F F editor, d n a m e d of ry ur fl a in ed lt su re y quickl to ed in nf co hn Jo by s an pl h ug ro e th r fo the local market. A few went to of n o s b i G y rr Ba e r e h w a, li ra Aust ed ll ca e on s n w o l il st d n a t il bu Victoria nd ie fr h is rn Co y m y e p m I n e K nd ,a Eric d n a t se a th wi ed ft gi s a w , th in Falmou t le ap Tr e th e c n O . er nn Ja ji Fi t il bu later e th ly on , K U in e bl la ai av e plans wer ’s hn Jo ss ce ac d ul co t e k r a m NZ s ar ye x Si . or it ed e th m o r f drawings wee later, Fiji Magic ~. schooners are still the subject of bursts of some fi Scant sak interest , but early attempts by me to keep a REGISTER have failed. As boats change hands, few owners really choose to advise, and in the UK, I don’t even know the extent of demand or where the boats built are sailed today. The ‘review’ schooner(Kiwi Magic) the first to be built in UK, was sold by Henry John died at his home at Okiato, Day of Islands in March 1996, but before that, he also created the una rigged Fun Fellow boat (and I still immensely enjoy the prototype /s/and Spice which he built for me. These will be the subject of an article in a future issue. Farley to a Robin Boning of Surrey. The FM schooners sail extremely well, I still own and enjoy Fijipsy Jack and in Wellington, my friend Jim Watson still owns the early one he built called Fijimminy Cricket, while in the land of the rising sun, WW reader Nobuji Shiomi’s Fiji Flying Fish, is still going and as can be seen in the opening photograph, ‘goosewing’ downwind impressively. In my opinion, they were certainly ‘ahead of their time’, and seen by some serious 1M skippers as a threat to 1M interests and best avoided. How opinions change – three of those (now strong. fed up with 1M ‘seriousness), were to John Spencer also built two others to complete a trio for himself (excluding the prototype Fiji Fun), Fiji Magic and Fiji IV. Their whereabouts order schooner plans so that they could sail for fun and relaxation – and windle with a boat of great character. are unknown I know that these schooners one day will Nobuji Shiomi be the subject of vigorous demand , and with his Fiji getting the plans (now only available Flying Fish Okazaki City, from the address below) will not be easy; Japan. those who have obtained them and have them stashed away will be laughing |! They are a classic windle boat | The Traplet Plan is8 Number MAR 2425, costs TWELY E POUNDS, FIFTY PENCE from| Traplet Publications, Severn Drive, Uptonon -Severn, Wores VRBOJL, United Watson g ie Magle ch oonet, ‘FIJIMMINY CRICKET’ Kingdom, andI beliieve that Wooden Warship, 40 Willi Street, Lansvale (2166, siete can get them for that market. s 1 aA Ra ete 21 A great their 1G . many of us rge pond, in the perhaps enjoyed 2 wonderful in _! pursuit of our introducing kids to the pleasures of childhood – times spent sailing small model sailboating. Starting kids young models in of boats times portable that we fashioned ourselves. We sailed them wherever we the delights of model boating, provides an early introduction at an could, in my case, even in impressionistic age, that drains often swollen wide leads to big boat during the rainy season sailing in later years. In in Georgetown, British my books, it ranks high Guiana. not only pleasurable as a_ mere activity, but In todays world there are one that is violence – free greater and imparts skill and opportunities, the creation of models that more closely as well as discipline and patience. | _ resemble the real thing, j-— George himself also sails has been made easier for larger models that include kids a by people American like George 50” RC schooner sharpie inspired in Surgent, through the easy to assemble design by an article in Wooden Boat kits he produces for kids in Maryland, magazine U.S.A schooners of old. Open WOODEN any BOATS issue or of either Bob on the Carolina sharpie Hicks’ » Seen on this page ‘about to windle’ with MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS, and you’re guaranteed to see a small ad for his little George Surgent’s Preussen, he is aboard his favourite SEAWORTHY SMALL SHIPS, their ‘windling perch’ – their sixteen foot little catalogue offering a range of ship canoe.He will tell you that his models model subjects produced by George. are unsinkable as they are made of balsa, & Marla 5 master balsa free-sailer and the little 16” Coastal schooner looks George Surgent is so realistic under sail , one is tempted to obviously happy working with wood, equally obvious say ‘it can’t be !’ that he himself enjoys messing about out, for I have been gifted by George sailing his creations on the waters of with one of those kits. Their brochure Wells Cove, off the Patuxent river in carries the warning – ‘The building and Prince Frederick in Maryland. sailing of these Iam soon going to find models is highly It may be their business, but George and his wife often actively share their own Seaworthy Small Ships, Dept WW, P.O Box ,/-; enthusiasm, offer encouragement, and 2863, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, U.S.A. make available their little boats and 22 i ott (MarkSteele) Tin fie oo contagious’. I can already see why ! Chris Jackson, MM’‘s editor did the sailplans, the model by Mike Robinson, | think | could be in love – all Minimum total weight, maximum because of Cathryn, the sweet little mermaid total ballast, and a boat that is ideal for windlers who want a modern looking and from Maryland the darling of the members of the Great Schooner Model Society, USA, their event in this issue. Sob ! “What are you talking about, I’m luffing myself silly at your joke !”” ‘Watch all the windlers- the ways racy type of boat. One rig, light and heavy suits only.( | find it too hot for a PY a nee that they sail… DISASTER AHOY ! 1 KNEW IT! There are three ways to windle. the right and the wrong, and the third is ‘the way I do it !’ NO ! NO ! It’s no use, you can’t fool me – that is defnutly neither model Elle nor Madonna. Yes, | know that long shorts are in fashion, but hells teeth, the windler in Christchurch at right, is… mean be reasonable – look at both the . stern and the beam fellas. | may be stuffed, but | aint There you go again – one of you telling me that what’s above is your wife’s way of using your model to hang the washing {, | don’t know who you are or where it was, but you’re in-real deep ‘poo-poo’ land ii you’ve cut up one of her bed sheets to make your sails fella! ft was you, t would emigrate | stoopid ! The free plan in the ‘Sing me a song of a lad that is pone, April issue of Say, could that lad be I? Marine Modelling was of the mini- Merry of soul, he sailed on a day over the sea to Skye mumm, based on Billow and breeze, islands and seas, the fullsize mountains of rain and sun, All that was good, all that was fair, all that was me is pone’ sportboat for four crew, and the slightly larger Oh Robert Louls Stevenson, Urn all shook up | Poosunwns always make mecry! Abel Mumm 30 racers. Graham Bantock drew the lines, and 23 In the Fiji Islands, grown men and women racelittleElectrons around an island for fun and a bucket ! | It’s a real “hoot’, but the ‘Worlds ’ Regatta of a New Zealand one-design RC class of boat – held at an island called Toberua, has all the touches of friendliness, charm and unpretentiousness that make FIJI the*fun holiday’destination it is. Where else in the world would the sheer magic of an island, motivate guests to walk right around it, knee deep while sailing model yachts – in pursuit of getting their name on a twenty dollar galvanised bucket 2 ” Daringly different, Utterly charming Ae 48 High Street Fiji VISITORS BUREAU g Xema: CPofce@fj 24091 iz.com Stock Exchange rs _PO Box 1179, Auckland Phone 0-9-373 2133/ 34 o> 0x Internet: hetp:\www.BulaFijiicom bUnrad