Windling World: December 1997

the incredible The exciting ILLUSION yp idage | ernie Survivor At the helm. I got to thinking recently – how much, one metre yacht designs had changed in less Schooners and than eight years. In 1990, many liked and sailed scow-hulled boats from the drawing ketches, growing pains, design changes . and “Goo Gook-a-doob’s !” The editor’s vote – on the ‘prettiest, most -enjoyable-to-windle-with’ boat, still boards of Draper and Detriche. Let us not forget that Dave Watson won the very first NZ IM Nationals on 21 Oct that year – sailing the scow ALF – seen here belongs to the Falmouth-based schooner John Fossett Bonds, built and owned by W/W fellow ‘keeper of the spirit of windling’ Ken Impey, and seen with me at Perranporth in Cornwall in 1994. That reminds me of Robert Louis Stevenson’s quote: ‘The only noble thing a man can do with money, is to build a schooner !”. Having said that – inside you’ll read a mite about my Marigold – a turn-of-the-century in style ketch that has given me many wonderful hours of pleasure, since her launch a year ago. This is our eighth issue, and we are still therefore a very young magazine with the usual ‘growing pains’, and with it comes renewal time for almost ninety percent of readers. Those due will find a yeller- (a yellow in colour form). To those not renewing I am sorry to lose you, and I thank you for having-given it a whirl. I also want to say to all readers – only renew, ifyou really enjoy Windling World. I also record sincere thanks to my former employers, The Fiji Visitors Bureau, at Head Office level in Suva for their support – crucial to the magazine’s existence. They have done more than any other sponsor for NZ model yachting. ploughing through a ‘mini monster’ of a wave, That’s progress for you « or is it ? I wish you and all your families, a most joyous and happy Christmas + and for my US friends, a wonderful Thanksgiving. May 1998 be your best-ever year to date, and do try and get in – a lazy but pleasurable windle or three, somewhere in between the turkey, rum-laced Christmas cake and Pavlova feasting – and the consumation assaults on the liquid products of breweries, distilleries and vineyards. Go for it friends – or as Tigger said in The House at Pooh Corner… Grrr-oppp- ptschschz ! Abel would say, Goo-Gook-aDoob ! The choice is entirely yours ! Mark Steele Publisher/Editor ”The tides and lack of time combine, and now provide formidable odds much of their time on carth has gone, their sinking left to the gods” Mark Steele/Against time and tide – 1996 “Awatea ‘- a century old yacht that refuses to die ! The Editor re-packages a story. Within the city of Auckland, New Zealand, is an eleven metre cutter designed and built by Charles Bailey Senior as far back in time as 1886. There are some who say she was built Awatea on tow from Devonport when taken delivery of by present owners. having propped the boat up, he settled down aboard, surounded by shrubs and mangroves, fully provisioned and away from civilisation for thirty years. earlier than that – in 1881, and to further complicate the issue, a The odd fisherman in search of mullet photocopy of the New Zealand Yacht Register of 1892//93 lists the date as who remained a resident of Devonport, would visit him, as in time would his wife being 1888, but anyway you look at it, and Swan without ever making public the reasons for this self-imposed exile, lived the Awatea is (in 1997) in excess of a off various vegetables and fruit he grew on hundred years old. the bank of the creck and sold or traded, while weather conditions over the years What makes this boat so different from many others however, is her history – in particular the lengthy period of thirty years upon which he lived. He later became ill as when owned by the London born Henry given a room and care from someone in Charles Swan, who after purchase of the the Henderson area, he died age 75 at their boat in Auckland in 1900, and home. rotted the sails and timber of the cutter a result of chronic kidney problems, and preparation of the Awatea, farewelled family and friends a year later and set out The Awatea was built for a Mr F.W.Mace to all intents and purposes, to emulate who arrived in New Zealand in 1878. He Slocum and to sail around the world. won the Auckland Yacht Club Cup with her in March 1893, and cruised the Bay of Instead of sailing out into the Pacific, Islands and Marlborough Sounds areas under cover of encroaching darkness, aboard her before selling to Swan. After Swan however was to sail up the Swan died there is somewhat of a grey Waitemata harbour, and upon entering area as to who removed the Awatea from the Henderson Creek in the West of the creek and where she was taken. It is Auckland – to tow the boat as far up the suggested by a Mr Alf Mabbett, that she tidal estuary as he was able to, whereupon continued on next page continued from previous page cutter was to long outlive. was taken up the Mahurangi river to Warkworth, later sold to someone in Auckland. In 1932 she was stripped back to the Kauri planked hull and extensively rebuilt at the Judges Bay shipyard of new The Hillyer’s are obviously eager to have the boat restored and given another new lease on life – a costly undertaking to say owner, boatbuilder Joseph Slattery – a 12 the very least. No date can be put to this, and the old girl remains hidden away, month refit before emerging as a perhaps in somewhat undressed state, but Bermudan cutter in October 1933, the out of prying eyes somewhere in same year Slattery died. Auckland. | would like to be around when an again restored Awatea, sails the harbour Between 1933 and 1952, Awatea’s and outer gulat f the start whereabouts have not been ascertained, but lengthy and incredibly strange life. Zi aA in 1953, it is known that she was set on of yet another era within an already ¥ is? ao fire for insurance purposes in the Motuihe channel of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf unsuccessfully, but with proof in the way of still visible charring on the aft stringers. Anti clockwise from top right. the centurion cutter Awatea, Robin Redhead aboard his Whusion, Alan Rebuilt as a ketch and purchased by a new owner the following year, resold again in ITayes’ ‘tri-cam’ on-the-water photo ofa Spencer Fun Fellow, 1959, Awatea then went through a series of some four, maybe five different ownerships, before being bought from a Devonport yachtsman, Ernie Davenport (who owned her from 1970) in 1988 by Pamela & Barry Hillyer her current owners. Much has been written about this grand Bailey-built cutter – by historian Paul Titchener, by journalist Jack Leigh, by Peter Buffett, and probably others, and with a bit of digging, a few other facts emerged. Not a great deal has come out of enquiries about the hermit yachtsman Henry Charles Swan. He is said to have In a move towards keeping Windling World had eccentric habits, and a finely detailed afloat, archway across ‘his creek’ which he constructed, still stands to this day. An incredible story of circumstances – and I have had to increase subscription costs ‘marginally’ and the majority of readers subs are now due. The sub increase in the case of N.Z. readers is 66 cents per copy. These rates went into effect (for new subscribers) on Ist August 1997. of a boat made famous by it’s association renewal will have with a lonely Englishman whom this this December issue. Those due for a YELLOW form within Free-sailing, vane-steered vintage John Snow and Jim Dolan on the origins of the ‘M’ class. MS50O-800 class boats at Redd’s Pond. with the ‘Marblehead’ model yacht. Over to John and Jim: Historic Redd’s Pond at Marblehead in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Many of those with even scant “The seacoast town of Marblehead, some 20 miles north of Boston was first settled in the early 1620’s, the pond (situated on a rocky peninsula projects out into Massachusetts Bay) named after a local woman who lived nearby in the late 1600’s. knowledge of the origins of the Marblehead class of model yacht, will most likely have heard of a historic patch of sailing water in the U.S.A known simply as Redd’s Pond – situated, (surprise ! surprise !) in the old town part of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Thanks to John Snow( President of the U.S Vintage Model Yacht Group, with whomI have been in correspondence for a wee while) Jim Dolan, and Earl Boebert (Historian for the movement, who is also Editor of their publication The Model Yacht), I can now tell you a little bit more about Redd’s Pond and it’s connections The town itself has had a Jong and rich maritime history, in it’s contributions to the country and to sailboat racing, and Redd’s Pond has had a comparable impact on the sport of U.S. model yachting. Exactly ‘when’ people first started to sail model boats there is lost in antiquity earliest records found to date indicate organised racing from 1892, however a belief that it was used for the purpose as early as 1850, is based on the premise (and with some speculation) on the rise in popularity of large boat leisure sailing on Long Island Sound in Massachusetts Bay around that time. continued on next page continued from previous page Generally, the model yachts being raced What is known, is that there have been two during that period were gaff-rigged designs organisations associated with model with bowsprits, and prominent sail plans sailing at Redd’s Pond – the Marblehead extending well beyond the hulls, many with Midget Yacht Club (1892-1925) and the fin and bulb keels to counter-balance the Marblehead Model Yacht Club (1925 to force of the large sail areas. the present). The basic philosophy of these two groups, has been to foster innovation So much interest was generated in the in model yachting, through development of _— early 1900’s in model yachting through various model classes, and unique sailing sailing at Redd’s Pond, a special summer designs. camp in style school was founded in Marblehead, just to teach children the In the late 1800’s, model yachts of all basics of model yachting. Two businesses types and sizes were sailed in ever even went so far as to allow budding increasing numbers on Redd’s Pond, and model yacht designers, the use of their on other ponds around the north shore area = workshops to build their sailing craft, and of Massachusetts, and the Marblehead held yearly end of summer regattas for Midget Yacht Club decided upon a 24″ children at Redd’s Pond. (Is there a class of yacht as their first sailing craft. message there for New Zealand ? – Ed) A report on a Labour Day regatta in 1925 listed 175 model yachts entered, and over one thousand spectators lining the shores of Redd’s Pond on the day ! The origins of the Marblehead 50-800 design make interesting reading. In 1927, L Francis Herreshoff who had designed a variety of large racing craft – from dinghies to America’s Cup ‘J’ class boats, joined the Marblehead Model Yacht Club. He then proposed a class of model yacht with only one restriction, namely 450 square inches of sail. Adopted by the club as its primary sailing model, it became known as the ‘450 sail area’ class, and had hulls ranging up to 45 inches in length. Al Suydam’s lovely looking and fast Marblenead CHEERIOI on the Mystic river in 1996. Built in the 1960’s to a 1936 design. Photo use courtesy of the U.S Vintage Model Yacht Group. The CHEERIO ‘M‘ series Given the popularity of the *450′ class, ; ; and the innovative nature of the MMYC members, in 1929, Mr Roy Clough (a boats by John Black, won regional, national and World — charter club member) conceived the idea TL ee one for a new class of model yacht with greater continued on next page continued from previous page overall length, and proportionately-scaled sail area. Mr Clough’s original design was 50 inches long with 800 square inches of sail, hence the name – the Marblchead 50- 800- still today, the principal design measures that govern development of FLUSIVE A 1940 built, Auckland Marblehead modern “M” boat designs. discovered. When this design was introduced in the 1930 sailing season at Redd’s Pond, it Cliff Koefoed of Auckland owns quickly became the favoured boat given it’s sailing capabilities, and design by an Uncle of his close to some resemblance to large racing craft. Coupled with the simple set of ‘M!’ design rules, it quickly led to the adoption of the design by the Model Yacht Racing Association of America as an official class in 1932, two magnificent ‘oldies’, both built sixty years ago. One is a 10 rater, but it is ELUSIVE – the 1940 built RM shown below with it’s owner that this is about. followed in 1937 by the IMYRU – the International Model Yacht Racing Union. A Marblehead Model Yacht Club member, Mr John Black – an ardent supporter of the “M’ boat was elected IMYRU President in 1937 – the previous year having won the first ‘M’ Class World Championship in Germany. Roy Clough’s original model yacht design (named for the town of Marblehead) became the world standard known today as the Marblehead 50-800, or, more simply as the ‘M’ Class. Therein lies also, the significant linkage of the historic bit of sailing water in the town of Marblehead, known simply as Redd’s Pond. To a late 30’s design by W.J Daniels, Hubert Grayson built this boat which he successfully skippered in races held by the Auckland Model Yacht Club in the Orakei Basin in the early 40’s. The story goes, that she was never beaten in some 30 starts. Interested in building a unique ‘36 W.J Daniels design M Class ? Plans available for POCOHONTAS from Traplet Plans Service, Traplet Publications Ltd, Traplet House, Severn Drive, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcs WR8 OJL, U.K. The Plan Number is MAR 2489, the cost is five pounds plus postage. Vane-steered, the boat is built of white pine Kahikatea timber, with teak trim, has a hollow mast of Oregon,and sails made by Ratsey & Lapt- horn of Cowes. , iy 7 2/873 ae My turn-of-the century stunner Marigold: Mark Steele. Please forgive me for what you may correctly identify as being an Editor’s self indulgence. In presenting this brief look at my new scale ketch Marigold, it is motivated purely by pride of ownership, that in itself fuelled by the pleasures it has brought me. I take no personal credit in the boat’s creation, in fact the only credit I allow myself is for having had the vision (after prior to this.One of the governing factors in the building, was that the boat had to fit (bow pointing toward the rear of the family seeing, and sailing Dave Heanly’s Ranger hulled Shamrock in Christchurch) to buy a similiar GRP hull. All the credit for the car), so height overall had to be borne in mind. creation of this ‘turn of the century in style’ ketch, goes to Roy Lake who built I am keeping this article on the brief side, the boat. He is a meticulous craftsman with an eye for accuracy, a fellow windler who enjoys his sailing, and like Heanly, a friend. and it is included merely to introduce the boat to readers. Aside from saying that her LOA is 1.27m (excluding a retractable bowsprit) a midship beam of 23cms, mast heights of 85 & 66cms, I add that her sails are beautifully made out of Jepara cotton. Marigold’s hull once decked, was towed in true to life tug style by Roy’s Kauri in October ‘96 to test the waterline mark, Marigold has a removable slide-on and to see how she ‘sat’ on the water. I extention to the rudder. The deck is extended keel and bulb, and a removable planked, and cabins and skylight made from thin marine ply, lifebelts from balsa. Masts and spars are handmade of Kauri. Launched at Hobsonville at 8.10am on Sunday 8th December 1996 – in strong borderline conditions, the ketch satisfied all should point out that the hull bought off Euan Sarginson, had remained boxed in my then employers offices for over a year expectations, and still does all that is asked of her. She carries a crew of five, plus a spotted cross -breed ‘Dalbrador’ ! The Kobyn. Calfour = a Pacific Island trader ! Read that grand old gentleman Built plank on frame, varnished Rimu to Clifford W Hawkins’ book, 4 the waterline, Kahikatea timber below the Maritime Heritage, and you’ll see waterline, Neil has incorporated as much mention of some of the wonderful trading schooners and ketches of the early 1900’s used within the Pacific. You’ll see reference to the turned wood in the deck fittings as possible, including pins, frame supports, balistrading and of course the wheel. For continued on next page 20 ton ketch Edna (1904) seen in this article, and built in model format as the Robyn Balfour by Havelock North reader Neil Morris, and named after his wife. From drawings obtained, then photocopied and enlarged to give a three quarter inch scale of the estimated at 68′ LOA of the Edna, the model’s hull length worked out at 53″, plus a 12″ bowsprit, and with a beam of 16″. Proud builder and boat. A reader’s encounter with Edna was a shallow-draught centreboard vessel RESOLUTE (according to the late Ted Ashby in his book *Phantom Fleet’) built for Harry Kasper, son of Hugh ‘Dandy’ Kasper – a well known scowman of ae the 1800’s, The Winklemann photo of Edna seen here is reproduced courtesy of Cliff Hawkins. From ta es The Friendship item in your April issue, brought to mind my encounter with one of the Friendship class boats in 1990. his book “A Maritime Heritage’, we learn that the While I was soaking up the atmosphere of ketch was built in 1904 by the firm Bailey & Lowe, New England’s maritime Essex, looking to the design of Charles Bailey Jnr who was to across the shallows of the Chebacco, there become renowned for his yachts, and some particularly fine Pacific Island trading schooners was the site of the famous story shipyard and ketches, Edna among them. where so many of the beautiful Gloucester fishing schooners were built.From early Continued from page 9 photographs of the schooners under the smaller work, he constructed a construction, I could recognise the site of miniature wood lathe using a drill chuck the shipyard, but attracting my attention on the spindle, in order to machine the was the shapely hull of a vessel up on the Rimu timber dowelling. An engineering hard. This prompted me to pace my way pattern-maker by trade, Neil has used 2 back through the township, and along the channel radio, with winch sheets operated road known to gencrations of shipwrights in a system of two dowells running the who built the schooners. length of the hull, and powered by a $20 screwdriver drill. The boat has a Prominent among them was the Burnham detachable bulb keel weighing 8 Ibs, and family, and right here I found Charles has auxiliary power provided by a Taycol Burnham, home from the sea and working electric motor of some vintage. Running on the hull I had spied.She was the lights and deck cargo have been added. Resolute – a Friendship sloop he had built back in 1972. She had done well in annual The problem with a model of this size is regattas, and was being prepared for transport. To overcome this, Neil leaves another scason of sailing. the craft fully rigged in a large coffin-like box with a triangular cover over the Charles took me across to the old mold loft rigging – the whole assembly laid down in and introduced me to his father Harold, a trailer, out of sight when transported. and a most enjoyable conversation ensued. The Robyn Balfour sails well, One more look at the Resolute and my day as long as the wind does not “Ss, 4 Be! ae had been made. get too strong, and she looks CliffHawkins, North Shore, Auckland, beautiful on and off the water. ~10 From Australia’s state of Victoria… Model Radio Sailboat group formed, and the gaff-rigged ‘Madge’ I had long heard about this boat, and ideally had hoped to have a bit more Correspondent Barry Gibson in information about her construction, Victoria, Australia (his Alden ee a aera Malabar sloop was featured in the Sr : i, ca y or, graphed the April issue) has written advising De e boat, thereby enabling me to get this far. ly, : ; a v me of the formation of the Wooden Boat Association Inc (a Model Radio Sailboat Group). WHAT The group has already attracted much interest, and have displayed models at !!! I’LL SHOW YOU various events and run demonstration NOT EiN U.FF races at a Grand Prix event sailed at Albert Park. They are also looking at pioneering a MEGABYTES ! class typically Australian, and are considering the sail trading vessels of Tasmania. Centrespread – ‘Imminent tack’. July 1993 – the concluding race in the Fiji-sponsored 1M ‘Northislander’ Barry has taken photos of one of the regatta at Quarry lake, Auckland’s north group’s both stylish and impressive Shore – the customary ‘free-for-all’. (Photograph by the Editor) looking gaff rigged yachts. Madge, owned, built and sailed by Graham Signorini is 1.5m in length and weighs close to 4Okgs. A light weather boat, in such conditions she is said to be extremely fast. 11 Anuntnent tack. Close to the dusk and Rard on the wind, that first tack mere seconds away, sails nice and light, a glorious sight that forced spectators to stay. a regatta finale, a sight to bohold, Iwenty-five boals, class the Same: Up to the mark then down with the wind, model yachting..he name of the game !” From wee windlers to a ‘sail aboard”. The salling interests of just one man| Robin Redhead is a keen as mustard sailing enthusiast in the Two of Robin’s model yachts, U.K, who enjoys many areas of both built in 1938 by a Mr activity associated with sailing. Aldridge. Above left, the 30″ gaff cutter Infanta – restored in A subscriber to this magazine, he owns 1996 when RC equipment was several model yachts of classic style and also added, right of that is a 23″ schooner. character, was organiser of the Model Yacht Sailing Association/Ripmax regatta at the Kensington round pond in London, and ownsa sailboat that in itself represents a new and exciting concept in sailing. That boat is an JLLUSION – a one man, 3.7m LOA ‘sail aboard’ 12m-in-style craft with a sophisticated rig that includes a sail wardrobe consisting of a mainsail, Genoa, The skipper lies along the top of the keel, head and shoulders only visible from the cockpit, feet resting on the steering bar, hands free to control the sails. 160 kgs of removable lead in a hollow keel gives the boat it’s stiffness, and since the hull weighs little more than a windsurfer, transporting an ILLUSION presents no problems. and 4.5 square metre spinnaker. Robin sails his ILLUSION ona reservoir north of London, where there is a fleet of a dozen such boats. There are other fleets sailing in Chichester harbour, and out of Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The company that pioneered the concept have closed down, and they are now made to order by a builder in Bembridge. Fleets are also developing in the U.S.A, Australia, and in parts of Europe. 14 Aen Fone ~ on the wind * U.S.A & other catboats. bat uot forgotten, * Xanadu and Whispers IItwo Wellington Spencers. The Aborogine version of Christianity goes like this: * A sea battle told Man-O-war sailing. “The god men say when die go sky, through pearly gates where river flow, the god men say when die we fly, just like eagle, * Profile – Graham Bantock. hawk and crow.” * A colourful life the scow OWHITI. Eric Shaw was President of the Solent Club in the New Forest area of the U.K. – *Wet grass keelers – EC-12’s. the host club of the annual FJJICICLE ice-breaker event sailed for the first time * The John Fossett Bonds – in 1994, An absolute gentleman, we met a fine schooner. only once, and he became not only a * Ranger – anew staunch supporter and subscriber to Christchurch class. Windling World, but we became great friends. In the last few years Eric’s health * A spiritedfamily regatta Southwold °97. deteriorated, and he was moved in July to a home where he could be looked after. * Fiji Magic schooners. On the morning of August *LYNX – a fine Baltimore Clipper. 3rd, gentleman and scholar Eric Shaw, quietly slipped his moorings and departed *A century-old model club. on the wind. * Beautiful windlers – two from John Bolland. Bob Capon of Poole in Dorset – another *The club at the Quarry ~ Auckland’s shore squadron. subscriber (and I remember spending a very pleasant period with him and his * Victoria’s Landfall – rip wife Anne at their home) passed crossing model yacht. away in late June after a heart attack at age 64. His * Una rigged FUN FELLOW’S. great love were ships of the Nelson period, and he was * The tea clipper Sea Witch. a member of the Poole Radio Model Yacht Club, and a * The infamous Cape Horn. member of the Nelson Society. |B * Peter Smith and the 1902 Cutter Rebecca. It has not been a very good year as far as maintaining friendshipsis concerned a me, anyway), and to Kay (Shaw) and * The models of Washington DC ie “f reader George. “ ; Anne (Capon) the magazine records Aas4 sympathy. 15 * The GREAT SCHOONER SOCIETY Regatta 1997. Steblink Weebod offers creation options on crew for scale boats: Opinions will always differ, on whether scale sailing models are enhanced or spoilt by the addition of miniature and to-scale crew members. In the final analysis, whether crew are added, or the model left crewless, remains a being on board (in that they are matter of personal choice. doing things), as opposed to appearing as an afterthought and For those favouring the addition of being plonked there. His facial area figures, there are several options on skills achieve great affect in the how to make them, three of which I creation of ‘old seafarer’ types such will mention, and throw in for good as ‘The Honourable Edward John measure a fourth in the form of Balsa’ of Cowes aboard his 7m yawl scouring toy shops in search of suitable figures at the same scale or as near as dammit to the scale of the model in question. I have seen some very good ‘end results’ that came out of extensive ‘surgery’ with slightly shortened or lengthened arms or legs, with heads either model, and the owner skipper (Billy Bowden-Crapper Snr) he did for a certain editor’s turn of the century ketch. Well primed and then painted in matt enamels, his figures (all double-sided cellotaped in position) are full of ‘life’. switched with others and glued back, the figure then totally repainted. Roy Lake prefers the method of carving crew out of block balsa, and with his wonderful eye for detail, his abundance of patience, and very good carving and painting skills, he achieves excellent results, and his My friend David Blinkhorn in crew on boats tend to look as Lancashire favours an alternative though they have a ‘reason’ for method in the art of ‘bod-making’, continued on next page continued from previous page and has sent me a few sketches to For smaller models, he suggests illustrate his methods. He firmly FIMO for head and body parts (over believes in the importance of scale integrity when modelling, and how the human figure establishes this a soft iron-wire skeleton) with scraps of thin material added, and beyond doubt. He says he once used The third option (and I am sure customised A-Team figures which there are others) is to use FIMO or were 1/20th on a 1/16th pilot similiar oven-fired modelling cutter, and had to explain that they material like DU KIT in it’s entirety, were ‘runty little Welshmen’. then paint them. I made my paint-on fabric dyes later applied. remaining crew for Marigold that way, and some faces look better } WARE SKELE ION Ap EAD MODELLED than others on my wee bods. Well we can’t all be as good looking as Bowden-Crapper Snr, can we. ? by UPPER BODY AND PELVIS e) CG» woors HUPrER AD Steblink Weebod is a conjured up name of course, and the astute and quick thinking among our readers, may well have deduced that his christian name is a combination of Steele and Blinkhorn, the surname merely the subject matter. The Editor (who put it together) by his own admission is limited in the ‘making’ game to ‘making a mess! and making a damn good gin-based drink which he calls a Ginny-go- Lowen cmaues a) HANS MOUELLED His method (for crew on 1:12 and larger boats, involves using fleshcoloured FIMO for the heads, hands and boots, with balsa bits for the other body parts threaded onto a wire armature of a thicker gauge. This method results in figures with some ‘movement’ that can be ‘positioned’, with the smock, jacket or trousers made by trial and error on paper patterns, then transferred to bits of material and sewed on after folding the material front to back. I am intrigued when he says ‘leaving the front fly open !’. (One must never query local custom – Ed) sprightly, both at the same time. He proudly adds that he also makes a damn good ‘Dalbrador’, { ‘i eens John Spencer designed FUN FELLOW The N.Z una-rigged, design yachts supplied complete. STEVE WALTERS 153A Manuka Rd, Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand. Tel O9 444 4405 7 Rev Peter Spencer… The tough, big sea Brixham trawlers. It has been said that, given the right conditions, a sailing trawler could outsail the finest yacht, that is to say, given plenty of wind. The Brixham trawler Valerian owned by Ian Peter Spencer’s own Brixham Trawler, Master Hand, sails well out to catch the breeze. Stewart of the Kirklees Boat Club in West Yorkshire, England. Lowestoft trawlers were shallower in draught to help them over the sand bars, and their main masts were stepped further forward to help them cope with the short seas of the North Sea. It also gave them more power for towing a trawl. By comparison, Brixham trawlers had They were very sturdily built in order to much longer bows, with their main mast face any weather, and were very much stepped well aft. They also had larger sail admired in their day for the exceptionally fine scaboats they were. Long after other ballast to give them greater speed for vessels had flown for shelter, these riding the longer seas of the Atlantic. plans, finer lines, and a good deal of trawlers could be found facing the bitter Regardless of where they came from, all gales of Winter, riding the seas like gulls. the trawlers were ketch rigged. This arose from the fact, that when cutter rigged Brixham trawlers did not owe their design fishing vessels reached a certain size, their to carefully worked out plans, but were large booms became difficult and too built by rule of thumb on the inherited dangerous to handle, so the rig was divided up to solve the problem. knowledge of previous generations of men who learned from practical experience. With regard to their hulls, the first Early on in life, Brixham trawlers were to requirement was that they should be be found in other ports such as Hull, seaworthy, and yet have an easy motion so as not to throw their crews around. This Grimsby, Lowestoft and Scarborough. This led to their design being slightly altered to explains certain features. meet local conditions. For instance, continued on next page 18 ere Pe ee continued from previous page Their keels were deeper in the water at the stern to give a good grip on the water, and the long keel and deep heel also gave an Spyhop(ping) to round the island Fiji victory. easy motion in a seaway, and provided good steering characteristics. This is a very different concept from shallow displacement modern racing yachts, which although exceptionally fast, give their crews a rough time, and have been known to lose their rudders, and even their keels. The Brixham trawler was designed to be at home in all but the most violent weather, making no fuss, and allowing their crews to get on with the fishing. Cris Field-Todd of North Cove , Kawau Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, sailed her Electron Spyhop to victory in the Round the(Toberua) Island race, at the 3rd Electron World Regatta ¢g7_ in Fiji in August. She’s seen with her spoils of victory, the ‘Windling World Boso Levu (Big Sailing trawlers make very attractive RC working models. If one is built to a large scale of say half an inch to one foot, keeping the hull and rigging as light as possible to allow for internal ballast, there Boss) Medal’, and the prestigious ‘Twenty Buck Bucket’ onto which her name goes. Husband Dick sailed his P/onk to a fine second across the line. is no reason why it should not look and sail much like the real thing. The only alteration I had to make to my model of Master Hand – now in her seventeenth year, was to add a removable reverse tiller, steered by the mizzen, to keep her off the wind. Master Hand has always sailed extremely well, and like the real trawlers now sadly vanished, is both rugged and powerful, and is a fine sea boat. a ZAy Dream: Subscriber, Peter White in Kent, UK, sent me the following which appeared many years ago in MODEL ENGINEER journal. ODE TO A MODELLER. The kitchen tap Is leaking, its got a steady drip, and hubby is in the bathroom testing his new ship, the lawn cries out for mowing, hedges need a clip, but hubby is on the lakeside – sailing his new ship ! 64-9-410 4402 Pec _An Alexander hoat , collector at Cornell. Right: Heather Glen – an Alexander miniature of ¢ the 1939 Alexander A Class World Champion 4 boat. : four. The family owned and lived aboard a yacht Adventuress that was 135 feet long, and 322 tons, and sailed with an unpaid crew that simply volunteered for the fun of voyaging. (How times have changed! Editor). Charley was born on the sea – aboard a 134 Williamson with three of his Alexander yachts at a Spring Lake vintage yacht regatta. ton ketch Thoma II – a boat that was raced by a young crew from Brest to the Spanish Dr Charles Williamson, my port of Corunna, and oft photographed by ‘prestigious mentionable’ among Beken of Cowes. He is a friend of Bill WW« readers (used you will Bithell – a household name in vane steered yaching in the 30’s and 40’s, and builder understand, only when ‘name- of Ranger I/II, an incredibly successful A dropping’ !) is a Professor in Class model. Mechanical & Aerospace engineering at Cornell University in One of Charley’s Alexander boats (Heather Ithaca, New York. Readers of the Glen), is essentially a miniature version of UK magazine MODEL BOATS the full sized A Class racing yacht that easily won the Yachting Monthly Cup for may remember his substantial article the Alexander family in September 1939 at on early A Class designs, and racing Fleetwood, their A Class boat also called activity in the 1948/49 period that Heather Glen. (So much for talk of ‘toy appeared in the Sept °96 issue. yacht’ makers – Ed). Charley whose interest is in those He is a historian for the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group, wonderful early design and beautifully as well as a member of the made ‘toy’ yachts – made by the Lancashire AS, b 7 a M4 \s ‘\ British VMYG. “S23 based Alexander family, (three of his from the 1930’s of which he is seen with), as a Mark Steele. child virtually lived on the sea until he was 20 Alan Hayes on… The birth and evolution of ‘Tri-Cam’. Tri-cam was born when I decided that I wanted to get some close-up “Stoop down land cam” shot shows camera action photos of my Trimaran and on starboard pod – (as well as additional other boats. “foot’ rudder and head for counterbalancing !) We all know that the best action photos are those that fill the frame, with about half a The camera is then placed in a suitable boat and lots of water flying everywhere. position on the boat, making sure that it However, I do not have the monetary will not interfere with any of the boat’s big enough lens to capture those sort of a few pieces of duct tape. resources to be able to buy a camera with a working parts, and held firmly in place by scenarios, and added to that – if I’m taking photos, I can’t be sailing at the same time and do either properly. The photo of Steve Walters Fun Fellow on a port tack, seen on the cover of this issue, My solution was to use one of the disposable ‘throw-away after using once’ achieved, and the fact that part of the Trimaran is also in the picture, | think cameras that have come on the market in shows the type of result that can be adds to the overall effect of realism. the last couple of years. As multihulls have been known to capsize (just occasionally mind you !!!) , I decided to opt for the slightly more expensive waterproof version which set me back about fifteen Kiwi “How did you get that ?” I am often asked, and my standard answer is one on the lines _of “there’s this rare wee Irishman standing about four inches tall in his green socks, dollars. and I’ve superglued his feet to the starboard pontoon hull…”. The shutter is operated by a very Heath Robinson affair, consisting of an old servo, — This system does have a few drawbacks, superglued to the top of the camera casing, —_ the main one being that you have to bring in such a position that the servo horn (BEEP ! BEEP !) pushes the button (hopefully at the moment you want it to). the boat ashore to wind the film after each shot (as these ‘expensive! cameras have no autowind), also the system of operating the The servo is smothered liberally with vaseline, particularly around the joints and no guarantee that the shutter will operate. the spline to try and prevent water ingress. I am however persevering, and I think I It is also fitted with an extended lead may have made some positive steps, shutter is a bit too primitive, and there is which I made about one metre long, so that I could place the camera anywhere on in the right direction. (Not into the Bes pond or lake , I hope Alan ! – Ed). ys ; ¥\ << the boat that I chose. 21 BEA Rings § hookers’) that ‘I personally thought’ (I try not to sound ‘authora -tentative' or like I'm after his job !) ‘that women of the night hawking their personals fer Punt's' was too much of a downward step into ts "Pooperazzi, chickenship lip-slipping, sleazeball journalism'. How wuz I to know and hookers ! " that a hooker is also an Irish sailing vessel, ch, you tell me ? I noticed in Wooden Boat magazine - I do tead you know- how else could I check the gallery poofs (It is galley proofs - Ed) that in San Fransisco there was a chickenship regatta. Best you all be careful now, and say that slowly - and get the first word right, as there is many a slip in the human Onc of the most beautiful little harbours in the world this one (and the Editor speaks with personal lip ! Are the pooperazzi here already, I have to ask ? (You mean the Paparazzi - EA). : knowledge!!!) is the Careenage located in Bridgetown, Barbados - in the Eastern Caribbean. Ed's drawing, was once a successful print sought afer by tourists to the island. NOW I'M ALSOA TRAVEL WRITER, see ? ; Them also - trying to take pics of the very latest Kiwi windling tecka na logical...er tiki la nogical - #*@/ Didja know ? (you will soon cos I'm going to tell you !) that in New Zealand, ‘many many windling moons ago’, model yachting was very popular. The chaps dressed (you know what I mean anyway !) developments in keels ‘n rudders. Cweep- ing up on us windlers - on the Sabbath too | ...with a video camera mounted on the sail. Js that Alan : Kittycattymaran bloke in this issue, a pooperazzi also Ed ? ‘ aNaatiwee Reo * h eae (Only when he is spying on the Aussies - Fd) kind of differently, and cos in those days “radio control" Telling tales, I am, but Ed got himself in , ‘aimed’ the rsboa!t,AmgotI innot a rudedderlike and s sail the set t jus the clappe another one and paddl Noel Heerdegen's name wrong...again in the last issue. Oh dear ! Ed's ( and my own) sincere apple-oh-gees Noel - too right - I wouldn't like to be called Unabel ! Ending on a meow ! PUSS ! PUSS ! amounted to ‘changing stations’ on the wireless, they knowledgeable source of information ? hot water fer spieling fellow ‘star writer’ Imagine calling a boat PUSSY / It was not even a catboat ! Happy windling, good guzzling, greetings and pretence- free Goo-Gook- a- doob's ! I said to His Governorship (when I heard he was researching the subject of ‘Irish Abel Star Writer !! 22 A very private, seventy year old man, Ian County of Inverness... : has already put in over ten thousand A magnificent SYdney hours, over sixteen years, and some seven months on the project, and I am looking Cl ipper neareth ! forward to being able to write and feature a the follow-up story after launching of his County ofInverness. sats Ks t. DUNKER ! Nearing completion in Sydney, I stood and watched him prepare to launch (he seemed angry, sad Australia, is an entirely handbuilt and finely detailed working model of and bitter !); then with great finesse a magnificent four masted clipper ship County of Inverness. (while shouting ."YES !") he launched his Futaba Peaatier | With a hull length of 7' 9", an overall length of two and a half inches short of ten feet, and a total weight of 81 Ibs, owner-builder Ian Hunt has told the Editor - it is what those in America might refer to as a ‘logistical nightmare’. Stern plateC In April he was finishing off a launch The Classic Windler. trailer of his own design that was over six ee feet long, almost three feet wide. To get the boat to the nearest water some 62 miles away, a two ton closed truck, twelve feet long and six and a half feet high is needed - and a 14' rubber boat with outboard motor for recovery and towing purposes. In April, Ian said he was hoping to launch the boat in September, and because his At peace with the world why, isn't he just ? working parts and interesting aspects, this rest he must I’ model is of such size and has so many When aman's gotta rest, article will be in two parts - this one, and a - A Taranaki 1M sailor, catehes up on a bit of shut-eye longer one with photos of the boat on the at the seeond Nationale at Wattle Farm in Auckland, water, in one of our issues next year, 23 Be Modern travel makes it easy to escape the stressful pressures of | both city and suburban living and the often cold and miserable Winter conditions. The escaping is easy, and here in the Pacific, right on the very doorstep of New Zealand lies the place of escape, where sea, sand and sun, palm trees, crystal-clear lagoons and quiet anchorages, an utterly lazy and laid-back lifestyle, and the friendliest people on earth, make up...the FIJI ISLANDS. We rest ‘ LS > 2Yen our case ! For more information on holidaying in Fiji contact your local Travel Agent or FIJI VISITORS BUREAU 48 High Street, PO Box 1179, Auckland Telephone: 09-373 2133/34 Facsimile: 09-309 4720 Email: of! D fij