Windling World: December 1999

Martin Foulds A Windler in Dunedin Star 45’s Munruben Lady Bithell and Ranger 1999 ABEL’s cit the helm Well, very soon it will be a case of another year down the gurgler, and we will all be a tad older, a mite wiser, and (thanks to the high cost ofliving) a lot poorer. Just being able to “hold course’ is my objective, and still to be able to “count my marbles’ – so that | know that | still retain most of them ! (ONE, TWO.. What comes after TWO then ?) In this issue we look at “things vintage’ (HEY ! WHY ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT ME ?) and though | hate to talk about it, subs are due for the bulk of readers. Act soon and send a cheque please…before the predicted computer “balls-ups’ eventuate and the bank tells you your balance is two zeros below zero ! It is with much sadness that | report the passing in May, of David Blinkhorn of the UK, and in the very same issue (see page 5) of announcing his winning of an ABEL award. Were | the GREAT SHERIFF, | would outlaw death – something | have always found difficult to understand or accept. Not only did David build and enjoy sailing superb models, and do excellent reviews for the likes of Marine Modelling, he also wrote for WW (April ~97 issue). He was a source of both inspiration to me, and a friend never met. He was only sixty-five. He left behind, a wife, Barbara, a son, a daughter and three grand-children, | shall miss his letters, and photos of boats ,new and on the stocks. Thank you David: Your ABEL award which you knew of before you left us, is well deserved. Among the offerings within, are a look at vintage and vintage-style model yachts, the story of an incredible NZ keeler enjoying a second life, the 34 year old in design Starlet, a sailing America in Auckland, Thames barges and more. It has been quite a mild winter for us, and loss of friends aside, a reasonable year for me – one spent mainly trying to avoid the minefields of life, and staying out of trouble. Two of my old girls, t h oe Bantock “Bikini’ Fiji Flyer and the John Spencer designed and built ,catrigged schooner Fijipsy Jack that had for a while “WELL OUR been temporarily COMPUTER laid up are now WE’RE TOLD IS sailing again, and Y2K COMPLIANT twice weekly | have been doing voluntary work with an outfit called ‘Riding for the disabled’. It’s about helping kids, and it also renews my association with and love of horses. They can be dangerous at both ends, | know – as well as quite uncomfortable in the middle, but Gentry and | get on well, while both of us try to grow old with grace and dignity. Oh sure, I’ve watched a bit of the America’s Cup challenger series on TV (while sitting on my Louis Vuitton valise of course!). | hope that the main event does not enter a period of squabbles and fiery exchanges, allegations and protests ad infinitum, for it is supposed to be a ‘sporting’ regatta and I’m afraid in the past, some of them have appeared to have been about as sporting and_ friendly as a grand prix for piranhas ! That’s what big money invariably brings to any sport, it seems. Seasons Greetings friends. Mark Steele Publisher/Editor Mark Steele backgrounds the late John Spencer’s INFIDEL the black box sixties Rocket-ship! In 1966, designed John and Spencer, built for Tom Clark (now Sir Tom Clark) a 61’8” hard chine plywood keeler – a big, fast A Class boat whose length was chosen as coinciding ° with the overall length of the builders workshop on Auckland’s north shore. “© Infidels sail plan. The spinnaker shown is much bigger ROME ls soct of last Year Reputed to be at that time, the largest hard chine keeler in the world, in her. first season she recorded some remarkable performances, including first home in the A Class fleet on Anniversary Day, and line honours in the Christmas Cruising race from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, one and a half hours ahead of the next A class boat, and 14 hours for the journey which ended in gale conditions. She was called Infidel. | remember the many occasions al Okiato with John, when he spoke about this boat, the hull of which he built single-handed, the fittings and finishing done by the owner, who wanted to have the fastest A Class keeler on Auckland’s Waitemata harbour. Clark also than the one she . raced specified that the boat was to be rigged strong enough for ocean racing, and have comfortable accommodation below for eight persons. It has been suggested that part of the requirement, was for a boat that would beat Ranger- at that time the top boat around in NZ waters. Infidel’s rig was masthead sloop, and the tremendous power in her hull (in spite of only four tons of lead in her steel fin keel, indeed proved that the choice of rig was best suited in any sort of a breeze, though as Spencer would later write, downwind in light airs, Infidel proved not as fast as Ranger. Launched in September of 1964, by the end of the 64/65 racing season, Clark’s Infidel had proved so fast, and had been consistently (to page 4) immensely. Kiwis will be interested to know that Scott owned and later sold Neville Crighton’s Farr designed Shockwave in order to purchase Ragtime which by this time had become quite a legend of a sloop, twice having taken line honours in the 2, 225 mile Trans Pacific ocean classic to so successful, she was the scratch boat on the harbour, and some five successful seasons then followed. In 1970, Clark was to sell Infidel to an American, John Hall of Newport Beach, the keeler being shipped to the US West Coast where she was <= renamed Ragtime. Hawaii. Obtaining details on the boat's life in the US, was to prove a_ lengthy and often most Above: An isometric drawing of Infidel by the designer. frustrating exercise. I “everywhere Ragtime appears, J sent she becomes the focus of — great letters to the editors of several US | remember Scott telling me on the telephone, how attention’. — magazines, including Strongly rigged to cater for possible despatched faxes, made phone calls, eventually receiving a fax from an owner, ocean Wooden Boat, Sm Tidal Wt hae tanebennd Afidel on the hard in Auckland, pieenpreildCourtesy Gammiiheharie learned off the internet, was Transpac, and was based at Balboa in on gS in the USA to become the forerunner of the ultralight displacement that Ragtime still very much a competitor in the Yacht Club California. r construction, was Pat Farrah who had sold the sloop to Scott Zimmer. | had already racing, Infidel by way of good design and Costa Mesa, On July 15th | had an unexpected call from Scott , who promised to send material, and true to his word was to do so. In September, Peter Tait put me onto Garry Roberts in Auckland who had been a regular crew member in NZ, who helped boats that were the rage of downwind racing (according to Los Times writer, Rich Roberts). Angeles In the US she was sold and re-sold several times, and after her ~73 win in the Transpac when owned by a Long Beach syndicate she was bought by a Bill Pasquini along with a business partner, Dr Bill White, it is reported for US$50,O00. (Her original sale price was published at NZ$35,OOO) (continued on page 26) Windling World’s 1999 Medallion winners... ABELS for David and Malcolm ! This year, our ABEL awards have gone, one posthumously to an Englishman , the other to an Aussieborn New Zealander, their boats, both of which appeared in the AUGUST issue, being the criteria for their selection. The late David Blinkhorn - seen at right, built the fine French armed lugger model Le Spectre. He was well known as a marine modelmaker of great distinction. The building of David's boat was comprehensively covered over several issues of Marine Modelling International, as well as in the last issue of WW. Malcolm Wilkinson who sails with our “Ancient Mariners’ windling fleet in Auckland, is another meticulous builder of great calibre, and his award-winning schooner Dolphin is most impressive, both to look at, as well as in the fine detail he has incorporated in this boat. It’s performance under sail has to be seen to be appreciated. It too was featured in the last (August ~99) issue of WW. Malcolm is seen in the bottom photograph with his ABEL award. These humble medallions are not so much about ‘winning’ over anyone else, nor are they to be taken as being trophies signifying in any way, that the persons to whom they have been awarded, have produced models that are ‘faster’ or ‘finer’, or larger’ or ‘better’. Far from it - the award of an ABEL (centre left), (to date awarded on the basis of two a year, is made World’s merely model by Windling publisher, to show that yachting of the non serious-racing kind, does have a need for mo dees t acknowledgement of fine models built, or acts (with model yachts) of significance, an example _ being the case with (continued on page 6) the ABEL made to Euan Sarginson in 1998, for him (and his group) having sailed a model yacht across Cook Strait, which for those overseas, separates New Zealand’s North and South islands. (WW /August 1998 Great Schooner Model Society Annual Award issue), The Abel (let me remind readers) stands for A Bestowed Excellence Laurel, nothing more, nothing less. It is not a competitive thing, and _ it’s continuance will depend on how long WW liveth - and provided it does not upset anyone who might feel that he or she should have been a recipient. It Awarded each year and passed on every August by the previous year’s recipient, this Pewter Award has been made for 1999 by NZ’s Ancient Mariners Windling Group to Tom Simpson for a fine schooner Mary Jane. He is seen here with his award. could just as easily be awarded to someone considered by the Publisher and his four “keepers of the spirit of windling’, for say...services to this pastime that we all care for so much, and enjoy. There are so many _ beautifully constructed model sailing ships made by readers of WW all over the world, that | would like to be able to award a greater quantity of ABELS each year, but then again, were that so, it might lose it’s significance while it quietly absconded with funds needed for WW’s production. So move over OSCAR - some almost kill for those | read recently ! Now | did say almost ! Malcolm Wilkinson was the previous (1998) winner. Mary Jane will be featured in the APRIL issue of WINDLING WORLD. -Ed. The GREAT SCHOONER MODEL SOCIETY is in the Chesapeake area of Maryland, USA. The award, made to the Ancient Mariners group, goes to the windler who has best promoted the ideals of fun sailing, friendship and fine exemplary conduct, and/or has produced (preferably but not compulsory) a schooner, ketch or yawl-rigged sailing model of distinction within the year of presentation. It is judged each year by the previous winner and the editor of WW jointly. There’s summat about a schooner... don’t you wish you had built one Mark Steele/Publisher. sooner ? Royal connections and still turning heads... A\ Cluster ef Sixties SMEED Starlets near to sailing water, to those simply attracted to RC, the sheer size of an A Warren Hastings with one of his three ! Class boat was a bit of a ‘turn-off’, The name Vic Smeed will be familiar to many people associated with model boats of both the power and sailboat kind. His articles and his model boat designs in the the UK magazine MODEL BOATS, would have The Model Yachting Association was at that time prepared to consider proposals for the adoption of new official classes, if a sufficient The Editor inspired many towards getting involved in the building and sailing of such models. number of boats of the proposed were already sailing. Working on about 450-500 class square Smee ling inches of His 1966 Starlet 34” yacht for either RC or freesail was done in for the “Boating for beginners’ series in that magazine. Designed at a time when the thought of converting say an A Class model to radio was not a daunting one for those already used to yachting, and had storage facilities sail area, a_ hull length of 30” or less on the waterline, Vic and Smeed thus designed — the Starlet. Sel Parker with /rolle Equally suitable for free-sailing (naturally with an increase in the lead weight), the boat came into prominence, for with its simplicity and speed of construction, and being a hard-chine boat, it was an obvious choice. How popular it eventually became in its land of introduction is difficult to ascertain, but it is suffice to say that the boat formed the basis for many an introduction to RC model yacht sailing, particularly in gravel pits and small to medium sized ponds in Britain, and several sets of plans were to find their way to New Zealand. Again, how many were built here, and how many might still exist in sheds and attics here, perhaps we will never know. In Auckland however, Roy Lake has built several, (including mine)and a tiny fleet of four Starlets has been sails so comment, damn well, draws often good from — other windlers.The grand gentleman (Vic Smeed) with whom | have been in touch, and who incidentally still has his own original STARLET , confirms its release (as a free fullsize plan) in Model Maker magazine, December 1966, and the plans are still available. Sailing trials of the original were on the pond at Hampton Court Palace the water actually a remnant of the canal which HENRY VII had dug to smuggle his ladyfriends into the Palace from downstream on the Thames without them being seen entering the gates. | guess the STARLET therefore, can claim Royal ‘connections’ of sorts. In the UK, a group called the Whitton Modellers are active with Starlets sailing for some time under the guise of THE LAST OF THE SUMMER WINERS (based on the popular British television series) A story on the group appeared in WW April 1997 issue. In designing the STARLET, Smeed’s aim was for a simple but efficient model giving an __ interesting performance. The design displacement is 10.7 pounds, making the finished boat easy to handle insofar as both length overall and weight were concerned. It fits easily into a small family car, is easy to rig, but can be carried fully assembled and ready to sail. My own gaff-rigged STARLET just which are seen above sailing at Bushy Park lake. It is their club boat which is raced under minimal rules, and just for the fun of it. A fuller story on this group in a_ later issue, hopefully Vic Smeed was editor of Modelmaker and built his first yacht around 1937. Known to avoid cameras hence no photo of VS today - the STARLET however, sails on. ‘Wood, Glue, Paint and Varnish !? My entry into the world of model yachting started with the building of a Marblehead. | was soon to learn that the design | chose, and religiously followed to A bit This has led to others in our club building similiar boats, and to our one design racing of Star’s every two weeks through eight months of about the year, and to the formation completion, was outdated long the STAR 45 \” 1994 of a Canadian (Star) before | purchased the plans. Owners Association - a new Having realised that the RM is class to be added to the list of hy Ken a cutting edge of development Lockley using be class, | knew that my traditional boat building skills wood, glue etc, could shelved and forgotten as far as this class was concerned. yachts registered in the CRYA. The hull lines are drawn to a scale of 2” to the foot, and the Star 45 was one of the first classes to be in the 1970’s by the sponsored AMYA. It was not long before it Model building being my passion, | became one of the popular models for scratch builders to get their hands Association’s umbrella of racing class early kit developer of the boat. looked further at the classes of yachts under the American Model Yachting yachts, and focussed on the Star 45. into. DUMAS PRODUCTS was an (continued on Page 10) This little yacht is a gem to construct, with several wooden boat building technique options. It’s hull can be built of plywood, double diagonal cedar strips, or balsa with a fibreglass coating, and the plans (Can $25) come with instructions for ply and balsa building options. Built upside down on a very well thought out jig, all stringers, chines and gunwales are cut from common dried spruce. The bottom planking is red cedar, laid chine to chine double diagonally, frames, stem and transom of one eighth mahogany ply. Sides and deck are ply (aircraft birch or the lighter Australian pine ply). The fin is built up of ply, and the spars are of clear spruce or *Close enough for you ? (Windler, Alex of Auckland on the water at Onepoto) aluminum. My choice of adhesives is Titebond, and the low cost of the building materials described, makes for an inexpensive hull, thus allowing for the purchase of good RC equipment. The Star 45 is an ideal club sailboat for one design racing, and offers an enjoyable — building and easy experience. | can always supply additional information to anyone REMEMBER, HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS Build another model ! interested: This has just been a short introduction to the Star 45 requested EN by the editor. CO the Cover Ken Lockley, President Star Owners Association of Canada, 4114 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria BC, V8N 3C4, CANADA. E mail: star45@pacificcoast.net. Martin Foulds with his A Class hulled schooner, Ken Lockley is a subscribing reader of WW, and his model of an Alden schooner II Malabar design (Retriever) was shown in WW April 1999 issue - Ed) about to windle. 10 The big and impressive looking Southern boats of... Martin Foulds of Dunedin Martin Foulds (seen on the cover) has been a reader of WW for The staysail schooner boat seen above right has 23 square feet of sail, and Martin says that when the wind picks up he is able to quickly remove sails as need be. The gaff-rigged boat (above left) draws public attention whenever sailed in Andy Bay inlet. It has an eight foot length, a mast nine foot high and like the schooner (which has 7’ masts) also carries twenty- many years. He lives in the South island of New Zealand in the city of Dunedin, the most Scottish of this nation’s cities. Martin is addicted to the looks, size and style of the A Class ‘Bolero’. His first was a racing A which he sailed in most places around Dunedin, and he was to seven square feet of sail. go on to complete several boats based on the Bolero hull which has a LOA of 79 and a half inches and a displacement of 55.5 Ibs. Martin is a member of the Otago Model Engineering Club’s boat section. He lived in Christchurch 11 originally, where he worked for New Zealand Railways as a fitter, before moving to Dunedin some ten years ago where he worked for them as a turner. A fan of the late designer John Spencer, he has plans for, and hopes to build one day, a six foot model of the 24’ dowelling. Martin uses 4 oz sailcloth, and makes his sails flat with no shape. Since he tends to sail all the boats in the sea, he needed a material that he could easily wash. The schooner he says, would certainly sail better with better sails, and since he has not got a sewing machine, he is looking at such a development in the future. Spencer He T m which makes for easy transport Thumb design. between car and ramp, and finds that de-rigging is a ten to fifteen oo rigs his boats on a trolley minute easy peasy process. Martin his and wife have two girls, six and ten, and the whole family have ‘been there and done that’ with model boats. He says that Dunedin has some really good water for Here’s to many future happy hours of sailing enjoyment by Martin. A Southern City windler, a supporter of WW and a friend | hope to meet some future day perhaps. WINDLING WORLD sailing, and many boat ramps for launching and retrieval. Thrice yearly non profit specialist magazine available on subscription only. Martin likes the A Class boats as they tend to sail more like real boats, and it is 25 years since he bought the Bolero plans and made a PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Mark Steele ‘Keepers of the spirit of windling’ kauri planked hull. Settling on that design he took a mould off it. Ken Impey, Tony Searle, Barry Gibson, Stuart Broome, Mark Steele. The gaff rigged boat has two sail winches, one for the main and the other for the jib and staysail, and having the winches independent, gives good sail control on reaching. Editorial address: 42 Trinidad Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland NEW ZEALAND Phone / Fax: 64-9-410 4402 The mast on this one is made out of 12 it Thomas design 36” RC boat Vintage anything - cars, aircraft, WW US reader, Fred Abbe’s Thomas Darling vintage motorcycles, wines ,have a The editor on design boat typifies the great worldwide following and model sailing resurgence of interest in appeal, their designs (in the yachis of old. vintage design sailing case of wines, their taste) models, about to pop the evoking nostalgia for long lost cork and kindle demand. years that for many have slipped There is interest and desire to own away with the passage of time. and sail, not only examples of those boats that have survived, but for others, | remember some years ago keenness to replicate from available plans, visting vintage guru, Russell Potts at his home in Sherard boats of vintage Road, London, where | design. fullsize sailing _ boats, enjoyed looking at his fine collection of vintage model yachts which filled one room = and overspilled into a loft | remember being gripped by his great enthusiasm for examples of early pond yachts. His five tonner Laura (seen right) certainly took my fancy. In. 1997, Earl Boebert of Albuquerque, New Mexico and |, started corresponding - the same year that his first issue of The Model Yacht which he produces came out. We met some time later at Auckland Airport. Earl is editor and historian of the US Vintage Model Yacht Group - an American organisation of folk dedicated to fostering a resurgence of interest in vintage style model yachting, and making it easy for them to build by providing actual plans. Suydam was just 16 years old in 1960, and living in Long Island, NY, when a trip to the Public Library resulted in his checking out Black’s book on model yachting. He built the model which was free-sailed in Long Island Sound, before college, marriage and a The group promotes and stages several vintage model yacht events each year, promotes interest at many boat shows, and produces a magazine well worth the US $10 cost involved. One can obtain from USVMYG at nominal cost, a range of fullsize plans, ranging from the John Black design CHEERIO, through some nine or ten vintage RM’s, a Boucher 45” design Shamrock V (Lipton’s boat challenger), the Thomas Darling 2OR, as well as 6M and A Class designs. Al Suydam’s 1960 built, John Black design Cheerio RM is seen above on the Mystic River, USA in 1996. career turned it into a_ pretty display model. Four years ago he converted it for radio, now sails it in many areas of the US, and he is a keen advocate of vintage model yachting. Here in New Zealand, there are a few examples of preserved or restored vintage yachts including the quite unique “Four Foot Sixes’ - the majority owned by Euan Sarginson of Christchurch, which will be covered in another story - perhaps in APRIL 2000 issue of WW. the In Auckland there are also two fine vintage 1OR’s owned and sailed by Neil Lineham (Prowess Replica is where one builds from old plans, or replicates in style the boats (including scale models) of early years. of 1934 shown top of page 13), and these are sailed occasionally with our ANCIENT MARINERS Alastair Mackay of Auckland has built several impressive boats, including a wonderful Prospero Onepoto fleet. Photos above: left , Neil Lineham’s other vintage (1956) 1OR Gheila, centre, Dunedin (NZ) Martin Foulds, A Class-hulled boats featured in this lines of Skylark Hl, a 1938 design, plans provided to readers by Marine Modelling International, issue are vintage style, and the Vic tight, Prospero schooner built by Mackay. Smeed Starlet is of course also vintage design, the story in this issue. AM At this point let me clarify (and | borrow from the USVMYG). mere few bags of shelled & salted peanuts! Alastair’s website is www. vintagemodelyachts.co.nz will build for anyone, but bear in mind that models of this standard cannot be acquired for a ‘Vintage’ means virtually any older model sailboats built to be sailed: free-sailing designs, older models converted to RC, and early RC model sailboats (pre 1970's). This also includes class racing yachts, non class model sailboats, and commercial toys of the past’. Give vintage boats a go: There’s a wonderful sense of nostalgia, and a preservation of the past. At the same time, you'll have a whale of a time in terms a of fun and enjoyment. /\ | Hee tyae 15 From Rick Mayes in Munruben, Queensland, Australia, The lovely Lady Annette the envy of many who admire her Some may remember reading about sound Mayes’ Rick model of Solo in the April issue of abilities appearance. Lady Annette’s sails are made from one and a half ounce cloth obtained from a sailmaker. Rick will be visiting Auckland in March 2000 here comes a brief look at his three- - name coming Lady the from his first late wife. The hull fibreglass and gracious this year, and now master, Annette sailing is — with eight pounds of weight in the keel, and fifteen to twenty of these hulls were produced , whereupon many boats of different appearances emerged. Rick decided to be different and went for a three-master. The model has a ply deck and cabins, with planking glued to the deck, with black trace rope inserted between the planks to represent corking. The masts are from hollow fibreglass fishing rods, and arrows were used for the booms and gaffs. and we look forward to having him join our “Ancient Mariners’ windling group for a sail during his stay. Meanwhile he is currently working on his seven foot barque Sea Cloud, after which he intends to build (to the same scale as Lady Annette) a model of Creole as he works The four jibs can tack over, and four channel radio is used - two for the jibs, one for the three gaff sails and inner jib, one for the rudder. The model weighs 45 Ibs and uses three Decraperm motors for winches. The model tends to be towards his retirement. 16 ann ray) J Of Bill Bithell and Ranger... and the YACHTING MONTHLY CUP. Black and Jo Weaver respectively of the US, who provided nail biting finishes to Although Bill Bithell and | are now in touch with each other, the editor has to “fess up’ and say that! am largely indebted to a former reader, Dr Charley Williamson of Cornell (see WW/DEC 1997) from almost take the cup away. Between ~29 and ~34, Daniels steered four yachts to victory, but in 1935 (the first year whose excellent and lengthy story in MODEL BOATS/Sept 1996, | am able to put this brief Bithell background together. other countries were alowed), the went to Norway. That was also the when Bill Bithell competed for the time sailing a boat called Yankee f/ The origin of the Yachting Monthly Cup fifth place. In 1936, Bill Bithell was to again take the National A Class crown al Detroit, thus earning the right to again goes back to 1921, when W.J Daniels of the UK challenged “any model yachtsman in the United States to meet him in a series of races’. challenge for the YM Cup. A victory for him was not to be however. (Continued The following year, them on the water, this first series going to America. The return match of 1922 held in UK, was sailed with A Class yachts of around 80” in length, and saw the introduction of the Yachting Monthly Cup. From 1923 to P18) Daniels sailing his boat Endeavour raced Ernie Bull’s Polka Dot off the US coast, the skippers aboard skiffs, chasing their yachts and trimming 1926, the Brtish Top left: Bithell 1996 with hisRanger IT hull, top right Lb at Fleetwood in 1949 (the far boat). Pic at right by Dr H (in Kytomaa particular Bill Daniels) were unbeatable when sailing on their ponds, Cup year first into Ranger III built by but were Bithell. rudely awakened in ©27 and °28 by John 17 f ~“. 1936 was a big year with Germany putting on a World Show with the Olympics, and model yachting was to be an Olympic demonstration sport in Hamburg in August. Bithell (with John Black as mate) finished third behind two British yachts, and was mate for Black in winning the Marblehead event. The YM races were held in Gosport where Bithell sailing Blue Chip, despite winning the Wing and Wing Cup for the fastest run down the lake was to finish fourth, Britain, Norway and France ahead of the US. World War II then put a halt to all such activities. In 1938 Bill again won the National A Class Championship, and in 1939 while enroute by car to Berkeley in California to defend it, was involved in an accident that demolished the car, left his boat designer with injuries, but did no harm to the boat which was strapped in the roof except for the spars. This also prevented him from taking advantage of the vane gears which were being installed on boats that had arrived early, and he was unable to finish better than fourth. Post war in 1947, Bithell built a new 84” design boat Ranger, and he and Fred Pigeon the owner, crossed the Atlantic headed for Britain on the Cunard — liner Mauretania to challenge the British for the All Nations Cup (substituted in place of the YM Cup) at Gosport. Bithell won the event handsomely, with a win against Denmark to clinch the title to the delight of a large and cheering crowd, and then in 1949 won the YM Cup at ag S HR cv TAGES For FIFAD’ windlers in NZ like the editor, there are always people around who can carry out repairs on boats without charging like a wounded bull. In Auckland, Alan Hayes (Tel O9 4242-956 (who can also repair and make sails), and Steve Walters (Tel 444-4405) are most helpful. What is a FIFAD you ask ? A “fix it for a dumbo’ -(an all thumbs and everything is either a gizmo, doflicky or whadjamacallit chap !) For USA readers, Traplet Distribution USA Ltd (books, plans, magazines, videos) are now at 3103 Tatman Court, Suite 105, Urbana, IL 61802. There is a toll free number for orders - 1 800-695-0208, UK address for Marine Modelling International and Traplet Plans Service is Severn Drive, Uptonon-Severn, Worcs WR8 OJL, UK original boat, she is sadly neglected in the back of a museum stockroom, For lovers of the J Class yachts (some perhaps like me who have never actually seen one), it is good news that the last one created - Velsheda, designed by Charles Nicholson, will be in Auckland round about the time of the America’s Cup. The sight of her with Endeavour in the Hauraki Gulf...ah it will indeed be a sight to behold, won't it ! He now lives in Masachusetts, and will always be remembered as the one who skippered the first Four vs Three ! Only a few responded at all, so for the Fleetwood. Bill Bithell who has been racing since 1932, is a talented engineer still today acutely aware of the design, construction, and importantly the “balance’ of a yacht. He has made many boats, and sold sails and fittings of the very best quality for decades. As for the American model yacht ever to beat the British for the World Championship, after a 25 year struggle. moment, WW stays at 3 issues per year ! ] The Ipepantss that we sail Irwin Gibbs of Christchurch, NZ his association with model yachting has been limited, but John Collins of the UK’s Woodspring Model Sailing Club, lists among his fleet the magnificent looking model Christchurch Model Yacht Club the year that | was born - 1934, when his original boat was designed and built by William Fife Jnr in 1874 - a forty- admits that parents bought him an ‘elderly’ Four Foot Six boat called En Avant which tonner that began winning he raced for a couple of years. races from the The memories of those sailing years day she was built, The were to remain with him through his success years history of the boat would fill of trade training and employment, and upon retirement, one day a chance visit to Lake Victoria led to his ordering a and an entire book A replica was built in the USA sone Canterbury J hull and the appearance of En Avant I. years ago john Irwin has plans to build a schooner bought the boat off a friend. (with lines not dis-similiar to the readers of WW may remember the Bluenose), meanwhile the cutter- story on his Jolie Brise in the rigged J class (Fn Avant II) sails on, 1996 issue. 19 Some DLE Anyone falling completely into Onepoto Lake in N.Z automatically becomes a member of the order of NEPTUNA ONEPOTIS DUNKORUM, and the editor of WW joined two others known to have done so, by stepping off the concrete path and into the drink on 12th August 1999, What a boat ! A fine clipper model - Wim Moonen’s Drommen under sail on waters Robert Eger of San Jose, California took 18 months to build this three quarters of an inch to the foot model off The Hague, Holland. More on Wim’‘s models in WW soon, Thanks to Rick Mayes of Queensland for having put me on to him. of Shamrock V. With a mould pulled off another J model, the superstructure Our friend lan Hunt in Australia, — is progressing nicely with his — four- is pine and spruce, the deck planked with clear white pine with 1/64” mahogany between each joint to simulate dark caulking. masted barque Sindia, the hull of which he is seen The mast is aluminum, the spars of marine ply, and the 4500 square inches of sail are of Dacron. The model carries 50 Ibs of removable lead ballast. Two channel radio is used, and since the length of the model is 89/88”, it travels in a special box which bolts onto a flatbed trailer. with at right. He is also building a Starlet for his grand- daughter. Smeedfever it seems strikes everywhere, and often without warning | 20 We Tgrown of 12th Street's pivatical winner... An America in Auckland Much has been written about the yacht America (1851-1945), and among the finest books is THE LOW BLACK SCHOONER by yacht historian John Rousmaniere, from which | have gleaned information here. the 1am sure that a great many modelmakers have built both static and sailing models of her, and with the fullsize = America replica due in Auckland at cup time, it is also opportune to show readers, has in fact now built three, one of which he is seen with above. briefly backgrounding this famous boat. Built at a scale of 3/8” to the foot, he first built a custom wood mould from which the fibreglass hulls were New Zealander Peter Sewell’s excellent sailing model before made. Peter Sewell. is a very and highly skilled professional ship modeller who lives at Clevedon outside meticulous The deck is 6mm planked kauri, masts and spars are of cedar, sails of Dacron spinnaker cloth . RC equipment is all Futaba, and 4,2 kgs of lead make up the all up 6.5 kgs weight model which of is of the 1.15m Auckland. His ship models are usually display LOA and 250mm beam, Beautilully pieces and WW LLNS are a mixture of will have a story on that work in a later issue. America is his first RC model - made deck kaurl and rin, and the model (one of which has been sold in NZ) sails he extremely well, (Continued P22) Peter Sewell’s address is North Rd, Clevedon, RD2, Papakura, New Zealand - Tel 292 8306. *Piratical’ was one description of America’s looks, others described her as strictly for racing in view of her rather sparse accommodation, and because of her bow, many referred to her as a “clipper’. Born of the industrial revolution, on the very day that Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition at Crystal London Palace in 1851, in over in the US, the New York Herald reported that “Mr Brown — of W.H (had) St Twelfth finished his yacht for the Worlds Fair, and will test on Friday, her powers of sailing, in a match race with Mr Stevens yacht Maria.’ Brown's yacht was America, and as it turned out, Maria, though not as seaworthy, was to prove faster than America, which was sold to a New York Yacht Club syndicate and sailed to Britain off — the heaving-to after coast French twenty days and six hours, and a few weeks the crossing later, channel to Cowes. In Britain she was to race against seven schooners and eight cutters over a 53 mile clockwise course, around the Isle of Wight, where she finished well ahead of the smallest boat (Aurora). John Cox Stevens and his crew, dipped their flags and doffed their hats to Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales. America had held her own on a run, and had been untouchable on a reach. Three days later, she raced and beat the iron- hulled Titania in the Queens Cup race, the public reacting to her speed with much awe. a became She subject for marine artists, her praises even being set to music. Back in the 1945 in U.S.A, her remains were scrapped after snow collapsed her storage shed in the winter of 1942. If you are try interested in the yacht America, and borrow Rousmaniere’s book. You'll learn as you enjoy reading it. Believe me (Ed)) A review of an excellent book ! ‘One to gift oneself !’ Although windling is not restricted to scale sailing vessels - (so long as the ‘attitude’is right, one can ‘casual sail’ with any model, scale, semi-scale or standoff)) scale models do tend to bring out the ‘windler’ in people, because of the way such boats look and sail. 1 do not normally review books in WW, but immediately on receipt of a complimentary copy from Traplet Publications of this one (which arrived just after | had closed off the last issue) | was so impressed with Phillip Vaughan Williams’ most comprehensive coverage of scale sailing models, | had to ensure that it found a place in this issue. also appeared in WW = sometime back) Melvin Conant, John Collins, Tony Lench and Ken Impey. There is even a photograph of NZ’s Roy Lake’s barge Ruby. The printing of this book is the superb, drawings clean This is a 144 page plus covers book, going into all aspects of building, from modelling basics and including, the planning of a project, scaling 5; s Reading about, 4d looking at others and clear, and wonderful sources iy and addresses for sailing models, problems and_ solutions, and covering in depth all areas of scale models including hulls and decks, masts, spars, sails and sail rigging, right through to control systems and sailing techniques. materials is often the included in an extensive are greatest eS section. tiactor this book — will excite you, and What an absolutely — incredible quantity of models are shown within - in beautifully taken and reproduced photos - work by some of the best scale ship modellers in the business, including David Blinkhorn (honoured in this issue with an ABEL, Phil Anstiss (a model of whose spur towards you’ pr dl motivati onal towards getting involved oneself” on getting involved In scale model RC salling, Dedicated to the memory of the autora father, at tie Twelve Pounds ninety five pli PAP Ue the U8, US$22 plieS AH) leone that you wan't want to allow leaving your beokelell We te that qood r 23 The Englishman’s tan-sailed favourite... Sailing barges of the Thames still held several times a year on the various river estuaries ,between the surviving restored barges, said to The Thames Sailing Barge is an extremely popular choice of boat for UK modellers, and whereas the main area of operation appeared to be around the Thames estuary, the history of the barge states that they could also be found in both the Medway and Essex river estuaries, and as far afield as North Humberside, west even as far as Dorset and Cornwall, even south to total no more than about forty. In model format these barges a have huge following, and_ there the northern coast of France. of these ‘A fleet is a racing Not designed for passenger transport, calendar the only times that barges would carry more than two crew on board for them each year held at various ponds in the UK, organised by the Scale Sailing Association. When | was last in the UK on a visit, | spent a would have been the barge races started in 1863. Continued for about 60 years, they were revived and are 24 memorable day put on for me by the SSA at a pond in Southgate, at which eight or ten barges turned up for a sail. In New Zealand there are several TSB sailing models, and | have shown one or two in WW from time to time. | am sure that the same can be said for Australia. A good place in London to see the real thing is at The Haven (St Katherine’s docks next to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge) and the day before the Southgate gathering | mentioned, thanks to Mike Taylor (the other co-founder of the SSA), he and | spent several hours exploring the area and looking at barges moored there. It was there that | met Tony Lench (one of the two founders of the association) seen behind the sails of his Kate above. We became good friends and he has written several times for WW. Barges are usually modelled to 1/24th scale, and they are certainly impressive sights , particularly when sailed in fleets of eight or ten where they can usually be seen in close formation. There has for a few years also been a Spritsail Class ~ for a trophy presented by me on behalf of my then employers, the Fiji Visitors Bureau - the FIPIPSY JACK Trophy | am sure you get the message | There is now an excellent and comprehensive manual put out by AMBO (Association of Model Barge Owners) and plans of several models will ensure a continuing interest in the UK for the Thames Sailing Barges. (AMBO, c/o Bob Bird, 11 Prundel Ave, Canvey Isld, Essex $8 7HD, UK) Grateful appreciation for lapul goes lo Rowe Adlington, Richard Cheshey and Tony Lench allot the Uk. \ ra In 1981, a Bud Tretter chartered the boat, and when Ragtime’s rudder broke 150 miles from Diamond (Continued from page 4) Added to her Transpac successes, Head, so balanced was the boat that he was able to steer her comfortably to complete the Transpac race, using Ragtime has four times out of six been first across the line in the 125 mile Newport to Ensenada race, and has also the headsails. won the Victoria (in Canada) ocean race to Maui. Described as a boat not to be one neglected, owner _ likened ownership Ragtime still looking grand in 1999, and below in NZ, pic courtesy to Mona ‘having a for Lisa mistress’. Bill Barry/Sea Spray. Zimmer What Lower picture. Scott Zimmer at her helm. paid for her is his (it is business, said was that Farrah asking $230,000). A great deal of money has gone into both race improvement and maintainance of this lovely John Spencer design, including a new Farr keel. She’s had a great many new sails, and clippings kindly sent by Scott indicate that she is now a sixty-five footer. Pat Farrah (again according to From our conversation, | deduce that Scott Zimmer is writer Rich Roberts) was a most caring owner of the others ‘While boat. appreciated her as a racing machine, Farrah (who it is said,paid US$140.000 for her in “85, then poured nearly a million dollars into her over ten years) knew how special she was - whatever the boat needed, it on’, another of the Farrah kind - a lover of boats with legend, history and classic line, and one that will look after an old warhorse of the sea_ that seems to just “keep on going maturing like good wine. | got’.Previous owners comments are thank both Scott (and Pat Farrah for putting me on to him), thus helping Mercedes Benz - very lean, for’ard - ‘second life’ in the interesting: me to get a little insight into Infidel’s ~She’s like driving a U.S.A as Ragtime. like a ballet dancer’ (Dennis Durgan) 26 ee AAARRRGH ! THERE ! I’ve now exhausted my vocabulary of obscenities. | feel much better now ! Hey, didja notice that humungous leap of one small bear - from the inside back cover to page 2 in one big WHOOSH ? Talk about Concorde !!! Heaven can wait ! Two names of boats “Ish-ing’ now ! Uncle* Euan Four-Foot-Six (Sarginson) of Christchurch, NZ is a vintage model boat enthusiast par ’ excellence. The late 1800 -ish to early 1900 - ish vintage hull seen above has come his way. About fifty-ish inches in length, it will one day emerge as a fine sailing model. I’m vintage stuff too, you know ! (In your case, the word is ‘antique’ - ish - Ed) spring to mind - and the reasons of choice. When and If was the name given his schooner by General Patten - chosen no doubt for when and if he came back from the war, and in Australia, a well known gent whose name escapes me, believed to have been dying and determined to enjoy time left, in positive mode, named his boat Heaven can wait .How long ‘heaven’ waited (and whether he ever got there) I’m afraid | don’t know ! A bit on the side it would AAARRR-ing, ISH-ing... and Geronimo off fishing ! Aucklander Roy Lake sets his fishing smack Geronimo on the water (above) to head off for a spot of fishing, There are nets on this boat which looks right and sails well. Since pic taken, there are also two crewmen aboard, and a few fish - just in case they catch nothing | Gorilla Glue is a US -made glue advertised as “the toughest glue on planet earth | The ad suggests to those seeking and not finding itat their local hardware in the US, that they “tell the big ape whe rune the appear from the photograph above, sent by WW’'s “keeper of the spirit! (of windling) in Poole, Dorset, UK, Tony Searle, His pilot place, to get itfor then’, Andon that ape jah note | close the column cutter April, it seer loat her mast over the side earlier this year, ani her crew are seen aboard, sitting and await a good “dressing down’ from the owner Well, somebody has to take the blame | a7 We’re serious about having fun! Photographed at Dromuna village off Toberua Island by Mark Steele T DROMUNA VILLAGE, seven young sailors of the Bula Sailing Club take their windling very seriously. Marika explains, “Uncle Levai built our boats for us, using niu (coconuts). He said it must be fun, that’s Rule Number dua. We smile and laugh a lot, sail and race seriously, but we are always happy, because these are the friendly, happy Islands. There’s Tomasi and Pita, and Jioji and Tevita, Rusiate and my brother Jone and I. We are practicing for tomorrow’s sailing of the Coconut Cup. In Fiji ‘ww, 4 *-Sn] @ we practice everything with a smile”. Where we take our fun seriously. For more information on holidaying in Fiji contact your local Travel Agent or FIJI VISITORS BUREAU, 48 High Street, PO Box 1179, Auckland. ISLANDS Telephone: 0-9-373 2133 / 34, Facsimile: 0-9-309 4720, email: office @fijinz.co.nz