Windling World: July 1995

Model yachting for FUN! acme ® tomorrow, that there is enjoyment of this kind to be found in ‘their’ youthful years as At the helm. they pursue relaxing a clean activity in and_ which thoroughly age is no barrier, and at which you dort have to be the best in order to feel comfortable and accepted. With intent to windle… © Competitive sailing of model yachts is a Convinced as | am that there is a growing wonderful sport (Shhh, some like to call interest in the sailing of model yachts for them ‘radio’ yachts) and from time to time sheer than Windling World will carry stories relative dictated by the desire to compete, and in to that scene, but that is not what this little addition, urged by the encouragement of journal is principally all about, and it is several therefore not going to appeal to perhaps recreational here different and little values, rather overseas, journal this very makes its eighty percent of the readers of ONE. appearance alongside the final issue of the outgoing ONE. John Spencer who believes in fun sailing has consented to write for it, WINDLING WORLD has very definite Cornish friend Ken and Impey, my whose objectives, none the least of these being to fabulous model of the New Zealand scale extoll the pleasures of owning and sailing scow model describes within this first issue how he yachts just for the hell of it – ‘windling’ for want of a better word. In so Jane Gifford seen on the cover, built it, and will write from time to time. doing we are fostering friendship among people sometimes located oceans apart, as Another friend, Tony Searle of Poole, UK we promote interest in the relaxing, placid who pursuit that is this particular activity. “windling’ vessels at a rate of knots for his is producing own pleasure, elegant and varied is another ‘keeper of the Remember the days when you were young dream’. Look out in the December issue for ? Go on…even if you are seventy plus | am his Man-O-War AURORA ! sure you can remember some of them, perhaps the occasions you sailed ordinary The often errant but always entertaining seagull’s parting squawk in the wind little toy boats on the local pond. Windling provides the opportunity to return to those early years and to rekindle suggested that he might be back, but only those time will tell on that one. memories, the boats these days improved by the use of radio, which means you dort In the meantime…for as long as_ this magazine shall live, here’s to the joys of any longer have to run like hell to catch the little yacht before it slams into the windling ! concrete water retaining wall. Windling also quietly suggests, and Mark Stecle Whitbread and America’s Cup sailors of Publisher/Editor. tr promotes to the young of today who are the bel and A Wimdling by Abel De La Tack Van Tasman. ‘Windling, Windling, Windling am I a bird can’t yacht but a yacht can fly, ask me to windle this bear will reply, Windling, Windling, Windling am I!” With apologies to Pooh & A A Milne sheets out as she surges downwind: that little bit should prove to sceptics that I know a thing or five about model sailing boats ! When the gull flew, the Editor needed someone to inject a little light-hearted but often factual balance to his new magazine, and just like that…here I am – broke having had to take a course in Microsoft Works, but headed I hope for fame – if the world lasts that long ! Of course I’m a ‘windler’ – cant you see Enough of the schmaltzy stuff for now, though I should warn you to expect a bit of sentimental and romantic banter in this column, because I’m a sensitive, old-in-years but very “new age’ in outlook creature. What did Peter Blake say about himself? “I just love sailing’ ! That’s me to a tee…windling, windling, windling am I – I just love windling ! the evidence top O ‘ page ?: I’ve been windling long before some of you The beauty about it is that you can younger ones learned any kind or class you can think of – what the term ‘try’ meant in a game that used to be called “Rugger’ – that will tell you how old I am…antique is the word ! Racing model yachts is o’right, windle with any kind of model yacht, with friends of by yourself. Our Editor often enjoys a solitary windle – gives him time to think (he says) and to relax but there’s something just so special about an aimless back and forth, and cross and back of the pond or lake just for no reason at all..watching the wee thing respond to the rudder toggle situated the grey matter topside in navigatorium. To windle dare I say it – you dont even have to set the brain into gear ! Mine is stuffed and I windle ! on the starboard side of the transmitter (well, it is on mine – you wanna prove otherwise !) and feeling the ‘lift’ of the bow from pondside without getting wet (bears take a long time to dry, believe me !) as you round a mark and let the his bel Deputy Dis and Dat. The MARJORIE P CAMPBELL A New Zealand Scale Scow of Cornish construction. Ken Impey of Falmouth describes his building of the JANE GIFFORD This hull was different from previous hulls I] had made, and it took a while to plan the method of construction. Starting off as two sides and assembled a centre with two piece they substantial were beams across the deck and two across the bottom. These were dovetailed into the sides and halved into the centre piece. Once glued up with Cascamite, a strong frame was created looking much like a trimaran with skinny hulls. My friend. Mark Steele. has corresponded our The bow was planked from stem across to mutual intcrest in radio controlled scale the sides as per the real vessel to obtain sailing models. He knows of my interest in that lovely flair, the remainder of the hull two masted schooner rigged vessels, and finished in 2mm marine ply shect. forwards to me copies of any articles on remaining modelling of the deck, cabin, the subject he feels will be of interest. This bulwarks and bits and pieces was not too is difficult, the hull being flat bottomed it with me how for several I GIFFORD. restoration came to her out years now on know of the history, there in gifting New JANE and The was easy to work on. Zealand. Pictures of her in the articles, and in the A coating of filler, a good rub down timetable of her sailings took my fancy. I followed by two applications of undercoat was ready to start a new model and the and she was ready for the bath. The weight JANE GIFFORD was it. for the keel is calculated by floating in the bath and adding pieces of lead until she The JANE GIFFORD is a traditional New reaches her marks, allowing a bit for the Zealand Scow, and drawing up plans from radio gear and rigging. The lead is then the pictures at 1/2 an inch to the foot, | melted and poured into a previously made had to ensure that I allowed for her to sail streamlined wooden mould suitably lined, realistically. as well as provide access for a nice shapely kecl weight should have radio control items. been the result – that was the theory. The actual result was not so smooth and place as per the Cliff Hawkins plan of the was tidied up with car body filler, a file RANGI, and glasspaper. Two long bolts had been from side to side. checking for clear When all looked good. trimmed fore and movement with eversthing aft, the measurements for the sails accurate were taken from the model, this to ensure that the sails set well when fitted: I knew everything would be ruined if they did not look right, for poorly made sails are a nightmare. | learned how to go about it from my first model, and once confident with the method that suited = my capabilities, | have stuck to it with success ever since. cast into the keel weight, and was passed up through a shaped fin of laminated wood. The bolts were passed through the bottom of the hull and secured with nuts. A large separate rudder was made and fitted below the bottom of the hull behind the keel for sailing. The JG’s own scale rudder is unsuitable for controlling the model. Made from polyester cotton pillow cases, the sails took two days to bend on. the model then taken into the garden in a good breeze, and the radio gear switched on to test the winching of the sails and the rudder movement. All worked well. and she was launched at the first opportunity She gathered a crowd of admirers night away, Various internal provisions were made for fitting the radio servos, and a geared sail winch was made to fit in the limited height of the hull. looked beautiful travelling down wind at speed, but simply would not come about, pointing to a need for some changes down below. The area of the fin was increased towards the bow, and a larger rudder made and fitted…then she sailed brilliantly – an eye-catching beauty that Masts, bowsprit. booms and gaffs were all tacks sedately, and goes like a train off the made from yellow pine, and fitted with wind, I know she is modelled on the lovely rigging eyes and parrels – finished with JANE GIFFORD, but I confess that I have three coats of clear polyurethane varnish named her after my wife. The MARJORIE rubbed smooth with steel wool and wax P polish. Rigging of the bowsprit and masts port of registration, her heritage is New was Zealand, but this one is a Cornish vessel completed using brass stranded CAMPBELL carries Falmouth as her picture hanging wire for the standing gear, set up taught by deadeyes and tensioning points. Thin whipping twine duly waxed was used for tensioning. The booms and gaffs were rigged by stringing them in ven About Ken Impey. Ken Impey lives in Falmouth, Cornwall, in the United King- dom where in his retirement years he enjoys building scale sailing vessels, which he windles in various parts of Cornwall. He started with the Bluenose style schooners and one of his favourites is the schooner Jehn Fessett Bends. An Ode to Windling You can call them ‘social sailors’, – numbers grow instead of dwindling, so ‘listen here — just get out there enjoy the sport of ‘Windling’. Grab the boat and seek the pond the fresh wind out there waits, schooners, metres, RM’s all this windling maketh mates. A Windling Club ‘methinks it cometh where sailing you’ll enjoy, remember all the fun you had sailing models as a boy? He also has a Thames Sailing Here and there we read today barge, a Fiji Magic Schooner – of sailing numbers dwindling, Fiji Janner, and his latest, very a way to get the number up, recently completed boat is the and blood pressures down is Windling! Mark Steele New Zealand trading scow, on the cover and within this issue. A friend of the Editor, Ken is married to Marjorie, and they have several grandchildren. Windling World. anon profit specialist magazine with limited circulation Publisher/Editor Mark Steele Keepers of the dream. Mark Steele John Spencer Ken Impey Tony Searle Editorial Address: 42 Trinidad Road, Forrest Hill, Auckland New Zealand. Spencer on Wiindling What is “windling” you may well ask ? Mark invented the word for what I have long called ‘fun sailing’ sailing for recreation and for or the sheer joy of it, whether racing or cruising about. In racing there are often ‘poor losers’ and often ‘poor winners’ as well, both types invariably taking the fun out of it for the average sailor. Windling therefore is enjoying sailing without racing, or at the back end of the fleet for those who want to give racing an occasional go. Non windlers are those who get upset and they do it upset the rest of us when they dont win, experimenting as I did with the Fiji Magic win, with windlers often the ‘meat in the schooner and Fun Fellow, some like scows sandwich’ between the poor losers and the and gaff rigs, and win or lose we are nol poor winners. ‘knockers’. How do you tell the difference you ask ” If That is difficult to answer without offence upsetting more to Champions who people than do they enjoy it. Windling does not attract such the water. Windling is enjoying the company of all The windling world is not their thing, and magazine will we people, as there are no trophies to win on the sport of yachting. new windlers times in my sixty-four years if you let him assist. That scenario happens frequently in this genuine destroy that. I have seen it happen many often become Presidents or Commodores, often are only one person who hates being beaten to you look to those who ‘do the work to not we something that is priceless, and it takes to some who have combined both roles, but work ‘ Some like building model boats to vintage designs, others like some behaving no better when they do make it for fun. who do it. probably be of little interest to the dedicated racer full stop model yachtsperson. Windlers sail for the love of sailing, and if they race at all 7 — Half Modeller of Poole The immensely talented Peter Ward. An Endeavour or AUSTRALIA II for the wall ? In Poole. part of Dorset, that England acknowledged lives experts in delightful one the of the craft of marine half modelling – Peter Ward. We have never met, but when I wrote to him (having read of his exploits in many magazines including YACHTING WORLD) he was prompt to reply, and based on information sent me, and other facts gleaned, this little story eventuated for this first issue. With the aid ofa selection of chisels and a bandsaw, a routing machine and other woodworking materials, Peter has over the years produced a variety of clegant and accurate half models and been able to turn a hobby into a business. endless design stream engineer of now has commissions an from owners of boats and collectors of half models all over the world. America’s Cup and large racing yachts of the classic era, famous schooners, cutters and ketches, the modern yachts of today, workboats, pilot boats, folkboats make up a list of subjects both handled in the past and available to purchasers to order. If he does not have the plans he will obtain them, then painstakingly fashion to order in a shed at the bottom of his garden (with only the radio for company) so that others can admire his outstanding craft on the walls of their own homes. John Ward, Peter is obsessed by the sea and has sailed and cruised for many years. Working extensively in a Malaysian wood, laminations are glued together, and upon completion after many many hours, the Building up a wide collection of plans, this one-time A descendant of the great marine artist finished object mahogany is mounted backboard. onto often with a the vesscl’s details stencilled in gold-leaf, Half models of ships have been in existence (according to Peter) for in excess of 200 years, and most traditional fishing boats and trading vessels of the century were built from evolved from a half model. a hull 19th shape Getting it regularly / If you would like to receive the next 4 issues of WINDLING WORLD, you can do so by way of a subscription – details of which can be found on the enclosed form. It can only continue on a subscription basis and with the aid of some advertising. cost details of which are available on request. Peter Ward – Master carver and creator of The next issue of WINDLING WORLD accurate half models of some of the most will appear in December ‘95 gracious and beautiful, famous and classic followed by issues in April-August- yachts is a ship modeller of a different December ‘96. kind to those involved in model yachting, DON’T MISS OUT! but a craftsman par excellance whose work Subscribe now and head the fleet. is in great demand. Peter Ward, 31 St Mary’s Road, Poole, Dorset BH 15 2LH, England. Tel & Fax (0202) 672823. The Windling Supremo ! John Spencer designed FUN FELLOW The Journal of The Quiet Little Windle Club. The Quiet Little Windle Club is an entirely fictitious non-membership organisation acting in name only as the publishing body for this magazine WINDLING WORLD. It represents the craft for complete derive satisfaction from good cameradecrie Steve Auckland. Tel O09 Glenfield 444 purposes other than racing – those who and the friendship associated from the Walters 153A Manuka Rd, sailing enjoy pleasures owners. model who A New Zealand una- rigged, one design yacht supplied to of those 4405. afore-mentioned activity, and those who enjoy a quiet little windle’ even if it is of the solitary kind . In the world of the windlers ; Mark Steele on the delights of recreational sailing. These days, downwind, more and more effortlessly and people are going sailing…the silently, having exchanged the lure of the pond, lake or river, city bussle and the hassles of and the chance of a nice fresh snarled wind water, the breeze, and sound of ripples in are often just too great to resist. traffic for the open the their yacht’s wake. It is also an established fact that more people go cruising Is than racing, and ‘windling’ is ‘escapism’ in tandem with that to Jove of sailing craft – from the the model yachtsperson it not all matter large own or mess about with full taking offshore | sized island – to the boat in model | To windle you to capable an_ format getting your feet and body wet water, let go and have your (unless you are clumsy imagination do the rest ? fall in!) Zealand I though have you set on of therefore is to cruise without and that are of what cruising is to those who yachts. that a the in New quite often My friend Peter Tait looks at model ‘windling’ using a boat scaled seen avid recreational yachtpersons decked out with midway wet gear, braving chilly winds metres and and and the yachts that cruise the rainy conditions while between the one the Marbleheads they seek one last dream run waters downwind that will bring a promoting the John Spencer- smile to their faces. designed FIREBUG – an easy to build. Full sized yacht He easy to sail, is large out enough for two persons ‘fun’ effect yacht.. It wont take you to Fiji, windling, as they search for and even Rangitoto would be the propel an achievement in time taken Elliott and distance covered, but for cruising their sailors offshore. are breeze in that Young trailer-sailers will 88’s or smartly up or Continued on page 19 10 The yachts of Norm Gabbott! In several New parts Zealand, there exists have of | rural am _ sure people for who years’ been infatuated with the building of model yachts and other sailing vessels. Dannevirke Darby In (through who sails metre) there is Roy a one one such person – Norman Gabbott. Norman is retired and enjoys building that scale he sailing equally boats enjoys ‘windling’ on the waters of a pond in the area. He has built three of the ketches, several trailer sailors and has an impressive looking Trimaran. The ketch is actually 54″ in length as is the Trimaran. When Norman _ (sometimes with windles Roy) the audience is comprised mainly of sheep, except for an occasional motorist who might stop for a impressive look at models the and perhaps a chat. Norman is 75 years of age, which bears out my statement that one is never past windling once one can get about and has reasonable eyesight. WINDLING WORLD is pleased to show these sailing models to readers, and hails the work of Norman Gabbott as we feature them here. 11 ay Windler in a hurry maybe, or just a speed windle still relaxation providing outside the that clement arena of of actual racing: TREWING THING built and sailed 0 by – that Bruce delightful Ewing, New is the Plymouthonian fastest model multihull in New Zealand. And there is the owner/windler at rest during the One Metre Nationals in Napier. “Is the New Zealand Summer really over Mark 2”. Photograph by Jeff Rice Setting the scene…a statement on policy. Windling World’s policy on racing coverage is that whereas some racing content may be included from time to time, the subject of competition is not the main objective ofthis publication, the ideals of which are to encourage the building and sailing of model yachts and other sailing craft for enjoyment and recreational purposes. A further objective is to foster good sportsmanship and friendly cameraderie in such activities. It is therefore, we believe, unlikely to interest those whose only interest in model yachting is racing. The Keepers of the Dream. 12 The 590 Story… A one design yacht that captured UK attention ! Information kindly supplied by Bob Spencer, Commodore LEICESTER & DISTRICT SCALE MODEL BC. A very popular little class of yacht in the UK is simply known as the 590, thought of in the early 1980’s as a one class racing yacht, where people could buy one without having to have an expensive sail winch, and know that all the yachts that turned up would be the same. The idea was taken up by Harvey Middleton of HFM Marine, and with the help of Keith Stevenson the 590 was born, the name chosen mainly because of the length which was the most suitable size they could get on a standard vac-forming machine. The kit was supplied with everything needed – formings wooden mast, jib and boom, gluc, knife metal weight and two sets of sails (storm and normal), as well as a set of plans and rules for racing. By the mid replaced by ‘90’s the aluminium wood with had been the mast extended in length to take a larger (fair weather) sail, and an intermediate sail Continued on Page 14- Continued from Page 13 The 590 Story Sailing supplied in the kit, the storm sail then only u a available by mail order. The yacht was for vl ee PacnsSuce in J apan then known as the 59OD, and the basic 590 production ceased. Other changes also happened in the way When Shiomi San that you could modify the way the sails wants to windle in leading to a situation in the late ‘90’s with Spee aiaee were fixed and the type of material used —_ | J4Pan, his John the appearance of the 590S oe a oO » version of the standard 590. a al scale cs aia i e peroneal | FIJI FLYING FISH goes into the water Details ofthe Fiji In 1993 it became permissable to change Magic schooner from the rudder and some modifications were a ne permitted Box 1179, Auckland, except that a servo was NEW ZEALAND – home mandatory. Considerable moaning resulted of the America’s Cup. as those able to afford expensive sails and modifications seemed to have a_ better advantage. 1 am indebted to Bob Spencer, Commodore Jn the December of the Leicester & District Scale Model Boat Club who upon my request so kindly issue… provided me with all of this background information on what is still a popular little boat, and in Model Boats/March 1995, a * The sailing Man-O-Wars of kit review was published and a return to Dorset’s Tony Searle and Bob model boating by Michael Watts detailed Capon…and how can we get on his building of a 590 that he has called them to fire broadsides ? ANNA. * Island Windling … Townson’s The HFM 590 has undoubtadly brought a lot of people into model yacht racing over at Toberua , Fiji …races and rum without rhyme or reason, to the good of whatever, there are lessons * Mulleting around – a mullet boat interlude…and why not build and sail one’? island-style! the years, somewhat like our own New Zealand Townson Electron ‘s, and whereas development and improvements are often to be learned I think, that augur well for the retention of a system (such as the Townson principle) whereby modifications are not allowed, thereby keeping the performance differences down to setting of * The schooners of an Auckland lady windler-builder. the sails and the skills of the sailor. 14 Continued from page 10 on-the-water sailing in rivers ENOUGH ! ENOUGH ! I or – I feel a windle coming on… lakes or estuaries…well, cry Firebug(ing) in this nifty and time to head for the waters of safe yet Onepoto yacht is extraordinary little another way to fountain windle. is pretend — the that Cape most feared of all – become a kid at heart even just for one whole In an age whereby life itself hour, even in the areas of sport and away as the schooner FIJIPSY relaxation JACK glides silently upwind ! jaundiced often by appears noise and pollution factors, the concept of sailing whereby one is dependent on windpower, and is able to escape, is getting more and more appealing, and the windling or cruising concept as opposed to serious competition, offers all the delights. What’s more, I can live comfortably with the silly allegations dished up by some, that we are simply grown men “messing about with toy boats’. Were that the case, what do you call thirty men chasing afier an odd-shaped _ ball, while they knock the stuffings out of each other, and head- butt and bite members of the opposing team ? The Classic Windler Photograph by KEN IMPEY. 15 windle all my woes ORGET OUR Taji Magic Schooners for a minute — feast your imagination on the friendly fun-filled island nation of FIJI. Holidays there are so relaxing, with sea, sand and sun, and that special magic warmth of welcome that comes straight from the hearts of the Fijian people. *There’s fun too, so get serious about a holiday in the Fiji Islands, Nukubati is just one of so many. ‘et a\ZTook _| Why not ‘Fijipsy Jump’ your way to your travel agent! » So warm, so friendly, and so near. For more information on Fiji as a holiday destination and how to get there, contact your local Travel Agent or the FIJI VISTORS BUREAU 5th Floor, 48 High Street, Auckland. PO Box 1179 Auckland Telephone 0-9-373 2133 or 373 2134. Fax 0-9-309 4720, ISLANDS