The best photo there is of a sailing dinghy on the edge of control. An Historical Australian 18-footer but I don't have anything else, such as the name of the 18-footer, or the date. I assume the photo comes from the archives of the Australian National Maritime Museum which has done a superb job of releasing historical photos onto the Web.
Update: Neil Kennedy comes forward with the complete history behind the photo.
"The 18ft skiff is Crows Nest II ( ex Almae) taken in the 1952 season on Sydney Harbour. The helmsman is Cliffie Monkhouse who was one of the legends of Sydney 18ft skiff sailing. The following season 1953 he sailed the first of his skiffs named Toogara and continued with a series of skiffs of the same name until the 1965 season.
His sail insigna of a black shield with a red ball was instantly recognisable. The photo itself is one of the many fabulous pictures of 18 foot Skiffs in Robin Elliots book "Galloping Ghosts" the story of Australian 18ft skiffs 1890-1965 which was first published in 2012.
Neil Kennedy ( Nedslocker)
The frontispiece for Robin Elliott's book "Galloping Ghosts".
A few of the Robin Elliott book are available on Ebay.
This one from New Zealand is a goodie too...http://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/15/22-mullet-boat-sailing-sunday/nearly-gone/
ReplyDeleteAwesome photograph - it looks like its really blowing, probably 30 knots or more! The question is: What happened next ????
ReplyDeleteGreat pic, Rod, really flying - literally - bet they didn't last long....!
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! While I would give the Aussie 18 a 50/50 chance of staying upright I think your Mullet is just seconds from settling on her side.
Boom dragging, Spinnaker flapping. Hold on! Link
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone,
The 18ft skiff is Crows Nest II ( ex Almae) taken in the 1952 season on Sydney Harbour. The helmsman is Cliffie Monkhouse who was one of the legends of Sydney 18ft skiff sailing. The following season 1953 he sailed the first of his skiffs named Toogara and continued with a series of skiffs of the same name until the 1965 season.
His sail insigna of a black shield with a red ball was instantly recognisable. The photo itself is one of the many fabulous pictures of 18 foot Skiffs in Robin Elliots book "Galloping Ghosts" the story of Australian 18ft skiffs 1890-1965 which was first published in 2012.
Neil Kennedy ( Nedslocker)
Neil,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info. I've moved it into the main post.
Albeit a bit late but the pic of the Kiwi yacht "on it's ear" is not a mullet boat. I have the same pic in a book "The glory of sail" by Ronald Carter and Max Frommherz published in 1954.
ReplyDeleteThe yacht is CZARINA, an X Class 14footer built in 1944 by Jack Kendall at Bayswater . From page101 of the above book, quote " ... Mr Billy Rogers capsized in front of us and, not being able to square away, we had to haul our wind to avoid running over him; however we did not capsize."
The pic was taken by 'Marine Studios'.
'The glory of sail' would be a fantastic addition to any Auckland yachtsman's library - if you could find a copy anywhere.
Cheers, Martin Bunny, Mandurah, Western Australia ( resident of Auckland 1965,66).
Martin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. Hope your summer is going well.