Chris and a girl (friend?, sister?, bystander?) launching or retrieving his deep-V 2nd Nervous Breakdown design.
Chris Eyre racing the 2nd Nervous Breakdown at the Europeans in, what was then, Czechoslovakia. Anderson Aerosails, popular among the English Mothists, was one of the first dinghy sails built to a radial design. An unstayed wooden mast, a screw-type vang with a large wheel and plywood wings are three of the notable parts to Chris's Moth.
A 1960's Shelley Moth design. Lots of boom bend, a boom slotted into the mast like the old Finn masts and a wood mast with stays jump out as period pieces.
A Shelley III (see comments) planing towards the camera. There is an Aussie scow tucked behind the mainsail. The Shelley is using a storm sail as you can see by the amount of unused boom overhanging.
Plenty of English Moth stuff from the 1960's have popped up on the Internet (designs, number of hulls built of each hull, design analysis). I've collected it and put it in the following PDF. As usual, use the pop-out icon in the top-right corner to put the PDF in another tab on your browser. From there you can print the PDF is you so choose.
I like the use of the word "Medley"......! as Medley Sailing Club is on the Thames at Oxford - the home of British Moths since I were a lad (1950's) and some of the most influential sailors and designers evolved from there. They still sail Moths there. Tim Davison, )who wrote 'The Laser book' ) and I used to race our Moths there, and he's still winning championships at the ripe old age of 70(ish!)
ReplyDeleteIn addition, a boatbuilding business of note - Bossom's Boatyard, is situated on the banks of the Thames at Medley. A fine place to visit if ever in Oxford, and a stroll along the towpath towards the delightful Trout Inn at Godstow, with views over Port Meadow towards the towering spires of Oxford's colleges, and college teams rowing on the river - most rewarding.
Bit of a digression, but old age and nostalgia are wierd things. Was there only a couple of months ago...
BTW love the photo of the Moth you had as your Header picture, so classic, bendy boom, perfect hiking, wedge boom.....!
Think you'll find that Duflos is a Shelley 111, with Chas Reeves at the helm?????? Probably 1972 (April) - not sure of location - could be Hoo Ness on the Medway, (if not Blue Circle). The scow behind could well be Eales's Voodoo????? I had a Torpedo at the time, followed by a Sprite and a McCutcheon Tunnel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon. I'll make the change in the main body (Hard to tell from a bow-on shot if the aft end sports a chine or not.) Since you were a participant, I'll go with your description.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Chas Reeves in his Shelley Mk3 at the now disbanded Blue Circle Sailing Club (with the APCM cement factory in the background) as I was a member & racing there...this was the cover photo on the 1973 IMCA UK Yearbook
ReplyDeleteA number of active Moth Sailors from the 1960’s, 79’s, 80’s, 90’s & 2000’s are regularly posting articles, photos, and class yearbooks, etc., over at the International Moth Low Riders Facebook Group.. there’s plenty to see and comment on.
ReplyDeleteI have a whole tranche of archive albums in my possession, originally created by the UK’s Major Tony Hibbert, recently found at UK Moth Builder John Claridge’s workshop.... some dating back to 1961.... which I’m currently cataloguing and scanning.
Go to https://m.facebook.com/groups/422607964597474 to see more and join the group