New Zealand Scow Moth; Some Deck Layouts

The New Zealand scow Moth is a one-design adaptation of the Len Morris Mk II Moth design though the rules were loose enough that they pushed the original Mk II lines around a bit. (An astute observer could also say that the Bethwaite design, Northbridge Junior, is also another adaptation of the Mk II scow.) Cockpit design on the New Zealand Moth is wide open and I came across these recent photos of the fleet of New Zealand Moths at Stewarts Gully, NZ. Some very inventive hiking arrangements here.

Three New Zealand Moths bow-on. It looks like 958 has shortened the luff of his sail to get a fat-head top.

A concave cockpit with stand-up rounded decks for hiking. The New Zealand Mothies do seem enamored with sticking wind indicators on the foredeck.

Another concave cockpit with semicircular hiking bumps. A nice long lever vang.

This one has narrow side decks just barely raised from the cockpit floor.

A conventional cockpit design with a repair just aft or where the skipper sits. A second layer of ply reinforcing (lightened with circular cut-outs) was supposed to be strong enough but doesn't look like it was up to the task.

Another shallow side-deck. I like the contrasting colors.

A more severe concave deck with shallow raised bumps for hiking.

You really, really have to work hard on the plywood to get this kind of double curve.

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John Hanson and son are building a New Zealand Moth in Maine.

Articles from Nedslocker: Northbridge Junior build - Australian Sailing 2002

You can't put anything up about Antipodean classes that Neil Kennedy doesn't have an archived article to supplement it with. Linking with the Japanese build of the Northbridge Junior, Neil sends along this article from Australian Sailing on a Northbridge Junior build in Sydney. (Use the pop-out icon on top right of article window to put it in another tab on your browser.)

Drift Media covers Moth History talk by Aussie Ian Ward

 ICWDR

The good folks over at Drift Media put together a Moth History video, combining a talk by Ian Ward at the Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta dinner with a compilation of Moth shots (both classic and foiling) taken during the 2018 regatta weekend. Ian Ward was a top scow designer in the 1970's and 1980's as well as a top helm in his own right (Australian National Champion as well as top placings in World Championships). Ian was also the first one to put centerline foils on a Moth in 1998. In this video he can be seen sailing his foiling scow.



ICWDR_2018_MOTH from drift media on Vimeo.

The Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta was hosted, as usual, by the South Gippsland Y.C.

Music Whenever: Lone Justice "I Found Love"

Sorry, I missed Valentines Day with this rocking classic on love but better late then never. Featuring the full bodied voice of Maria McKee, this song is from the 1980's.

Northbridge Junior; A Japanese Build

I wrote about Frank Bethwaite's plywood junior scow, the Northbridge Junior, as part of a post on the sit-on-top dinghies. Last fall I came across some photos on the Web of a new Northbridge Junior built for a Japanese junior. The blogmeister, being one that feels we should encourage junior sailors in home-built dinghies, offers up the photos of the first day launching:

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• A post on sit-on-top dinghies.
• Australian Sailing article on building a NJ.

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Two sheets of Northbridge Junior plans:

Sheet 1:



Sheet 2:

Gwen 12 - 1971 Plans

Back in October, 1971, I wrote about the plywood, 12' two man Australian speedster, the Gwen 12, I mentioned I had in my possession a set of double bottom plans from the 1970's, courtesy of Aussie Andrew Chapman. I present them below. As always it is best to view this PDF file in another tab; click the arrow icon on the top right of the view box.



I think if I was to build a Gwen 12 in the U.S.A. I would glom a 420 rig onto the hull, particularly the non-class legal fat-head main that the collegiate programs seem to be now favoring.

TOH to Andrew Chapman for sending these along.

Header Photo: Bill Moss Over the Bar

The previous header photo is of Bill Moss and John Gallagher bombing around Annapolis Harbor in the late 1970's. Bill Moss passed away suddenly this past Christmas. We were teammates for the 1981 International 14 Team Races and World Championships and remained good friends ever since, long after I exited the International 14 class. Bill was the best of the best and his drive raised my sailing to another level for that two year campaign. It was that special slice of time when we were on top of our sailing game in an unforgiving dinghy. He will be missed.

The 1981 Team Race party; Bill on the left, the blogmeister on the right.