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A
Brief History of Local Sailing |
A
brief History of sailing in Port Lincoln and the Port Lincoln
Yacht Club complied by club Historian Philip Roe, Past Rear Commodore, Club
Moth Champion and Honourary Life Member, President of the Axel
Stenross Maritime Museum, (Custodians of the Port Lincoln Yacht
Club history). The following information is "as told" to him by Jack Randall, Fred Ives, Alwyn
Scruby, Brian Verco, Chook Wiseman, Darcy Harvey, Mrs Morton,
Dean Palm and many others.
Philip apologises for any
inaccuracies and will correct any mistakes if advised. This
history is being progressively developed - more information is
required. CD's & photos etc
can be obtained from the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum. Updated
2001.
Since the first Europeans
ventured to the waters of Port Lincoln and Spencer’s Gulf Port
Lincoln the sea and sailing has always been part of Port
Lincoln’s way of life.
Local aboriginal tribes did not have boats or venture on to the
water. They fished from the shores.
In
1802 Captain Matthew Flinders in the Investigator was first to
discover and chart the waters, followed by the French explorer
Nicolas Baudin. They had found Boston Bay (Baudin named the
bay, Champagne Bay.) It is regarded as the third largest
natural harbour in the world with a volume of water estimated at
five times that of Sydney harbour. A magnificent and safe
harbour for boats with lots of nearby islands to cruise and the
exciting huge seas of the southern ocean to the south on the way
from Lincoln to the rugged north coast of Kangaroo Island.
Flinders
tragedy. Losing a number of his crew in the area is still very
real today with the naming of many islands Thistle, Taylors, Williams, etc after his lost crew and his home town area
and Memory Cove. Now a
national park where the event happened while the crew were
searching for water.
The first
European settlers
arrived in the 80 ft "Abeoana"
with Captain Hawson and
his family and others on March the 19th 1839. Landing
at Happy Valley near
the present location
of the now Axel Stenross’s Maritime Museum (Axel became a
foundation member of the PLYC in 1931 as will be recorded
later.)
There were no roads, cars or planes those days. The only easy
way get to Lincoln was by boat or walk.
The area soon became a popular commercial oyster & scale
fishing location and is still the case today. Early fishermen
formed the basis of competitive sailing. Yachting began in
Lincoln in the 1800’s. With regattas recorded here in the “Adelaide
Register” as early as February 29th 1840
In the late 1800’s the Port Lincoln Sailing Club was formed.
It's pennant was blue and white.
The Town also had a separate Regatta committee to run beach
events rowing regattas, sailing and other early settler
activities.
The Adelaide Observer reported
on Jan 17th 1885 that a settling night was
held at the Pier hotel when prizes of the recent
Regatta were awarded. Mr Bill Haigh won a cup and eleven
guineas in the Albatross as first prize in the main sailing
event, and Mr Tom Tait in the "Canowie" won the second prize of
eight guineas. "Canowie" (pictured below) of around 60 feet won the regatta
previously in 1883.
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There
are more details in the book “ Yachting in Australia”
written by frequent visitor to Port Lincoln Sir Henry Bundy QC
in 1888. Former SA Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore, and friend of
the famous Randall yachting family of Port Adelaide &
Lincoln.
Sir Henry Bundy also wrote a yachting book (“A Fashionable Holiday”) around 1899, featuring Port
Lincoln and Kangaroo island and many local people.
Around 1915 The ANZAC and Galipolli time the Second World War
saw many of our sailors leave for active service overseas.
The Port Lincoln sailing club never recovered from this.
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The
Port Lincoln Sailing Regatta Club |
In
1919 struggling for members the sailing club combined with the
Regatta Club to try and keep sailing alive. Called "The Port
Lincoln Sailing and Regatta Club".
Still struggling, the club was disbanded in the 1920’s and
there was no sailing club in Port Lincoln.
Population of the town then would have been around 2,500 people.
Sailing stalwart Jack Randall of the Randall sailing family was
a young member of the Port Lincoln Sailing club. He went on to
become a foundation member of the new PLYC, a champion sailor
and seaman held most club positions, including commodore many
times, built yachts and was always prepared to work on
committees until he died. He with his wife Betty helped link the
past with the future and set many traditions which guided the
club in the right direction until the late 1990’s. One of the
many reasons the Port Lincoln Club has been so successful in the
past.
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Pictured
above:- The "Nautilus"
On
9th October 1931 as things settled down after the war
a meeting of those interested in forming a sailing club was
called in the Civic War Memorial supper room to consider forming
a new sailing club. The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
was represented by Frank Verco in his 50ft yacht the Nautilus.
It often cruised the waters and participated in the regattas.
(Later to be involved with his son, Brian in developing The Outer Harbour to Port Lincoln Yacht race now
the Adelaide
Lincoln Race.) |
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Club
Officially formed
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The
Foundation Committee - 1931
Back row L-R:- F.W. Ives, G.W. Hurrell, K. Midvick (Snow), J. T.
Mortlock (Patron), A.A. Stenross, M.G. Henderson.
Front L-R:- Jim Eglington, Bob Medwell (Commodore), Allan Payze
(Secretary), Byron Johnson. |
On
October 23 1931 the club was officially formed.
First Committee was Commodore F. Medwell. Secretary, Alan
Payze, Vice Commodore Jack Green. Rear Commodore Axel Stenross,
Assistant Secretary, Byron Johnson. Treasurer, Jim Eglington and
a committee of six.
The new club was
named "The Port
Lincoln Yachting Club" to cater for vessels now using motors
as well as sail and was supported by members
of the old sailing club.
The clubs well known and wise object no 1 was born and became
part of the Club Rules. "To Foster a love of the
sea, the education of members into the art of sailing, and the
promotion of the best interests of yachting."
The first race was held on Nov 5th 1931. It was an
all boats event 3
times around over eight miles.
Fishing
boats and 14 footers were sailed in the club then
Mrs Follet offered her Port Lincoln Hotel back room as the
clubrooms and the members accepted the offer at a general
meeting.
(50
years later past Commodores, life members and their families
toasted the foundation members at a special dinner held in the
back dining room of the Port Lincoln hotel.)
in
1937 the first junior
sailing dinghy was introduced by Fred Ives and his team called
the "Lincoln" class.
The
club was beginning to slow down as boat owners moved away,
usually to Adelaide .
The
second, world war was the straw that broke the camel’s back
and the club went into recess just after 1940.
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The
Rebirth of the Port Lincoln Yacht Club |
In
1948 a young Roy King from Glenelg Sailing Club waltzed into
Port Lincoln with his wife to run the Flinders Guest House in
Liverpool Street. He asked why there was no sailing in the
wonderful Boston Bay. He was sent to meet foundation member,
sailing legend and local photographer Jack Randall . He was told
he would be in his other office. (The front bar of the Lincoln
Hotel.)
A public meeting on December the 8th decided to
reopen the club and
put it back in business. With
help from others including, Norm Trudgeon, Fred Ives, Alan Payze,
Byron Johnson, Perc Puckridge, George Mayne, Brian Verco they
reformed the yacht club which was in recess.
There
was still no Clubhouse then.
The
new 12 Square Metre centreboarder later to be known as the
"Heavy weight sharpie" was being introduced around
Australia and Roy King and Jack and others encouraged its
introduction here amidst some opposition from some members who
had previously sailed 14 footers here before the war.
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It
is believed that the first Sharpie in Lincoln was the "Hielan Lassie" built around the end of the 1930’s by
Port Lincoln Yacht Club member and well known boat builder Jack
McFarlane. Jack and his father owned the slip before Axel Stenross and lived there in a tent while the slip was being built. Well known in
Port Lincoln yacht club circles Jack's boats included: "Thistle"; "Celtic"; "Highlander"; the "Queen of Scotts" and the "Hielan Lassie".
A young Alwyn Scruby also now a well known yacht club
member helped build
this new yacht in the boat shed just behind where the slip winch
is today. It was built with strips of spruce approximately
6 inches wide because they didn’t have plywood at that
time. Alwyn helped build the mast which was also spruce.
The
plans had come from Germany and were a bit of a problem because
they were in metric measurements and Australia’s measurements
were in feet and inches. Jack had a major problem purchasing a
metric ruler.
The
boat was called the “Hielan Lassie” and people laughed at
it, until its first race at the Port Lincoln Yacht club picnic
at Dutton Bay where it cleaned up every boat in sight and
continued to from then on in good sharpie tradition winning many trophies including the 1937/38 Championship.
Pictured right:- "Westwind"
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The
beginning of the local Sharpie fleet was born and the beginning
of modern boats & rigs began to emerge with their many
changes over the decades.
The
Reformed Port Lincoln Yacht Club’s first organised racing
began on new years day 1949. The smaller boats included "West
Wind" (Roy King), "Miss Lincoln" (Norm Trudgeon) and
"Scamp" (Jack
Randall).
Larger
craft were "Fifenella" ( Brian Verco), "Jean" (Charlie Lebrun) and
the fishing cutters "Nancy"
(L.Tarry.Barry),
"Safari" ("Turk" Sawyer) & "Ellen" ( C.
Barwick).
By
March 1949 the first Sharpies raced against each other. They
were "Vandal" (Roy King), "Blue Star" (Jack Randall). By November
1949 two more sharpies had arrived. "Southerly Buster" (Mel
Roberts & "Ajax" (Norm Trudgeon). An all boats race attracted
10 starters.
Pictured
left:- "Pavana" |
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The
First Adelaide to Lincoln Race - Outer Harbour to Port Lincoln
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A
red letter day was February 4th 1950 when the first
Adelaide – Lincoln race saw seven starters. It was won by "Nerida" (Colin
Hazelgrove).
Trophies
were the Verco trophy for first on Handicap. The Rundles Pier
Hotel Trophy for fastest time
and The Axel Stenross Trophy for
the Sunday PM race
after presentation & BBQ.
In
the following week a visit of Adelaide sharpies saw a fleet of
ten racing.
No
records exist of boats & races from mid 1950’s until
in the early 1957 season. It is feared they were lost in
a clean up. By then we had a fleet of 12 sharpies which grew to
19 by 1958.
In
the early 50’s Speed Boats were a very important class in the
Port Lincoln Yacht club and through their major efforts of fund
raising in the 50’s and the donation of the land by Mr &
Mrs Harold Charlton saw the new club house built & used for
the first time for the 1953/54 Annual General Meeting.
The
1957 ocean race saw 8 starters with "Tahuna", RSAYS (Henry Wilkins)
fastest & "Jean" PLYC (Charlie Lebrun) Handicap winner. The
first Port Lincoln boat to win.
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The
505 : The new Senior
Centreboard class
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The
newly adopted 505 centreboard class raced for the first time in
November 1958. Boats were "Polly" (Ron Barker), "Tuffy" (Frank Harby)
and "Pacific Gull" (Ross Edwards).
There
was plenty of class rivalry for this new class from the
sharpies.
The
1959 Adelaide - Lincoln race saw 9 starters but only four boats
battled a westerly gale to finish.
The 505 class grew to 5 boats by November 1959. One being "Cairo"
(John Hood).
Geoff & Trevor Schramm also had some great 505 races sailing
very competitively against world famous skipper Paul Elvstrom in
Adelaide. The Henderson Boys joined the 505 fleet.
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Lincoln
505 Sailors all set to travel to the Nationals
Left to right: Bruce Hood, Max Bennie, Ron Barker, Ross Edwards,
Dennis Davison & John Hood
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The
Introduction of the Lightweight
Sharpie -
The end of the heavyweight |
During
the preceding winter the lightweight
sharpie was
introduced.
Some
owners opted to build new hulls and keep the old rig.
This kept the combined fleet stable until the sharpie
association re designed the rig.
This saw the end of the heavyweight Sharpie and by the start of
the 1960/61 season only four raced. The replacement by LW’s
slowed because of the cost of the new rig. At the same time only
9 light weights were racing
505’s had also reached their peak with 5 boats. Another factor
was that several older skippers found both classes too exacting
to sail. Some gave up sailing others went to ocean going A class
keel boats setting a build your own boat craze. This eventually
put the club back together with an active "A" class fleet.
Meanwhile the trainer fleet was re-organised and from March 1961
"Byron J" (Paul Johnson) "Seagull" ( Graham Johnson)
"Idler"
(Barry
Brady) & "Swift" (Geoff "Megga" Bascombe) were regular
starters.
At
this point of time keel boat racing was non existent with other
classes down in numbers the crest of the wave had broken. At the
end of the 1961 sailing season the club championship saw winners
in the classes being as follows.
Light
weight sharpies Caprice (John & Rob Hopping)
International
505 "Cairo" (John Hood). Class numbers had dropped to six Light
weight Sharpies & 5 x
505’s.
The
1961 Adelaide
Lincoln race attracted 11 Starters. "Pavana", George Mayne PLYC
was line honours winner.
Some
of the many people involved during this time were. L "Chook"
Wiseman, Spog Curnow, Darc Harvey, Rolly Johnson, Reg Barker,
John Swann, Pep & Dion Manthorpe, Brian Anthony, Peter
Warrington, Byron Johnson
(Long serving handicapper) Reg Aveling, Charlie Lebrun, Stan
Morgan, Roy Carlson, Brian & Phil Hurrell, Bill Offler,
Bruce Smallacombe, Norm Wicks, John Justin, Phil Bascombe, Brian
Bain, Ron Barker, Snoss Wiseman, Dennis Davison, Max Bennie,
Michael & Robert Egerton, John & Robert Hopping, Max
Simms, Alf Goodwin, M. Fallon, Noel Carr, Dean Cook, Bill Robb,
P McCuspiem, John & G Williams, Edna Aveling, Enid Brooks,
George Richardson, Sid Watherston, E Hocking ,Norm Trudgeon
& Neil Trudgeon, David Bassham & others all ready
mentioned and so the list goes on.
Jack
Randall having joined the ranks of build your own yacht members
and realising the 505’s
& lightweight were nor for him (Jack was a large man).
Spent the next two years building
a 23 foot Rugged class
keel boat ”Alloway”. His efforts inspired Wilson Hissey and
Brian Bain to build the 36 ft "Rufus L" and "Nyanda
L" and Geoff Ives
soon followed with "Rhythm", a sister ship. About this time
SA tractor rep Gavin Weston showed off the single handed
centreboard class moth to members. Meanwhile John Swann &
Dion Manthorpe had purchased "Shadow", Stan Morgan
"Pelorus" and Pep Manthorpe with "Josephine"
was getting ready to move on. So A class ocean racing was on its
feet again.
The
club's lowest point in recent times.
Around
1963/64 centre board racing at the club was at its lowest since
reforming with only a few sharpies racing including
"Rival" David
Bassham, "Seasprite" John Easton, "Zero" John Hopping,
"Eires" Rob
Hopping and "Caprice" Phil Roe. Club membership had dropped from
a high of around 400 down to around 50. Finances were not going
well.
Sharpie
legend John Lewis of "Kurura" fame was now sailing at Tumby. Their
club was now larger than Lincoln and had a top sharpie fleet
with Noel Carr and the Fauser
& Rogers boys among there competitors.
A
special meeting was called with the seal holder Past Commodore
Frank Blacker present. Approximately seven committee members
attended the meeting at the Tasman Hotel . The Tasman Hotel manager
Mr Retallick was the PLYC house officer. Those present included
David Bassham, Dean Cook , Robert Hopping and Phil Roe.
Discussion
took place regarding whether the club could survive or whether
it should be closed or put in recess again.
It
was agreed to move forward and rejuvenate the club. Many changes
happened from here on. The new generation moved in with the
support of the older members.
A
successful new social marketing strategy to foster the love of
the sea was implemented involving the whole town participating
including football clubs and
horse racing club, etc.
There
were many top juniors coming up like Geoff & Trevor Schramm,
Ross Haldane, Daryl Freers, Dean palm etc. They were sailing
rainbows. (This class is now
succeeded by the 125’s). People running the club that come to
mind were Frank
Schramm, Gilf Ettridge, Darc & Verley Harvey, Hink
Harvey, The Mortons, Wilson Hissey, Marg Delderfield, Josie
Waters, John
Watson, Garth Burgoyne, Barry Grimm, Howard McCallum, Roger
Trevor, Don Brasher, Jack Offler, Brian & Margaret Bain,
Rolly & Laurel Johnson,
Jack & Betty Randall Davis Bassham, Rob & John Hopping,
John Easton, Andrew Renwick, Barry Roach, Geoff Ives, David
Bassham, Peter Whait,
Josie Waters, Lorraine Dawe, Ellen Turner and Max Bennie
to name a few.
Mr Retallick was transferred as manager of the Tasman and Phil
Roe gained a lot of experience
as he automatically became
the House Officer & social director
for some time at around the age of 22 with a strong house
committee behind him. David Basham around
year older soon became the club Commodore.
On
the sailing front the club had had a restrictive policy of only
allowing Holdfast trainers, Rainbows, Sharpies and A class to
race.
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The
Moth Class - Senior Centreboard Class |
The
sharpies at the time were finished Gunner Boeck a great new motivator
had moved in to work for Blacker Motors from Cleve and
was sailing moths at Arno bay He helped with other members to
pressure negative opposition and
convinced the members
through the sailing committee to change the rules so that
three boats constituted a class and could start in their own
class race and five would attract trophies.
Right:- Miss Australia attends Hawaiian Cabaret in PLYC boat
shed.
L-R:- Elizabeth Ettridge (first PLYC woman sailor to compete
in National sailing), Miss PLYC Tunarama entrant Ann Renwick (Hamlyn)
who went on to become Miss Tunarama with Miss Australia.
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They also changed
the racing championship points
and handicap system allowing the new class of moths &
herons to be introduced and grow.
It
worked and Gunner introduced the sharpie sailors and others to
moths and some great years of exciting sailing. Members
purchased around 19
in the first year for some great class and state racing.
Liz Ettridge a champion sailor
was the first female to represent the club at a
nationals. She sailed the moth "Elouise". The moth class gave
Lincoln members a close connection to Arno bay and Largs bay
sailing club. Early moth sailors included John Hopping in "Cirrius", Robert Hopping in
"Snoopy", Dennis Davison in "Redwings",
John Easton in "Velero" ,Phil Roe in "Chaos" & later
"Chaotic",
Robert Walker in "Tara", Graham Brett in "Ciaou", Tim
Nelligan,
Ian
Phillips, Peter Aird, Scott Sawley and many others went through
the class.
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The
Heron Class - A senior Centreboard
class |
A
Major event and
probably the most significant for the club at the same time as
the moths arrived was
the introduction of the heron. It became a major class. Gill
& Fran Robertson "Cresta" with Harbour Master Ian Jeffries
"Miraj" introduced a heron building program over at John Turners
government slip way. While Ken Ladyman & Kieran Kelly had
both had herons earlier for a few years this new fleet of over
40 became the largest in the state and began some great class
racing introducing many new members to sailing moving into ocean
and other class boats over time. This includes Puffa Powell, Ron
Giadresco, Noel Welfare, Alan Smith, Reg Kemp, Stephen
Kemp John Turner in "Karamba", Philip Turner in
"Conquest", George Wiseman in
"Mawaka", Michael Arbon in "Star Gaza" &
"Long Legs". Craig McPhee who went on to be an Australian Champion
in "Marama", George Mayhew in "Mah-na-mah-na" &
"Adrea Pacifica", Wayne McNair
in "Ocker"
(Wayne was a very active committee man inc club secretary for a
number of years. Chris Nicholls, Doug Watson, Alf Goodwin in
"Runaway", Greg Danzic in "Mantis" and many others. These sailors
gained experience from these classes
in the best of fleet class racing and went on to greater
events. Ian Abbott in "Tsunami", an experienced heron sailor came
to teach at the high school
from Adelaide and later was a great supporter of the high school
sailing team.
With
the moths and herons introduced the new system was in.
It was normal to see 90 to a 100 boats sailing on the bay
on a weekend. The courses were kept in the north shore area so
family could participate by easily watching the races from the
Lincoln Highway (North Road). Keeping the town involved. Most
would come back to the club after the race finished. The
quarterly social parties & floor shows in the boat shed
downstairs are now a legend among the oldies. There
is nothing like them these days.
The
Port Lincoln Yacht club never looked back from this time. Over
the years new classes have been added and members have enjoyed
the club motto of "Fostering the love of the sea".
Like most things there are highs and lows.
It
is great to see the Sharpies are back in strength fifty years
on. They have survived all the constant changes and are as
always regarded as the Australian thoroughbred for excitement
and thrilling sailing competition if you are young & fit
enough. The Port Lincoln Yacht Club is proud of its Sharpie
fleet and all classes. Past & Present.
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The
Junior Class - Holdfast Trainers |
In the 1950’s at Glenelg and other Adelaide clubs members were
looking for a good junior class. They liked the eastern states
Sabot but it didn’t teach jib handling and only had one crew.
So the Adelaide team developed the Holdfast trainer from the
sabot . They added a jib and a bowsprit. Over the years it has
developed into the sophisticated and arguably best training
craft in Australia adding waterproof bulkheads and fibreglass
and alloy spars. Port Lincoln with other SA clubs
adopted them as the junior
class. Some outstanding sailors have come through the Holdies
Including Mick in
"Candy Dancer" & Neil Harvey in "Kurura
Junior", Paul Johnson,
Don Henson "Blue Wren", Liz Ettridge " Swift" ,Geoff
"Megga" Bascombe "Seagull", Graham Johnson
,Barbara Tucker, Barry Brady "Idler", Diedre
Turvey,"Thunderbird" sailed by David Lewis, "Trangie"
Andy Blessing, "Flite" A Hardcourt, "Thunderbird
3" G.Swann &
Steele Seeman & Paul Watson, "Avalon" Nathan Hood,
Craig Matena,Troy Polden & C.Osman, "Black Widow" Sam Bassham,
"Apollo" Tony Kay, "Circus" the fibreglass raffle
boat, (Michael Kammerman, "Johnathon Livingston" Travis Henson & later Josh
Roach & D Roach, "Cockatoo" Steven Kammerman,
"Short Circuit"
Shaun Woods, "Scraps" &" Offcut" Alex Haldane.
Others included "Ghost buster", "Another Chaos"
Anthony Roe, "Crazee" Stuart Roe, "Bubbles" Sally Abbott,
"Candy Dancer" Sam Abbott , "Microwave"
Paul Sheppherd. Other sailors included the Wahpole kids, Nicky & Rachel Bice and many others.
The
club developed sponsored club boats for those wishing to learn
but not sure and with Holdie Live ins (weekend introductions to
sailing where the parent came
and learned too) and mother duck. A person responsible for
helping coordinate all the new comers and parents. (Denise Manuel was the first Mother
Duck) Lincoln for a number of years had the largest fleet in SA
over 40 sailing
producing some of Australia’s top sailors.
The
class has had great support from families and grand parents and
sponsors like Geoff Bishop and David
& Sandra Forbes & Scott & Margaret Stenson
& Mike & Lesley Scarman, Rowans & Boat Supplies and
others. Many people have worked with the kids over the years
taking them to regattas, pick up duty etc. Ross & Carin
Haldane took the first sailing team to Adelaide around 1974.
"CHUGGA": Darcy's boat which kids for decades have known. Darc Harvey over
the years has gone
beyond the call of duty is Life member and former sailor. His
wife Verlie is also a life member. Their sons Neil & Mick
went through the club to become world sailors. Sailing in
Most major events including America’s cup & Admirals cup
regatta’s.
The
story of Chugga is a legend. The club decided to build a new
pick up boat in 1959. When it was finished
the committee decided it was to slow. So they raffled it
off. Member Darcy Harvey won it and from that time he has used
it voluntarily as the holdfast trainers
club pick up boats. For many years now he has been the
club holdies' start boat. Generations of sailors have enjoyed
& appreciated Chugga & Darc and his crew. "Chugga" turned
out to be a great pick up boat particularly during a northerly
storm one year that swept the holdies in around the main shipping wharf.
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Start
of Div I in 1970's.
Darc Harvey's "Chugga" the
start boat - (extreme right)
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Talking
of pick up boats. The Port Lincoln club has for many years had
some of the best
pick up boat facilities of any club in SA. This tradition has
followed on from the speedboats that
built the club. The club was called a yacht club not a
sailing club so that it could incorporate power boats. There is
a power officer on the committee and traditionally this person
has been in charge of the pick
up boat fleet. There are no longer any organised power boat
races.
Safety
has always come first in the club from junior training upwards.
The club has implemented aircraft searches in supporting storms
on the bay looking for holdies combined with pick up boats and
the keel boats .
The goal has been not to leave anyone in the water for too long
like Adelaide clubs do. The reason partly because while all of
Australia has sharks Port Lincoln is the home of the great white
pointer. While there is some frenzy in recent time about sharks.
They are not new. Have always been in the bay and it is arguable
that it may be safer now than some years ago. The Axel Stenross
Maritime Museum has shark details in its display for those
interested. There
is a lot more people and boats on the bay to see what is
happening these days.
Over
the years many families have used their private boats as pick up
boats and spectator boats followed their kids and the races. Its
nearly as good as watching Aussie Rules.
In
recent times fast new ocean going aluminium boats pick up boats
( Similar to Abalone boats ) have been added.
Dedicated (named) to life member club volunteers
including “ The Darcy Lloyd Harvey", "The Jack Offler",
"The Jack
Randall" & "The Wilson Hissey" who were all great supporters of
the club.
Over
the years Port Lincoln has had great support from yachting SA
coaches for their
live ins and other intermediate training. it is one of the
reasons the club
has had such strong
junior fleets. They have learned the challenge of how to sail
and are not scared. The essence of discovery , excitement
and achievement.. All the necessary qualities for future
leadership.
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The
Rainbow - Intermediate Class |
Great
care was taken by the club to choose a good reasonably priced
sailing dinghy which juniors and adults could move into on their
way up to Sharpies or ocean going keelboats.
The
Rainbow class was successful
for many years with early sailors like
Ross Haldane, Dean Palm, & Trevor Ettridge.
Barry Dorward won the first championship in 1962 –63
others included Ross Provis
in "Black Magic", R. Whillas in "Piranah",
Robin Hunt in "Odyssey", Anna Wahpole. Others to sale rainbows were the
Schramms, George Mayhue in "Fast glass". Daryl Freers & his
brother, the Goodes, Payzes, Ettridges, Forbes, Hensons, Kammerman’s and many more .
Paul Watson sailing "Bullet Proof" was
State & Australian Champion in the 1982/83 and caused
a bit of a stir with
state officials when some how the national rainbow banner ended
up in the Lincoln
yacht club bar with him and his father former Rear Commodore
John Watson. Grant Wiebrecht sailed "Stardust", Wade Henson had
"Warrior". Sally Abbot sailed "Mustang Sally" to name a few.
Many
of Australia’s top sailors came out of Rainbows.
Unfortunately
the class slowly died around Australia due to new developments
in class design and sailors changing attitudes.
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Click here for History
Part 2 |
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