Flotsam & Jetsam 19.9.25
A round up of the news from this week.
Designing MATILDA
Your editor was particularly chuffed to receive this week, a comment from the designer of our S&S Swan 47. It’s not often that you get to have personal contact with the person who actually drew your boat!.
Scott Kauffman writes in response to last week’s story…
Many years ago in 1974 when I worked for S&S I was assigned the job of designing a new boat for Swan. It was this boat. Luckily my desk was next to the magnificent designer Mario Taraboccia who fortunately liked me.
He is best known for designing Courageous and Love and War at S&S among many other beautiful designs. He had a magnificent eye. If you are at the lower bar at the CYC with the lines plan for Love and War in the background above the bar, look to the right title block and you can see his M over T insignia. Mario kindly leaned across and offered advice. Originally I had made the center of the boat very much an IOR section with a flat section above the keel. When Olin reviewed the design he felt it was too radical and we went back to a more Vee section. All this a long time ago!!Scott Kaufman
Scott Kaufman Yachts
62 Cooper Square
New York NY 10003
Scott is now preparing for another tilt at the World Etchells Championship in San Diego, following his 5th in Brighton, Victoria, earlier this year.
FALCON 3 Update.
Following this article, we received an update from Tony Jones at the active and inspiring “Swan River Dinghies”
Good evening to all supporters and donors,
Just to let you know, substantial progress has been made on Falcon 3 latest being the completion of the undercoat having done many hours of fairing and filling.
I would like to currently acknowledge the work being done on Falcon three by Matt Dickmann, Chris Binks and Alan Anderson. Russell Stephenson is also putting in a lot of time completing a full comprehensive inventory of all the boats as much information as we can gather.
We could still do with some more voluntary work. There are always. small jobs to do
One idea to adopt a boat and take it home and work on is something I'd like to pursue. If anyone has a workshop or garage we can supply all the paint abrasives could be a good project for the right person.
Chris Pratt has done such a job on his Finn matchbox. It should be spectacular and is going to be launched sometime soon.
We have also recently had 2 very nice Pelicans delivered donated by Rob Whetters they came with all their gear in beautiful condition.
Once again, thanks to all the donors and supporters keep spreading the word. I have a meeting coming up with the Minister for Arts and Heritage to put a case to help with finding us a more permanent venue by the river.
Best wishes
Tony
For more infomation or to get involved contact Tony Jones
What’s the World’s Largest Nautical Event?
Bit of a vague question but Sail Amsterdam reckon they have got the record. And judging by the photographs it would be hard to argue!
The first SAIL event was first held in 1975 and this year's edition which took place in August coincided with Amsterdam's 750th birthday.
Hundreds of historic ships from all over the world left the North Sea coastal town of IJmuiden to begin their journey up the North Sea Canal and into Amsterdam's IJ waterway today. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and held its first edition in 1975 to celebrate Amsterdam's 700th anniversary.
This year was SAIL’s 10th edition and their first in a decade. It is held every five years but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020’s edition was cancelled.
Making this year’s edition even more special is SAIL’s festivities coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th birthday.
As pictured above, puffs of orange smoke erupted into the sky and ships' horns sounded as the replica three-masted clipper Stad Amsterdam passed through a lock to mark the official start of the event.
Each visiting vessel is greeted with two cannon shots and its country's national anthem as it enters the harbour.
Good Photos of Boats!
Gerard and Zak on Gipsy CK 79 built 1930 by Chrissie Westgate
National Historic Ships UK Photography Exhibition has released a short list of entries for this years competition. They make a refreshing change form the high octane offerings presented in the Pantaenius/Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image competitions.
View the full selection HERE
For 2025, the exhibition has moved to a striking new venue - 3 Slip, a vast timber structure built in 1838 and once the largest of its kind in Europe. Designed by shipwright Sir Robert Seppings, it features a dramatic cantilever roof and a unique curved ‘apse’ created to house a ship’s bow. Today, 3 Slip is home to objects from the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Royal Engineers Museum, and Imperial War Museum, and now, the NHS-UK Photography Exhibition. The exhibition runs from 30 August to 16 November 2025.
Cup Regatta Entries
Peter Costolloe from the CYAA writes…
Here's the link to start your entry into this event.
This link also provides a list of which classic yachts have entered so far. There will be invitational racing on Friday.followed by two Regatta races on Saturday and One on Sunday. i The Cup Regatta social program kicks off with our welcome function at Ferdi Daleys shed. A big paella organised by the Mercedes IV team will feature. The link to set up your booking for this event will be published soon. The social side continues with post race story telling each day at RYCV, a dinner at RYCV on the Saturday evening and our presentation function post race on Sunday. The Perpetual Cup Regatta trophies being competed for are: The Col Bandy trophy for performing boat of the regatta to recognise our late and great mate. Tony Blake trophy for best performing boat over the two CYAA series on Port Phillip and e Cup Regatta. 3 days of classic yacht racing and socials Trophies based on performances during Cup Regatta events as determined by to your Cup Regatta committee and announced later. Yes, your handicapper will be adding to this trophy list. On water action is to be recorded using both still and drone photography. Logistics are being sorted out to display these images post race on each day. The big challenge for our post race socials is to help our RMYS based people hold over their return to RMYS after each day racing. Here’s a call out to those who want to be on the water with our Cup Regatta fleet. Tim Phillips is bringing his Storm Bay up to be part of the Cup Regatta. He’s after a willing crew to help put her through her paces. Let’s know if your up to it.
Double Ended KANANGRA
Those following the progress of TOROA in SWS over the last couple of years, might be interested in a tour that the Sydney Heritage Fleet is offering an oppertunity to explore the restoration work of the last Sydney's double-ended ferry KANANGRA on Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Tickets Here)
KANANGRA is the last surviving example of Sydney’s once-iconic K Class double-ended ferries, a fleet that played a central role in transporting thousands of passengers across Sydney Harbour during the early to mid-20th century. Built in 1912 by Morrison & Sinclair, Kanangra could carry more than 1,000 passengers and was renowned for her robust timber construction, wide decks, and elegant proportions. Like her sister ships, she was designed to operate efficiently in both directions without the need to turn around, a key feature for the busy harbour routes. After decades of service, KANANGRA was retired in 1985 and is now being preserved by the Sydney Heritage Fleet.