From clinch, a Germanic word, meaning “to fasten together”
The 2024 Clinker Cup Report by James Woods
Photography and film by Emma Phillips
I have had a pretty arduous couple weeks at work through February and March. Not a bad type of arduous. But with a little bit more work coming in than the business could comfortably handle, there was training of new staff and all hands to the pumps for the older ones - including this correspondent. In the week or two before the Easter break, we had adapted to the new conditions and I was hearing the Little River Band’s “Cool Change” in my head and thinking ocean.
My plans were crystallised when a timely email arrived from Emma Phillips of The Wooden Boatshop reminding me that the Clinker Cup was again to be held on Good Friday.
Readers of SWS may know me as the custodian of Margaret Pearl, the restored Tasmanian crayfishing vessel repurposed as an adventure cruiser. But I also have custody of Beverly, a 17 foot version of the Ian Oughtred designed Acorn 15 built in epoxy-glued plywood by Rob McIntyre in 2020 – 21. Beverly is the perfect counterpoint to Margaret Pearl – no complexity and powered entirely by humans or nature.
After a couple of months of serious office time, the simplicity of an afternoon on the beach with Beverly and her traditionally built cousins was a powerful attraction.
Emma is the daughter of Tim and Sally Phillips is the driving forces behind The Wooden Boat Shop and, along with her brothers Will and Sam, work in the family business and have inherited their parents’ passion for all things maritime.
Emma convened the Clinker Cup a few years ago as an annual get-together for clinker dinghies and their owners. With the help of Chris Johnson, who wrangles most of the dinghies, it’s become an annual easter gathering. I've been fortunate enough to attend most of them.
Its a very low key event held on the beach at Sorrento to the west of the launching ramp. It's more of a family gathering, based around the extended Wooden Boatshop family. The Phillips boat shed opens onto the beach providing a vantage point and shade to keep the ice boxes cool. The dinghies are rowed or sailed and anchored ready for the rowing and sailing races later in the day.
The collection of little vessels was varied with Chris Johnson having one at each end of the spectrum. Elisabeth Claire has been meticulously restored and maintained but Frostbite had her first outing after four or five years in the shed awaiting Chris to start her restoration. The rig went in and the old bermudan main was hoisted whilst a large 12 V battery and bilge pump kept Frostbite afloat.
With a magnificent warm afternoon unfolding, I stood for a few hours on the beach and in thigh deep water catching up with old friends and talking about boats and life. It didn't take too long for the sea and sand to absorb the pressures of corporate life. I felt like the athlete recovering the day after the game with the natural elements draining the remnants of business activity in the same way cold water does with lactic acid.
It was a delightfully lazy afternoon. The scheduled rowing race that did not eventuate. Beverly has a distinct advantage in this competition with her lighter weight construction and extended water line length. (Click to enlarge)
But at around 4:30 PM, the dead calm was broken by a 10 knot sea breeze from the south-east and boats were quickly rigged for the sailing race.
An old school course was set - a broad reach to the old boiler wreck, beat to the red stick and back to the beach. There were no flags or sound signals for the start. Just the call of Go! as we jumped into the boats and got underway. Most boats were sailed one up but Bob Lachal and Anthony Johnson combined in Elisabeth Claire and the Parr family in Minnie. Beverly’s straight line speed took her first to the old boiler wreck but she was quickly overtaken on the upwind leg by smaller boats more efficiently rigged and better sailed. Thanks to all the competitors for 30 minutes of excellent fun. The winners were Wayne, Melinda and four and a half year old Orion in Minnie.
But the standout for the day was Chris Johnson in Frostbite’s first outing. Chris sailed and bailed - at equally high levels – throughout the race. If his wood working skills are applied to the same level in the restoration, Frostbite will be a cracker.
All strength to Emma’s arm for organising the Clinker Cup. It put the good into Good Friday for me.