Under the decks many family members had written personal notes about their favourite AFL team and other notes intended to never see the light of day! Another story goes that the boat was near completion when Max realised, he had run out of materials for the centreboard. No problems for the creative Max and a quick visit to his mother’s (and Stuart’s Grandmother) house in Geelong and the removal of her bedroom door while she was out provided the necessary wood for the centreboard!

The first names that spring to mind when we think of Australian designers might be Lexcen, Paine, Bethwaite, Ward and Swanson, but perhaps Oughtred should also be near the top of this list given his profound influence at the grass roots of Australian sailing.

The Noosa Gaff Rig Regatta boats can be constructed of traditional or modern materials. This year we are expecting over 20 traditional Gaff rigged yachts of all shapes and sizes sailing on the beautiful Noosa river, which will created spectacular events to watch!

Back in the 1980s, Iain pioneered the concept of building traditional boats in epoxy-ply construction. His designs combine sweet lines with a meticulous attention to detail and a delightful drawing style. He achieved a lasting legacy, but always remained modest about his achievements.

If you have a classic dinghy (by the broadest of definitions) you are welcome and you are supported. Some of the boats are spectacular and some them look like they have been dragged of the rafters in the garage for the first time in forty years.

Just in case you enjoyed Part One, a reminder that part two is now out! In this episode they take delivery of a lovely piece of oak and make the keel. They also make the stem and put all together on the strongback and the GoPro starts to develop a mind of its own.

The latest edition of “Sailing La Vagabond” had 340,000 views in the first 24 hours, earning its creators around $7000 USD in addition to the income from blatant product spruiking, which make Lou Richards’ Bertocchi Ham promos look genuine. But they have 1.9 million subscribers… so my cynicism is rightly trampled under the feet of the madding crowd.

The Elwood Seahorse possibly originated as a response to the uncontrolled enthusiasm of some paddling canoeists of the day to hoist a sail or two for the odd impromptu bumping race on Port Phillip Bay.

Dinghy cruising is closely analogous to backpacking/wilderness hiking, especially in the fact that you are carrying your food, water, bedding and shelter with you-but stowed in the hull space of the dinghy—thereby leaving your back and shoulders unburdened.

The boat would be made at home by a boy and his dad and would be inexpensive to construct (in the 1930s the boat cost 5 pounds 7 shillings and sixpence, and the sails cost 3 pounds 5 shillings).

‘In the midst of a global pandemic, a young boy is given an extraordinary gift. AGRICOLA 7101 is an uplifting documentary focusing on a group of kind-hearted individuals who come together to rescue a long-neglected and rare classic Australian sailing dinghy - fundamentally changing the life of a young boy along the way.’

After years of building a dinghy collection, Tony now wants to develop a place to celebrate these boats, the people who built and sailed them and the Swan River environment itself.

Here’s the second part of our review of a terrific book Albert Park Yacht Club 150 Years on the Lake. We’ve picked out a few portraits and stories of people and boats that characterise a Rather special club.

There are two enticing small craft events on offer, both with a proven track record and within a fortnight and 60kms of each other.

Then throw into the mix a beautifully preserved Rainbow, a stunning diagonal planked Finn, an original Cherub, a few Minnows, a 145 (the bigger brother of the well know 125) a couple of cruising dinghies, a brace of Sabres and you’ve got yourself a regatta.

Summer is coming, lockdowns are ending…time to get out on the water one way or another. Based on the theory that the pleasure to be gained from a boat is inversely proportional to its length…. here are five classic little wooden boats, all under 5 meters long, and all currently on the market.

Len Heffernan was a champion 18ft skiff skipper, designer and boat builder of the 1950s and 60s, who changed the style of the Sydney 18 footers in the early 1960s, but never gets the recognition that he deserves.

A surreal year it certainly was, although, if you are going to be locked down, it might as well be in a cosy workshop with a pile of plywood to scarph and a roll of lovely Oughtred drawings. The reality of what a world pandemic meant hit home most when epoxy paint became unobtainable in the colour white.

Australian sailors have always respected their New Zealand neighbours. With a population of only 4.8m, NZ holds the America’s Cup, have long pedigree with both ocean racing and dinghy design and a healthy tradition of maintaining their yachting heritage.