Yachts The Ilk Of which I Most Adore
Last week’s article “Including GRP Icons” spawned a rash of comments and emails… most of them showing admiration for early fibreglass designs. The wonderful story below comes from John Hall, and typifies much of the sentiment!
CHECKMATE-The Compass 38 that circumnavigated
It rankles me that so much of sailing in this moment is about the latest, greatest, most plush and best looking design - when in reality, so much of what makes a yacht sea-worthy and sea-kindly is forgotten.
I love classic designs like those mentioned in your “GRP Icons” article. I grew up sailing on my father’s boats - the first I remember being his “Tophat” - TANIA IV which he ended up selling to a couple who became close family friends and who I cruised with to the ‘Prom with their Labrador Zeik. I was in my teens then - can you imagine three adults and a large dog in the confined space of a Tophat? But we had a fantastic trip, even sailing into Port Albert our family friend’s hometown - what a welcome!
Tophat Lines
Dad then commissioned an Endeavour 30 - which we raced across Bass Strait in the Devonport Race. I remember trying to sleep in the forward berth and being “squeezed” as the bow flexed - rather frighteningly as they were built to be very light - perhaps too light, as much strengthening was needed before the next trip in rough weather.
Endeavour 30 Lines
We then went to a Compass 38 which was a magnificent example of a well built, very seaworthy yacht. We sailed CHECKMATE up to the Whitsundays before the Whitsundays became “THE Whitsundays”! Checkmate then went on under her new owner to circumnavigate the globe - on the original mainsail! I last saw her in Sydney in 2016, looking a little forlorn, but still in sailing shape. Before that, I saw her in Coff’s Harbour looking very sad.
Compass 38 Lines
Checkmate at Mornington pier after her delivery home from Middle Harbour circa 1976
My boats after dinghies started with a Southern Cross 23 trailer sailer called RUFENUF which I owned at the time Dad and I both sailed out of Mornington YC. I once upset him when finishing in the Mornington to Geelong race one year, several hours behind only to knock Checkmate off the podium. It was a rough race, and I recall baling out at least 50 bucketfuls from Rufenuf’s cabin! Lucky we didn’t sink.
Since then I have had several keel boats from an S80, to a Eureka 30, a Ross 31, and Dufour 44 which we cruised extensively on the east coast of Australia as far north as Bowen. We lived aboard the 44 for about 12 months - a fantastic experience.
I traded the Dufour for an Inglis/Jones 40 built by Mal Hart - and raced ARCH RIVAL (ex ROUSEABOUT 3) successfully across Bass Strait in the Melbourne to Launceston race, and other crossings and had one of the most exhilarating return journeys in 30-35 knots, planing at 15 - 20+ knots with two tucks and a No. 4 - what a ride until the steering decided to unravel - literally, and if not for my eldest son spending what seemed like several hours under the cockpit re-threading and tightening the strops, we’d probably still be out there!
Inglis/Jones 40-ARCH RIVAL
After I sold ARCH RIVAL my next boat was a Zeston 40. What a revelation! Imagine being able to sail through 30+ knots, warm and dry in the Pilothouse and arrive in shorts and T-shirt, when other boats have been out in the weather, steering all night, wet and cold!
And sailing into any sort of seaway, the lack of pounding, slapping, banging and awkward motion of driving a “fat and flat” bow designed for comfort, not sea-kindliness through the slop, compared with the deep and fine entry of a well designed hull bears no comparison.
Joe Adams designed the Zeston 40 - and it is a classic crossover yacht which is suited to offshore passage making and cruising, but is still competitive inshore, even on ratings handicaps.
Zeston 40 WINGARA
Having raced and cruised extensively, give me a classic yacht any day over a fat glossy plastic fantastic!
I was interested to read that there is now a company turning TP 52’s into Pilothouse fast cruisers. The concept is good - but I wonder if they too will slap and bang in a head on sea - time will tell?
Having moved on from the Zeston 40, I now own her little sister, the Zeston 36. What another great example of a well designed, sea-kindly efficient passage making yacht. Of course she is also a Pilothouse, from the Adams-Radford design board. The ‘36 sails better than the ‘40 - and is just as sure footed and “quiet” in a rough sea.
I guess my point is that modern “racing” doesn’t cater for yachts the ilk of which I most adore! There should be a “classic” division in all major offshore races, so that yachts designed 40 years ago or more can show their stuff!
How could you not admire this?
They say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”