Alruth

Alf Beashel began his sailing as an eight-year-old bailer boy in his father Rocko Beashel's 16-footer skiff, and later sailed periodically in Golding, his father's 18-footer, from 1914 to 1925, when he had a 16-footer skiff built for himself. He built four 18-footers called Alruth, named after Alf and his wife Ruth, which he raced until 1962.

He made his greatest contribution to the sport as secretary of the NSW 18-footer League from 1935 until 1977, and Sailing Secretary from 1961. Alf retired prematurely from his draftsman's job at the Sydney County Council so he could put superannuation money into buying the site for the NSW 18-footer Sailing Club (now the League). He died in 1978.

In his memory, the Yachting Association of NSW fixed a buoy near the Sow and Pigs reef in Sydney Harbour. It is the windward rounding mark for the 18-footers northeasterly course and was named the Beashel Buoy. Alf was a life member of the League, and his father Rocko Beashel was a life member of Sydney Flying Squadron. Their grandson Colin represented Australia in sailing and was Australian Team Captain and Flag Bearer at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The replica is dedicated to, and was assisted by, the Beashel family. The plans for the replica boat were drawn up from the half model made by Ken Beashel. At the JJ Giltinan Trophy commemoration in January 2002, Ken Beashel took the helm of his father's replica Alruth with his son Adam standing in the bow, joined by Adam's girlfriend Lanee (now wife), Ken's other son Colin and his son Aaron. Ken's first apprentice Bill Fisher Jnr sailed one heat, Rod Zemanek one heat, and Bob Chapman and Will Morrison also sailed.