Skiff Review – December 1948

Dec 1948, Skiff Review

From Seacraft Magazine December 1948.

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DOVIi

SKIFF REVIEW - C. S. RYRIE //J\N boats of all leading classes will be in full racing swing this month. Boxing Day this year will mark the beginning of the 1948-49 Australian Championship Carnival to be held in Sydney. The twelves and sixteens will hold their championships between Christmas and the New Year, and the Australian eighteen-footer championship will follow in January. The climax of the Carnival will be the world 18-footer title race set down for February. This is probably the first time that all four title races have been sailed in Sydney together. For the twelve footers this will be their twentyfirst Australian Championship. The first of the series was sailed in 1926 when Ben Roff of New South Wales took Schemer to Brisbane. The only other .entrant was Toby Wherat's Queensland boat Defiance. The latter won the championship which proved to be the first real promotional effort for the growth of the class. This year just on 100 skiffs from New South Wales alone, are taking part in the test races for the championship. Of these, only six will represent in the actual carnival. Test races will also decide the six representatives from Queensland. The present holder of the title is Brisbane boar. Dove, skippered by Len Johnstone, a cripple from Page 368

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birth. Len's win last year was probably the most popular in the history of the series, even among competing skippers. It was the blossoming of the fruits of a wonderful character who has never bowed down to adversity/ He is a fine skipper and a wonderful sport in every sense of the word. His victory last year showed that the twenty-two years old Dove still has plenty of form and that Len must rank as one of Australia's best small-craft helmsmen. There is every possibility that she may retain the title, although competition and keenness is even greater this year than last. Other Queensland boats which should be well to the fore are Vortex (G. Mitchell) and Resolve (W. Vaughan). Vortex, in particular, is regarded as a very fair "tip" for the blue ribbon. Sailed by 16-year-old ex-trainee skipper, Gerald Mitchell, this craft gained No. 1 representation this year by winning the first and second heats of the State title and test races. Resolve, who sailed so well to be runner-up in last year's championship, has changed hands from Kev. Martin to W. Vaughan. However, Resolve still appears to have a capable skipper and is No. 3 representative this year.

S E A C R A F T

December, 1948.