Newsletter 7 April 2021
Recommends winter reading of Galloping Ghosts, Robin Elliott's history of Australasian 18 footers from 1890 to 1965, tracing the class from over canvassed dinghies to Len Heffernan's Aberdare and covering the origins of the Sydney Flying Squadron, the NSW 18 footers Sailing League and the Auckland clubs.
Galloping Ghosts… The Open Boat…
Is there a better way to spend the winter break?
Galloping Ghosts — Australasian 18-footers 1890 - 1965, by Robin Elliott
With every scrap aloft, carrying more sail than many larger keel yachts, and the crew driving her as fast as possible on the edge of control, no other yacht captures the attention quite like an 18-footer in full flight. This is as true today as it was over 100 years ago. From its origins in the 1890s as an over-canvassed, over-crewed 18-foot dinghy to the 7-man skiff types of the 1930s, and from the trapeze-driven moulded veneer creations of the 1950’s, to the carbon fibre flying machines of today, the 18-footer has retained its appeal for both sailor and spectator. Galloping ghosts tells the full story, from the controversial origins of the Sydney Flying Squadron, the NSW 18-footer’s Sailing League and the Auckland 18-footer Flying Squadron, the beam disputes with the Brisbane 18-footers Sailing Club, right up to Len Heffernan’s Aberdare of the mid-1960s. All the familiar names are there as well as the men who made them fly.
Robin Elliott with Grace Monkhouse and Coral Taylor at the launch of ‘Galloping Ghosts’ © Ds Pearson
Over 100 people attended the book launch at the Sydney Flying Squadron on 12 March 2012. Robin Elliott dedicated the book to 18 foot skiff legend, Cliff Monkhouse and Grant Taylor who was involved with the SFS and skiff racing for many years. Both are sadly, no longer with us, Cliff passed away in 2005 and Grant in 2006, but their wives Grace and Coral respectively, were there to support the book launch.
Read original article here: Yachtsandyachting.com
The Open Boat — The Origin, Evolution and Construction of The Australian 18-footer
Ian Hugh Smith (SFS Life Member and owner/skipper of Britannia)
For over 100 years the Aussie 18-footer was the dominant Open Boat racing class on Sydney Harbour, the Brisbane River, many ports up and down the NSW and Queensland coasts and in the early days, Perth.
But where did they come from?
Folklore tells us that they evolved out of working boats, but did they?
In an extensively researched presentation, boatbuilder and sailor Ian Hugh Smith traces the origin of the eighteen-footer in the nineteenth century and provides the answers to those questions.
Check out the merchandise stand in the SFS office today
Price list:
Jerseys $60
Polos $40
Caps $20
Burgees $30
Book list:
The Open Boat $49.95
Galloping Ghosts $49.95
The Life and Loves of Mark Foy $34.99
Setting Sail for the Great War $49.95
Follow the Sydney Flying Squadron at FaceBook and Instagram
Don’t forget to support your local community club.
See you at the Squaddie!
Sydney Flying Squadron Ltd — Australia’s oldest open boat sailing club. 76 McDougall St Kirribilli NSW 2061
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