Victorian Assoc History

 CopyofSaint1.JPG - large

A few photo’s from the mid 60’s .

 

The first is Saint skippered by John Graham with a very young Noel Sutcliffe up front taken 66-67 era (one wire in those days.)

 

The second photo is taken off a sketch by the late Jack Page (Pidgy) which depicts the result of a storm on Saturday arvo in December 67 just a couple of weeks before we all went to Sydney for the first Australian 14 World Title.

It was a combined National and World title at Manly in Sydney and the first championship I sailed in.

 

That storm which the sketch is based on went through with a front recorded at 70 knots (measured officially at Pt Lonsdale) hence everyone capsized.

Some 13 boats across various classes at Black Rock were smashed to pieces, but amazingly no one hurt. I was on V22 Burrana and we spent about 2 hours in the water holding on to the capsized boat to keep it laying down, while we washed ashore.

That sketch alone contains many stories about various colourful characters.

 

The third photo is the origin of the Big T, Ted’s first 14 which he rebuilt from the shell of an old 14 that his Uncle Lou Silbereisen had owned and crewing with Ted’s Dad Bert, and Bob Keely on the helm.

Despite popular opinion the T stood for Tumult the boat’s name not Ted.

PidgysSketch.JPG - large

 

14FootersoffMillPoin1.jpg
Vagrant.jpg
Vagrant
PASTAUSTRALIANCHAMPI1.JPG
Past Australian Champions

To follow is an excerpt from "On The Wire" Spring issue 1987:


Andy Bates of the US 14's had a bit of trouble coping with the hectic social life in Perth. Here is his guide for other novices:

To get a flavor of the party a glossary of terms is in order. There are many more, but I found these basic ones critical when discussing food, drink and races.

1. Carnival - A Regatta
2. Titles -The Aussie Nationals
3. Forward Hand - Crew
4. No breeze - 10 knots
5. Moderate breeze - 20 knots +
6. Heavy breeze - 30 knots +
7. Kite - Spinaker
8. Shy-kite - Single luff spinnaker
9. Dick - A 9 Ft bowsprit
10. Schooner - Large glass of beer
11. Piss - Beer
12. Pissed - Drunk
13. Stubby - A short fat bottle of beer
14. Tinny - A standard can of beer
15. Rubbish bin - A place for empty stubbies and a mixing pot for rum and coke
16. Root (ed) (ing) - Sex
17. Pooph-ta -Homosexual
18. Tea - Dinner

During the course of after sailing conversations some of the drinking and sailing terms were a little confusing at first.

"Let's have a few more schooners, get pissed and go and have some tea" or " we nose- dived before we retracted the dick and went for a swim". Say what!!

There are two organized parties, a Welcome Night and a final banquet.
After each race there was a keg and an informal party.
On two occasions these informal parties became serious drinking sessions.

I am now an official member of the Queensland Drinking Team (champions of this carnival) .
To find a winner of the parties first prize it would have been a dead heat between the Victorians (Melbourne) and the Queenslanders.

All of the people were extremely friendly and the host club, Perth Dinghy Sailing Club was very generous.

The fleet has its flakes, eccentric types, which gave it a character not unlike our class.
Interestingly enough the class is also in-bred like our class with brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, uncles and nephews and nieces involved.

I think it is because the class started at the turn of the century like our class. There are strong traditional ties.

Phil Hancock, the class Secretary corresponded with me and wrote me a " formal invite" which sprung me free of the Marines in Okinawa for the race.
I will be forever in his debt. He fixed me up with Tony and Anne Carr who housed me during my entire stay. They were really great hosts, showing me around and guiding me through all the parties.
Ann is a well known artist. She painted me a beautiful kangaroo and Joey (baby) on a T-Shirt for my wife Phillis.

There were may people who "looked after" me.
The union President (not a Pom) for the forward hands was quite a character.
Freddie has been sailing 14's since 1952 ( he claims).
He set me up in " The Book" a local handicapping system which I never quite understood but paid $2.00 into quite regularly, much to the amusement of the locals and myself.

History