MR. FRED. W. WILSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 21

MR. FRED. W. WILSON.

A GOOD YACHTSMAN PASSES. DATS OF THE MOANA. Mr. Frederick W. Wilson, one of Auckland s keenest yachtsmen of the older school, passed away on Monday. late Mr. Wilson, with his brother. Mr. \\. R. Wilson, owned and sailed yachts on the Waitemata and gu'.f for over 40 years. He was one of the oldest members of the lioya 1 New Zealand Yacht Squadron, ha ving joined the cltih in ]R!»2 when it was known as the Auckland Yacht Club, with the late Mr. John Wiseman, commo-

• lore. Mr. William Land, secretary, anil Mr. Hubert Keyuolds. treasurer. He served on the committee for many years, but. his innate dislike of any form of publicity would not allow him to accept any Jiighe'r office.

Mr. Wilson's first yacht, as far as "Speedwell" remembers, was the IM-l'ooter Isis, in which he cruised for a year or two with his brother and a few friends. Isis was a centreboard boat of the usual tvpe. and after selling her the brothers placed an order for a keel yacht with the late Mr. Hubert liOjtan, sen., of North Shore. Moana. as she was christened, was painted the regulation black topsides. with gold band and scroll at the bow, which was of the schooner type. Moana raced with varying success against Dr. Humphrey Haines' Xgairo. Mr. Benjamin's Mara tea. Mr. Tom Henderson's Kita. Mr. .1. Wiseman's Matangi. .Mr. A. Buchanan's Ariel, and others of lier day. When the Bros, started in business on the reclamation near the Kings wharf, the site now occupied by Messrs. J. J. Craig's lime yard, an order for a new Moana was placed with the firm. Moana I. was sold in Wellington and she is still going well, flying tlie ;lag of the Hovai I'ort Nicholson Yacht Club in all the club's races, under the name of Waiwlietu.

In the new Moana, the Wilson brothers raced more keenly and cruised further afield with added zest and pleasure on the annual summer cruise, which was never missed for over .10 years by Mr. l'red. who loved nothing so well as being awav North fishing and visiting the many places of interest to all yachtsmen. After a long spell in Moana, Mr. I'red Wilson retired from ownership, and the g,<od ship was sold to the late Mr. K. V. Miller, who appreciated her good qualities as much as her first owners had done.

Mr. W. It. Wilson then purchased Ariki. arid Mr. Fred frequently took part in a race, and went on his annual cruisc in her for a number of years, until his growing family and business responsibilities made stronger calls on his time. I„ater he had the pleasuie of teaching his only son, Scott Wilson, to sail a boat and all tliere is to it. Scott was an apt pupil, as he inherited a strung love for the sea. To keep his hand in and to enable Scott to become more proficient, Mr. Fred Wilson placed nil order with Mr. Arch I-ogan for an ISft ha assailing boat, which they could uv during the holidays at his cottage in Wailieke passage. Mr. designed just the right boat, now known as tiie M class, anil two were built, one for Mr. Fred, and the other for Mr. W. H. Wilson. Mr. Fred's boat was christened Mawhiti and his brother's boat Matarere.

Right from their first appearand these boats were admired by all yachtsmen and resulted in their being adopted as a special restricted class by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Mr. Logan's plans and specifications being -recognised as the standard, although the ciass was not in any way "one-design." From these two pioneers the present Meet of M class boats has grown, and they are now favourably known throughout the Dominion.

*r. Fred Wilson was one of th-» crew of Mawhifi. which his son sailed with success until three years ago. when she was sold to Mr. R. A. Thorpe, and an order placed for Mr. Scott Wilson's well known A class keel Yacht Tawera. of which lie and his father were justly proud.

After parting with Monnn, Mr. Fred Wilson spent a few seasons in the motor yacht Naomi, owned by a ft lend at Devon port, and later in tlie same friend's motor yacht Karoro. This gave him the opportunity of revisiting his favourite harbours and bays «if the North, and at the Barrier, where lie could indulge in his love for deep, water tisliing. Mr. Wilson being one of the pioneers of this sport.

lie will be missed by a large circle of friends and by nor.e more sincerely than those who had been associated with him in his yachting career, to whom he was known as a true blue yachtsman, and greatly respected for his sterling qualities.