YACHTS AND THEIR BUILDERS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21861, 14 August 1936, Page 16

YACHTS AND THEIR BUILDERS

EIGHT NEW BOATS FOR COMING SEASON SNIPE DESIGN PROVING POPULAR The introduction of an easily constructed design of boat and the reduction of building cost by the use of New Zealand timber have been responsible for the increasing number of amateur yachtsmen in Canterbury recently. Next season will see eight amateur owners of yachts begin sauing in craft of their own building in Christchurch, The boats are all of the famous Snipe class, the largest class of boats of one design in the world. The design was worked out, by Mr F. W. Crosby, editor of a yachting magazine ,and it is said to give exceptional sailing qualities for a boat of such small dimensions, 15 feet 6 inches in length, in any sort of weather. Several years ago the first boat of this design was built by Mr G. Andrews and later similar ones were constructed by Messrs T. Turner and T. R Green. Then Mr Arthur Penn introduced the use of New Zealand cedar, and with the consequent reduction in cost the building of this design has advanced apace, Mr Penn laid down the keel of his Snipe about three months ago and with only weekends to work in has all the frames and planking completed. Knees grown to the required shape naturally are used for most of the eight Snip© boats at present being constructed in Christchurch. In Mr Penn’s boat the stem is a natural crook of ngaio. Mr Turner, one of the original owners of this class of boat, has been superintending the building of several of these boats, and with Mr Penn has made a set of moulds, from the original plans, which greatly simplify building. „ . . . Other builders who have their boats well advanced are Messrs A. Akins, R. Ewart. W. Thomas, and S, O’Neil. Should all these boats be completed by the beginning of the yachting season, the races for this class will prove very interesting and exciting. The larger type of sailing boats is well represented 'in the new boats for the 1937' season. In the 30-footer class Is the boat at present being rigged at Redcliffs by the owner, Mr Hugh Coppin; this boat, which was built at Port Chalmers, is a sister ship of the Miranda, owned and sailed by Mr V. White. A very popular Continental boat, which is also in favour in Australian waters, is the international Sharpie, the first of which in New Zealand, is being built by Mr R. Christie, of New Brighton. These boats are 20 feet in length. - Although a good deal of pleasure can be gained in the possession of one of the larger yachts, for the average man with a limtied income, Snipe sailing is a good way to obtain both pleasure and experience at a very moderate cost.