ENDEAVOUR’S CREW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 24 September 1934, Page 9

ENDEAVOUR’S CREW

experiences prior to de. PARTURE EOR AMERICA Writing in “The Yachtsman’’ in July last Arthur Lamsley described the strike in the Endeavour’s crew, and guick replacement by an amateur crew, just prior to her departure from England. Whilst Mr T. O'. M. Sopwith, owner of Endeavour, is naturally concerned at the dramatic behaviour of the major portion of his crew, he is quite unperturbed as to the result of their action. The strikers’ places will be taken by young amateur yachtsmen, all of whom will be especially chosen for their general efficiency and experience in crewing a racing yacht, and for their physical fitness. Mr Sopwith could find a dozen amateur crews in a few days. Both Mr Charles Nicholson _and Captain Williams assured ms this morning that the crew’s action will not affect £;e departure of the yacht materially, except for perhaps a day or two’s delay whilst fitting more interior accommodation for the comfort of th 6 young amateur crew. In a talk I had with Mr Charles Nicholson, he treated the matter with good humour, and said “the work of preparation, with the exception of a few modifications, would be completed to scheduled time, and the Challenger will sail for the United States with the good wishes of England behuid her during the coming week-end. The trouble would not be in re-placing the crew-with efficient young amateurs, but with’ the final selection from such an amazing number of applicants, I visited the yacht yard where Endeavour is dry-slipped for inspection of her under-water body and for the removal of her centre-board. Artisans are working night and day to prepare the yacht for sailing on Saturday or Sunday next. Captain Williams and the loyal members of the crew are also working very long hours re-rigging Endeavour. The cause of the trouble was the wage clause in a. new contract which the men wei'e asked to sign for tlie period of the America's Cup con test, which is approximately twelve weeks. The men were offered, by Mr Sopwith, ten shillings extra above the weekly £2 14s they receive for English racing, together with free food, and special prize money at the rate of £3O per man if the America’s Cup were won, and £ls each if lost. Mr Sopwith also made a sporting alternative of £SO per man if the Cup were won, but no prize money if it were lost.- The ciew refused this contract and presented Mr Sopwith with what amounted to an ultimatum of their wage and prizte money demands. They wantec, £1 per week" additional to the £2 14s now re-

ceived, £1 5s weekly food allowance, and £SO each if the Cup were won, and £25 if it were lost. iMr Sopwith was unable to accept these terms a nd told the men to think it over. They pi*esented a new demand of eighteen shillings weekly instead of a pound, saying they were willing to accept a ten per cent. cut. These terms, so little different from the crew’s original demand were equally unacceptable. Their behaviour in leaving the ship at such a critical time is inexcusable, and shows a lack of imagination and loyalty to responsibility on their part, especially on the face of the wages offer by Mr Sopwith, which upon examination seems to be extremely fair, especially as it provides a ere // with an extra two months’ work at a guarantee of £5 10s per week if they lost, and £6 10s per week if they won, or as a sporting alternative, £4 9s per week if they lost or £8 per week if they won. When one considers that the average wage, including prize money, for the English season works out to approximately £3 6s per week, Mr Sopwith’s offer, apart from its sportsmanship, seems to be economic and adequate. Mr Sopwith gave the disgruntled elements in the crew till noon on Sunday to decide, telling them before taking any definite action they had better sleep on it. Some of the men reconsidered and accepted the contract before noon. The majority of the crew, however, held to their demand, but as an act of grace, Captain Williams would have been willing to sign them on up to four p.m. on Sunday The men were still adamant, however. so Mr Sopwith decided to replace them with amateurs. This decision a few years ago would have made it impossible for Endeavour to sail, as professional yachtsmen had a monopoly, but during the last seven years the sport of yachting and yacht racing has become so popular that Mr Sopwith will not only have an opportunity of choosing the rest of his crew from hundreds of capable young Corinthian yachtsmen, but will also experience a great deal of trouble in having to refuse the services of the sporting offers of amateur yachtsmen pouring in from all over the country. In support of this contention it should be stated that whereas a few years ago there were professional skippers at the holm of all the big racing yachts, to-dav we have six out of seven of the “J ’ Class yachts helmed by amateurs as also are the vast majority of yachts in the small classes. In fact, no paid hand is now allowed to touch the helm of any of the smaller class racing yachts after‘the ten minutes’ warning gun. Mr Charles Nicholson told me that since the action of the crew has been made public, he has had dozens of tele-

grams -and telephone calls, and many people have called in person at his yacht yard. I met some of the latter this morning. With a second night’s sleep, a number of the crew repented this morning and intimated to Captain Williams their re-consideration of the contract, but it was too late. Mr Sopwith was communicated with by telephone, but intimated his decision of Sunday was final. The position at pi esent is that fourteen places in Endeavour’s crew will be filled by amateurs. Mr C. R. Fairy, owner of Shamrock, and an air-craft manufacturer like Mr Sopwith, has visited Endeavour’s owner and offered Mr Sopwith any of the crew of his own yacht if he cared to take them. Already lie has trained this season three young university men in Shamrock—Messi’3 Broadman, de Quincey, and Bellville—who will probably now join Endeavour. Mr Nicholson assures me, however, that the final selection will not be made until Wednesday. Already Mr Sopwith has been ably supported by two amateurs in Endeavour throughout the season: MiFrank Murdock, who has been responsible for tuning up all the scientific equipment, and Mr'Gerald Penny, brother of Sir George Penny, M.P., who has been responsible for training the crew, and could be relied upon to train a crew of amateurs, all expert [young yachtsmen, to crew Endeavour. Besides these two amateurs, and Captain Williams, seven of the crew have resigned. They are: W. Day, Mate; J. Diaper, Second .Mate; R. Frost, J. Haste, Stewards; J. Caller, Boatswain; and two able seamen, J. Taw and T. Kenneth. Captain James Blair, who has been acting as Mate since Endeavour was launched, is also leaving the yacht, but his departure has nothing at all to do with the strike. Mr Sopwith has relieved him of his appointment for purely personal reasons, and generously paid him up to the end of the English racing season.