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Take monthly with water February 2004 5

lettersIf you have something to say write to us at:

P.O. Box 709Willoughby. 2068.

or e-mail: [email protected][Please keep your letters short. Letters longer than 250

words are liable to sub-editing at the Editor’s discretion.]

Got Somethingto Say?

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Stepping up to safetyThe term ‘Panic Bag’ seems to contrast adversely with

the controlled and orderly disembarkation which should bemanifest should an ‘abandon ship’ situation occur.

Perhaps ‘Survival Kit’ with its connotation of safety andrescue would be a more appropriate appellation for this unit.

While its contents would be the skipper’s and crew’sselection, a multi-purpose folding knife and waterprooftorch would be useful adjuncts to the mandatory EPIRB andFirst Aid kit.

As a last resort step UP into the liferaft.Peter Luke,

Port Stephens.

Sail training –Rip van Winkle wakes up

Letters in Afloat 2002 (May & July) were about theAustralian Yachting Federation’s (AYF) – now called YachtingAustralia (YA) – lack of support at the grass roots club level.Last month’s Editor’s Column warns of “Rumbling in ClubRanks”.

I have woken up and nothing has changed. The editor’scomments are spot on!

In 1979, YA set up the National Training Schemes. Theschemes have been successful.

In 2002, YA decided to replace the schemes withvocational (i.e. for employment) courses, approved by theAustralian National Training Authority (ANTA). The stateMember Yachting Associations (MYA) approved. The MYAagreement was based on misunderstanding ANTArequirements. The Yachting Association of NSW (nowYachting NSW) agreed to the proposal on the proviso thatthe existing schemes run alongside the vocational schemes.

In reality this has been ignored by YA.Training centres have until February 2004 to sign a new

agreement or they will lose their insurance cover. Theproposed schemes are not suitable for attracting people intorecreational sailing. In particular, a dinghy scheme written

for vocational purposes, its administration and costs are notacceptable for training school-age children.

Despite objections, little has been achieved. The onlyconcession is that instructors do not need a full CertificateIV vocational training qualification! Questions to YA aboutmarket research (if any) and reasons for adopting a vocationalscheme have been ignored.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) have visitedAustralia and signed up training centres dissatisfied with thenew system. YA has been silent on this intervention inAustralian sail training.

Is it too late for dialogue? Is it time to sleep again, orchange into Jack and cut down the horrible giant in the beanstork?

Don Gillies,[email protected]

6 AFLOAT.com.au February 2004

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River Class Frigates (or Sloops)?I was particularly interested in the review in December

Afloat of Vince Fazio’s book about the River Class Frigates.My very first trip to sea was aboard the Barcoo in 1951.My memory may have faltered a bit since those days but

I am pretty sure that those ships were classed as ‘sloops’ atthe time and it was soon after that they were then designatedas frigates.

Lloyd Cropper,Corlette.

The Devil seamI was reading Alan Lucas’s article concerning the Devil

seam in November Afloat and offer the following commentsfor what they are worth.

According to my late and lamented grandfather GilbertForce*, who went before the mast at the tender age of 15,the expression “betwixt the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”simply meant “below deck”.

Later on and particularly among lubbery types it took ona more sinister connotation in that it referred to a difficultsituation.

As to the devil seam itself, it was definitely not thegarboard strake seam. It was a deck seam. If I understood hisexplanation correctly it was a seam that existed betweendeck beams and planks. It was usually not so much caulkedas stuffed to alleviate movement of planks loosened by theship’s flexing. Such movement was liable to disturb the deckcaulking.

In order to stuff the tiny gap it was necessary to take upa semi pre-natal stance in the darkness and awkwardness oflow deckheads in order to drive in the stuffing/caulkingmaterial. It was regarded as the very ‘devil’ of a job becauseof the awkwardness of the stance, the darkness and themovement of the vessel.

I recall him making the point that this seam existed notonly on sailing ships but on early naval ships that werewooden-decked. I also seem to recall that he informed methat on some ships there was a sister watertight seambetween bulkhead and deckhead in liquid storage/ballastholds.

*My grandfather Gilbert ‘George’ Force was a Devonshireman and quoit naturally spoke loik Long John Zilver (az dooi when oi’ve a moind to). Oi allus reckon ’e mizzed a goldenopportuni’y whun ’e failed ’a name moy mother Gail. Oi’llbet ’ee thinkz zo too.

Ron Jacobs,Melbourne.

Darkie GriffinI well remember working with Harold (Darkie) Griffin.In 1932 when I began boatbuilding with father Lars at his

Neutral Bay boatshed, Darkie was already there. It was in themiddle of the Great Depression.

Darkie was an exceptional tradesman, with his ownworkbench. My first duties were to clear shavings on thefloor to feed the boiler for the steam boxes. He would not letme clear his pile of shavings until his work was finished forthe day. It was his measure for the boss to see his day’soutput at the bench. He was very proud of his success as aforward hand – in 16s as I recall.

An example of Darkie’s fine workmanship can be seenon a wall at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. He made thescale half-model of the Colin Archer type yacht designedand built by Lars Halvorsen in 1935. The model is in two-tone timber.

During World War II, Darkie was prominent in Fairmileconstruction at the Green Point Naval Boatyard, managedby Concrete Constructions at Mortlake.

Magnus Halvorsen,Hornsby.


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Dates: Saturday & Sunday 13 & 14 March 2004

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Where: Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Drive,

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Entry: $10 Adults

$5 Child 16 and under (Under 5 free)

$25 Family (2 adults & up to 3 children)

The Rosehill Gardens Boat Show is perfect for the trailerboat enthusiast. With new and quality used boats at endof summer clearance prices it is bound to impress. If youwant to benefit from post-season reductions, this is the show for you.

The Griffin familyI have read with interest the many letters and articles in

Afloat regarding my family the Griffins, and I would like tomake a couple of corrections.

My father Harold H. (Darkie) Griffin served hisapprenticeship as a boatbuilder with Mr Sandeman at hisyard in Careening Cove – not at Lars Halvorsen as suggested.He did work for the Halvorsens on a number of occasions,and had a high opinion of the family particularly old Mr LarsHalvorsen.

In 1928-29, as a family, we did live at the Griffin’s BoatShed at The Spit when he was asked by my uncles, Georgeand Gerald (also known as Joe), to build with their help thefirst of the yachts Valiant and Sea Gypsy. This enabled themto start their yacht hire business. My father and his brother-in-law Andy Riddell were the only boat builders in the familyat the time. Uncle George and uncle ‘Joe’ Gerald laterbecame proficient at designing and building their ownyachts.

It was in 1929 while at The Spit Boat Shed that my fatherdesigned and built the 16ft skiff Rival for Wal and Sid Atkins.This craft is on display in the Marine Heritage Museum inDarling Harbour.

My brother John served his apprenticeship also inCareening Cove but with Mr Harry Pritchard.

Harold G. Griffin(also known as ‘Joe’ in the boatbuilding industry),

Turramurra.

The Ackroyd-Bosch-Verkspoorengine

The article by Greg Ross on diesel engines in DecemberAfloat was lucid and informative but I would like to put in mytuppence worth and fly a flag for the UK.

Although the name of Dr Rudolph Diesel has been givento this type of engine he did not invent it.

He was experimenting using pulverized coal as fuel, withdisastrous result. One of his engines exploded killing alaboratory assistant.

Henry Stuart Ackroyd, an Englishman was first out of theblocks with a Compression Ignition engine running on oilfuel in the late 1880s.

Priestman Engines, Hull, Yorkshire produced an enginethat in 1891 was subjected to a series of tests using differentfuels by the Institute of Civil Engineers. Ackroyd, Priestman,Crossley and several other engines in 1894, were subjectedto various tests at Cambridge University.

In all these tests the mechanical efficiency was in therange 80/90%. Granted these engines were of low HP 5-9and slow running averaging around 250rpm. These enginesworked on an air blast injection system with a vaporisingchamber and were air started, and the vaporising chamberhad to be pre-heated.

This extra equipment was bulky and the engines wereonly suitable for industrial and marine use. Engines of thistype were still in use in 1950s in very large sea-going ships.

All the development that made the diesel engine suitablefor traction work was not the idea or work of Rudolph alone.

Robert Bosch gave it quite a boost when he produced hissolid state fuel pump/injector system. The German


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Engineering Company, MAN, also had a hand in developmentalthough I don’t know in which area.

Over the years other developments have come along;the Ricardo air cell cylinder head (good for economy, notgood for starting); self-contained fuel injection pumps (earlierones had adjustable spill timing); Verkspoor two-strokeexhaust gas scavenging (not widely used), Kadenecy (Ithink that’s the spelling); blown two-stroke with timedexhaust valves.

All of these have developed into the modern high speeddiesel engine.

I reckon it should be called the Tom, Dick and Harryengine. Poor old Rudolph never saw much of thisdevelopment, he was lost at sea in 1913.

Fred Marsden,Woy Woy.

Rego double dippingWhy must we register twice?When I bought my boat it was registered in Qld.I brought it to NSW and because I wanted to put it on my

mooring I had to register it with Waterways NSW. I got norefund on cancelling the Qld rego.

Then when I wanted to sail to PNG and back I had to haveit certified (at considerable trouble and expense) andregistered as an Australian Ship.

I found that there was no refund from NSW as theAustralian registration is a proper registration whereas thestate registration (in each state) is merely a revenue raisingexercise.

Australian rego is a one-off exercise with a one-offpayment. State rego is an annual payment for absolutely nobenefit! My understanding is that an Australian RegisteredShip on a commercial mooring (very expensive) does notneed state rego as long as the “home port” is in another state

PSSST! Want a good rigger?I found a ripper in Sydney who gave up his holiday time

over the Christmas period to renew a broken halyard. It wasall done with a happy smile and away we sailed on our ownholiday with hardly a hiccup.

Want more info? Call me on 9643 8000 or [email protected].

John Ferris,Roseville Chase.


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March 5, 6 & 7thSydney Rozelle BaySuperYacht Marina,

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Sharing Sydney HarbourFestival

5th March – 14th March 2004What’s on:

but if a cheaper private mooring is to be used, then the vesselmust have state rego in the same state as the mooring.

The situation is much the same in Qld as in NSW.Recently an Australian Registered Ship with Brisbane ashome port but with NSW state rego, was in Qld waters andwas charged with failing to register in Qld. Qld wants us topay four times, Aus + NSW + fine + Qld rego.

As far as the rest of the world is concerned Australia isone country.

NSW or Qld rego is of no value on the high seas.Australian Registered Ships should not be subject to states’internal petty revenue raising measures.

Paul Nudd,<[email protected]>

Pavane’s steering was one half of the cast aluminiumbracket holding the portside cable pulley, leaving Pavane’swheel to freely spin.

Weighing up my options as to what I should do, the firstthing was to furl the headsail given the fairly blusteryconditions, but in the process the boat turned around andstarted heading out to sea! I thought, therefore, I should atleast put out a call on the radio before considering furtheroptions.

I wasn’t sure whether I should put out a Mayday or at leasta Pan Pan, but I decided just to make a regular call to SydneyCoast Guard on VHF Channel 16, having heard their weatherreport not long before and figured that they would belistening – and the rocks of South Head were still a little wayaway.

It just so happened that I was in a poor reception area. Idid manage to get through with some difficulty and wasadvised to call the Water Police on my mobile. Whilstcontemplating whether this would help my immediatesituation, I decided that the best thing to do was to attractattention from any passing boats so I could be towed tosafety. Luckily a dive boat, Scuberoo was just returning froma trip and stopped and threw me a line and was able to towme to Rose Bay, much to my relief. Not only that, but theycalled the local shipwrights Laurie and Gavin atSlipstreamarine who came over within half an hour to lookat my boat. Gavin was able to make a temporary repair toenable me to slowly motor back to my mooring at HuntersHill.

Within seven minutes of my call to the Coast Guard, theWater Police were in contact with me on my mobile to

Help on the waterMy recent experience losing steering just off South Head

after sailing down from Pittwater has highlighted to me notonly the need to carry an emergency tiller and some otherlessons, but also that the spirit of helping fellow mariners isalive and well.

Although I did not carry an emergency tiller for my boatPavane, a Roberts 34, I had no reason to suspect that I couldhave steering failure, given that I have regularly checkedand maintained the steering system since acquiring the boata few years ago.

I am also very aware of the need to avoid, if possible,undue pressure being placed on steering gear after I broke,several years ago, the tiller on an old mullet boat whilsttrying to execute a gybe in fresh conditions. What broke on


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determine whether I needed assistance. They had beenreturning from a job offshore.

Also on standby was Matt at SeaTow who was ready totow me from Rose Bay for repairs at Allcraft at Drummoyne.

My thanks to all those who were ready and able to assist,especially the extremely professional manner that Scuberoo’sskipper and crew were able to efficiently tow me out ofdanger.

A final word, although I understand the recent requirementthat life jackets be worn when crossing bars does not applyat Sydney Heads, I must say I was very thankful that I waswearing mine with harness so that I could clip on at the bowwhen taking the tow rope.

Geoff Petersson,Redfern.

A lament to theSydney-Hobart Yacht Race

The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Racehas simply become a farce.With wealth and corporate sponsors,sad times have come to pass.

Whilst these yachts stand up and pass the test– and are thus allowed to enter;the normal Bass Strait wave action,soon knocks their keels off centre

What good are corporate giantswhen their boats limp back to ports?These giant slim-line maxiswould make more at plush resorts.

And what about the smaller yachts?You never hear of those.With modern technology, they shouldbe in the picture – along with all the prose.

Those men and women, and their yachts,deserve equal publicityas their huge counterparts, after all,they’re in the same sea.


The Harbour GhostA great yarn presented by Mary Shelly Clark (‘Captain

Syd Porter’, Afloat, January) gives an insight as to how weused our ’arbour as a resource during the days when the‘Working Harbour’ was utilised to build the prosperity of ourcountry.

We considered throughout these years that harboursideinfrastructure was OK as we would benefit through commerceand industry and subsequently … jobs for all. The foreshoreland was ‘on loan’ from the people as long as it createdsomething for everyone.

May Captain Syd Porter haunt those who have decidedto lay claim to foreshore and previous underwater land, nowreclaimed over earlier commercial wharves etc, and builtapartment boxes and the like, creating billion dollar real-estate by stealth! When will all this stupid developmentstop?

By the way, Mary Shelley Clark’s story was illustratedwith some interesting photographs, which in one of them(Circular Quay 1930s) shows, in the foreground, a vesselwhich is, I believe, HMAS Kanimbla showing landing craft onspecial horizontal boat davits (starboard side) and also oneon the after deck (port side) with a stack of carly floats alsoon the same deck.

As she was commissioned as an RAN Landing ShipInfantry (LSI) in October 1943 and paid off in March 1949,and returned to her original owners, I believe that thephotograph was taken in the late 1940s. Could I be correct?

Peter Scutts,Gladesville.

<[email protected]>

I say, “Bring back the traditionals –stout yachts with a sea-going keel –they may not break race records, butthey are more likely to safely heel.

Not many average yachtiescan afford these giant shells;purpose built for fame and fortunebut quite scary amongst those swells.

There are many weekend sailors,who take an interest in The Race;but find it quite humiliatingto have only the maxis in their face.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not opposedto faster yachts and new ideas.I just think the Sydney-Hobart should befair and equitable for all the sailing peers.

The race is now just money –Whose is biggest and the best?If they all had equal equities,This would be a fairer Aussie test.

Sandy Richardson,Rathmines.


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Southern Cross 23My wife and son have just purchased a Southern Cross

23, trailer/sailer and I’ve been left with the repair andmaintenance of same.

I’m having trouble finding out anything about this boat.What I’d like to know is who made it, are they still in business,if so how can I contact them? If anyone still has the originalOperators Manual and doesn’t mind giving me a look, thatwould certainly be appreciated.

Greg Deards,<[email protected]>

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MV LissaNew Year’s Eve this year, saw my wife and I observing

the Sydney Harbour fireworks display from the foreshorenear Watsons Bay.

Moored in the Harbour just east of the Opera house wasa very neat little vessel called Lissa.

She was what I imagine would be described as a coaster,with a raised superstructure aft, a long well-deck and raisedforecastle.

Could any of your readers supply any information on thehistory, present ownership etc of this beautiful craft.

Peter Roberts,<[email protected]>

Engadine.

Break and Enter SurveyBreak in and theft on boats in Sydney has escalated

recently. Sail and power boats on marinas and swingmoorings have all been robbed.

As a manufacturer of specialised marine alarm systemswe are seeking feedback from victims on how the thievesgained access.

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Stolen Vessel

Reward for Recovery!Divine 29ft Jet Powered Cruiser has been stolen from

a Hunters Hill mooring in Sydney on December 24th.

The vessel has a blue hull, white deck with teak timber

and beige upholstery. The vessel is one of only two in

NSW. The vessel has the name “Smuggler” in small

lettering amidships and on the stern.

Any information that might assist should be provided

in confidence to Terry Fitzgerald Marine Services,

02 9949 4113 or 0401 840 929

Carousel turns 40The teak Tasman Seabird Carousel has been fully restored

and is sailing on Sydney harbour.Carousel was designed by Alan Payne who supervised

the building in Master’s Yard in Brisbane and was launchedon Feb 21, 1964.

Many very happy adventures followed including twoHobarts.

The new owners are very keen to hear from anyone whohas known this vessel and are looking for the original plans.Crew and sponsors are being sought for this year’s raceseason, please contact:

David Malone,<[email protected]>

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Hurrica VI am trying to track down a yacht that was in the family

during the 1950s & 1960s.I last saw Hurrica V on Pittwater about ten years ago – she

no longer had the doghouse shown in the picture but had lostnone of her classic lines. She is a Nicholson designed 57ftLOA, 15ft 6ins Beam, 23 Tonne Yawl – built around 1915with the name Hurrica V located inside the vessel. Anyinformation would be appreciated.

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HMAS ShropshireOn 9 May 1945 as a lowly naval rating I was drafted from

HMAS Australia to HMAS Shropshire. The two cruisers werevery close to each other at Cockatoo Island – Australia in drydock and Shropshire alongside the nearest wharf. I believethe dock and wharf were both named Sutherland. My travel-on draft was probably the shortest ever – just a walk of a fewyards across the wharf.

I have wondered if, despite wartime censorship, anyphotograph was taken of that historic occasion (not mydraft! – the two cruisers in such close proximity). I have seenin the splendid publication on the history of Cockatoo anaerial photo of the whole of Cockatoo Island taken inFebruary, 1944 which shows Australia in Sutherland drydock. So it is possible that other shots were taken in 1945.I would be pleased to learn of any such photo/s.

In May, 1945 Australia was being repaired after hits bysix kamikaze planes (one at Leyte in October 1944 and fiveat Lingayen in January 1945) and was at the end of her

DoggerelWe are looking for an Australian

registered ship sailing to ChristmasIsland. Vessel must not have travelledoutside of Australian waters.

Vessel required to transport familydog to Island, will pay for service andwill deliver dog to any port.

Contact Graham or Angela inCairns on (07) 4055 6419 or 0419716 137. Old dinghy wanted

As our funding is limited, I am asking if there is someoneout there that has an unused 6 to 7 foot aluminium orfibreglass dinghy that they would like to donate to our bushregeneration project.

In March 2002, the Mermaids Pool which is part of thecreek system from the Manly Dam to the sea at Queenscliffwas registered as a Clean-Up Australia site. As a result fourtonnes of rubbish was removed from the pool itself and thesurrounding area.

After this was done, a bush regeneration project wasimplemented and introduced weeds were identified and arebeing removed from the pool and surrounding bush.

The dinghy needs to be light in order that we can carryit to the pool to retrieve weeds etc from the pool. For thoseinterested in our project, we meet on the fourth Saturday ofthe month from 9am to 1pm in King Street, Manly Vale onthe western corner near the University of NSW annexe.

John Gibbons, (02) 9948 4950,84 King Street,

Many Vale, 2093.

World War II service; during which she steamed 476,300miles (625,000 since commissioning in 1928). At the timeof their meeting, Shropshire was home after 260 days at seaincluding bombardments at six landings, participation in thesinking of the Japanese battleship Yamashiro at the biggestnaval battle in history (Surigao Strait) and surviving 54kamikaze attacks.

Wallace D. Grant,4 Solway Crescent,

Victor Harbor, SA, 5211.

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