It was a pleasure to leave Christchurch with a bitter, howling NE for the Mediterranean climate of Ashburton on Sunday 18 March. Quite remarkable in many ways. As usual the Ashburton Sailing Club made available there signage, buoys, pick up boat and barbeque – thanks guys.

It is great to meet those with a common interest in classic boats, old friends and always something new to admire. This year was marked by an even spread of rowing dinghies, power boats – mostly with old Seagull motors, small sail boats as well as larger ones.

Welsford designs were well represented with a Navigator, a Janet and a Houdini. Then there were one-offs like Nigel Cook's Radley II, a take on the river flattie and Ngaire, the Build a Boat in a Day from the Akaroa Regatta. The latter was themed as a duck shooters skiff complete with decoys, camouflage nets etc. A great job Matt!

Model boats were sailing and on display organised by Peter Vincent of Ashburton, as well as J class yachts, there were scale boats, a beautiful model of the MV Tuhoe caught the eye.

After admiring each others boats Peter Braithwaite briefed every one and after lunch and the course setting completed sailing began at 1330. The power boats set off first then sailing craft, larger to smaller in this case. With the very warm summer weed growth made sailing a little frustrating at times. I got hooked up and most boats were specks on the horizon by the time I got over the start line. However a long tack to the windward side of the course paid off and I was able to lift all the way up the lake passing the hapless ones stuck down to leeward. It was a case of checking for weed on the downwind legs to close in on race leader Sandy Powell from Timaru.

It was a very successful day, lovely setting and weather. The lakeside spectators enjoyed the spectacle and most retreated to the Lakeside House for refreshments and a natter over the days events.

Thanks again to our hosts the Ashburton Sailing Club.

Hugh Hobden 

One of the joys of being retired is being able to do things you enjoy at short notice. Such was the case when on a beautiful end- of- summer day we decided to sail around Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour. Assembling at naval Point which seems to be the ultimate Freedom campers destination – there were at least 30 parked up on the waterfront, we rigged up and set sail. Unusual for Lyttelton  was an oily calm with a vague hint of SE breeze, so we drifted towards our destination. In exasperation oars were shipped and rowing helped progress, it must be said that No.4 (Ian Kington ) stuck to sailing only ! As often the case a dark line on the horizon, way out at the head of the harbour signaled a filling easterly which takes its time to reach down the harbour. In due course it arrived and we glided around the head of the island and landed at the Barracks beach where we were greeted by Sumner School who were having a day trip.

There are many historical things to appreciate on Quail Island which has been farmed, a quarantine station for Scott and Shackleton Antarctic expeditions, a leprosy hospital and dumping ground for old ships. It also holds fond memories of the Optimist sailing camps held there, 60 plus boats and sailors from all over New Zealand. I also had several class camps there, taking over drinking water, food and fuel for the wood stove used for cooking. Everyone slept in the original barracks. The class was dropped off by launch at the start of the week and then returned home on Friday – parents often reeled back when they came to pick up their children, the only washing was by swimming and they were all a bit “high” !

After a satisfying lunch it was off around the south end of the island and through the tricky passage by King Billy Island. Once past the wind shadows of Walkers Beach it was out into a steady NE breeze which had filled in over the lunch period. Along lifting tack in to the chop saw us back to the launch ramp at naval Point.

​The Shellback is a remarkable dinghy, buoyant, a low lug rig – you can sit across the bottom of the boat and sail in relative comfort when on the wind. Best in sheltered waters as it is an open boat, it rows well and light enough to get off and on a trailer by one  person. The popularity of this Joel White design is not surprising as it is easily amateur built, rows and sails amazingly well over a range of conditions.
There are five Shellbacks in Canterbury, any more takers ?
 
Hugh Hobden

With the support of Mitre 10 Ferrymead the Canterbury Classic Boat Group are going to build a Boat In A Day (on the Saturday) at their 10th Anniversary Akaroa Classic Boat Regatta on the 11th and 12th of November.

​The boat is a classic American Skiff similar to that shown below. Want to help out – spread some glue, drive a screw? With the help of pre-made frames and pre-cut ply panels it is hoped to complete this project and launch it in one day.

A planning meeting for our 10th Anniversary Akaroa Regatta took pace today with Wes, Peter, Paul and Hugh.
​Listen out for details of our proposed “Build a Boat in a Day” event!