Chapter Five
The Introduction of New Classes
1920-44
Aftermath of World War I , 21-ft restricted class and Forster Cup , Cadet dinghies and Stonehaven Cup . Other new classes . Depression years . Memorable voyages . World War II .
During World War I , wl ! h yacht r-Jcing practically non-existent . most boalS were laid up or idle . Many of them , through neglect , had rotted so b : idly Ibey wereneverthesameagain . In fact . lhe war proved the death knell for many of those fine old yachts which with Lender care and affection would huve lasted at least another 20 years .
So it was wilh dismay lhru yachtsmen looked at
lhe depleted racing neelS which turned out after the war . A greiu deal of ctiscusston centred on tl1e creation of a new and inexpensive type of boat which would give good racing for a reasonable outlay and modest maintenance cQStS . This all Jed to lhe introduction of the ' fast and inexpensive ' 21-ft restricted class .
TI1e first real move in lhis direction cnme from the members . who on 21 August 1919 issued the following instruction to the Committee :
This meeting instructs the Commiuee to investigate 1he question of the best type or yacht to encourage yacht racing and to repon as early as possible to a general meeting of members .
1t was nlso moved ' thni the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron be asked to also form a sub--0ommittee to wodc with the club towards lhe Funhcrance of the project .'
It was from this inslJ ' UClion that a Committee meeting wns called on 28 August 1919 when a subcommi11ec was fom1ed consisting of Messrs Walter Marks , Dempster , Crane , Waterman . Wilson and Langan . 10 look into lhe possibility of 1he introduction of a one-design class . h bad been realised lhru a big yacht would generally beat a small yacht and from this foci four things were happening : ( a ) big yachlS were getting lhe bulk of prizes ; ( b ) it was not necessarily lhe bc $ t helmsman who was winning ; ( c ) i1 was very difficuh to handicap such differenlly designed yachts and ( d ). the cost of building big boats was becoming prohibitive . There was a desire fora one-design class tha1 did not need handicapping and that paid a big bonus on hclmsmanship .
Following the deliberations of the above gentlemen , a meeting of the Royal Sydney Yacbt Squadron . the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Oub and the Sydney Amateur Sailing Oub decided to sponsor lhe 21 · ft restricted class yacht , a neat , fast . half-decked yacht . This vessel was designed by C . Peel . TI1ey were 2 l fl LWL , between 7 ft and 8 ft beam , 25 ft LOA . fitted with a centreboard and 450 sq fi of sail .
So many res1ric1ions were placed on lhe building and sail plan of these yachts lhal it was lhought ro be possible to prevent in ! l ' llsion of ! he racing machine or 1he owner with an unlimited pocket . They were I () race purely as a class without handicaps .
The geoeral ~ g of 16 September 1920 moved that
the discussions of the reslric1ed class repon be adjourned to a special meeting to be called for 8 pm on 7 October at lhe new clubrooms and that members be circulari . sed and informed that copies of the specilicatioos of the proposed boru could be obtained on application from the Secre1ary and funher tha1 all members of the Royal Sydney YaclnSquadron and the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club in1erested in this matter be invited lO anend this meeting .
At the above meeting it was resolved that
in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to adopt a restricted class , but lhe plans submitted are for a boat too small and 1hat this murter be referred back to the joint sub-committee to ascertain lhe cost of building a J3rgerboaL Price not to exceed £ 350 .
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