The large spinnaker set by Brand V gives some idea of thc sail- <: anying 1endeneies in thc 1930s . Objections were raised wilhln the club as to the si : ze of these spinnakers and a rcgula1ion was brought in to tho effect that Ibey could ooly be hoisted as high as lbc bounds . book called ProcriceofSailmaking by Diivid Steele . published in 1796 , and 1he following descrip1ioo appeared . accompanied by a small drawing : ' Shoulder-of-mu non soi Is are the same as the boat ' s lanteen sails but are called shoulder-of-muuon when laced by the f ~· leech to a single masL ' Credit for inventing , or discovering , the Bennudan rig goes to a Mr Harvey of 1he Islands or Bennuda . In 1808 ! his gentleman , who had been racing his guff-rigged schooner wi1hom success , was very fed up . Secretly , be did away wilh the big , clumsy gaffs and rigged his schooner wi1h a modified leg-of-muuon sail . bending 1he sails straighl onto the masts . He was an instant success and scooped the racing pool All thc yachlS in Bennuda adopled ! his 1ype of sail , and the idea spread rapidly to America nnd Europe , but did no1 reach Australia until the enrly 1920s after World Wnr I .
Although in 189 ~ 97 yachlS were being built in America with jib-headed Bennudan rigs , they were not suictly Bermudan , but a compromise between leg-of-muuon and the new Bcrmud > n rig . They were very clo !> C to pure Bermudan rig bu1 many still had venical sail clo1hs and no banens . 11 was not until 1916 tba1 1he · p · class sloop Najma , designed and owned by A . O . Hanam , had a true modem jibheaded Bermudan with cross-cut sails . baneos . . double spreaders and a jumper strut .
In Australia it was oot until the end of the 1920s
that Ilic I "'"' Benuudan rigs On . t • ppcared on Sydney Harbour . These were firstly lolaire and later the Norwegian 8 me ! Tc yacht . Bra1ui V .
Wi1h Bermudan sails . the gear and spars became Ligh1er and more scientific . Diamond staying became popular just prior to World War U , and higher aspect ratios were graduully shonening the boom 10 give Ulll nanowsails with the long oailing booms of the yachtsof eadierin theccniury . Rigging was more complicated , bcc : oming lighter , and fancy fimngs such as rigging screws , and mast attachments for spreaders were introduced .
On 26 September 1926 proposed domestic sulling rules were discu8 $ ed . Jr was resolved ! hat the domestic rules relating to yacht racing be collaled and printed . Copies were to be supplied to yacht owne11 .
We " ondcr if this wn the first ' Blue Book ' • vcr primed in Australia ?
Jus1ns1oday , raceofficials had much to do during lhcM ' years . The race commiuee and officials are responsible forthe conduct or1he races , the sinning . handicapping , time keeping , laying of marks . t1nilh · ing , working ow the handicap results and naming the place gcners . They need to keep accurate records of every race and allocate the point scores . It il all arduous and if anybody thinks they are jus1sitting out there Jn tl1e sun they are very much mistaken I
Racing every Saturday is exciting and thrilling for the skippers and crews , bu1 for those keen souls who sh huddled up in ! he sruner ' s boai it is a tiring nnd exacting job only done by men who are selfle • sly devoted 10 lbe sporL
The Koyal l ' nncc Allred Yach1 Club was most fonunare in having Frank Buchanan , a man wbo for well over 35 years was engaged in handicapping und staning yachts of all divisions . John Roche and Sid Wcnbom were also grent men , as are our teams of today , far too numerou . io be recorded here . There is no doubt , however , tltal 1he thanks of skippers and
crews goes out 10 these stalwans .
The 1930s ushered in a new era in yacht racing , wilh ! he gradual dying out of 1he old raten and the jackyard 1opsails and the ln1roductlon of the neat new metre yacht which was easier t0 handle and cheaper to build and maintain .
A world-wide depression was about 10 begin and anominousoote wassow1deda1theendofthc 1920s when many members were forced tO resign from thc club bccauseoffinancial difficuhies . Butdespile 1he economic s1orm brewing 1here was a quiet and confident feeling that the Royal Prince Alfred Yach1 Club would be able to stay atloa1 no mailer how severe the gale .
In 1931 lheclubrepliedtoalcncrfromthcSydncy Yach ! Racing Association staling that theclubwas in sympathy wilh their objectives Md that they could con1inue 10 use ! he clubrooms for any of ! heir meetings .
Up until October 193111 \ eclub had been oonduCI · Ing mon1hly meetings of members . It was suggested at a meeting on 22 Oc1ober of that year that these mccling $ should be held qunr1erly ,
In August 1931 the depression was really biting .
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