The AHSSA is the class Association for the historical replica 18-footer fleet that races every Summer Saturday out of the Sydney Flying Squadron, Australia's oldest open boat club, established in 1891. The boats are stored at the Club and rig in the park from about 11am, visitors are welcome to observe. In fact keen sailors are encouraged to ask about crew positions, we have 10 boats in the Sydney fleet but most weeks see around 8 boats competing.
Each boat is based on an original boat, and each builder has used original sources such as half-hull models to replicate the shape of the boat. Most of the fleet have been replicated in modern materials, with most hulls being laminated rather than the original batten seam carvel construction, and most masts and spars are aluminium, and sails are all terylene, but given these modifications, we try to sail the boats as closely as possible to the way the originals were sailed.
Here's a list of all the boats in the fleet with the date of building of the original and the replica. More extensive details on most of the boats can be found on the 18-FOOTERS Page on our sister site www.openboat.com.au
Each boat is based on an original boat, and each builder has used original sources such as half-hull models to replicate the shape of the boat. Most of the fleet have been replicated in modern materials, with most hulls being laminated rather than the original batten seam carvel construction, and most masts and spars are aluminium, and sails are all terylene, but given these modifications, we try to sail the boats as closely as possible to the way the originals were sailed.
Here's a list of all the boats in the fleet with the date of building of the original and the replica. More extensive details on most of the boats can be found on the 18-FOOTERS Page on our sister site www.openboat.com.au
Aberdare
Original built in 1932 by Alf 'Toby' Whereat. Aberdare was the first of the narrower 7-foot beam skiffs and won the Australian Championship 4 years in a row in the 1930's and pioneered a change in the type of boats raced, to the point where it split the sport, with the NSW 18-Footers League setting up in opposition to the Sydney Flying Squadron, who continued to race the bigger-beamed boats.
Replica built in 2000 by Robert Tearne. Robert sailed it himself for the first few seasons, John Winning sailed for several seasons and won the Galloping Ghost Trophy (named after Aberdare) several times. The boat is currently sailed by Jerry Tickner and crew.
Built from a half-hull model with lines taken off the original boat.
Sail insignia black diamond.
Alruth
Original built in 1947 by Alf Beashel, one of the stalwarts of the new League, for himself. Alruth was one of the last 7-foot beamers built. The League stuck to this type while the Sydney Flying Squadron and the Brisbane 18-Footers Club started racing the newer 6-foot beamers, reversing the positions of the previous decade.
Alf Beashel's father was Rocko Beashel, a legend in the sport, and his son, grandson and great grandsons are all champion sailors.
Replica built in 2001 by Robert Tearne for John Winning who raced it as the gun boat in the fleet for several seasons. Jeremy Sharp ran the boat for a few seasons, followed by Terry Stewart and then Jerry Tickner, but currently the boat has no dedicated skipper and crew.
Built from a half-hull model in the Beashel family.
Sail insignia gold 'A' on blue shield.
Australia
Original built in 1946 by Norman Wright Jnr in Brisbane for Bill Stanley who won the Australian Championship in Sydney in the 1946-47 season. The boat was one of the early 6-foot beamers.
Replica built in 2000 by Robert Tearne as the first replica built for John Winning. The boat was sailed by various skippers after John Winning moved on to Alruth, and has languished for several seasons without crew, but is now being restored for the 2022-23 season by Marshall Flanagan.
Built from Norm Wright's original half-hull model.
Sail insignia black rectangle.
Australia IV
Original built in 1943 by Tom Fisher and named as part of a series of boats built and sailed by Bill Fisher and the Fisher family, starting with Australia in 1923 (no relation to Norm Wright's 1946 Australia listed above).
Replica built in 2007 by Billy Fisher, grandson of the first Bill Fisher, for John Winning. John sailed the boat for several seasons before moving over to Aberdare. Rob Brown sailed the boat in several special events, including winning the Australian Championship. Australia IV was sailed by David Swales and the Top Weight crew in the 2017-18 season, but since then has been sailed by Terry Stewart and crew.
Built from half-hull model in the collection of the Fisher family.
Sail insignia Union Jack.
Britannia
Original built by Wee Georgie Robinson in 1919 for himself. He sailed it for 23 seasons, taking part in about 650 races and winning 40 of them including 14 Championships. The boat was restored to display at the Australian National maritime Museum in 1990 and can still be seen on display at Wharf 7 Darling Harbour.
Replica built in 2002 by Ian Smith for himself. Britannia is the most authentic boat in the fleet, built using batten seam carvel planking in Australian Cedar as per the original, and carries all wooden spars.
Built from plans drawn up by Alan and David Payne off the original boat.
Sail insignia Red Duster.
Jenny IV
Original built in 1950 by Norman Wright Jnr for himself. It is another 6-foot beamer. He sailed the boat to 3rd place in the Australian Championship in Sydney in the 1950-51 season (the winner was Myra Too, see below) but won in the 1951-52 series in Brisbane.
Replica built in 2023 by Bill Wright and his family company Norman Wright and Sons for Peter Cavill. The boat is not part of the Sydney fleet but remains stored away waiting for a dedicated purchaser. Jenny IV won the Australian Historical 18-Footers Championship 3 times in the early 2000's.
Built from the original half-hull model in the collection of the Wright family.
Sail insignia back-to-front 7
Myra Too
Original built by Bill Barnett for himself in 1950, another 6-foot beamer, Bill won the State, Australian and World Championships in the 1950-51 season
Replica built in 2013 by Bob McLeod (who had been apprenticed to Bill Barnett) for the Australian Historical Sailing Skiff Trust. It's first skipper was Harold Cudmore, but he changed over the next season to Yendys. Phil Barnett, a 3rd generation 18-footer Champion steered in several special events from 2015-18. John Winning and crew sailed it for part of one season. The boat currently has no dedicated skipper and crew.
Built from plans drawn up by David Payne off a model by Bob McLeod with the approval of Bill Barnett, as the original model had been burnt in a fire in Bill's shed.
Sail insignia dark blue M on light blue oval.
Scot
Original built in 1906 by Joe Donnelly for Peter Cowie. Scot has the record for the longest sailing career of an 18-footer, a total of 43 seasons, racing until the 1947-48 season, basically covering almost the entire era of the gaff-rigged 18-footer.
Replica built in 1997 by Reg Barrington for himself, but steered in the early days mostly by his friend Len Heffernan, a multiple Australian Champion in the 1950's and '60's. Many skippers have followed, those with multiple seasons at the tiller include John Eyles, Kurt Beckman, Greg Kay, and for many seasons now, Jamie Watt.
Built from a half-hull model in the collection of the Cowie family.
Sail insignia red lion of Scotland on yellow rectangle.
Tangalooma
Original built in 1930 by Ben Cribb for Colin Clark, off modified moulds used to build Vision, a previous boat of Colin Clark's which had won the Mark Foy Challenge Cup (the recognised Australian Championship at the time) in the 1920-21 and 1922-23 seasons. Tangalooma won the Australian Championships in 1931-32 under Lance Watts, and the big-beam clubs Australian Championships in 1935-36 under Trappy Duncan and in 1936-37 under Roy Phythian. Tangalooma spent several seasons in Sydney run by a Sydney syndicate in the mid-'30's and was probably the best wide-beam 18-footer ever.
Replica built in 1993 by Reg Barrington as the first historical replica of the fleet. Various skippers included Rob Tearne and Len Heffernan and Dick and Peter Notley early on, then Peter Legrove from about 2000 to 2018. Since then Neville Turbitt and John Lewis have alternated.
Built from an original lines plan.
Sail insignia two black bars,
The Mistake
Original built in 1933 by Alf 'Toby' Whereat and his father Jack after Toby died early in construction, and Lance Watts for Bob Cuneo who registered her with the Sydney Flying Squadron. As a copy of Aberdare the committee panicked and closed the books so no more narrow-beam boats could join (other than HC Press IV which was registered at the same meeting). The controversy over the new narrow boats led to the setting up of the breakaway club, the NSW 18-Footers League in January 1935 which began to race 7-beam boats. The Mistake was always a competitive boat, often being on scratch but never won a Championship.
Replica built in 2005 by Robert Tearne with timber masts and spars by Ian Smith, for John Winning. John sailed the boat for several seasons, winning the Australian Championship twice, until he moved on to Australia IV . The wooden spars were replaced by lighter aluminium spars during the first season. Jeremy Sharp took over the helm for several seasons, then handed it to Terry Stewart. Visiting Irish yachtsman Harold Cudmore steered the boat for several seasons. For the last 3 seasons John Winning and his crew went back to the boat and have won 2 more Australian titles.
Built from a half-hull model in the collection of Cliff Monkhouse whose father had campaigned the boat for several seasons in the 1930's.
Sail insignia 2+2=5
Top Weight
Original built in 1947 as Top Weight II by Norman Wright Snr for Sydney bookmaker Fred Empson, and was skippered early on by Ray Rawlings, then by Bish Bolton. The boat was always close too the money but never won a Championship. After Fred Empson sold her in 1950 she had several different owners and skippers but was no longer competitive and retired in 1952.
Replica built in 2000 by Robert Tearne for Grant Taylor. Many skippers were tried in the early seasons, but after Grant Taylor died the boat was sold to crewman John Tierney who steered for many seasons, but handed over the tiller in more recent seasons to David Swales and then Alan Robertson. The boat was completely rebuilt in the Winter of 2018 by Robert Tearne and the crew.
Built from original plans in the collection of Norman Wright and Sons PtyLtd.
Sail insignia black 1
Yendys
Original built in 1925 by Charlie Hayes for Norm Blackman. Always a competitive boat, Yendys was at first controversial due to her snub bow. She was always a low marker or scratch boat and won several Championships over a long career which ended in 1942. The boat became a motor launch and survived until the boat was restored to sailing condition by apprentices at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in the early 1980's, supervised by George McGoogan. The boat sailed several times but was then stored for a while before being put on permanent display in Wharf 7 Darling Harbour as part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet display where it can be seen today next to her old rival Britannia.
Replica built in 2007 by Ian Perdriau and Col Bailey for the Australian Historical Skiffs Trust. Perdriau and Bailey were the original skippers for the first few seasons, then Bob Killick became regular skipper until Harold Cudmore became skipper on his regular stays in Sydney from the 2014-15 season, and took out the Australian title in 2018. The boat has won the title three more times in recent seasons under guest skippers.
Built from lines taken off the original boat.
Sail insignia red anchor.