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FESTIVAL REGATTA OF 1951 RE-DISCOVEREDThanks to Tony Lock for submitting this interesting historical article. |
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FOC'SLE CHAT FESTIVAL REGATTA OF 1951 RE-DISCOVERED - BY INTERNET Half a century ago, when the country celebrated the dawning of a new post-war age with the Festival of Britain (remember the Dome of Discovery?), Christchurch Sailing Club saw its own festival action afloat. Vice-commodore Chris Austin was the first to rediscover the club's celebrations when, via the Internet, he came across a contact in Canada in possession of photographs of a Festival of Britain medallion bearing the club's inscription and of Merlin Rockets in action in the harbour in what turned out to be a Festival Open Meeting. Apparently the pictures had come to light when a loft was being cleared out across the other side of the Atlantic following the death of someone obviously associated with the club in some way. A search through an old minutes book of meetings of the sailing committee in 1951 confirmed the club had indeed purchased a set of three medallions at a cost of 35/- and that they would be awarded as prizes at a Merlin Challenge meeting for the Major Stevens Trophy. Another entry referred to teas being arranged after the race and two press photographers being invited to observe the activity afloat from the club launch. One of the resulting photographs, showing a line of the 14 ft dinghies streaking down the harbour, with Hengistbury Head in the background, duly appeared on the front page of the Christchurch Times on July 13th of that year. Inside, on the sports page, was a fulsome report of the regatta under the headline: "Merlins Had One of the Toughest Races Yet." It started off: "In one of the toughest races ever seen in the harbour David Sadler, crewed by his wife Teresa, sailed magnificently to win Christchurch Sailing Club's Open National 14ft meeting." At that time David, who went on to Sadler Yachts fame and is now living in New Zealand, still actively into boating, was captain of the 14ft class. The CT continued: "The race drew entries from as far away as Bristol and Rugby and what made it tough was the wind direction, which made the course consist mainly of reaches and runs. It was thus difficult, and at times impossible, to pass a boat once she was ahead." Don't we know! Said the report: "All the more credit, then, to the helmsman and crew of "Beauty" who made only a poor start and were faced with having to pass well over half the 15 entries to get ahead. "So well did they settle to their task that by the end of the first round they were in second place. Teresa's spinnaker drill was quite amazing - time after time on the short runs "Beauty's" spinnaker was up first and down last, whilst the way David handed his boat on the planing reaches was a joy to watch - again, time after time "Beauty was up and planing first, and held her plane the longest." The lengthy report goes on to also highlight the performance of Richard Creagh-Osbourne, of Lymington Town SC, in "Elusive", who got away ahead of "Beauty", and how he and the Sadlers were "sailing at the peak of their form." At the end of the second round "Elusive" was still just ahead but on the turning mark "Beauty brilliantly out- manoeuvred her and for the first time got in front." Once ahead "Beauty" proved too fast for "Elusive" and steadily drew away during the third lap to finish with a comfortable lead. "Elusive" was second and third was another Christchurch helm, John Williams, in "Gurgle." Where are those historic Festival Medallions today? Perhaps one has found its way out to New Zealand with David Sadler. |
