H28 Association of Victoria
President’s Report & Column
H28 Association of Victoria
President’s Report & Column
President’s Report 2000/2001
President’s column, May 2001
Back to H-28 Association pageThe year has seen a steady evolution of the pattern established over the preceding years.
Together, the newsletter and web-site (www.geocities.com/herreshoffrally) continue to provide the contact and information exchange which, for most members, are the primary purpose for the Association. John Thomas and Ken Williams deserve our thanks for their respective efforts.
Both are dependent on the input of members for content and your contributions are appreciated.The AGM at RMYC, quarterly committee meetings, the RVYC picnic sail in February and the Sailmaster Presentation lunch at HBYC provided members with opportunities to socialise and talk about boats.
The Sailmaster series is growing, this year attracting ten entries, although not all were able to sail through the series. Congratulations to Chris Gibbins in VIKING who took out the trophy. Member’s interest has led to a winter series of five races. Our planned Labour Day weekend cruise was cancelled by the weather.
Membership is still growing and we currently send out 68 newsletters and there are now 51 H28s on our register.
Publicity for our boats was given a boost during the year by Stephen Gell’s fine article in Cruising Helmsman on his Walker H28, SONSIE LASS.I visited Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, USA recently. LFH’s descendants have lodged all LF Herreshoff’s original plans in their archives, including those for the H28. Accurate full-scale copies are available for US $10 per sheet. There are 12 sheets for the H28. While I believe that there are now no copyright issues attached to the plans, obtaining them from Mystic Seaport would ensure accuracy for potential builders. ([email protected])
Next year is the sixtieth anniversary of the publication of the H28 plans. The Association should not let this go unmarked. It is an excellent excuse for us to get together over a few days with our boats and we should start planning an event now which will give maximum access to the widest range of owners and interested parties.
As always, thanks to all H28 owners who make the Association what it is. Thanks to the Committee, Tim Patkin, Doug McLean, Peter Brockfield, John Thomas and John Rea.
On a more sombre note, I am sorry to report that Jim McQueen, who had a share in DESTINY for many years, died about a month ago. Jim was a long-standing member of the Association and, in DESTINY, won the Sailmaster trophy in both 83/84 and 84/85, as skipper on the first occasion and crew on the second. On behalf of the Association, we extend all our sympathy on their loss to Jim’s family and to his two co-owners of DESTINY.
I’m sure that Jim would have been delighted to see the fine job which John Rouse, DESTINY’s new owner, has done on her restoration.Andrew MacGregor
23 August, 2001
It is remarkable the level of attention and affection which L Francis Herreshoff’s sensible cruising design, the H28 still attracts nearly 60 years after her conception. This month’s Cruising Helmsman magazine features Stephen Gell’s Walker H28, SONSIE LASS, in the ‘My Boat’ section. Stephen’s experience with larger yachts means that he is well qualified to review the H 28’s strengths and weaknesses, and he concludes that her only significant weakness, her windward ability, is more than compensated by her other virtues. However, I do feel that his summation that she is the Combi van of the sea does not really do credit to the elegance of the H28 ketch.
Thanks to Stephen for the article which will be of interest to all present and prospective H28 owners. On a more selfish note, reports like this support the resale value of our boats, should circumstances ever force such an event. The article is backed up by another column elsewhere in the magazine on the Association. We are fortunate that the editor, Caroline Strainig, has the discernment to recognize classic yachts. What would be nice to see now, would be a similar article submitted by an owner of a classic timber H28, which emphasized both similarities and differences between the Walker, Compass and timber variants. There must be a few of our members who would like to share their pride in their craft with a wider audience.
There are still new timber H28s being built in Australia. We would average half a dozen enquiries each year for sets of plans. While we can’t help directly, the Association can refer people in the direction of those members who have the information.
The Sailmaster series on Port Phillip has now finished. Nine yachts entered the successful series and we are waiting on final results. The interest has been such that we will follow on with a winter series, beginning on Sunday July 8th. Details are elsewhere in this newsletter.
There will be a barbeque at Hobsons Bay Yacht Club on Sunday 20th May, to present trophies. This is an opportunity for all H28 owners to gather, socialize and talk boats. Formal business will be minimal. The bar opens at midday. Bring your own BBQ supplies.
Mike Shepherd, who now has his Walker H28, SAVA, in Brisbane has heretically questioned the value of the mizzen, particularly going to windward. My subjective experience is that the mizzen does add drive to windward in light to moderate breezes, but once the wind gets up, weather helm increases to the point where it is better furled. It does seem to be important to have a traveler on the mizzen sheet, and to haul the traveler right across to windward when close hauled. I also feel that the sail should not have too much draft to be useful hard on the wind or otherwise it luffs. I understand that Chris Gibbons, has just fitted a new loose footed mizzen to his Walker H28 VIKING, and it will be interesting to get his opinion.
A major advantage of having the third sail, which Terry and I use often, is that of dropping the main when the wind gets up and cruising comfortably under mizzen and headsail. HARBINGER goes to windward surprisingly well in heavy conditions under this combination. We would appreciate the benefit of other’s experience, before Mike takes an axe to his mizzen mast.
HARBINGER has been in the yard for the last few weeks and is about to go back in the water. Nothing major, although I have replaced the plastic head outlet skin fitting with a bronze one. This was in response to comments from the yard experts about UV degradation of plastic leading to unpredictable separation of the flange from the body, together with gloomy prognostications about vulnerability to shearing by floating debris. Judging by the effort required to remove the plastic fitting, I was in little danger, but the bronze on the water line does look nice.
Concern about fire has prompted me to install a smoke detector on HARBINGER’s forward bulkhead. It is the kitchen variety, which can be silenced in the event of a false alarm triggered by cooking. It proved it worked in the first week after it was fitted. We were cruising gently down the bay on a sunny Sunday, all hands on deck and the kettle on the stove. Beep Beep Beep what on earth is that? The smoke alarm? You must be joking! But it was – the wooden handle on the kettle which folds down, had flopped and been ignited by the stove.
The New Zealand H28 courteously sends us their newsletter each month. They are have a monthly meeting and any traveling Australian H28 owners in Auckland should consider a visit. The newsletter is always interesting, with reports on cruising and racing. The adverts are interesting too. The last newsletter listed a well equipped Compass (sloop rigged ) f/g H28 for $27,000 NZ. The joke below has been pinched from the same issue.
The sixtieth anniversary of the design is rapidly approaching, and we should consider whether we should mark the occasion in some special way. It is far enough ahead for us to plan for an event such as a regatta. The first H28 launched in the world is on the Gippsland Lakes – could we dream of a gathering there to mark the occasion? What do other owners think?
Andrew MacGregor,
The NZ joke: A reporter was interviewing a tug boat captain who was celebrating his 82nd birthday. He was the oldest captain on the water. At the end of the interview, the reporter said ”I would love to come back and interview you again when you reach 90.” The captain replied “ I don’t see why not. You look healthy enough to make it.”