Sydney Skiffs
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Sydney Flying Squadron
18 footers
Historical 18s
Historical 6 footers
Model Skiffs
12 footers
SYDNEY FLYING
SQUADRON
Australia's oldest open boat sailing club
Sydney Flying Squadron, founded in 1891, is the birthplace of the famous
Sydney Harbour sailing skiff classes. It was founded by Mark Foy to allow
people to enjoy skiff sailing regardless of financial background.
History
Sydney Flying Squadron evolved from a group of men
owning small boats, 6 footers, 12 footers, 14 footers and
there were also larger boats 18 foot and above. The
designs of the boats were originally based on open work
boats. Many people saw skiff racing as a working man's
sport unlike the well to do who sailed expensive yachts.
At their peak more than 30 18 footers raced each week,
followed by crowds of spectators and punters in chartered ferries. Boating in those days attracted as great a
following as horseracing did. An egalitarian attitude had existed in
sailing. Those who sail open boats were given the opportunity to
compete as equals.
Eighteen Foot skiffs have been raced on Sydney harbour for 150 years.
This class of open boat must have hulls no longer than 18 foot (5.49
metres), from stern to stern.
In 1891 a meeting took place at a Sydney hotel and new rules were set for open boat racing. These rules
were that the Squadron would race their boats with coloured sail emblems. There would be handicaps at the
start to make an exiting finish and would race over a triangular course racing. The intention was to make the
race exciting for spectators. The man were prepared to ignore the established yacht clubs' rules and set up
their own Squadron's rules. This was the beginning of the Sydney Flying Squadron and now is the oldest
open boat sailing club in Australia.
The first race that Sydney Flying Squadron took part in was in October 1891. Mark Foy's 20 footer
"Kannanook" and Chris Webb's "Mantura" took part in the race. Mark Foy was a successful businessman
and more commonly known for his department store "Mark Foys". Today at the Sydney Flying Squadron the
restaurant is affectionately named "Mark Foys Restaurant".
The Squadron's boats were banned from the 1892 National Regatta because they carried coloured
emblems. It was claimed that the emblems encouraged gambling and spoiled the look of the white sails that
adorn Sydney Harbour.
The Squadron men had little money, free few days, enthusiasm and skill. They were fearless and rebellious.
Thanks to Mark Foy, he was determined to fight the issue on behalf of the Squadron. He wanted to make
sure that skiff sailing is enjoyed by everybody regardless of their financial and social background. He
organised an opposition regatta and financed the advertising and engaged a lorry to parade the streets with
a calico sign. he also donated the whole prize money.
The modern 18 ft Skiff
Today there are two modern hull designs racing. The "International 18" is based on a
design by Iain Murray, while the B18 was designed by Julian Bethwaite. The Australian
18 Footer League allows only the International 18, with the annual JJ Giltinan
International Trophy contended with the one design Murray hull. The European Class
Association allows both designs to compete against each other.
Although there are differences in the sailing aspects of the two designs, their
measurements are very close, with a waterline length of 18 ft (5.49 m) and an average
beam of 6 to 8 feet (1.83 to 2.44 m), not including the wings. With wings the maximum
beam is 14 feet for the "International 18" and 18 feet for Open 18's sailed at Sydney
Flying Squadron. When the boat is dry it should weigh not less than 375 lb (170 Kg)
including wings, foils (centerboard and rudder) and the number one rig of sails, spars and
ropes.
In the 1980s and 90's wings were widened to the extreme - some boats having maximum
beam of 26 feet. Such wings proved unmanageable, with the crews too much on the brink
of disaster for consistent success.
While true 18' skiffs have no sail area or mast height limitations, the limit that the 18
footer League has specified for their one-design sub class is a maximum mast height of
33 ft (10 m), truly powerful on an 18' hull. The entire rig, which supports sails with
unlimited area, is controlled by three trapezing crew members.
6ft Skiffs … various extracts
The original 6foot skiffs were sailed on Sydney Harbour during the early 20th
Century. The sailors were well known for their reckless have-a-go spirit, courage
and daring, and relentless competitive nature, both on the water and in the bar.
The rules were basic, with a maximum waterline length of 6foot, and unlimited
sail areas. Everything else is down to the discretion of the designer, and
ultimately how brave you are.
So from what I can gather about these amazing vintage boats are this...
LOA: 6 Feet [about 1.8m]
Beam: 6 Feet 6 Inches
Sail Area: Unlimited
Crew: 3
No Trapeze
Bowsprit Length: 10 Feet
The 6's were not that fast. They were spectacular, difficult to sail (read
impossible) but not fast.
…The 6 footer "St George" … carried 1000sqr feet of sail in light
weather. They used to have long curving bowsprits. The good sailors
sailed them with the end of the bowsprit touching the water to give
the boat more directional stability.
I have to admit as one of the few that have sailed a 6 ft skiff replica.
Why you would build one is beyond me … They basically are unsailable in anything but
flat water as you have to keep the bowsprit in the water for it to track, downwind the
skipper sits on the transom and the other on his lap.
More interesting is the reason they came into existence [which] was during the
depression they were affordable, as soon as times got better they disappeared as people
built bigger boats.
Model Skiffs
The traditional Sydney
Harbour model skiffs
have been raced
around Balmain and
Birchgrove on the
Parramatta River for
over a century. The
models are small
yachts in their own
right, and were
designed and built by
shipwrights and skiff
crews in their spare
time. They were
generally hand carved
from a solid block of
red cedar, but more
recent craft were
planked on
frames. The two most
popular classes were
12 Inch and 2 Foot, but
there were also 6 inch,
10 inch, and 32 inch
long classes. The 32
inch boats were raced
on ponds and lakes.
The 'skipper' and 'crew'
manned a rowing boat
at least 10 feet long so
that they could keep up
with the craft. They
came along side and
adjusted the rig, even
setting and taking in
spinnakers. They had various rig sizes to suit different conditions.
12 foot skiffs - history
The origin of the Skiff is dubious, but it is thought to have roots in the smaller skiff's
sailed on Sydney Harbour in the late 1800s. The Skiff became a class in its own right in
1924, when it was raced in several clubs around Australia, at this time the skiff was
manned by a crew of 5, but around about the 1940s it changed to a three man boat, and
then became the 2 man boat that is used today. After the 1940s the skiff went
international.[2]
Nowadays the 12 ft (3.7 m) Skiff is mainly sailed in Australia and New Zealand,
although it is growing in popularity in Great Britain.[3]
The Skiff is similar to the larger and better known 18ft Skiff. Of all skiffs the 12footer is
known for being the hardest to sail, primarily due to its small footprint relative to its sail
area, being able to reach up to 25 knots.