Canting keel mechanism on Fiery Cross
the rudder was small, we didn’t suffer the broaching problems of the wide beamed Stewart 34’s. Fiery Cross’s canting keel was looked at aghast in those days and because officials considered the boat had moving ballast (it did) was therefore considered illegal. I wasn’t allowed to race the boat with the keel unpinned and some years later, when I sold Fiery Cross, the new owner wouldn’t have a bar of the swinging keel and demanded it be locked up permanently before he took over the boat.”
9. first native?
THE FIRST TRUE 20th Century New Zealand native light displacement keelboat was drawn at the end of the 1950’s by Bob Stewart and launched in 1960. This was the Stewart 34 Patiki, designed for Peter Colmore-Williams. Stewart said he based the yacht on the 26 foot Mullet boat in which he took Mullet boat beam and hull profile and stretched it to create his 34; this produced a light displacement yacht in which he placed 1.25 ton in its keel as opposed to the centreboarder’s slightly less weight placed in blocks internally. It also carried considerably less sail but in the modern, inboard manner – a contrast to the enormous overhanging sail plan of the Mullet boat. The reason for lighter ballast was to lessen loads on hull connections and reduce interior
Robert Stewart’s 34
reinforcement. Also Colmore-Williams, involved at an early date with plastics, knew that a clean interior would make it easy for the design to go into fiberglass production.
Stewart had drawings of William Tripp and Philip Rhodes day racers from USA that were similar in hull form to Patiki – in fact the Rhodes hull shape was absolutely identical – so the Stewart design was not the New Zealand original that historically has been accepted. Although the first S34 was called Patiki it had little
resemblance to the 1900’s designs from Napier – although the means of gaining form stability with the shape of hard turning bilges was similar. The Stewart hull was dinghy looking but the run aft was curved, like most keel boats of the time, however it was flat enough for the boat to plane downwind. Also the S34 was very high wooded compared to the low wooded, elegant, flush or near flush decks of traditional yachts – and this was made to appear even more so on the Stewart by it having a raised cabin (called a dog box in NZ) to gain standing headroom. This point was a very important requisite but it was something that marred the very pleasing hull form.
Stewart’s Patiki was built by John Lidgard in three layers of quarter inch kauri over stringers, glued with epoxy with the addition of fastenings of threaded and clenched nails, similar to what he had done with his cousin Jim’s Ariel. The three new light displacement yachts, Fiery Cross, Ariel and Patiki had similar wood building approaches but none bit the bullet like Marks and Sharp had done with their revolutionary all glue,
thin wood dinghies. However John Lidgard’s less venturesome philosophy still brought forth harsh criticism from established builders along the waterfront – eliminating rebating was considered a sacrilege.
Stewart researched Illingworth’s masthead rig for the 34 and moved main and headsail inboard for easier handling and chose a spar large enough to handle the calculated loads without being too heavy; he was able to get a considerable amount of sail aboard his light displacement craft.
“Beam of course gives displacement,” explained Stewart, “which means ability to carry sail and to hold that sail up into the wind so that maximum drive is extracted, but it also increases resistance. Displacement also gives stability and increases resistance in most conditions …… Good freeboard makes a boat dry and roomy and improves sailing lines when heeled, but on the other hand raises the centre of gravity and reduces stability and also increases windage.”
The Stewart 34’s were very fast, both to windward and spinnaker running in fresh conditions. But the original rudder was too small and too shallow for the boat’s wide beam when sailing upwind and down; soon the Stewart 34 gained a reputation for being the first of the light displacement boats to unpredictably broach the rudder out of the water and lying on its side while skidding sideways amidst foam. This was an image that gleefully heartened older sailors who preferred classic yachts and who disliked the high wooded design and its new light displacement approach to sailing. However remedies were quickly put into place to rectify this failing:
“Pioneer’s rudder in Dixon’s shed, reshaping Stewart’s original design, adding depth for more efficiency and control. Enthusiasm, intense competition amongst Stewarts forcing radical changes. Bill (not interested in second place) Miller hoping for dramatic improvements. Foil boffin Dixon convincing all visitors that his high lift/low drag profiles were beyond question Race day, savage forecast, hydrodynamicist’s head down with flu, or food poisoning, (not fear) slept 14 hours – Maid Marion adamant that he is not going racing.
“Mast has a kink in it, looks bloody awful.”
“That’s the way it came back after Durgan used it – when the sails are up, looks okay,” says Miller, “let’s get away.
you blokes.”
“Lucky the mooring lines are tight, we’re still in gear, almost sunk the poor dinghy.”
“Plenty of wind above the bridge – still want to carry the No 1, Bill?”
“Put up the big one and we’ll set the kite too for a quick run down.”
“The big one?”
“There’s only one and that’s the big one – if you don’t get that kite up soon Vause, we’ll be starting with Akarana instead of Ponsonby.”
“Watch that starboard winch, the handle hasn’t a lock.”
“We don’t have quick divers on our boat either Bill.”
“Is that kite right up? About time too, gybe it, then drop it, we’re running out of time.”
“We’ll stooge around here for awhile – what’s happening with that pole, trying to spear a Kestrel, you guys?”
“That’s the way they always carry it – there’s big Innismara, she’s starting with us.”
“Good, we’ll have her for breakfast – where’s the rest of the Patikis?”
“Must have believed the forecaster for a change. The big spinnaker you reckon Bill?”
“The only one to use downhill.” (This is going to test Dixon’s rudder.)
“Minute fifteen to go – take up on the vang Vause ….. but get ready to let it go quick later.” (nervous laughter)
“Doesn’t look like Innismara is bothering with her kite.”
“Pole aft a bit, call me down Keith ……. we’ll make it. Get it up.”
“It’s not to the top – sheet, sheet, sheet her in – is it right up? – that was good work ….. ease the main.”
“Whoooeeee, we’ve planed away from the whole fleet.”
“We’ll have to come up to get around No 9 – let the pole forward. Whoops, not too much, sheet in, sheet in, hurry up – shit, let go the main ….. okay get get it back, that’s more like it.”
“Whoooeeee fourteen knots!!! (feels like the boat’s going to explode.)
“If we start to round up, let the main go, hang on to the kite sheet, it’s no bloody good collapsing the kite ….
Shiiit!!! “Drop the main, aaaaahhhhh!! – oh well, we’re well up to windward of the the mark now (sniggering) ….
that pole can come aft a bit, watch the jockey pole – well saved – you don’t need it now we’re running square anyway.”
“Squall coming – look at that Birdsall, wouldn’t like to be on that – whoooooopps!! – (banging, crashing, shouting, cockpit’s full of water up to my knees).
“Drop it John … can’t you reach the shackle? Let go the topping lift (Vause leaning out parallel to wind torn sea, fingers groping).
“I have it but it won’t budge.”
“Let the guy run, that’s all you can do now, you’ll have to undo the knot Keith – let the halyard go Mike, Got it, good, stuff it down the hatch.”
“There’s a lot of water below – probably came through the sink.” (sniggers)
“Y’know, this rudder doesn’t feel too good …… feels like it’s coming apart …… It can’t come apart can it Vause?
you put it together.”
“Put up the No 1 for the time being while they get the kite sorted …. Okay, when you guys are finally ready, put the small kite up, we can still win this race.”