Too Much Or Not Enough

Conditions in the bay for the national Cherub class yachting championships were diverse, to say the least.

One day there was such a flat calm that boats had to be towed to the starting point.

On another, a southerly buster which struck the bay without warning put all but 10 entrants out of business.

There were as many as 46 yachts in one of the races - more sail on the bay than had ever been seen before.

It made a great sight from the shore, and many hundreds of residents were to be found at the beaches watching.

Winner of the series was Toledo, sailed by A. Reid with R. Beetson as crew, an Otahuhu entry.

A wonderful sight: nearly 50 yachts pictured shortly after the start of the first race.

In the Easter Saturday storm, one of the boats ended up on Waikanae Beach.

Sudden squall caught many competitors off-balance: dramatic picture by Herald photographer shows two boats in trouble.

White sails on a black sea: yachts with their coloured spinnakers filled by the gentle breeze approach one of the buoys?

George Hemsley, with Neville Jenkins as crew, sails No. 1, the original Cherub yacht, in the series. It was also the first Cherub ever to be seen in Gisborne, back in 1955, but left the scene again after a year or two. The historic craft was bought by George in 1960, and refitted with new buoyancy tanks, spars, and sails.

Launches were hurriedly requisitioned to tow yachts to the starting line for the fifth race. The wind was so light and only a few entrants were in position when the flag went down, and the course was shortened as the race progressed. Yachtsmen were impressed with the bay as a testing ground with almost no advantages accruing from local knowledge.

Illicit, winner of the fourth race, pictured with one of her crew "trapezing" in the southerly buster.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 95 : May 17, 1962

Too Much Or Not Enough