FAMOUS BOAT-BUILDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 354, 15 May 1928, Page 14

FAMOUS BOAT-BUILDERS

YACHTS FROM LOGANS’ YARD Though most people know a good deal about New Zealand’s boxers, footballers and runners, comparatively few know that in the domain of yachtbuilding the Dominion has in the past attained intercolonial supremacy and that even yet New Zealand-built craft are able to hold their own in any Waters. Despite the fact that these are aged and that no new ones are being built to replace them, they are able to keep the flag of New Zealand flying high. The champion boat of Sydney for the last five seasons was Rawhiti, a Loganbuilt racer. She was one of a fleet comprising Aoma, Sunbeam, Heather, Retrel, Culwalla and others that went from Logan Bros.’ yards to Australia. Years before Logan, sen., also bad sent over champion sailers. Even in far away Africa Logan boats are to be found. The winner of the Interport Cup was Logan-built, and many other competitors were from the famous design. ‘ Old Man Logan,” as yachtsmen distinguished the father from the sons, who traded as Logan Bros., introduced the Clyde design to the Waitemata, but he established a reputation more from the fact that he built boats to measurement instead of by the rule of thumb methods used by rivals. The ‘‘boys’ ” first big effort was Gloriana, launched in 1892 and still sailing merrily; Windward, Thistle, Ivotiri. Thelma, Rainbow, lorangi, Moana, Mizpah and Mahaki followed. Their names conjure memories of thrilling races, of men well known once but now almost forgotten; of many delightful cruises. But the boats still grace the Waitemata. Their builders have long since retired from building, except Mr. Arch. Logan, who designed the “M” class and was builder of Matarere, Maroro, Mawhiti and Marere.

Builders of boats have preferences among their creations, and Mercia was one of the favourites of the Logan family. She went to Sydney and Messrs. Arch, and William Logan and Robt. McCallum, of Auckland, sailed her on Sydney Harbour, completely outclassing Mr. Sam Hordern’s boat White Wings in 1898. In 1925 the Australian Yachting Monthly” spoke of her as ‘‘a wonderful flyer on any point of sailing and more than the equal of anything else afloat in Sydney Harbour.”

On her first race in Sydney the boat greatly disappointed her crew, not performing as she had before the races It was later found that she had lifted her anchor around the keel and had been towing it about the harbour.