FAMOUS OLD YACHTSMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 390, 26 June 1928, Page 14

FAMOUS OLD YACHTSMAN

LATE TOM HENDERSON INTEREST IN THE BOYS The small boat classes, including the 14-footer, viewed as training and racing departments of yachting, may fairly be said to have been started by the late Tom Henderson. Although there were such races before his time, he enunciated the argument that, in view of the lack of training resulting

from the use of power-driven boats, the younger generation should be especially supervised in acquiring nautical knowledge. He organised the Devonport Dinghy ■ Club, and many yachtsmen remember the kindly old man who was so enthusiastic in coaching them. The class was taken up by Commodore Murdoch and the late Mr. Alex. Alison (the latter considered the finest small-boat man on the harbour). Then came the elevation of the class into the Jellicoe class m an attempt to standardise building, and to promote Dominion-wide competition. , ,3 Son of a famous father, who had founded the first shipping company on the Waitemata, Thomas Henderson early became prominent in athletics and football, assisting in the first club formed, rowing and yachting. For some years he lived in Australia, but a.fter his return to his native city again took an active part in sports. The Sparkle, Rita, Spray, the famous Volunteer and other boats were sailed by him as owner-skipper. He was one of those who formed the Auckland Yacht Club, the forerunner of the Royal New Zealand Yach Squadron, and for 40 out of his 76 years was regarded as the chief in yachting circles, not only in point of personal popularity but in actual feats of seamanship. He was a wellknown member of the Regatta Committee, keen to develop both sailing and rowing. In his later days fortune forsook him, but he never lost interest in the sea or boats. By curious circumstance the sad task of arranging, in 1924, Mr. Henderson’s funeral, fell to Mr. J. B. Graham, who 70 years before, had sailed toy boats with him oft the Wynyard Pier at the foot of Fort Street.