"The Skeg"
The First Skeg in August 1962 edited
jointly by Peter Burford, a Moth skipper of some prowess, and Peter Luck of ABC
documentary fame, carried a photo of ”Swift
II”, one of the States first Lightweight Sharpies.
Owned jointly by long standing Commodore, Ross Radcliffe
and equally long standing Vice Patron and Patron, Lloyd Dunn, it was crewed by Brian Gray
and the late Lance Goldney, with swash-buckling Radcliffe at the helm.
Preceded in the same stable by
Heavyweights “Brittania” and”Swift”, these were crewed by the late Ken
Townsend, (Rodney’s father) and Peter Bassel. All of the above were Life Members
except Peter and all except Peter and Brian have passed on.
We can’t trace Peter or Brian. These were second and third
generation Pioneers of the Club. The first
generation were 14 footer yachties of the Pat O’Grady, Barnie Oldfield, Barney
Parsons, Erky and Hartley Kelley ilk who merged into the second “new” 12 sq. m.
Sharpie generation of Alan and Bill Church, Herb Boase (Viking) and Jim Allen (Zephyr),
Ross and Russel Bowden, Colin Mosely, Bill Heywood, Dene Wylie and Colin Oehme. (pre and
post W.W. II). We could go on – those were the days.