Sea Spray April 1951

Every year more and more Canterbury yachtsman have been designing and building "Leander R Class" yachts, and the Class has become so popular that the Canterbury Sailing & Power Boat Association has approved the Class being put on a national basis. Whereas other New Zealand yachting Classes are so severely restricted to one design that no scope is left for the builder for improvements, the "Leander R Class" is restricted only in size and power, and the design and gear is left "as free as the breeze," giving the amateur boat builder and designer full scope to build better and faster boats. In the official Specifications it is set out that the objects of the Class are *"to give yachtsmen the opportunity of developing fast racing centre-board yachts by putting into practice their own ideas in design and build."* This freedom in design has enabled amateur boatbuilders in Canterbury to build many beautiful racing dinghys. Some idea of their success may be judged by the fact, that although they are limited to 12ft 9in length and carry only 110sq. ft. of working sails plus a spinnaker, they will outsail any "Idle-Along" on any course in any weather. Visiting "Idle-Along" yachtsmen at the 1950 Moffat Cup Contest, who saw the Frantic R9 perform at the Charteris Bay Club Regatta, will appreciate this statement. The best of the R Class will outsail any other small boat class at present in New Zealand, and will hold their own with "Sanders" Cup fourteen footers. A yacht that is light for transport, will beat to windward like a charm with finger tip control of the helm, and will plane on a lead and off the wind at speeds of up to 18 miles per hour, is surely a joy to own. The knowledge that it incorporates some of your own ideas in design and gear adds to your pleasure. Full detailed official Specifications may be obtained on application from the "R" Class Committee, but in the meantime the following is a summary of the few restrictions (compare with the modern rules ). Length not exceeding 12ft 9in Beam not less than 4ft 6in Must be round bilge and planked with any timber. Plywood cannot be used for planking, but maybe used for deck bulkheads and centre case etc. Transom bows are not allowed, and the stem head *must not* exceed 6in in width Gear, spars and sails of any design Working sails not to exceed a total of 110sq.ft. Spinnaker not exceeding 100sq.ft. can be used off the wind and leading To perpetuate the memory of those New Zealanders who made the supreme sacrifice whilst serving in the Navy during World War II, a handsome trophy has been donated for Annual Competition. This Leander Trophy is in the form of a Cenotaph on which is mounted *the actual* "*crest*" *carried by* *H.M.N.Z.S. Leander* *during the War* and the Ship's motto "*Qui Patitur Vincit.*" In view of the memory it will perpetuate, it is hoped the contest will eventually be as well known as the Cornwell and Sanders Cup Contests. The Contest is run over a series of races under the Clive Highet point system. In addition to the Championship for the "Leander Trophy," all boats are given sealed handicaps for other prizes, so that the boats not fast enough to win the championship still have equal chances of gaining prizes under handicaps. The first Contest for the Leander Trophy was held on the Christchurch Estuary on Saturday, March 31st and Sunday, April 1st, 1951.

"Who ever heard of dinghies with fingertip steering?" and "as for the claim of 18mph" says Onlooker in Sea Spray's 1951 May issue.