Robin Elliott muses the differences between the Aussie 19ft skiffs and the M-class  .....  read on

Could the next M-class be named Mangere?

One of the most interesting features of the recent meeting between the M-class and Sydney ’s replica 18-foot skiffs was not necessarily the racing, although that was spectacular enough, but that of a meeting of two quite different sailing cultures. One, based upon a collection of kauri planks assembled to a set of rules and carrying rigs as modern as their owners can get away with; the other, based upon the relatively unlimited rules and designs of a previous age, and a serious attempt to recapture a past glory. A glory that is so deeply ingrained, that their replica boats carry dedications to the long dead skippers of the originals.

The Kiwi M-Class crews, as we have come to expect, were all enthusiasts who relish in getting the best out of a class of boat constructed in an obsolete medium, but holding no real stake in its past history beyond their own personal involvement. By comparison, many of the Australian sailors were second and even third generation 18-footer men, brought up on their fathers and grandfathers stories, and keenly following a tradition. In the old days, it was not uncommon to nominate your son for membership at birth, so by his early 20’s, he was already a life member of the Flying Squadron or the League and thus continued the family tradition. This probably does not happen today but it does say something about an older member’s intentions to be a part of this scene long after they have passed on. In Sydney in January the legends were on display.

The visitors were enthusiasts advancing a culture, the locals were enthusiasts re-living a culture.

The Australian (or rather Sydney-sider’s) affection for their “Aydeens” goes far deeper than anything we have here and says a lot about their ownership of the type and their pride in where they have come from. A casual trawl through the yachting columns of Sydney newspapers up to the 1960’s will throw up a myriad of skiffs, and not just 18’s either, named Crows Nest, St George, Toogara, or Dee Why, as well as Commonwealth, Federal, NSW, and countless skiffs over many decades named Australia or Australian.  They have even named them Donnelly, Billo or Chris Webb, after long dead boat builders and sailing heroes.

Some would say (notably R. Elliott July 2002) that perhaps the sheer lack of imagination by the Aussies in naming their boats was down to them being short of a few decent dictionaries at an impressionable age, but it’s really down to an intense local and in turn, national pride that when applied to something as true-blue Australian as the 18-footers, set against a background of a strong local rugby league club culture, overcomes the cringe factors and makes the veneration of your suburb or country, quite acceptable and even patriotic.

How many Kiwis have named their boats, Devonport, Ponsonby, Parnell or even Auckland or New Zealand? How about Billy Rogers or Archie? It’s just not “us”, is it?  At overseas sporting events, we are quite happy as a group, to swelter in black jerseys, wave a kiwi flag and hold up stuffed brown birds with yellow beaks and chant “All Black, All Black”, and “C’mon Kiwi”, until our ears bleed, but, apart from the renowned Geoff Smale and his FD’s named Takapuna, how many yachtsmen have named their boats after their home suburbs or country, and then raced them exclusively on the local scene?

Name your boat Parnell and go race it with the Devonport and Ponsonby clubs? Nah, TOO embarrassing!!

The only suburb really parochial enough to do it is Northcote which has never been the same since they had the Harbour Bridge dumped their in front yard, and still nurture a seething resentment to all foreigners, but even they haven’t bothered. It’s not a very Kiwi thing to do is it?

If we ever managed to avoid feeling totally embarrassed by rampant patriotism, the only decent name for an M would be Milford but Owen really missed that chance didn’t he?

Mount Eden, Mount Albert and suchlike don’t really work, do they? As for Manukau, Mangere, and Manurewa ….well the instant those M’s appeared down at Okahu Bay, all the Paritai Drive residents would be up in arms claiming that their property values were being undermined.

Not sure where this rant had actually got us, but whatever happens, I guess the only thing you can be truly grateful for is that Canterbury and Otago don’t start with the letter M.