October 7, 2024

 

Old Gaffers Beating (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Old Gaffers Beating (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

by Barry James Wilson

Gaff rigged boats are square rigged sailing boats with a spar (the Gaff) at the top.

They are called Old Gaffers because in the 1920’s a new rig came out which is the Bermudian rig.

The Old Gaffers festival started in 1959 after 3 Gaffer skippers had a race on the Solent.

 

Old Gaffers (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Old Gaffers (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival was held on the Solent for the 16th year on 26/27th May.

The boats are from the 1880’s to around the late 1920’s

Gaffers line the Yarmouth Harbour (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Gaffers line the Yarmouth Harbour (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

The festival takes over all of the harbour the town square and most of the ferry car park.

Harbour was full of old Gaff rigged yachts all decked out with flags

Old Gaffers with Flags Flying (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Old Gaffers with Flags Flying (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

 

Town square was taken over with a French market and entertainersAt last we had lost the rain we have had for the last 3 weeks and there was hot sun all weekend

Gaffers in Yarmouth Harbour (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Gaffers in Yarmouth Harbour (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

Race day on Saturday had winds from force 5 to force 7 which had the effect that only about 20 boats went out to race.

As the Solent has strong tides and the wind was from the east ( normally from the west ) you had wind over tide.

which made for some interesting  sailing.

 

Old Gaffer  Upwind (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Old Gaffer Upwind (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

As the boats are owned by enthusiasts and are so old most of the fleet would not risk the weather conditions .

WEST WIGHT SCOWS

 
 
Skipper/owner
1st
Martin Palmer
2nd
Roger P. E.
3rd
Graeme Bowen
 

THE TROPHIES

Arrival time – Harbour Commissioner’s Trophy

 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Lone Wolf
Pat & Dick Dawson
2nd
Tarka
Geoff & Jaye Lawson
3rd
Moonriver
Tim & Sheila Murray
 

Concours – the best turned out boat

First prize – The Mayor’s Cup

 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Lone Wolf
Pat & Dick Dawson
 
Blake Sims HMS Hurricane Trophy – The Boat who sailed the race course under difficult conditions occasioned by a tear in her mainsail before the start – repair effected which held.
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
High Barbaree
Tim & Liz Dodwell
 
The Petronella Cup – In memory of Dave Keller (Dave cruised his 16ft Petronella all along the South Coast and founded this Festival) – The Boat under 20ft who entertained us Friday and was game enough to go out racing Saturday.
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Miss Ningi
Bernard Bowes
 

SATURDAY’S YARMOUTH OLD GAFFERS FESTIVAL RACE

Overall winner – The Long Tackle Trophy

 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Zinnia
Ian & Sue Pople
 

The George Hotel Trophy

Class 1, over 31 feet waterline
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Jolie Brise
Toby Marris
2nd
Alice lll
Stephen Akester
3rd
Aeolus
Anthony Wheaton
 

The Bugle Hotel Trophy

Class 2, 27 feet or over but under 31feet waterline
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Susan J
Mike & Dan Shaw
2nd
Alicia
Chris Harnan
3rd
Maude
Dave & Margaret Moore
 

The Kings Head Trophy

Class 3, 23 feet or over but under 27 feet waterline
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Zinnia
Ian & Sue Pople
2nd
Rosenn
Barry Dunning & Bob Fisher
3rd
Betty ll
Ben Collins
 
Gaffers in the whitecaps (Photo by Barry James WIlson)
Gaffers in the whitecaps (Photo by Barry James WIlson)
 
 
The Wheatsheaf Trophy
Class 4, 19 feet or over but under 23 feet waterline
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Windflower
Malcolm McKeon
2nd
Nellie
Scott Waddington
3rd
Little Kingfisher
Hannah Cunliffe & Dan Matthews
 
Gaffer (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
Gaffer (Photo by Barry James Wilson)

Salty’s Trophy

Class 5 under 19 feet waterline.
 
 
Boat name
Skipper/owner
1st
Step Back in Time
Tony Kiddle
2nd
Spray
Steve Mitchell
 
 
 
 
Flags (Photo by Barry James Wilson)
 
 
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