Syncronicity 2

It is always worth digging out the history of the car, plane, boat, piano or whatever you are rebuilding - It gives you more contact with the project - makes it more personal...

I've been doing just that with the skiff over the last couple of weeks. When we first tracked it down and agreed to buy it, I emailed John Harris, who I had met at the 2008 Moth Worlds in Weymouth last July. John did a bit better than me that week - He won the event outright and is the current moth champion! - whereas (for once) I can only look back at gear failure, rig failure and finally - most unlike me, sense of humour failure!!

For his regular ride, John steers the 18ft-er 'Rag and Famish Hotel' (known the world over as 'The Rag') and is Commodore of the Australian 18 ft Skiff League - the world governing body for the class, so he was definitely the best person to call for some background!

There have only been 60 or so modern (murray design) 18 ft skiffs built so I knew there would be some information available about the boat and I was hopeful that the governing body for the class would have some record or other. John replied to my email straight away - and knew more about the boat than I imagined - because he used to sail it!!

He went on to explain that the boat was built in 1996 by Julian O'Mahony in Sydney and was originally called Tyrell's Wines. She was steered by John when he was just 20 years old and in his first season in it, in the 97 world championship (JJ Giltinan Trophy) she was placed 3rd, a year later in 98, John and his now regular crew of Craig and Rissole hustled her up another place overall to 2nd in the JJ... Come forward another year and at the 99 Championship, with the boat now owned by Tim Robinson and sponsored by the clothing manufacturer Rockport clothing, she wins the series. Maybe the only boat to have been placed 3rd, then 2nd then 1st in the class's pinacle event... Neat!