DOLPHIN in its heyday, under spinnaker and racing for Queensland.

Images(7)

DOLPHIN under spinnaker early in the mid1930s

DOLPHIN shows off its unusual Queensland style of stem as it comes out of the shed after a ref…

Dolphin

Vessel numberHV000186

Sail NumberQ 19

Sail NumberQ 1

Sail NumberGR 195

Designer JH Whereat

Builder JH Whereat

Vessel class 21 Foot Restricted Class (1907 - 2007)

Date1933

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 7.62 m x 6.4 m x 2.44 m x 0.76 m, 1.97 tonnes (25 ft x 21 ft x 8 ft x 2.5 ft, 2 tons)

DescriptionDOLPHIN was designed by JH Whereat, built at the Whereat yard on the Brisbane River, Queensland and launched in 1933. DOLPHIN was carvel planked in Queensland red cedar, and built for AS 'Alf' Huybers who was a keen supporter of Queensland yachting. DOLPHIN is a 21 Foot Restricted Class yacht. This class was established in about 1913, and was Australia's first developmental yacht racing class.

DOLPHIN was launched at Whereats' Bulimba shed on 22rd September 1933, and the event was reported in Brisbane's Courier Mail Newspaper the following day, and included an image of the boat. The report noted " The boat took the water gracefully [and] given a trial with Lance Watts at the helm." Lance Watts was one of Queensland's premier skippers.

In the 1934 series held on Sydney Harbour DOLPHIN represented Queensland racing for The Forster Cup, the interstate competition for the 21 Foot Restricted Class. The 1930s marked a significant interest in the series by the Queensland fleet, which sent three-boat teams interstate to match their fierce rivals from Tasmania. Some states sent only one yacht or pulled out of the series altogether due to lack of funds and support. Although the economic Depression was the major cause of this decline in interest, the development of new designs, making older boats less competitive, was also a factor.

DOLPHIN's construction in 1933 showed that Queensland remained focused on winning the series. The craft was notable for its full and rounded foredeck plan, and an extreme stem profile also seen on other Whereat designs. The boat conformed to the class rules but the bow had an innovative knuckle at the measured waterline. Above that the stem was almost parallel to the water. When the yacht trimmed down with the addition of crew this increased the waterline length, almost up to the length overall with the aim of making the yacht more competitive.

While never winning The Forster Cup overall, DOLPHIN came second in the series twice, and in 1936 and 1939 won the Albert Cup, for the invitation race, both times skippered by Lance Watts. It also won a heat in The Forster Cup in 1939, 1948 and 1949, and last raced for Queensland in 1954.

As well as Lance Watts, a number of other high profile Queensland sailors helmed the yacht, including Eric McTaggart in 1934, Norman Wright Snr in 1947, and Vic Lucas in 1948 and 1950.

In 1960 DOLPHIN was one of number of 21s sailing in Victoria. The class disbanded in the mid-1950s. Most of the 21s were re-rigged with Bermudan rigs, often taken from International Dragons. Many were used as club training craft.

DOLPHIN's current owner found the boat in Elvina Bay, NSW and took it to South Australia. In 2008 DOLPHIN was part of the small but enthusiastic 21 Foot Restricted Class fleet racing regularly in Goolwa, SA. Almost all are rigged with aluminium spars and synthetic sails, keeping the class active after more than ninety years.
SignificanceDOLPHIN is a 1930s built, 21 Foot Restricted Class yacht from Queensland. The 21 Foot Restricted Class was established in about 1913 as Australia's first developmental yacht racing class. DOLPHIN's design featured the distinctive knuckled Queensland stem profile, a hallmark of its builder JH Whereat. The yacht was built in 1933, and won the Albert Cup in 1934. DOLPHIN was skippered by many high profile Queensland skippers over two decades and competed until the class was disbanded in the mid-1950s.

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