Revival

Vessel numberHV000066

Sail NumberVJ 43

Vessel class VJ Class (1931 - 2012)

Date1938

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 3.5 m x 1.08 m (11.5 ft x 3.55 ft)

DescriptionREVIVAL is an early example of the VJ or Vaucluse Junior class which began in the eastern suburbs of Sydney in 1931. Vaucluse resident Sil Rohu worked with naval architect Charles Sparrow to build a prototype and create a set of builder's plans. The VJ was to be a small training craft for young sailors at the local club.

It was an ideal craft. The 3.5 m single chine hull shape with a flat deck and small well for a cockpit was simple to build and well suited to amateur construction. The planing hull shape was fitted with a rig that included a spinnaker. This offered exciting sailing and trained crews in all aspects of boat handling. The class became popular quite quickly and spread to clubs in other states.

REVIVAL was built in 1938 and first sailed by John Winning who has since become a champion sailer in many classes including the 18-foot skiffs. He won the inaugural Commonwealth Championship and in the following year F. O'Sullivan sailed REVIVAL to its second win in a row in the same event. The hull is built in plywood and the craft represents an early use of this material in small craft construction.

In 1988 REVIVAL was donated to the Sydney Heritage Fleet in original condition, complete with wooden spars and cotton sails. The mainsail carries a blue star insignia which signifies it was a Commonwealth champion. The craft is now on display at the Wharf 7 premises for the Sydney Heritage Fleet in Darling Harbour, NSW.
SignificanceREVIVAL is a plywood racing dinghy built in 1938. It was raced on Sydney Harbour and is an early example of the very popular VJ sailing dinghy which spread to most states in Australia as a national class. REVIVAL was the first winner of the Commonwealth Trophy for interstate competition in the class. Its owners, the Winning family, have been significant sailors on Sydney Harbour for a number of decades.