Magician V - winner of the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup |
Magician V with a weather position on the rest of the 1978 Quarter Ton fleet |
Even the winning yacht was not immune from being knocked down during the wild conditions encountered during the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup |
Magician V - winner of the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup |
Magician V sails upwind during the fresh conditions of the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup (photo Guy Gurney) |
Kamikaze Express (left), second overall, and Seaflyer (right), third overall |
Kamakaze Express - above and below, sailed by Mikio Tokano and designed by Toshio Kihara |
During the series, the mainland of Japan seemed to be teetering between two huge wind systems, so that depressions and anti-cyclones rushed past to the north and south, while the wind in between became extremely unpredictable in direction and strength. This coupled with a current that ran as much as four knots, creating seas that were often extremely rough and confused.
New Zealand had a design connection to the third placed boat, the Whiting-designed Australian entry Seaflyer, which finished with results of 5/7/2/1/3. Seaflyer was a development of Magic Bus, and of specially designed offset construction plywood and had a centreboard. Potentially Seaflyer
was the fastest in the fleet, but a lack of tuning time probably cost
the Australians the win. The boat had also been designed for optimum
performance in light to moderate winds and flat seas. Unfortunately it
blew hard for four of the five races, with vicious sea conditions common
throughout, churned up by a combination of wind and racing tidal
currents.
As it was, Seaflyer lost
the series by a mere two placings in the final 210 mile race – strong
winds and high seas in the last half of the race proved too much for the
lightweight centreboarder and she wasn’t able to hold off the
determined challenge from the two top Japanese yachts. Knowing they had
to finish two places ahead of Magician V in the final race, Hugh Treharne and his crew drove Seaflyer
to the limit, capsizing twice as they sought the achieve an overall
victory. Her first capsize came midway through the race, the result of a
wild broach under spinnaker. The second was at night while sailing
upwind – a rearing wave knocked the boat into an involuntary tack, while
the crew were still stacked on the weather rail. The Australians
recovered from that more frightening episode to finish behind Kamikaze Express and Magician V (profile plan, left) to take out second overall.
Another Japanese yacht, Paradice,
a Peterson-designed centreboarder, did not fare as well. On the last leg (upwind) in 25-35 knot winds and 12-foot seas, Paradice rounded up during a gust, and a wave caught her and tacked her. With the no.3 jib cleated and the double-reefed mainsail held by the running backstay, the boat lay on her side until a subsequent wave completely turtled her, the centreboard fell out of the boat, and water
poured in through the open companionway. The boat began to settle by the
stern, upside-down. The crew had just enough time to dive below to release the liferaft before the boat sank in 600 metres of water. The crew were rescued by a
passing freighter 17 hours later, having been swept 24 miles eastward by
a strong current into the main shipping lanes.
At least four other centreboarders capsized during the series, including the yacht Oooh Vind, a Groupe Finot design with a swiveling keel, controlled by a lever on deck that could be angled to windward, hopefully to provide a few extra degrees of pointing ability. The same gale force wind that hit Paradice caused Oooh Vind to promptly capsize, tossing all four crew into the sea, with one sailor nearly drowning. The capsizes all happened in the two long offshore races which had taken the fleet into the ‘black current’ waters at the entrance to Sagami Bay, where racing tides of up to four knots rip between rocky islands. The reaction of wind against current whipped up short, steep waves which at times looked – and felt – like brick walls. Many competitors were critical of the organisers for sending the small yachts into what was considered to be a dangerous sailing area. Altogether there were 23 DNF’s in the series, and six earlier retirements did not even start in the final race.
Of the three New Zealand crews competing, the best effort was tenth overall by Black Arrow II, a Peterson design skippered by Tony Bouzaid (16/12/12/9/18). Mark Patterson, sailing the Holland design Vago, withdrew after a win and a dismasting, while John Bonica in Self Whiting finished 22nd overall, after suffering from a torn mainsail that forced her retirement from the final offshore race. Helmer Pederson skippered the Japanese yacht Rodem V, which was uncompetitive and finished 17th.
A film of the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup can be seen below.
Part of the 32-boat fleet soon after a start during the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup |
German entry Four Samurais designed by Axel Mohnhaupt finished fourth overall (with placings of 1/5/9/4/8) |
Japanese yacht Shoun A approaches a gybe mark - she finished ninth overall |
Four Samurais leads Magician V into a leeward mark during the 1978 Quarter Ton Cup |
At least four other centreboarders capsized during the series, including the yacht Oooh Vind, a Groupe Finot design with a swiveling keel, controlled by a lever on deck that could be angled to windward, hopefully to provide a few extra degrees of pointing ability. The same gale force wind that hit Paradice caused Oooh Vind to promptly capsize, tossing all four crew into the sea, with one sailor nearly drowning. The capsizes all happened in the two long offshore races which had taken the fleet into the ‘black current’ waters at the entrance to Sagami Bay, where racing tides of up to four knots rip between rocky islands. The reaction of wind against current whipped up short, steep waves which at times looked – and felt – like brick walls. Many competitors were critical of the organisers for sending the small yachts into what was considered to be a dangerous sailing area. Altogether there were 23 DNF’s in the series, and six earlier retirements did not even start in the final race.
Papillon |
Magician V sails upwind in moderate conditions |
Magician V seen in a more forlorn state in Japan in recent times |
If you would like to hear the perspective of the series from a young kiwi sailor who built the rig, centerboard and fitted out, rigged and helmed Kamakaze Express with Mikio Tokano, I'm here, let me know.
ReplyDeleteHi, i have just obtained a Paul Whiting QT in Australia. I'd love to get some of your specialised knowledge on the rig!
DeleteHi Team Scribe, yes please, it would be great to hear a first-hand perspective. You can use the email address above - rb_sailing@outlook.com
ReplyDelete