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races for metre classes. Nothing happened for four years as yachts
continued to race on their performance handicaps as before.
hen Wilkinson published an editorial in New Zealand
Yachtsman of March 3, 1912 pleading the case for metre class
racing, not so much for the beneit of the racing but for the
purpose of encouraging new keel yacht building. Finally, at
its 1912 AGM, the activists persuaded the committee of the
Squadron to award its Governor’s Cup to the 6-metre class.
It’s a big subject, and it is suicient to say that the push for
metre class racing and metre class yachts in this country soon
failed despite some valiant eforts by the likes of Colin Wild
with his 6-metre Delville.
With this background, Endean cautiously ensured that
Bailey designed his new yacht to conform to the Metre Rule
as an 8-metre. Not surprisingly, as Bailey’s yard started
construction in May 1923, it became clear that Endean’s yacht
was coming out quite like Rawene.
Bailey’s yard was very busy in 1923 with a wide variety of
work. he irm had recently built the ferry Makora and carried
out the insulation work on the holds of the steamer Admiral
Codrington for carrying frozen meat. Endean’s yacht was started
in May 1923, in frame by June and nearing launching by early
October. “Speedwell” described her in the Auckland Star:
“Mr W.P. Endean’s new 8-metre yacht is nearing completion
at C. Bailey’s yard. Her outside work is about inished, except
for the inal coat of white. he lead was run last week and is a
good cast. Electric light is itted in the main cabin, also in the
fore-cabin, where a gimballed cooking stove is to be itted. hemast is ready for the rigging – it is a straight-grained piece of
Oregon, six inches in diameter. he main rigging will not rest
on the crosstrees but is to be carried to substantial cleats on the
mast 3ft. 6in. above the cross trees.
“he running rigging will be of steel wire set up with short
tackles, thus eliminating the sag and stretching always present
with rope halyards. he cabin is inished in white, picked out
with gold. Above the cushions on each side is a shelf, about six
inches wide, set of with a neat nickelled rail.
“hree mirrored panels on the for’ard bulkhead add to the
appearance of the cabin, while four good lockers on the after
bulkhead make for convenience. Now the boat is painted, her
symmetrical and powerful lines can be seen to better advantage.
She will be ready before the end of this month, and the owner
has chosen the Prize as her name, after the mystery ship
commanded by Lieutenant Sanders, V.C.”
Unsaid in this were two important features of the yacht.
Firstly, like most top-class Auckland yachts since Robert Logan
Sr introduced the technique from the Clyde in the 1870s, her
hull was three-skin diagonally built.
Secondly, Prize had a conventional gaf cutter rig. he strong
contemporary trend to a bermudan rig had passed her by. After
all, the gaf rig had its virtues; it was by now highly developed
and was also “proper” wear for a major yacht. Prize was
launched from Bailey’s yard in Beaumont Street on Saturday 27
October 1923. She loated to her marks.
In the next issue I’ll take the story of Prize to her purchase
by Bressin hompson during WWII and beyond. BNZ