tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10882921.post4706877218427637054..comments2024-03-17T17:59:44.193+00:00Comments on Bill's Log: Windmill SailboatsWilliam Serjeanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18419676353659137355noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10882921.post-24463276436307682672015-10-08T22:02:27.195+01:002015-10-08T22:02:27.195+01:00Thanks for that Alden.
I like the Yachting World ...Thanks for that Alden.<br /><br />I like the Yachting World Diamond, and I had the good fortune to crew on the first one to appear at Burnham. She was close-winded and fast.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Bill.<br />William Serjeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18419676353659137355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10882921.post-58715939959142152382015-10-08T08:59:56.621+01:002015-10-08T08:59:56.621+01:00The last time I saw one of these was in the 1970s ...The last time I saw one of these was in the 1970s here in Whangarei. It was made by a Mr Jim Bates who among other things ran a foundry at McLeods Bay making rather nice cast bronze winches. He was a great inventor and in his younger days was on Sir Edmond Hillarys team that went to the South Pole on Fergie Tractors. This was a rather controversial act at the time as they were supposed to be laying supply depots of fuel for Sir Vivian Fuchs Polar expedition. When they finished laying the fuel drops they set out for the Pole beating Sir Vivian, whoops! <br /><br />To make his windmill boat Bates cut a Yachting World Diamond yacht right up the middle and widened it, then fitted his wind propulsion device. It was very successful and I remember seeing him puttering around the harbour. <br /><br /><br /><br />Alden Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06601028197387499096noreply@blogger.com