Photo Gallery general

VJ Photos from all eras:

The ‘Go Jet Go Jay!’ brochure from the VJ Association was produced in 1968. Photos are mainly from the 1967-68 Australian championships which were held at Glenelg in South Australia.

(Please click on images to enlarge)

‘Impala III’ skippered by Warren Nupier on a screaming spinnaker reach at the Glenelg SA 1967-68 Australian Championships. ‘Impala III’ was a Don Fairbrother hull.

‘Cinder III’ skippered by Ian Hughes at left, with ‘Trekka’ from Pittwater in Sydney skippered by Rob Antill on the right

1967-68  Senior Australian Champion Big Mac (above) skippered by Grant McInnes and crewed by Ross McInnes narrowly misses a capsized VJ in the fresh conditions off Glenelg. Big Mac won successive Senior Australian VJ Championships in 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70.

‘Trudy-Ann” (above) skippered by Gary Bruniges of Belmont who won the next two Junior Australian VJ Championships in 1968-69 and 1969-70. This boat was lent to Gary for the series by renowned Belmont boat builder Darby Davis, and was then renamed ‘Shondell” after Gary bought the boat from Darby.

The undecked hull pictured above was made by Don Fairbrother of Lane Cove, Sydney who was one of the top VJ builders of the time.

‘Big Mac II’ from 1969 flies across Georges River at top speed

The photo above features one of the most famous VJ champions of them all: ‘Big Mac’ skippered by Grant McInnes and crewed by Ross McInnes from the Georges River Sailing Club. Grant and Ross won 3 Australian Championships in a row between 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70 at a time when there was top quality fierce competition coming from NSW, Victoria, SA and WA.

In the photo above is ‘Big Mac II’ pictured shortly after Grant and Ross won their second Australian title at Georges River in 1968-69. The hull was made by John Lackey from the Sutherland area and the sails were made by Jack Herrick. The photo was taken at Georges River.

The following year’s ‘Big Mac III’ in 1969-70 had many articles written about it in the sailing magazines of the day such as Modern Boating and Seacraft, and featured a new cedar plywood hull made by Don Fairbrother of Lane Cove. The Fairbrother hull had the innovative flared bow design plus many creative gadgets made by Grant and his dad.

‘Daze’ at Middle Harbour 1965

‘Daze’ at Middle Harbour Feb 1965. ‘Daze’ skippered by A. Day went on to win the 1965-66 Junior Australian Championship

‘Cygnet’ skippered by Dick Mann at Belmont, Lake Macquarie 1965

Vee Jay Association brochure 1966, the cover photo featured 1965-66 Junior Australian Champion ‘Daze’

Vee Jay Assn brochure 1966 p2

Vee Jay Assn brochure 1966 p3

Vee Jay Assn brochure 1966 p4

‘Notorious’ skippered by Danny Anderson at St George 1989-90

VJ 1975-76 Australian Championships Georges River

Australian champion ‘Jako Too’ skipped by David Jackson and crewed by Mick Jackson pictured at Georges River 1982

‘Why Not’ being carried into the surf at the Hervey Bay championships

‘Scotia II’ 1948-49 Balmain VJ Sailing Club

Peter McLeod contacted us with this story about his Dad’s VJ which was part of a ‘rebel’ group of Sydney VJ clubs which used larger spinnakers:

Good afternoon,

Not sure if you want this info but have read in the Afloat Magazine that the VJ’s are having an 80th reunion.

I have attached a photo of Dad’s boat – “Scotia II” that he (Ken McLeod) skippered in 1948 (Dave Shepherd – crew) with Balmain VJ Sailing Club. They were the 1948-49 NSW VJ (modifieds) State & Club Champions. I believe they were part of the rebel VJ fleet that used larger 80 sqft spinnakers.

These modified VJ’s (150 boats) sailed in Balmain, Birchgrove, Avalon, Greenwich, Lane Cove, Concord, Abbortsford, Gladesville River, Balmoral, North Bridge and Drummoyne Sailing Clubs.

Dad is still kicking at the ripe old age of 82 (albeit a little deaf), living in Putney (Ryde) in Sydney.

Hope all goes well with the reunion

Regards,

Peter McLeod

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier in WA #1

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier #2

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier at Connell’s Point in Sydney #3

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier #4

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier #5

‘Impala III’ Warren Nupier at Glenelg South Australia #6

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier #8

‘Impala’ Warren Nupier #9

Marc Turner and daughter Chelsea sailing his Don McGregor built VJ in Queensland

Marc and Chelsea Turner

Marc and Chelsea Turner #3

‘Hornet’ skippered by Don Cross on Botany Bay 1997

‘Wait For Me’ skippered by Brett Davis and crewed by David Sharpe blasts downhill during the 1990 Australian VJ championships held at St George Sailing Club

Taree girls at full stretch under spinnaker at the Belmont VJ Australian titles 1995-96

‘Big Apple III’ chases ‘Rattle and Hum’ and ‘Addiction’ in a 10 knot easterly  Belmont club race 14th Jan 1995

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ George Probert with temporary 1990s Skate mainsail Nov 2011

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ and ‘Joel B’ on Botany Bay 2002

1934 VJ Howard Ash #1

1934 VJ Howard Ash #2

1934 VJ Howard Ash #3

3 photos above from 1934 courtesy of Howard Ash taken of a VJ sailing in Middle Harbour Sydney

‘Big Apple II’ at Georges River Aust Titles Invitation Race 27th Dec 1993

‘Big Apple III’ at Belmont 14th Jan 1995: approaching the top mark  preparing for a spinnaker set

‘Big Apple III’ Belmont 14th Jan 1995: around the top mark with spinnaker set and centreboard up, in a 10 knot easterly the boat planes at top speed for this breeze

‘Notorious’ skippered by Graeme Talbot at Lake Macquarie 2006

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ was the Belmont 2003-2004 club champion

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ skippered by George Probert and crewed by Brett Lancaster

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ and ‘Joel B’ at the Taree Australian Championships 2003-2004

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ at Taree 2003-2004

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ sails back to the Georges River club after winning the 2004-2005 Australian VJ titles

‘Big Apple III’ at Belmont Nov 1994: in a 20 knot noreaster setting the spinnaker for the reach to the Marks Point wing mark

‘Big Apple III” at Belmont Nov 1994 #2

‘Big Apple III’ at Belmont Nov 1994 #3

‘Hornet’ on Botany Bay 2002

‘Joel B’ Leigh Lancaster

‘Natural High’ reaching to the Marks Pt wing mark 1995-96 Aust titles

‘Hornet’ at Teralba March 2012

‘Hornet’ at Teralba March 2012 #2

‘Hornet’ at Teralba March 2012 #3

‘Thunderbird’ on a fast reach in 20 knots + at the Georges River Aust titles 31st Dec 1994

1939 VJ

‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ George Probert and Dallis Dawson at St George 2001

‘Astronaut V’ skippered by John Morton was one of the top VJs to represent Gosford Sailing Club during the 1970s

‘Astron’ was Greg Fryer’s first VJ in the 1971-72 season at Concord Ryde Sailing Club pictured here launching at Belmont in the May 1973 Combined High Schools series.
‘Astron’ was the 3rd VJ in the ‘Astronaut’ series of 6 boats all built by the one boatbuiilder at Belmont

Freshwater Racing Sails 1970s emblem. Bruce Hewish made some of the best and most modern shaped VJ sails available in the 1970s, beginning with the legendary ‘Nu Hissy” who won the 1973-74 Australian Senior championships at Chelsea Victoria skippered by David Coates. The 1977-78 senior VJ winner ‘Its Catching’ from Belmont also used Bruce Hewish’s sails. Hewish had great success with his sails in the early 1970s  in the NS14 and Moth classes and went on to win the Australian 12 ft skiff title himself.

Blue Peter Sails label 1973. Hugh Treharne and his great team at Cremorne made some of the best sails of the day for VJs and other dinghies and skiffs

‘Small Quantity’ skippered by Nigel Hale at Belmont 1998-99

‘Small Quantity’ skippered by Nigel Hale prepares for a spinnaker set as they round the top mark at Belmont

‘Small Quantity’ planing fast on the reach to the Marks Point wing mark at Belmont

‘Small Quantity’ twin planking on the work

VJ No 13 with No 16 mainsail rigged at Gymea Bay, photo from 1949 courtesy of Roger Gregson

Roger’s story of his VJ No 13 ‘Eve” :

Dear fellow VJer

As an 8year old I would dream of sailing while watching boats being rigged for racing at was then the PORT HACKING OPEN SAILING CLUB, my first sail was on an 18’ ELWOOD SEAHORSE on a screaming southerly race day and the captain (Pop Collet) desperately needed a bail boy. I sailed the ELWOOD for 2years before my life changed to an ancient VJ.

I have in my photo collection one photo taken some 63 years ago of a VJ named “EVE” which was taken in Gymea Bay after I had re-built her.

I found EVE in a bad state of disrepair in a back yard at Kirrawee.

As a 10year old I rebuilt her (in our lounge room) to become a sailer once again –

            Specs.              Frames were built from 2’x1’ roofing battens (some dressed all round with some rough sawn)

                                    Sides and bottom were diagonally planked with Australian red cedar 12’’ wide by 3/8’’ thick

Deck was planked running bow to stern with 4” or 5’’ x 3/3” cedar.

Transom was dowelled and glued maple 1.25” thick

Centreboard was ¼” steel plate

All fittings were cast bronze

The foot well was canvas sided with a timber bottom allowing to lift the bottom up if it filled with water

All planking was caulked with cotton hemp and glazing putty, however when discovered she was lying in amongst a patch of weeds with grass growing through all planks. The grass had to be cut from underneath just to move her.

I had no money and the then owner (a Mr Simpson) said I could have the boat for as long as I wanted it and could do anything to it as long as I didn’t change the name and returned the boat to him when I no longer had a need for it.

Mast and boom were of well seasoned oregon hand shaped and all pulleys were wood blocks with bronze wheels.

Stamped into the keelson beneath a brass rubbing strip was the number 13 however the sail had a number 16 so I can only surmise that the sails were a later addition.

In the time I had her I replaced the boom with a very lite spruce rib from a Spitfire airplane (I think) and re-decked her with marine ply as the original cedar had warped incredibly.

At the beginning of the season 2 people could lift her but by the end of the season it needed 12. a 2.5” lift pump was fitted beside the centreboard case

I sailed EVE for 3-4years (often single handed) in the PORT HACKING OPEN SAILING CLUB (formerly located at Gymea Bay and then we built a Club house with child labour at the current Yowie Bay location) the Club may still have some old trophies bearing the name “EVE” as I managed to take out the Club point score twice and was runner up to the Championship before the more $ driven competition became too strong.

The last I heard of her was that she was a club boat at Abbotsford being used as a trainer but it is only hearsay.

If the association is interested in a copy of the pic please advise and I will email an attachment to you

Regards

Keep a wet bottom

Roger

VJ photos from Ross Telfer’s excellent book ‘How to Sail Small Boats’. The left hand photo features 1965 Senior VJ Australian champion ‘Panther’ skippered by Wayne Sharrack on a screaming kite run at Belmont

More photos coming soon