Mucking About in Boats – Small Craft for Pleasure

Two of the small boats on display here are typical of training craft which played a vital role in the early sailing experiences of the Australia II crew. From the early 1930s the VJ (Vaucluse Junior) was a popular training yacht. It was the class which started the racing careers of both Australia II designer Ben Lexcen and skipper John Bertrand. They were both outstanding junior sailors - John twice won the VJ national titles, the first as a 14-year-old.  The VJ on display is Storm which raced on the Swan River in the 1970s.

The oldest junior training craft in Australia is the 12-foot cadet dinghy designed in 1924. The one on display here is Scylla which raced on the Swan River in the 1950s and 60s. John Longley began his racing career in cadets in WA. Jim Hardy, skipper of three America’s Cup challenges, was also a champion cadet sailor from South Australia.

Left to right: Vaucluse Junior Storm, heavy weight sharpie Jason, and 12-foot skiff Scylla. 
Credit: WA Museum