KISMET was built by Charlie Dunn for the four Ravell brothers and raced until 1941. Photo Hall Collection, ANMM.
Yours Truly Ian Smith was contacted by Hobart resident Sally Holt some time ago with the news that she had some trophies which mention the SFS and the 18-footer KISMET. Sally’s step-father was the late Barrie Ravell, son of Dave Ravell the owner/skipper of KISMET, and the trophies were in Barrie’s house in Melbourne so it has taken a while for Sally to get the trophies and arrange a visit to Sydney where she had agreed that the SFS was the obvious home for them, and offered to donate them.
On Wednesday 12 March Sally and her partner Stuart Mackley arrived at the Squaddie and presented the trophies. AHSSA member and SFS Historian John Steamer Stanley had arranged a lunch for them and had also invited Dennis DeMuth the trophy expert, Adrienne Jackson who did so much work on the Honour Board book Setting Sail for the Great War which contained much information on the 4 Ravell brothers (two of whom did not return from the War) and KISMET, Neil Ravell who is George Ravell’s Grandson, and Judy Spicer whose family were great friends of the Ravells, and Yours Truly.
Dennis was able to tell us that two of the trophies were made in the UK and imported by a jeweller named W Kerr in George Street. In fact the largest trophy, the Kerr Cup was presented by Kerr himself to the “Boat With Best Record For Second Half of Season 1935”and was solid Sterling silver. The boat of course was “KISMET, D.C. Ravell”, so this valuable trophy was a one-off, not a perpetual trophy. In fact one of the other trophies, an electroplated cup was presented to KISMET two seasons later for the same thing.
The most intriguing one was a large shallow cup, a sort of tureen which was also solid silver and had the inscription “Testimonial Shark Race….Presented to KISMET, DC Ravell. A bit of research on Trove revealed that on Sunday 14 April 1935 a special race was held jointly by the Balmain Dinghy Club (10-footers), the Pyrmont Flying Squadron (canvas 12-footers) and the Sydney Flying Squadron to raise money for two men John Barrett and Carl Read (or Reid) who had heroically gone into the surf at Narrabeen to retrieve Herbert McFarlane who had been mauled by a shark. They brought McFarlane to shore but he died on the way to Manly Hospital, on 3 March.
Three thousand people crammed on ferries to watch the race which was quite eventful, being run in a strong cold Westerly which saw several 10s and 12s capsize, spilling their crews which contained a number of Tivoli dancing girls. The race was won by KISMET.
Dennis was able to tell us that two of the trophies were made in the UK and imported by a jeweller named W Kerr in George Street. In fact the largest trophy, the Kerr Cup was presented by Kerr himself to the “Boat With Best Record For Second Half of Season 1935”and was solid Sterling silver. The boat of course was “KISMET, D.C. Ravell”, so this valuable trophy was a one-off, not a perpetual trophy. In fact one of the other trophies, an electroplated cup was presented to KISMET two seasons later for the same thing.
The most intriguing one was a large shallow cup, a sort of tureen which was also solid silver and had the inscription “Testimonial Shark Race….Presented to KISMET, DC Ravell. A bit of research on Trove revealed that on Sunday 14 April 1935 a special race was held jointly by the Balmain Dinghy Club (10-footers), the Pyrmont Flying Squadron (canvas 12-footers) and the Sydney Flying Squadron to raise money for two men John Barrett and Carl Read (or Reid) who had heroically gone into the surf at Narrabeen to retrieve Herbert McFarlane who had been mauled by a shark. They brought McFarlane to shore but he died on the way to Manly Hospital, on 3 March.
Three thousand people crammed on ferries to watch the race which was quite eventful, being run in a strong cold Westerly which saw several 10s and 12s capsize, spilling their crews which contained a number of Tivoli dancing girls. The race was won by KISMET.
From left: Dennis De Muth, Steamer, Adrienne Jackson, Neil Ravell, Sally Holt and Stuart Mackley at the SFS handover.
Two other trophies, the smaller goblet-type are both electroplated and were both inscribed “Commodore J.J. Watt Trophy”. A Trove search came up empty but further research will ensue and we will update later.
The electroplated cup mentioned above as being the second one presented to KISMET for the best record in the 2nd half of the season was presented by Dom McCloskey and research by Steamer revealed that McCloskey turns out to have been (briefly) the publican at the Dominion Hotel on the corner of Market and Clarence Streets. Publicans were common on the lists of trophy donors and boat owners at that time. The trophy is clearly engraved "Don" but his newspaper advert (below) says "Dom". This trophy will be rebirthed at the Sydney Flying Squadron to honour past members who have made significant contributions to the club. The first recipient will be the late Bill Hughes.
The Kerr Trophy will be rebirthed and awarded to the handicap winner of the last race of the season, chosen because this is the closest race to Anzac Day and is significant because the four Ravell brothers who owned KISMET all went off to the First World War and two of them did not return.
The Sydney Flying Squadron expresses its gratitude to Sally for this wonderful donation.
Two other trophies, the smaller goblet-type are both electroplated and were both inscribed “Commodore J.J. Watt Trophy”. A Trove search came up empty but further research will ensue and we will update later.
The electroplated cup mentioned above as being the second one presented to KISMET for the best record in the 2nd half of the season was presented by Dom McCloskey and research by Steamer revealed that McCloskey turns out to have been (briefly) the publican at the Dominion Hotel on the corner of Market and Clarence Streets. Publicans were common on the lists of trophy donors and boat owners at that time. The trophy is clearly engraved "Don" but his newspaper advert (below) says "Dom". This trophy will be rebirthed at the Sydney Flying Squadron to honour past members who have made significant contributions to the club. The first recipient will be the late Bill Hughes.
The Kerr Trophy will be rebirthed and awarded to the handicap winner of the last race of the season, chosen because this is the closest race to Anzac Day and is significant because the four Ravell brothers who owned KISMET all went off to the First World War and two of them did not return.
The Sydney Flying Squadron expresses its gratitude to Sally for this wonderful donation.
There is more information on the boat and more images on her alphabetical entry on the 18-FOOTERS Page including the fact that KISMET raced for 25 seasons over 28 years, the 3rd-longest career after SCOT with 43 seasons and DESDEMONA with 31.