Intense Rivalry- Webb refuses to take his start
Two red bars versus the Red Duster. HC Press II (Chris Webb) is definitely in front of Britannia (George Robinson) close to the Clark island turning mark or possibly the finish in this shot from the Harry Thompson Collection, Sydney Flying Squadron, late 1920's.
18-footer racing was always very competitive. The leading skippers were celebrities and there was money and kudos at stake. There is no doubt that Chris Webb was the greatest skipper ever in the 18-footers, but quite a few of the other skippers were close up there, including Wee Georgie Robinson in Britannia in the 1920’s. Wee Georgie had got second to Chris Webb in HC Press II in the 1921-22 season Sydney Flying Squadron Championship, was placed in both the SSC and SFS Championships in the following season (ahead of HC Press in both), second in the SFS Championship and the State Championship in 1923-24, and second again in the State Championship in 1924-25 (again ahead of HC Press). Webb and HC Press won the SFS Championship two years in a row in 1927-28 and 1928-29, but Wee Georgie finally cracked it in winning the SFS Championship in November 1929. Webb was third.
Chris Webb, the undisputed master of open boat sailing had a long career from the 1880's until the late 1930's. He won more Championship races than anyone. In the 1920's he was the helmsman of HC Press II and was for a long time the scratch boat at the Sydney Sailing Club and the Sydney Flying Squadron. He dropped the lip when the handicapper gave him a start of 15 seconds over Britannia, and refused to take the start.
Wee Georgie Robinson, Balmain Rugby League legend and builder/owner/skipper of Britannia. Always pushing up against the gun boats on Sydney Harbour with placing in quite a few Championship races, George and Britannia won two Championship races in the 1929-30 season and was on scratch for many weeks.
For the next Saturday’s handicap race the handicapper put Britannia on scratch, and HC Press on half a minute. Webb was so used to being the scratch boat that on the day he refused to take his start and held back until Britannia started in the final, and though both boats were unplaced, Britannia finished 9 seconds ahead. At the weekly meeting of the Squadron Webb was asked to explain himself, and he replied that he would not take a start from anyone. He accused George of having won the Championship by a fluke, and George accused Webb of bad sportsmanship. He refused to take his start on the following Saturday as well, and both boats were unplaced, though Webb finished ahead.
At that week’s meeting Webb was told he could be disqualified if he didn’t take his start again, but the issue didn’t arise on the following Saturday as HC Press was placed back on scratch with Britannia. There was a bit of argy-bargy, Webb forced Britannia onto a moored boat off Clark Island, but no umpire witnessed it so nothing could be done.
At that week’s meeting Webb was told he could be disqualified if he didn’t take his start again, but the issue didn’t arise on the following Saturday as HC Press was placed back on scratch with Britannia. There was a bit of argy-bargy, Webb forced Britannia onto a moored boat off Clark Island, but no umpire witnessed it so nothing could be done.
Four of the gun boats of the Sydney Flying Squadron in the 1920's in a line.
In the next race both boats were still on scratch, but were both unplaced in their heats, and the final was won by J.Courteney in Australia, so for the following Saturday Australia was placed 15 seconds behind scratch, with Britannia and HC Press on scratch. Australia was effectively giving both boats a start. Webb crossed the line on time to avoid being disqualified, but immediately eased sheets and waited until Australia started. All three were unplaced, but Britannia finished almost 3 1/2 minutes ahead of Press. Newspapers were highly critical of Webb, and the punters particularly were upset. The following week Webb took his start.
Webb won the second race in January 1930 after the Christmas break and for the next few weeks was back on scratch. On 22nd February Britannia proved that her November Championship win was definitely not a fluke by winning the State Championship (Press was 14th).
Webb won the second race in January 1930 after the Christmas break and for the next few weeks was back on scratch. On 22nd February Britannia proved that her November Championship win was definitely not a fluke by winning the State Championship (Press was 14th).
George Robinson proved that his win in the Club Championship in November 1929 was not a fluke by winning the NSW Championship in the same season in February 1930. HC PRESS II was halfway back in the field.
The intensity of their rivalry appeared to ease after that, and in the 1930-31 season Britannia couldn’t repeat the previous season’s form, and Webb left HC Press and started sailing Lan Taylor’s Keriki. Keriki was a slower boat and was never on scratch and Webb always took his start from then on.