Eighteen-footers found their way to Western Australia fairly early in their evolution in the 1890's and numerous intercolonial (and after Federation in 1901 interstate) contests were held, some of which were won by West Australian boats.
Aeolus 1904
Built by F Thomas and G Perry in Perth to a design by Billy Golding
Grant Rollerson sent in this shot which is a framed picture on the wall of the Mount’s Bay club in Western Australia. It depicts the local 18-footer Champion Aeolus which won the Australian Championship, technically the Perth Flying Squadron Challenge Cup in the 1906-07 season, steered by local legend Ted Tomlinson. Sydney’s Chris Webb came over with the Sydney Champion Australian (II) and was beaten in the one race that decided the Championship. When asked to explain his loss Webb replied: ”A little too much sail and a splendid opponent”
The Mounts Bay club had sent their 14-foot Champion Rene to Sydney in January 1905 where she won 3 of the 5 races she sailed, coming 2nd in the other two. West Australian sailors felt justified in challenging the Sydney 18-footers to send a boat over, and even more justified when Aeolus won. Mind you, in a second race a few days later Australian won. Australian also won the return match in Sydney the following season, with Jack Norris in Aeolus 2nd, and won in the 1908-09 season back in Perth. Aeolus was 3rd under Jack Norris again, and Ted Tomlinson was unplaced in Eunice.
Another rule in those days was that if the one boat (owner rather than skipper) won a cup three times they kept the cup. So for the 1911-12 season Mark Foy initiated the Mark Foy Challenge Cup. Held in Perth, it was won by new local boat Westana, steered by Chris Garland who had steered Swan into 3rd in the 1906-07 event. Ted Tomlinson was back at the helm of Aeolus but was unplaced. Aeolus does not seem to have raced after that, certainly not in any interstate competition.
The picture is what is sometimes referred to as “an illuminated address”, and they were common end-of-season productions. The Sydney Flying Squadron has several displayed. The term “illuminated address” comes from the fact that they often involved an address of appreciation to a particular person, usually owner and/or skipper. It’s great to have these to see the names and faces of the crew, which are often left out of the historical record otherwise.
Below: Tim Chandler came across this painting of an 18-footer in Perth, and we were stumped as to which boat it could be until Robin Elliott (author of Galloping Ghosts) pointed out that it was likely to be Aeolus which had a small Union Jack as her insignia early in her career (as in the above photo) but changed to a crescent at some stage.
Built by F Thomas and G Perry in Perth to a design by Billy Golding
Grant Rollerson sent in this shot which is a framed picture on the wall of the Mount’s Bay club in Western Australia. It depicts the local 18-footer Champion Aeolus which won the Australian Championship, technically the Perth Flying Squadron Challenge Cup in the 1906-07 season, steered by local legend Ted Tomlinson. Sydney’s Chris Webb came over with the Sydney Champion Australian (II) and was beaten in the one race that decided the Championship. When asked to explain his loss Webb replied: ”A little too much sail and a splendid opponent”
The Mounts Bay club had sent their 14-foot Champion Rene to Sydney in January 1905 where she won 3 of the 5 races she sailed, coming 2nd in the other two. West Australian sailors felt justified in challenging the Sydney 18-footers to send a boat over, and even more justified when Aeolus won. Mind you, in a second race a few days later Australian won. Australian also won the return match in Sydney the following season, with Jack Norris in Aeolus 2nd, and won in the 1908-09 season back in Perth. Aeolus was 3rd under Jack Norris again, and Ted Tomlinson was unplaced in Eunice.
Another rule in those days was that if the one boat (owner rather than skipper) won a cup three times they kept the cup. So for the 1911-12 season Mark Foy initiated the Mark Foy Challenge Cup. Held in Perth, it was won by new local boat Westana, steered by Chris Garland who had steered Swan into 3rd in the 1906-07 event. Ted Tomlinson was back at the helm of Aeolus but was unplaced. Aeolus does not seem to have raced after that, certainly not in any interstate competition.
The picture is what is sometimes referred to as “an illuminated address”, and they were common end-of-season productions. The Sydney Flying Squadron has several displayed. The term “illuminated address” comes from the fact that they often involved an address of appreciation to a particular person, usually owner and/or skipper. It’s great to have these to see the names and faces of the crew, which are often left out of the historical record otherwise.
Below: Tim Chandler came across this painting of an 18-footer in Perth, and we were stumped as to which boat it could be until Robin Elliott (author of Galloping Ghosts) pointed out that it was likely to be Aeolus which had a small Union Jack as her insignia early in her career (as in the above photo) but changed to a crescent at some stage.
Mele Bilo
Olympic yachtsman Andy White compiled a lot of information in a document he prepared in 2007 when 9 historical replica 18's from the Sydney Flying Squadron visited the Perth Flying Squadron to commemorate the original interstate contests. He has kindly given permission for it all to be presented here. First of all is the story of two boats named Mele Bilo, the second of which is on display at the Western Australian Maritime Museum.
Below is another photo of Mele Bilo II on the Swan River from Andy White's collection.
Mele Bilo II on Display
Mele Bilo II survived as a launch and was restored in the early 2000's and is on display at the magnificent Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle. See Andy White's details above. There are brief details on the restoration and a lines plan of the hull in an Appendix to The Open Boat book.
Photo Mike Lefroy
Photo Mike Lefroy