Tumlaren Titles
Jim Hutchinson’s DINGO. Who needs a planing hull?
There are, as far as I‘m aware, only two timber boat One Design fleets in Australia, that can put on genuine state titles.
In February the Derwent Class held there championships in Hobart. There were 12 boats competing in that event, over a day of six short races. We covered that amazing regatta HERE.
Well it was Melbourne’s Tumlaren fleet’s turn last weekend. There were only 6 boats entered due to a couple of late withdrawals, but it’s a realistic goal to have eight sailing next year, and ten in 2027.
It’s interesting to consider the similarities between the two classes. The first D was launched in 1927, the first Tum in 1933. D’s have a crew of four, Tum’s have a crew of three. D’s are 24ft 6in long (plus a sprit), Tums 27ft 3in. Both are engineless and fun to sail. Perhaps these parameters indicate a sweet spot for this type racing?
Following the generosity of George and Sarah Low hosting the Tum community at their elegant home, Oberwyl on Friday evening, the Victorian States were held over the weekend of the 29th and 30th March with two windward leewards on Saturday and a fixed mark course on the Sunday. I found myself in RMYS rescue boat helping to lay marks and taking photographs. I’ve spent a bit of time recently sailing these seductive craft so it was good to observe the racing with a degree of objectivity. And I can definitively say that this was the highest standard of wooden boat racing I have seen on Port Phillip for twenty years.
ETTRICK with custodian Gordon Tait disappearing behind the Port Phillip chop
Hosted by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron the world was again given the opportunity to see why the Knud Reimers designed Tumlaren has survived and thrived through their 88 years of whatever Port Phillips could through at them.
And it was classic Port Phillip autumn conditions this time around….. overcast, with a gnarly one metre chop over rolling swell and 15 - 20knots of breeze. Everyone was always going to get wet.
The outcome of both day one races saw the long time champion YVONNE, continue her progress through the record books of the Victoria State Titles. With around 30 Sydney to Hobarts, years of sail design and testing for Italian America’s Cup Campaigns in San Diego and a Whitbread Race between them, the helm (Dave Allen) and main sheet hand (Aaron Cole of North Sails) were always going to be hard to beat! Both one-design and performance honours went to them. DINGO and SKIPJACK took the minor placings with seven corrected time seconds separating each Tumlaren.
Dave Allen and Aaron Cole guide YVONNE to victory
Sunday’s weather provided much of the same but with a little more wind and the race officers managed to get a start underway just under the wind limit for racing these old boats.
James Waters testing his core on SNOW GOOSE
It was gusting over 25knots and the waves were building all night as ZEPHYR was forced to retire with spreader damage. YVONNE again mastered the conditions and bolted in true Selim Nurminen fashion. The tight race was for second. Presentations were in the RMYS Committee room where the original decision to select the Knud Reimers design Tumlaren for the club was made 88 years ago. RMYS Commodore Cherry Birch opened proceedings and Peter Costolloe made a robust and entertaining trophy presentation. (full results HERE)
Bert Ferris would be proud.
Kath Solly forward hand aboard ZEYPHR
Ben Solly trimming on SKIPJACK
FOR A FULL SELECTION OF 100 PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EVENT VISIT OUR EARLIER POST
Postscript- If reading about this special event and community has lit a flame of excitement somewhere deep inside then please be aware that the 1947 Tumlaren ZEA is now available in Melbourne to the right person. She needs some, but not extensive work. She has good sails and rig, and comes with a history and support group that could see you joining this fleet in 2026. If you are interested, drop us a line
