'WIND WHISPERER' - MarineWaypoints.com
'WIND WHISPERER' - MarineWaypoints.com
'WIND WHISPERER' - MarineWaypoints.com
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‘A BRUSH with SAIL’<br />
THE OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER OF NEW ZEALAND MARINE ARTIST JIM BOLLAND<br />
18 August 2007<br />
‘WIND WHISPERER’<br />
‘WIND WHISPERER’ (Detai)l. ©Jim Bolland 2007.<br />
Geoff Stagg grew up in Eastbourne, a suburb close to the eastern shores of<br />
Wellington Harbour, just a short sprint from the Muritai Yacht Club where he<br />
made a name for himself as a young man in a hurry. He raced to win and took<br />
no prisoners. Fair, but tough!<br />
After progressing through the very junior classes Stagg found success in New<br />
Zealand and Australia in the Cherub Class, a hard chine plywood 12 foot<br />
dinghy. His yacht was called ‘Whispers’, designed by the rapidly emerging
Auckland designer John Spencer who, through the 1960’s and ‘70’s was<br />
championing hard chine, plywood yacht design and construction<br />
This was all happening during the late 1960’s, about the time that Chris<br />
Bouzaid took New Zealand sailing skills to Heligoland and demonstrated to<br />
the world in general that Kiwi’s can sail! Stagg was like a lot of young New<br />
Zealand yachtsmen who was inspired by Bouzaid’s success and he too, set<br />
his sights on distance racing in a bigger yacht.<br />
He again turned to John Spencer and the design out<strong>com</strong>e was a 13.7 m.<br />
version of the late Sir Tom Clark’s 18.6 m ‘Infidel’, a downwind flyer, still<br />
racing ( now 19.8m long) in the U.S.A as ‘Ragtime’. Spencer had originally<br />
drawn the smaller boat in 1965<br />
Geoff Stagg and friends built the boat in a lean-to shed near the Stagg family<br />
home and launched ‘Whispers II’ in 1970. The new yacht was an immediate<br />
success and in the fresh to strong breezes that are the norm on Wellington<br />
Harbour, ‘Whispers II’ quickly became the yacht to beat.<br />
‘Early Days’<br />
Down wind she had no equal, but although a lot was talked about the design-<br />
and it was a quick boat- the skill of Stagg and his crew of ex-dinghy sailors<br />
also had a great deal to do with the yachts performance. Race after race the<br />
narrow, flying blue-green ‘Whispers II’ could be seen sailing on the edge down<br />
wind, mainsail easing out and trimming on as the helmsman required and<br />
spinnaker clew high to ease the leech and the luff just on the fold! Really<br />
‘smoking’!
The chasing fleet consisted mainly of the pot-bellied, pinch end type that was<br />
<strong>com</strong>mon at the time and in an effort to stay with ‘Whispers II’ the more<br />
enthusiastic crews would hoist too large a spinnaker and in <strong>com</strong>bination with<br />
crew-work that was not quite up to the job, a display of furious broaches and<br />
general mayhem entertained those watching from the hills that abound<br />
Wellington’s Harbour.<br />
Early Wellington success with ‘Whispers II’ gave Geoff Stagg the confidence<br />
to enter the 1971 Whangarei to Noumea Race. The thought of all that<br />
moderate to fresh breeze, down wind sailing, with the possibility of handicap<br />
victory over much bigger yachts was too much to miss. After all, it was the<br />
thought of the distance racing that gave Stagg the idea of a boat like<br />
‘Whispers II’ in the first place!<br />
But alas, for the first time in many years the 1971 event turned into a drifter.<br />
The crew never broke into a sweat through hard work and ‘Whispers II’ never<br />
broke on to a plane!<br />
‘Hobart Bound’.<br />
That same year, ‘Whispers II’ <strong>com</strong>peted in the Sydney Hobart race, placing<br />
11 th on line and 9 th on handicap. Then followed the Hobart - Auckland race,<br />
after which, upon arrival in Auckland, they partially re-stocked the larder and<br />
immediately set sail for Wellington.<br />
They arrived home one and a half hours after the start of the Wellington to<br />
Akaroa race, gybed around the outer mark, crossed the start line and gave<br />
chase to the distant fleet!
As the 1971-72 summer season came to a close, plans were formulated for<br />
an assault on the 1973 Auckland - Suva race and before that, starting on<br />
Christmas Day 1972, the Wellington - Gisborne race.<br />
The conditions were perfect for ‘Whispers II’ in the biennial race up the east<br />
coast of the North Island of New Zealand to Gisborne and with the deep<br />
breath of the Southern Ocean on them and managing to hang on to a<br />
spinnaker almost all the way, the hard chine plywood needle set a record for<br />
the race that stands ‘till this day. They covered 268 miles in 28 hours and 53<br />
minutes despite being marooned in dead flat conditions outside Gisborne for<br />
many hours!<br />
This record set ‘Whispers II’, Geoff Stagg and his crew in local sailing folk-law<br />
forever!<br />
‘Setting the pace at Gisborne’.
On board for this race was the designer, the late John Spencer and he talked<br />
of his ‘unbelievable’ experience of going to sea with a crew he described as<br />
‘mad men’. I spoke to him several months after the race and he described it to<br />
me as ’29 hours of hell!’<br />
He said the ‘Whispers II’ crew were men possessed of a death wish. ‘It was<br />
blowing like hell, we broached, we bashed into the seas ahead of us, we<br />
continued to carry more sail than I thought was necessary and I was terrified!<br />
‘What really pissed me off was the fact that everybody else was enjoying it!<br />
I must admit that when I stopped shaking I enjoyed the victory. Of course the<br />
stories about the ride along the coast get better with the re-telling, but it was<br />
some experience’<br />
One of the many stories that remained from that race is one of John Spencer<br />
making one of his few appearances in the cockpit. At the same moment a<br />
very hard squall hit them and as the boat accelerated over a cresting sea,<br />
John glanced at the instruments and said, ‘I would have thought it was<br />
blowing harder than 35 knots!’<br />
Geoff Stagg promptly replied ‘It is! That’s the boats speed you’re looking at.<br />
Get down below and out of the way you silly old bugger!’<br />
As this race is sailed in conjunction with a race from Auckland to Gisborne the<br />
two fleets <strong>com</strong>bine for a two-day regatta and ‘Whispers II’, enjoying her<br />
success in the race from Wellington performed well in the regatta and<br />
impressed the sailors in the Auckland fleet.<br />
By this stage, Geoff Stagg was now well known as one of the countries<br />
leading off shore sailors and coupled with his continuing success in harbour<br />
racing in Wellington, the ‘Whispers II’ crew went to the start line of the 1973<br />
Auckland - Suva race with confidence, tempered by the knowledge that they<br />
needed the breeze to climb the scale for them!<br />
And it did! The John Spencer design with the crack crew from Wellington<br />
planed her way to Suva arriving only 11 hours behind the much fancied<br />
Sparkman and Stevens designed ‘Ta’Aroa’ to take overall victory. A very<br />
happy ‘Whispers II’ crew celebrated solidly. The training regime was forgotten!<br />
…………………………………<br />
New Zealand sailors were be<strong>com</strong>ing drawn to the idea of entering a team in<br />
the Admirals Cup Regatta at Cowes, England.<br />
Geoff Stagg was also looking for new challenges, for himself and his crew and<br />
the Admirals Cup trials to be sailed in Auckland offered just that. But he<br />
realised that ‘Whispers II’ rated off the scale for that <strong>com</strong>petition and asked<br />
John Spencer to design a rating, hard chine yacht for Admirals Cup<br />
<strong>com</strong>petition.
Within a few years Stagg and his crew had said their farewells to ‘Whispers II’<br />
and started working up their new race yacht ‘Whispers of Wellington’.<br />
…………………………………….<br />
Geoff Stagg’s fellow Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club member Arthur S<br />
Wyness became the owner of ‘Whispers II’ in 1977 and for the next five years<br />
the yacht consistently campaigned the Wellington harbour race series and<br />
local offshore races around Cook Strait winning several line honours pennants<br />
and ‘Club championship series.<br />
In 1982, Lindsay R England, who had been a crew member of ‘Whispers II’<br />
under the Arthur Wyness ownership, purchased the ageing racer and in 1985,<br />
with design input from Farr Yacht Design, replaced the keel, rudder and mast<br />
at the same time incorporating a rebuild of the underwater sections of the<br />
plywood skin.<br />
The England years. ‘Whispers II’ racing in Gisborne.<br />
In 1988, England and his team contested the Tauranga – Brisbane race<br />
across the Tasman Sea winning first on line, IOR and PHRF. The highlight,<br />
according to owner – skipper England, was the last 250 miles sailed in only 24<br />
hours of reaching and running in big following seas. Regardless of the advent
of more modern, light displacement ocean racing yachts, eighteen year old<br />
‘Whispers II’ could still ‘dish it out’ downwind!<br />
Two years later, during a harbour race on the home ‘track’ in Wellington,<br />
‘Whispers II’ was severely damaged by a port tack yacht that failed to give<br />
way. The damage was so bad that the hull was <strong>com</strong>pletely rebuilt including<br />
frames, plywood sheathing and <strong>com</strong>plete fibre glassing.<br />
For the next four years, following the re-build, ‘Whispers II’ raced regularly in<br />
the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club’s harbour race series, contested coastal<br />
events starting from Wellington to; Akaroa, Nelson, Kapiti – Picton, Mana –<br />
Chetwode Island – Ship Cove, Brothers Island and the annual Cook Strait<br />
Christmas race winning many trophies and line pennants.<br />
As part of the 1994 50 th anniversary of the annual Sydney – Hobart race, a<br />
Tasman Triangle series was organised, starting from Wellington and racing to<br />
Sydney. The Sydney – Hobart race was to be the highlight second leg and a<br />
Hobart – Wellington race would <strong>com</strong>plete the triangle.<br />
Lindsay England entered ‘Whispers II’ in the event and in the Sydney –<br />
Hobart race ‘Whispers’ won division line honours and third on IMS, achieving<br />
an overall 58 th on line (out of 373 starters) and 36 th on IMS.<br />
‘Whispers II’ <strong>com</strong>pleted the triangle, winning the overall series on IMS and<br />
second on line. 24 years old and still winning!<br />
To <strong>com</strong>plete the celebration, ‘Whispers II’ was awarded the Royal Port<br />
Nicholson Yacht Club Boat of the year award for the 1994 –1995 season.<br />
Lindsay England reluctantly sold ‘Whispers II’ to an Auckland sailor in 1998.<br />
……………………………………………..<br />
‘Wind Whisperer.’ Oil. 56 cm X 93 cm (22”X 36”). Jim Bolland 2007.
So, what happened to ‘STAGGY’?<br />
Geoff Stagg’s foray into the Admirals Cup trials was not successful. His ability<br />
and that of his crew was unquestioned but sidelined by the poorer than hoped<br />
for performance by their new ‘Whispers of Wellington’.<br />
John Spencer had established himself as a leader in the design of ‘no holds<br />
barred’, plywood hard chine race yachts, but in moving his theories into the<br />
hot bed of IOR design, he was up against established designers like<br />
Sparkman & Stevens and the new ‘ wonder boy’ from down-under, Bruce<br />
Farr.<br />
These established IOR designers had years of experience wringing blood<br />
from this International rule and ‘Whispers of Wellington’ was Spencer’s first<br />
major involvement in squeezing and pushing what he liked to draw, into some<br />
mathematicians formula. It was against his natural artistic desire.<br />
Stagg sold ‘Whispers of Wellington’ and became an early ‘helmsman for hire’<br />
and was involved in several successful syndicated entries in the Southern<br />
Cross Cup and other events. His talents as helmsman and instilling the ‘win’<br />
factor in crews, was eagerly sought.<br />
In 1979 he became involved in Peter Blake’s ‘Ceramco New Zealand’ entry in<br />
the 1981-82 Whitbread Round the World Race and was a great success as a<br />
watch captain and helmsman.<br />
In Blake & Sefton’s book ‘Blakes Odyssey’, Geoff Stagg, (who was then 33)<br />
was described by Blake as ‘a proven performer and a hard-driving man’.<br />
Wrote Blake; ‘Staggy’ was an automatic choice (for one of two watch<br />
captains), who would be responsible for the performance of the boat, 24 hours<br />
of every day because of his nature, ability and track record.<br />
‘He was one of New Zealand’s best known skippers in his own right, with<br />
boats such as the Spencer designs ‘Whispers II’ and ‘Whispers of Wellington’<br />
and then the Farr design ‘Granny Apple’. He’d won the 1973 Auckland – Suva<br />
race in ‘Whispers II’. He might have a bit of trouble fitting in under me, but I<br />
was sure that could be over<strong>com</strong>e’.<br />
Peter Blake was correct. Geoff Stagg was all he had hoped he would be as a<br />
watch captain and exceptional helmsman.<br />
Stagg’s ability to set a boat up for racing, as well as his helming and winning<br />
attitude to anything he undertook, caught the attention of Bruce Farr and<br />
Russell Bowler. Not too long after the ‘Ceramco New Zealand’ adventure,<br />
Geoff packed his bags and headed to Annapolis, Maryland, USA to join the<br />
Farr Yacht Design organization.
He rapidly became President of Farr International, the sales arm of Farr Yacht<br />
Design for 23 years. In mid -2005 Geoff Stagg purchased Farr International,<br />
changing the name to Stagg Yachts, but continuing the close association with<br />
Farr Yacht Design and running the class management of the Farr 40, Mumm<br />
30 and Farr 395 programmes.<br />
Stagg Yachts also run the sales and marketing of the new Farr Yacht Design<br />
boat products Mumm 30, Farr 36, Farr 395 and Farr 40 and the boat<br />
brokerage and project management services for which the <strong>com</strong>pany has<br />
be<strong>com</strong>e famous.<br />
It’s been quite a journey all the way from Wellington, New Zealand to<br />
Annapolis in the United States of America for the wavy-haired lad who left a<br />
very full chapter of sailing history in New Zealand.<br />
…………………………………………………………………………………………..<br />
See original art & prints by Jim Bolland at his only U.S.A. outlet<br />
Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery<br />
‘New Breeze’ (Reliance 1903) © Jim Bolland<br />
Visit or log on to;<br />
Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery<br />
629 High Street, Olde Towne Portsmouth. Virginia 23704<br />
www.skipjacknauticalwares.<strong>com</strong>
PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL for the TP52’s<br />
Monday the 20 th of August is the first day of the fourth and penultimate round<br />
of regattas that count for the 2007 Med – Cup <strong>com</strong>petition.<br />
Portimao, Portugal sets the stage on the Atlantic Ocean for more of the best<br />
keel yacht racing on the planet as 24 of this successful box rule class do<br />
battle over six days.<br />
I’m a fan of Peter de Ridder’s Corinthian effort with Team Mean Machine,<br />
winners of the Med Cup last year, but with a lifting of skill levels across the<br />
fleet and some of this seasons new boats showing a tad more speed, it’s only<br />
an outside chance that I will be cheering Valle Romano Mean Machine as a<br />
winner this year.<br />
Perhaps they’ll tell themselves that EVERY race is the last one of the series!<br />
Here’s how the top ten stack-up on points, as they go into next weeks regatta;<br />
1. Caixa Galacia. ESP. (Farr). Vincente Tirado 142<br />
2. Artemis. SWE. (J/V). Torben Tornquist 154<br />
3. Seimens. ARG. (J/V). Alberto Roemers 160<br />
4. Bribon. ESP. (Farr) Jose Cusi / H.M. Jaun Carlos 161<br />
5. Patches IRE. (R/P) Eamon Conneely 175<br />
6. Matua Madralena. ESP. (B/C) Vasco Vascotta 195<br />
7. Platoon. GER. (J/V) Harm Muller-Spreer 203<br />
8. Valle Romano M/M.MON. (J/V) Peter de Ridder 203<br />
9. Stay Calm. GBR. (Farr) Stuart Robinson 228<br />
10. Balearia. ESP. (B/C) SR D Javier Moreno Pons 244<br />
TP52 Valle Romano Mean Machine Photo © Gilles Martin-Raget
Kiwi’s on the OK Podium.<br />
Although British sailor Nick Craig further extended his winning way with his<br />
third OK World Championship win at Leba, Poland in late July, Kiwi OK sailors<br />
can be well pleased with their showing in the 119 boat fleet.<br />
Mark Perrow of Auckland won the silver medal while Karl Purdie of Wellington<br />
took the bronze, adding that to the Leba Mayor’s Cup that he won in the<br />
warm-up regatta.<br />
It is also confirmed that the 2010 World Championship regatta will be staged<br />
on Wellington Harbour with the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club as host.<br />
2007 OK World Championship results;<br />
1. Nick Craig (GBR). 6. Gunter Arndt (GER).<br />
2. Mark Perrow (NZL). 7. Jorgen Lindhardtsen (DEN).<br />
3. Karl Purdie (NZL). 8. Matt Stechmann (NZL).<br />
4. Kersten Hitz (GER). 9. Andre Blass (AUS).<br />
5. Paul Rhodes (NZL). 10. Fabian Gronholz (GER).<br />
Other New Zealand placings; 14. Greg Wilcox. 15. Joe Porebski. 26. Steve<br />
McDowell. 27. Trent Pryce. 29. Mike Wild. 31. Luke O’Connell.<br />
…………………………………………………………………………………………..<br />
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‘WIND WHISPERER’. Oil. 56 c.m. X 93 c.m. (22” X 36”). ©Jim Bolland. 2007.<br />
A limited edition print run of the painting ‘WIND WHISPERER’<br />
has been <strong>com</strong>missioned. Details regarding these are still being<br />
finalized. For further details please contact jim@jimbolland.co.nz<br />
……………………………………………………<br />
Remember!<br />
The ideal birthday present for a Sailor<br />
is at; www.auldmug.<strong>com</strong>/prints.html<br />
Contact me; jim@jimbolland.co.nz<br />
Phone; +64 4 566-1383<br />
Mobile; +64 (0)21 1436 120<br />
Visit my website; www.auldmug.<strong>com</strong><br />
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