February 10 SPINNAKER - Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club

The SpinnakerPhilip Hartley 1924-2009“An Evans Bay Man”In the 1937-38 season when theclubhouse rested on piles, the sea comingup to the present day balcony, the younglad joined the Evans Bay Yacht Club withhis first P Class, Houdini, acquired fromthe Parkin family for the sum of twopounds. He kept the yacht at the familyhome in Balena Bay and sailed down tothe club for racing on Saturdays.IN 1939-40 season, trials were held for aWellington rep to sail in the Tauranga Cupcontest. He had sold Houdini before thetrials, but borrowed it back to enter andwon the right to represent, and sailed another P, Little Man in the contest.Yachts that came from Tauranga had no side bulkheads, there from the 1 st plans, all other Pshad side bulkheads from the 2 nd plans, much consternation, but all allowed to sail for the Cup.Nelson’s Ron Nalder won with two 1sts, three 2nds. Phil Hartley was second, two 1sts, two2nds, one 3 rd . 1941 and Phil bought a Takapuna Z class Manahu. He sailed this boat forthree seasons with crewman Les Simmons. 1944 saw him acquire his first X Class, Louie andhad til 1950 when the X Class suddenly became hot property and most owners startedbuilding a new hull for each season. Phil being no different, did the same, with Conquest1957-58 being his last wooden boat. Then came plastic boats with his being No 3 from theplug name Quest.He represented Wellington in the Sanders Cup at Auckland in 1959. Crew Lindsay McKenzie(main), Neil Shephard (forward). Next it was into keelers with the building of Ondine at thefamily property in Balena Bay, backbone and frames by John McDermitt, planked by HaroldSounders and finished by Phil and John. Started 1963 and launched Queens Wharf 1967, soldin 1970 and moved back onto something bigger when he bought a Carmen class hull,designed by Bob Stuart and built by Max Carter. Phil and John again fitted and finished theyacht on Evans Bay hard stand, sailing her in the 1970-71 season. He had great successwinning the “A” Class championship over the next three years. Next was the Spencer 30Odette, launched 11 September 1974 from Miramar Wharf, finished in the same yard as GrayMcKenzie’s Vintage. Both put into the sea the same day from the above site.The came Capella, a Farr 38 which he sailed from five seasons, when sold he had a fewlaunches for a number of years. After recovering from a heart attack and a bypass operationit was constant walking every day around Evans Bay, past yachts and sea that had lastlyconvinced him that yachts were going to be his thing again. So came Frid, a blue-hulledCavalier 32 which was changed over the first years from a ¼ tonner, a bigger boom with alarger mainsail made her more competitive, and gave the Cav more power upwind. Herevelled in the upwind conditions and won many trophies in the 3 rd division over the 7seasons with Frid. His great delight over this time was beating his long time friend and rivalPat Millar sailing Tabasco.He then was more than happy doing odd jobs on his son’s yacht Arbitare and sitting on racedays, offering advice and wise words when needed, while just itching to get on the helmupwind. He will be sadly missed on Arbitare, and all yachtsmen who listened to hisknowledgeable nautical words.- 6 -