MERENNEITO 1927
In 1927 a fleet of 6-Metres representing 8 countries sailed a landmark series of races on Long Island Sound for the Scandinavian Gold Cup. The winner was Sweden's Maybe. Her close runner-up was Merenneito, a beautiful varnished mahogany entrant from Finland, designed by Zake Westin. Shortly after, Merenneito was bought by Commodore George H. Gooderham and brought to the RCYC, the first Metre-boat built to the International Rule to be seen in Toronto.
Although smaller, she was speedy enough to race with the R-boats, and in 1928 Walter Windeyer sailed her to victory in the Prince of Wales Cup Race, a feat which Merenneito repeated in 1929. Her performance, her sturdiness, and her good looks were influential in the choice of the 8-Metre class for the resumption of competition for Canada's Cup in 1930. For the next 10 years Merenneito raced little but, under James A. (Jim) Hyland's ownership, and renamed Mermaid, she was again active through the forties, although rarely a winner as design progress had been rapid in the class. In 1951, she was sold to Cliff Lunt of Hamilton who sailed her many years on Hamilton Bay, often single-handed.
Her fine model was built by G. Ross Edwards, a distinguished member who served for many years on many committees, and was eventually elected an Honorary Life Member.
Merenneito survives today, in good condition, slumbering in a shed in Picton on the Bay of Quinte.*
L.O.A. 34 ft. 8 in.
L.W.L. 24 ft.
Beam 6 ft. 8 in.
Draught 5 ft. 5 in.
* 1987 – After six years of lay-up, Merenneito is again in commission, berthed in Portsmouth Harbour, Kingston.
NORSEMAN 1930
One of three Eights built by Club subscription to compete for the honour of challenging for the Canada’s Cup, Norseman was designed by WJ Roué and built in the Club's Marine Yard.
Norseman spent the summer of 2004 in Geneva, where she participated in the Eight-Metre World Cup regatta sailed on Lac Leman.
L.O.A. 48 ft. 6 in.
Beam 8 ft. 4 in.
INVADER II 1932
A half-model of Invader II may be seen in the Model Room.
Quest came close to breaking Rochester Yacht Club's hold on Canada's Cup in 1930, close enough that Commodore George H. Gooderham, who had headed the successful Invader syndicate of 1901, resolved that a new 8-Metre should be built for a challenge in 1932; that she, like Quest, should be designed by Wm. Fife Jr. of Fairlie, Scotland who would also build her – and that she should be named Invader II.
Walter Windeyer and Invader II met Wilmot V. (Rooney) Castle and Conewago off Rochester in early August, 1932. What they also met was the first parachute spinnaker seen in major International competition – first race to Conewago. By next morning, Invader II had an equally large parachute, but didn't use it as she evened the series on windward ability. The third race went to Conewago in light air, and so did the fourth although Invader II several times had the lead. The Cup remained in Rochester.
Crew lapses had hurt Invader's challenge. Not convinced that the loss was to a faster yacht, RCYC challenged for 1934, but built no new 8-Metre. Invader II was turned over to Thomas K. Wade, who found himself facing the same Conewago and the same Rooney Castle. The first race was sailed in a 25-knot westerly, the second and third were in light airs. Conewago won them all. Twenty years later, Walter Windeyer again took Invader's helm and contested the RCYC trials to select the 1954 challenger. She was still the best of the older RCYC 8-Metres, but she couldn't match Venture II which won the trials and went on to – finally – win Canada's Cup.
Although Canada's Cup never fell to her, Invader II won her share of Club and LYRA trophies, particularly during the early 50's under Norman Walsh's ownership – which led directly to that sportsman's winning campaign with Venture II.
Several years later, under new ownership, Invader II was sent to New York for conversion prior to entry in the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. Not completed in time for the series, she headed for home in the spring, bound north up the Hudson River. Travelling at night, she was run down by a tug with a tow of barges. Invader II rests today in 200 feet of water off West Point Military Academy.
L.O.A. 47 ft. 9 in.
L.W.L. 30 ft. 4 in.
Beam 8 ft. 3 in.
Draught 6 ft. 5 in.
BUZZY III 1956
During the 1950's, an International 6-Metre fleet flourished on Lake Ontario, a fleet numbering in the twenties located mainly in five yacht clubs.
A good portion of the fleet was moored at RCYC where Bryan Newkirk was a great promoter of the class. He purchased the Solenta, renamed her Buzzy after his grandson and put N.W. (Bill) Gooderham at the helm.
In 1952, Gooderham sailed Buzzy to a win in the Olympic trials at the RCYC. Newkirk, realizing that Buzzy was not Olympic quality, arranged to purchase a Swedish-designed and built 6-Metre named Trickson VI and renamed her Buzzy II.
Gooderham went to Sweden a month before the 1952 Olympics, which were being held in Helsinki, Finland and trained on Buzzy II before sailing her from Stockholm to Helsinki, a three-day trip!
Buzzy II finished seventh out of a fleet of fourteen in the 1952 Olympics, the last year International 6-Metres would be an Olympic Class.
Mr. Newkirk, still enthusiastically promoting the class on Lake Ontario, purchased the Norwegian 6-Metre Elizabeth X, the silver medalist in the 1952 Olympics, and brought her to the RCYC. He renamed her Bibis after his granddaughter.
As the competition on the Lake became keener, Mr. Newkirk decided it was time he had a new 6-Metre. He commissioned Sparkman & Stephens of New York to design a 6-Metre that would incorporate the best qualities of Buzzy II and Bibis.
This was the birth of Buzzy III, which was constructed at the J.J. Taylor Boat Yard located at the western gap of Toronto harbour. She was launched in the spring of 1956, as far as can be ascertained, the first and only International 6-Metre built in Canada.
Under the helmsmanship of Bill Gooderham, Buzzy III won three North American Championships, the coveted George Cup, the Alarm Cup, the Castle Cup, and one year won nine straight races at a 10-day 6-Metre regatta, taking the George Cup, the Alarm Cup, and the Castle Cup.
Buzzy III was last reported to be moored in Seattle, Washington.
L.O.A. 37 ft.
L.W.L. 23 ft. 8 in.
Beam 6 ft.
Draught 5 ft. 5 in.
EKU III 1983
Eku III is a Reliance 44 designed and moulded by Pierre Meunier of Reliance Sailcraft of Montreal and finished by André Naude in 1983. Following a year of shakedown cruises, her owner Peter Menzel sailed her to Greece, stopping at many ports en route. The following summer was spent in Turkey pursuing the Menzels' interest in Turkey's archeological sites. Over the two following years, Eku III retraced her course, returning to RCYC in 1987. In 1993 and 1994, she repeated the cruise to Turkey, returning to RCYC in 1996.
L.O.A. 45 ft.
L.W.L. 32 ft.
Beam 12 ft.
Draught 6 ft. 3 in.