Brian Smith has sent in interesting scans of the specification for the delightful Boat Racing Association A-Class One Design Dinghy, which I gather is a very close relative to the International 12. I’ll let him tell the story:
‘Hi Gav,
‘I attach drawings and specifications of the BRA 12ft dinghy as published in the Yachtsman of 12 June 1913, which could be of interest to your readers as I believe they were little changed for the International 12ft dinghy class.
‘George Cockshott [the designer of the International 12] was a frequent and sometimes successful entrant in design competitions in the Yachtsman and Yachting Monthly, although it is not certain that any of those designs were ever built. The 12ft dinghy design was the result of a competition run by the BRA. Cockshott may have been inspired by the 12ft restricted class sailed at Hoylake, West Kirby and Rhyl. The design does seem to have been influenced by the class.
‘The largest yacht designed by Cockshott appears to have been the 19 tons TM Nautilus II built by R Lathom at Crossens, near Southport in 1902.
‘Hope this is of interest,
‘Brian’
Thanks Brian – it certainly is. I love all that old-fashioned specification stuff: ‘The whole of each boat, inside and out, to be varnished four coats best yacht varnish. (Or, if desired by the owner, the bottom to be painted three coats and finished with anitfouling composition or enamel externally, and to be painted three coats internally). The name or number to be written in gold leaf and shaded, on the transom or as may be required.‘
For a post on George Cockshott’s International 12 dinghy, click here.
I'm sorry that I was not sufficiently clear in my original note but after the BRA 12ft. dinghy was adopted in 1913, it became very popular on the continent, particularly in Belgium, Holland and Germany, as well as being introduced by clubs in this country. After the First World War, an International Conference was held in October 1919 "to get sailing and racing started again". At that conference, among many other things, the BRA 12ft. dinghy was adopted as an International class. I believe that there were some alterations to scantlings but otherwise the classes were substantially the same.
Brian
… and one hundred years later the class in still sailing!
We shall return to the UK and West Kirby Sailing Club (scene of the first recorded BRA 12′ Dinghy race in 1913) as part of our centenary celebrations at the end of June 2013.
http://www.12footdinghy.org/westkirby
Steve
Details of another Cockshott design:
THE YACHT “STHOREEN”
Mr George Cockshott commissioned the building of a yacht. She was to be named the ‘Sthoreen’. The contract was carried out by Messrs. Latham and Co. of Crossens and Hesketh Bank, Southport Lancashire, UK. It was built to his own design and under his supervision. She was launched in 1905 in the presence of what was described as “a goodly company assembled on the sluice embankment” consisting in the main of Mr Cockshott’s family and friends, and Mr Latham the builder. The Sthoreen is described as “a handsome cruising yawl of sixteen tons measurement”. She has ample accommodation below deck, whilst the cabins have been admirably decorated and upholstered and have been splendidly finished in polished oak and Oregon pine”. She was taken in tow by the steam launch Ethel, and proceeded to the builders yard at Hesketh Bank for fitting out.
Source: Wicklow Historical Society Magazine
Cockshott and his wife subsequently sailed this boat to Madeira – where they apparently ‘took tea with the Governor’
Steve