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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
107 part three – yachts and yachties The Stewart 34’s Fleet and Sailors Aurora II Sail No. 344 Builder: Max Carter Launched: 1964 Construction: Cold moulded triple diagonal kauri, glassed over The hull and decks were built by Max Carter for Les McDonald of Wellington. McDonald completed the boat and christened her Aurora II, after one of the original immigrant ships which landed at Petone. Les McDonald Sr. started his yachting career along with his two brothers in the 1930’s in Eastbourne at Muritai Yacht Club and was commodore in 1945 after returning from six years active service in the East, Pacific and Italy. He went on to win the coveted Interclub Cup, the Heretaunga Cup for Muritai Yacht Club in 1949, sailing in a Harry Highet Design called Insolence. Les Sr. then moved to 14 footers called Rogue, Advance, Aurora (1), then Miss Bernice. Bob Stewart & Frank Innes-Jones reportedly persuaded McDonald to register his new boat as Princess Aurora to carry on the Patiki class tradition of using names that begin with the letter“P.” McDonald reckoned the name was too long as in those days Wellington Radio required boats calling an emergency to say their names spelling each letter with the phonetic alphabet. By the time he got through Papa-Romeo-India-Charlie-Echo-Sierra-Sierra, Alpha-Uniform-Romeo-Oscar-Romeo-Alpha it would be all over. The shorter story is that the“P”got blown off by the winds of Wellington. Aurora was the first light displacement keeler in Wellington. There was a large turn out to witness the launching of this revolutionary design with her short keel and separate rudder hanging off a bronze skeg. The talk was that neither would last long in Wellington or Cook Strait. The original mast and roller reefing boom were Oregon cedar. Halyards had block and tackle for tightening the sail luffs. Because in those days one needed an import licence to bring in a marine diesel engine from overseas,she was launched without an auxiliary engine.McDonald had many exciting moments bringing Aurora from her from her mooring at Evans Bay to the Port Nicholson Yacht Club to start racing. On her first race, in light air the ultra light Aurora blitzed the fleet, finishing an hour before her next competitor. “Wait till it blows” they chided. They didn’t have to wait long, as her next race was sailed in 30 knots, gusting to 40. McDonald put on his small No. 2 headsail and reefed the main. The results were the same. Aurora raced successfully for many years out of the Royal Port NicholsonYacht Club and cruised many thousands of miles. She has also survived 56 crossings of Cook Strait. 1966: “In Wellington Harbour she (Caprice) has been in neck and neck competition with the 34’ Patiki Aurora II (Les McDonald), and overall keel yacht racing this season has been the most exciting seen on the Harbour for years. Caprice did not Aurora blasting along under spinnaker in a Wellington gale Les McDonald Collection