Boating New Zealand Boat Reviews
Reviews
Boating New Zealand News
News
Boating New Zealand Sports
Sport
Boating New Zealand Lifestyle
Lifestyle
BOAT-REVIEWS-MOBILE
Boat Reviews
BOAT-NEWS-MOBILE
News
BOAT-SPORTS-MOBILE
Sports
BOAT-LIFESTYLE-MOBILE
Lifestyle
HomeFeaturesBoating historyTHE SINCLAIRS OF LYTTELTON PART 2 - Mascotte

THE SINCLAIRS OF LYTTELTON PART 2 – Mascotte

Published
Bookmark post
Bookmarked
Bookmark post
Bookmarked

Jimmy Sinclair’s Mascotte was not only the Champion yacht of Lyttelton from 1891, he was also New Zealand Champion in 1892 and 1893.

Jimmy had continually modified his Little Wonder to meet the challenge of the Millers’ Pastime but the Lyttelton Regatta on 1st January 1890, when Pastime beat Little Wonder by a whopping 50 minutes, made it clear that the latter’s days were over. A few weeks later, circumstances arose that decided Sinclair to build a 14-tonner, the 53-foot Mascotte, to take command in Canterbury waters.

Jimmy Sinclair

Building, ballasting and rigging such a large yacht required a lot of money. Jimmy was married now with three children so had to pass the hat around the port and extend his existing “Little Wonder Syndicate.” Jimmy was owner and sailing master.

The men who put up the rest of the funds were the crew, and from time-to-time included Walter Haden, John Haydon, Joseph Garland, Alex Wheatley, William Marriott, W. Bulkley, F. Green, W. Petheram and John Collins. For a successful yacht prize money was large and the potential for a profitable sale made it somewhat of a business proposition.

Jimmy was a student of overseas yacht design. Overseas rating rules were still, by and large, observed by New Zealand Regattas and Yacht Clubs. The Thames Tonnage rules of 1855, which penalised a yacht’s breadth but not depth, were abolished in 1886. They had given rise to increasingly absurd “plank on edge” or “lead mine” freaks.

- Advertisement -

The new rating rule taxed only waterline and sail area, which resulted in the more efficient and sea kindly form of the yachts of the classic period from the early 1890s, but they took some time to filter through to the Antipodes.

For example, in 1888, Robert Logan had designed his Akarana to race in Melbourne under the Thames rules, but the races were sailed under the new rules. During this transition period, Jimmy decided on the plan of Saraband in one of Dixon Kemp’s books of yacht designs, by no means a modern design, harking back to Robert Hewitt’s successful Buttercup of 1880, but a pretty boat with her clipper bow, easily-driven and weatherly.

La Mascotte, the opéra-comique of 1880.

The Earl of Onslow, recently an unpopular Governor General who had been patron of the Wellington Regatta in 1891, wrote in 1895:

“Perhaps the most interesting yacht now sailing in New Zealand waters is the Mascotte, both on account of the circumstances under which she was built, as well as for the remarkable success which has attended her during her sailing career. In the year 1890 a strike in the shipping trade broke out in Australia, and after a few days was extended to other trades connected with shipping, finally spreading to New Zealand.

“During the enforced idleness of certain shipbuilding hands at Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch, some of the men bethought themselves of laying down the lines of a yacht for themselves. The Mascotte, commenced under these circumstances, was found, when finished, to be an exceptionally fast sailer. Within 18 months of her completion she was manned and sailed by her owners in six regattas, netting for them £395 besides numerous smaller prizes in club races – not a bad outcome of work which, at the time, was doubtless done with no little amount of grumbling, because no wages were coming in weekly on account of it.”

Jimmy Sinclair laid her keel in May 1890 on reclaimed land at Lyttelton and launched her in September from the nearby Graving Dock, less than five months under construction. His eldest daughter Barbara, then aged nine, christened her Mascotte after the main character, Bettina, the “mascot” or luck-bringer, in the popular French three-act comic opera by Audran, La Mascotte which toured New Zealand several times from 1884.

Mascotte’s dimensions were: loa 53ft, lwl 40ft, beam 7ft 11ins, draught 9ft. She was built of a single skin of one-inch kauri, with angle iron frames fastened with galvanised iron bolts, a ticking time bomb waiting for rust. Her sail area was 3,000ft².

Mima (left with peak halliard problems), Pastime and Mascotte (white hull) at the start Wellington, 22nd January 1891.

The length of her mast was 40ft, top mast 22ft, boom 38ft, gaff 28ft, luff of mainsail 22ft, after leech 40ft, bowsprit 22ft, spinnaker boom 19ft. For ballast she had seven tons of lead moulded outside in an iron case and 7 tons inside, 14 tons in all.

She had an elliptical stern, a long raking counter and a clipper bow. The sails were made by Messrs R. Forbes and Co. and the iron work by Mr Dalley. “She was entirely a local Lyttelton production and reflected great credit on all the trades concerned, especially the shipwrights, W & J Sinclair.”

Maritana

The first meeting between Mascotte and Pastime was at Akaroa in December 1890, when Mascotte showed she was faster and better to windward. At the Lyttelton Regatta in January 1891 there was the same result, Mascotte first, Pastime, second and the Henry Berg-built 9-tonner Mima (ex-Florence), down from Wellington, third.

That same month Jimmy Sinclair and Malcolm Miller decided to sail their yachts up to Wellington for its regatta with a first prize of £75. Miller was also keen to sell Pastime there. The New Zealand Mail reported: “The only boat that has beaten Pastime since she has been lengthened is the new craft Mascotte and when it is remembered that one is double the size of the other, it need hardly be wondered at… Mr. Miller is anxious to build a larger boat to sail against Mascotte with the view of turning the tables on the enterprising owner of the new craft.” Pastime did not sell; in fact she remained in Miller family ownership until 1963.

Girola

Both Mascotte and Pastime had a rough trip up the coast. ‘Boat ‘Arbour Bill’ (Paul Freyberg, who died at Ypres in June 1917) told the story in the New Zealand Yachtsman Magazine in 1915.

“Their racing spars were brought up to Wellington by the Penguin. The Mascotte left the southern port at 8.15am on the 14th January with a light S.E. At 5pm the topsail was taken in and the topmast struck. At midnight Kaikoura was passed, the wind freshening fast, and oil was thrown on the water astern by means of a squirt, the same device being used by the Pastime.

Xarifa

“Friday morning it was blowing a gale and raining hard. At 1.48am all hands were called on deck to take in the mainsail, and while this was being carried out a big sea broke on board filling the mainsail and splitting the main boom. Sinclair was thrown into the mainsail and Buckley and Petheram were washed overboard, all three however, fortunately getting back again, Sinclair scrambling back and the other two being assisted by other members of the crew on deck.

“It was an exceedingly narrow escape for all three. After clearing away the wreckage (the mainsail was torn to pieces), the Mascotte ran before the gale for seven hours under poles. Passing Cape Campbell, a staysail and part of the damaged mainsail was set, as a heavy sea was running off the Cape, and Oyster Bay, Port Underwood was reached at 11.20am Friday morning.

Isca

The Pastime, which had left Lyttelton the day previously, was ahead of the Mascotte, as she passed the lighthouse at Cape Campbell at 12.30am Friday morning in a gale of wind with hard rain squalls. Between Kaikoura and Port Underwood she ran under reefed staysail only, and off Cape Campbell had a rather exciting experience, as owing to the rain and darkness she ran in between the Shepherdess Reef and the mainland – so close that a biscuit could have been tossed on to the reef.

“Port Underwood was reached at 7am. The Mascotte’s crew were greatly relieved to find the little Pastime safely at anchor in Oyster Bay, and cut a boom out of the bush to which they fitted a small mainsail belonging to the Pastime, for the trip across the strait. A start was made from Port Underwood by both boats at 4pm on Saturday, and after a fine passage with light winds they finally arrived off Port Gordon at 4pm Sunday, January 18th.”

Mascotte returning to her moorings after winning the First Class race at the Wellington Regatta, January 1891.

The big race was on January 22nd 1891. The entries were the Lyttelton yachts Mascotte (Sinclair, 14 tons, scr), Pastime (Miller, 7 tons, 13m 13s), and the Wellington yachts Girola (Rawson, 7.1 tons, 12m 55s), Xarifa (E.C. Mills, 9.4 tons, 7m 25s), Isca (J.H. Jack, 7 tons, 13m 13s) and Mima (W. McKinstry, ? tons, 8m 13s). Vereker Bindon’s 12-ton Auckland yacht Maritana had entered but became weatherbound at Castle Point.

In a fine northerly breeze, Mascotte took the gun and won on handicap, Mima was second and Pastime third. “The win of the Mascotte was very popular, and as she passed the flagship at a stunning pace and careening low to her immense spread of canvas, she was lustily cheered.”

Pastime in more recent years

After Maritana arrived the following day, a special race was put on for her by the Port Nicholson Yacht Club on 24th January. Mascotte again beat Mima, Maritana was third over the line and Pastime gained third on handicap. These two gripping races with the spice of the entries from Auckland and Lyttelton had attracted huge crowds of Wellingtonians on the wharves, around the harbour and on following ferries.

During the festivities after the races, the yachtsmen present, representing the Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton yacht clubs, met to form the New Zealand Yacht Racing Association. The sole aim was to set up annual races for the First- and Second-Class New Zealand Championships, and to encourage the country’s major yachts to sail around the coast to each event.

This was probably inspired by the many entries in the 1888 Victoria International Regatta at Melbourne which had attracted entrants from most of the Australasian colonies. The first Championship races were to be held in conjunction with the Wellington Anniversary Regatta in January 1892.

Mascotte was to feature large in the first two of these Championships.

SHARE:

Related Articles

Comments

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand. Subscribe to view comments and join the conversation. Choose your plan →

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand.

Boating New Zealand
Boating New Zealandhttps://www.boatingnz.co.nz
Boating NZ is New Zealand’s premier marine title devoted to putting its readers behind the wheel of the latest trailerboats, yachts and launches to hit the market. It inspires with practical content and cruising adventures, leads the fleet with its racing coverage and is on the pulse of the latest maritime news and innovation.

More from Boating New Zealand

Scott Coker executes a near-pe...

Lake Karapiro came alive this weekend with the thrilling spectacle of high-...
Powerboat RacingSports Artices

Emirates GBR claims dramatic v...

The final race of SailGP Sydney delivered everything fans could hope for—dr...
NewsSailGPSydney racing

The Flying Roos win final flee...

New Zealand’s SailGP team put in a steady performance in the final fleet ra...
NewsSailGPSydney racing

Black Foils bounce back with d...

New Zealand’s Black Foils returned to form in spectacular fashion during Ra...
NewsSailGPSydney racing

Super Sunday in Sydney: Emirat...

The Sydney leg of SailGP kicked off its Super Sunday in spectacular fashion...
SailGPSydney racing

Black Foils battle through tou...

After a promising build-up to the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney,...
NewsSailGPSydney racing
-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Follow Us

Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest developments shaping New Zealand's Boating world.

Social Media

Follow us on social media to stay in the loop with the latest trends and news shaping New Zealand's boating scene!

-- THINGS WE LOVE --

GET
STARLINK
HERE

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.

Catch all the action of the Vendée Globe Race, starting 10 Nov, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Follow along with excitement at Boating New Zealand.

FISHING

Stabicraft Fish N Chicks Tournament, 6 - 8 Feb 2025 in Tauranga. Dress up theme is “Ladies of their Time”. Raising funds to help find a cure for Breast Cancer.

Surtees Annual Fishing Competition, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga

ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa

NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide

Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, 25 - 27 Oct 2025 TBC in Te Anau Manapouri

REGATTAS

New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, 8 & 9 Feb 2025 in Sydney

Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland

PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour

PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell

Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia

Bay of Islands Sailing Week, end of Jan 2026 at Bay of Islands

NZ Millenium Cup, Feb 2025 at Waitemata Harbour

HYDRO THUNDER

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Karapiro, 7 - 9 Feb 2025 at Karapiro

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Rotoiti, 8 - 9 Mar 2025 at Nelson Lakes

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Twizel, 29 - 30 Mar 2025 at Twizel

JET BOAT RACING

UIM World Jetsprint Championships, 25 Jan -2 Feb 2025 at Wanaka (25 & 26 Jan) and Wanganui (1 & 2 Feb)

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R4, 23 Feb 2025 at Wanganui

2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch

2024 Golden Homes NZ Jet Boat Marathon, 2025 dates TBC on Southland Rivers (Oreti, Waiau and Mataura)

National Jet Boat Rally 2024, 2025 date TBC at Oliver Road, Bendigo (near Cromwell)

WATERSPORTS

Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge 2 Bridge, 2025 dates tbc Staged on the Waikato River between Cambridge & Taupiri, based in Hamilton, New Zealand

ANTIQUE, CLASSIC & RETRO BOATS

25th NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show , 1 & 2 Mar 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes

SHOWS

Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

Houston Boat Show, 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2025 to be held at the NRG Center, Houston, Texas

International Boat Shows

COMING EVENTS

Dubai International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Feb 2025 to be held at the Dubai Harbour

Miami International Boat Show, 12 - 16 Feb 2025 to be held in Miami

Palm Beach International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Mar 2025 to be held along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach

International Multihull Show, 23 - 27 Apr 2025 to be held in Terre-plein Ouest du port La Grande-Motte (34), France

Palma International Boat Show, 30 Apr - 3 May 2025 to be held at the Superyacht Village, Palma, Spain

Barcaly's Jersey Boat Show, 3 - 5 May 2025 to be held in the Channel Islands

South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, 9 - 11 May 2025 to be held in Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The British Motor Yacht Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 to be held at the Swanwick Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 at Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland

Sanctuary Cove International Boat show, 22 - 25 May 2025 to be held in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland

Sydney International Boat show, 31 July - 3 Aug 2025 to be held at ICC Sydney & Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour

Hiswa Te Water, 3 - 7 Nov 2025 to be held in Bataviahaven Lelystad, The Netherlands

Southampton International Boat Show, 19 - 28 Sep 2025 to be held in Southampton, UK

International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), 7 - 9 Oct 2025 to be held in Tampa, Florida

Annapolis Sail Boat Show, 9 - 13 Oct 2025 to be held at City Dock, Annapolis, Maryland

Newport International Boat Show, 20 - 23 Nov 2025 to be held in Newport, Rhode Island

Cannes Yachting Festival, 9 - 14 Sep 2025 at Cannes – Vieux Port & Port Canto

Genoa Boat Show, 18 - 23 Sep 2025 to be held in Genoa, Italy

Melbourne International Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held at New Quay Promenade Harbour Esplanade Seven Marinas

Biograd Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held in the City of Biograd, Croatia

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 29 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 to be held at several locations in Fort Lauderdale

METSTRADE 18 - 20 Nov 2025 to be held at the Rai, Amsterdam

Antigua Charter Yacht Show 4 - 9 Dec 2025 to be held at the Nelson's Dockyard UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua

Boot Düsseldorf 17 - 25 Jan 2026 to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany

New York Boat Show, Jan 2026 to be held at the Javits Center, New York

Bahamas Charter Yacht Show, Jan - Feb 2026 to be held at Nassau, Bahamas

Monaco Yacht Show, 24 - 27 Sep 2025 on Monacco