Sydney is in the grip of an historic 18footer revival. The boats sailing today are all replicas of famous eighteens from the period between 1900 and 1950. The old boats were the high performance racers of the day built for speed and not built to last, so, sadly, no original craft are still racing. The “Britannia” and the “Yendys” are now exhibits at the National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Heritage Fleet.

In 1991 a group of ex-skiff sailors and enthusiasts formed the Australian Historical Sailing Skiff Association (AHSSA). The history of Australian racing skiffs is colourful with a diverse bunch of characters that participated on and offshore.

The AHSSA aims to promote the skiffs by building replicas and restoring existing boats so that instead of just admiring old photographs they can actually experience what “Real skiff sailing from the good old day’s” is like!

The group started building a fleet of 10-footers, a craft similar to the eighteen but smaller. The tens were invited to sail at various clubs in special regattas. They proved very popular with the sailors and generated a great deal of public interest.

	Replica's "Top Weight", "Tangalooma" and "Alruth"

In 1993 Reg Barrington built a replica of the 1932 Australian champion “Tangalooma” and so began the fleet of historical eighteens. Reg wanted to get more people on the water enjoying the experience of sailing on a traditional boat. The big “Tangalooma” could take up to twelve people onboard unlike the ten-footers with their crew of three. A year later he started building the “Scot” to race against “Tangalooma” but sadly he became ill and couldn’t complete the boat. Five –time Australian champion Len Heffernan finished the “Scot” and she was christened in 1997. Reg died weeks later.

A few years on, in 2000, professional boat builder Rob Tearne launched his replica of the “Aberdare” and the three boats started regular Saturday racing at the Sydney Flying Squadron. The club created a new division for the old style boats and the name Historical Eighteen Footers was given to the emerging fleet.

Three of Tearne’s boats were launched that year. Grant Taylor commissioned the 1930s “Top Weight” and John Winning had the 1947 “Australia” built. Winning so enjoyed his first season that he immediately set Tearne to work on Alf Beashel’s “Alruth” from 1935.

In 2002 Ian Smith built a replica of the famous “Britannia” from 1919. The original boat is on display at the National Maritime Museum. Smith has used only traditional materials and construction techniques, making this the most faithful reproduction.

The interest in the old boats spread across the border to Queensland with Peter Cavil launching his “Jenny IV” in 2003. The Wright brothers built the original boat in 1949 and their ancestors built the replica in the same boat yard over half a century later.

Each historical eighteen is a replica of a famous boat. The lines have been taken from original plans or half models or off the actual skiff. As a fleet they reflect the design evolution of the class.

The Sydney Flying Squadron encourages the public to be part of recreating our maritime history. The boats are rigged in the park adjacent to the club so come along about midday on a Saturday and inspect the vessels and have a chat with the sailors. The skippers are often looking for crew so bring along your sailing gear and be part of the action. Each Saturday a spectator ferry follows the racing leaving from the club at 2.00pm.