New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Oakeley
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Oakeley
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
JimC View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 17 May 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Oakeley
    Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 12:51pm
A great chap David Hunt. On at least a couple of occasions I remember him giving up his own time to go rooting round dark corners of the Needlespar factory with me in search of odd bits to help me try out some of my crazy ideas on the cheap. Got me out of trouble too with getting a boom together in double quick time when I broke one. And I wasn't even a very regular customer, think I only ever bought one mast and a couple of booms from him.
Back to Top
MerlinMags View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 04
Location: UK, Guildford
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 588 		Post Options Post Options   Quote MerlinMags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 11:55am
This was all in the days of (legal) weight jackets I assume?

I can't decide whether the platform soles or the big lump on your shoulders would have been worst for trying to get under the boom when tacking...
Back to Top
EddyP View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 11 Jan 17
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EddyP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 11:44am
Originally posted by SUGmeister


I have a sort of memory from when I was a child that suggested that David Hunt despite being 6ft6ish made a pair of 5inch platform soled shoes to extend his weight even further out when trapezing. Also recall that they were banned. Cunning!

That can't have been comfortable!
Back to Top
SUGmeister View Drop Down
Sailwave Moderators
Sailwave Moderators
Avatar

Joined: 08 Jun 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 265 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SUGmeister Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 11:14am
Originally posted by Dougaldog

Whilst 'JohnO' was a real gent in the truest use of the word, it shouldn't be overlooked that a lot of the mythology surrounding goings on in Shadow ( FD K133) was really the 'antics' of his irrepressible crew, David Hunt. David was also involved in a lot of the innovation that went on, he wasn't only in the front of the boat but he was way out front in terms of thinking!

Dougal


I have a sort of memory from when I was a child that suggested that David Hunt despite being 6ft6ish made a pair of 5inch platform soled shoes to extend his weight even further out when trapezing. Also recall that they were banned. Cunning!
Back to Top
Dougaldog View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 05 Nov 10
Location: hamble
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 356 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Dougaldog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 10:07am
Whilst 'JohnO' was a real gent in the truest use of the word, it shouldn't be overlooked that a lot of the mythology surrounding goings on in Shadow ( FD K133) was really the 'antics' of his irrepressible crew, David Hunt. David was also involved in a lot of the innovation that went on, he wasn't only in the front of the boat but he was way out front in terms of thinking!

On audio tape (and video!) I've a couple of lovely cameos of Jack Chippendale talking about the young John Oakley, getting his first all new National 12 - even then, Jack recognised him as a helm that would be 'going places'! From there of course John went on into Merlins and with 3 wins, a 2nd, a 4th and 5th place helped cement the reputation of the Proctor/Chippendale combination as the 'winning' brand.

Dougal
Dougal H
Back to Top
MerlinMags View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 04
Location: UK, Guildford
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 588 		Post Options Post Options   Quote MerlinMags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 9:18am
"it does eat up a few hours" ????

I think you meant "it does mean a joyous few hours".
Back to Top
patj View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 16 Jul 04
Location: Wiltshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 643 		Post Options Post Options   Quote patj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 7:38am
I bought a copy of Winning from Bookbarn for £1 just a couple of days before his death was announced. It's where most of my older sailing books have come from but it does eat up a few hours trawling through their shelves!
Back to Top
Oinks View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 24 Oct 14
Location: Bandol
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 267 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Oinks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jan 17 at 11:34pm
Got mine in just about perfect condition (plus a number of other gems) for under £25 from Amazon. Three (Winning) on there now from £5.49. I also bought at the same time...Winning in One Designs (|D Perry)...Jack Knights Sail Racer..Start to Win by Eric Twiname (Original version), and (wonder if anyone remembers this)Small Sailboat Racing With the Champions by Bob Fisher (c.1975ish). All great books for a dark winter's evening in front of the fire!

And, yes, the clothes look a bit dated, but they looked better on them than what my Dad and I were resorting to at the time! That was cutting edge late 60s/early 70s!

And the weird stories of what people got up to in those days to win a race....I'd have been scraping the egg off, slapping itbetween two bits of bread with brown sauce and breakfast sorted.
Back to Top
MerlinMags View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 04
Location: UK, Guildford
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 588 		Post Options Post Options   Quote MerlinMags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jan 17 at 11:50am
I would take "winning" out of the local library often, as a teenager. I must hunt down a copy on ebay for my collection. Pictures like the one above are great fun to look at, even if the clothes make you smirk a bit.

Was it "Winning" that had the story about painting the hull bottom with egg, and letting it dry in the sun before a race?
Back to Top
Oinks View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 24 Oct 14
Location: Bandol
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 267 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Oinks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 16 at 11:10am


This was what I wanted to be when I was about 11 years old. IMHO a truly great shot of a racing dinghy, and one of the great teams.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy