Around 1900 Mr John McKenzie of Newport Melbourne designed and built Imogen, the first of which John himself describes as "a square sterned, overhanging bow type class of yacht that was handy and fast ".

In 1908/9 Charles Peel designed and built two Square Sterner's the Namoi for himself and Idler for Mr .H. Hall of Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

The Victorian Yacht Racing Association in 1913, wanting an affordable utility knockabout class to promote yachting amongst average yachtsman, rather than opting for a one design class they decided on a set of restrictions based on the the measurements of the Idler.

The measurements are as follows. LWL 21ft. LOA 25ft. Beam Min 7ft Max 8ft. Draft 20 inches and a sail area not more than 450 Square Feet.

So was born the 21Ft Restricted Class that with the help of Lord Forster the Governor General of the time and his gift the Forster Cup, became the most the most successful racing yacht class in Australian yachting history.

Spaning almost 50 years, including the depression the class challenged the skills of the nations best yacht designers, builders and the cream of Australian Yachtsmen.

Wind forward 102 years since The Idler was first built and the Restricted 21's mostly forgotten the Idler has laid for ten years broken and forgotten in a car park in Williamstown Vic.

After many negotiations and dogged persistence we have the pleasure to announce that The Idler has been gifted by Mr. M. Jolly of Goolwa to the budding Williamstown Maritime Museum "Seaworks" and is now safely in there care.

http://www.seaworks.com.au/

The Idler represents a pivotal point in Australian Yachting history her importance to this history can not be underestimated.

With this letter, the hope is that we can raise awareness of The Idler and that at some point in future she can be further preserved and restored to a displayable condition for future generations as the important part of Victorian and Australian yachting history that she represents.

More on the Restricted 21's can be found here: http://www.classicwoodenboat.com.au/featured-boats/43-the-21-foot-restricted-class-yacht?showall=1

Colin Grazules

Email colingraz@hotmail.com

Phone 0409 414 044