Australasian 18-footer history for aficionados

The latest offering from Kiwi marine historian Robin Elliott focuses on the 18-footer class in New Zealand and Australia.

Galloping Ghosts, Australasian 18-Footers 1890-1965, is a detailed account of these amazing craft, which are surely, beyond all question, the most exciting of the dinghy classes.

Anyone who has seen the barely under control mayhem and often carnage that accompanies an 18-foot contest will understand Elliott's enthusiasm for the topic.

His introduction on the flyleaf pretty well sums it up: "With every scrap aloft, carrying more sail than many larger keel yachts, and the crew driving her as fast as possible on the edge of control, no other yacht captures the attention quite like an 18-footer in full flight."

Today's 18-footers, with their carbon-fibre hulls and modern technology, might seem a far cry from those 1880s "over-canvased, over-crewed 18-foot dinghies" but dig a little deeper and the essence is still the same: slippery hull forms, far more sail than sensible and an apparent absence of any type of fear among the crew.

Elliott's interest here doesn't extend to the modern racers. There is also far more emphasis on the racing in Australia, especially in New South Wales, than on any action here.

That is understandable, the Aussies have long dominated the sport.

While this means Galloping Ghosts will probably appeal mainly to already dedicated 18-footer aficionados it is, nonetheless, a fine historical record of one of our most exciting classes..

* Galloping Ghosts is published by David Ling Publishing, is distributed by David Bateman and sells for $49.99.