Author Description

More than 70 yachts built in Australia between 1909 and 2009 form the 21ft restricted class. Many of these vessels competed for the Forster Cup, the national championship for the class; a hotly contested and high profile series of interstate races held annually between 1922 and 1955 that saw skippers and crew propelled to near-celebrity status. Of the fleet 20 survive, including Idler, the prototype vessel built in Melbourne in 1909. Significantly, another eleven 21-footers are located at Goolwa in South Australia.From its inception, the modest cost and dynamic evenness of the 21ft restricted class inspired the development of new designs, new builds, new competitors, new contests and the hope for new victories. The active participation of Lord Forster, Australia's Governor-General between 1920 and 1925, was a huge catalyst for the early development of the 21-footers. Through his earnest patronage, the class was the first to be implemented by all six states of Australia.This book provides a comprehensive history of the 21ft restricted class. It starts with one of its major success stories, Tassie Too and the Tasmanian domination of the Forster Cup. It then recognises Lord Forster's proactive role in development of the class, as well as his inspiring personal story. The book next details the origin of the 21ft restricted class, and its specifications, as well as provides a history of the Forster Cup series; the outcomes fuelled by close racing, surprising results, interstate rivalry, controversy and protest, massive public support, and the creation of legends, both men and boats. The book also summarises all of the craft built to the class and provides biographies of influential skippers, boat builders and designers, as well as crew lists.Overall, the 21ft restricted class filled an important niche in Australian sailing history, particularly between the first and second world wars. This book showcases the class, its history and its current status, with the goal of fos