Introducing my new painting “Sea Breeze”
I purchased this stunning example of an early 20th-century gaff-rigged pond yacht from John Stephens Antiques in Remuera early this year. Dating from the 1920s this Yacht is of medium size. 1350mm(L) x 1400mm(H) x 240mm(D).
Popularised in the 1920s and 1930s, pond yacht racing was a common sport in many city ponds and parks. The sport allowed the participants to display their sailing skills without requiring expensive sailing crafts, slips and maintenance fees. Pond yachts required the “Sunday sailors” to read the wind and set the vessel for a straight line run across the pond. Model Yachting reached a peak of activity in the 1930s. It was a relaxing and relatively inexpensive hobby. Many shop and manual arts classes built boats as class projects because a model yacht involves woodwork, metal forming and casting, and working with fabrics. These skills seem to have disappeared over the years. Hopefully, the craft will not die out altogether.
I have set this painting in my backyard, Snells Beach. Looking East out to sea, Kawau Island is to the left. The small Island to the right of the mast is Beehive Island/Taungamaro Island. The land to the right is part of the mainland, Scandrett Regional park.
It’s great to see several Pond yachts racing on a calm day at high tide at Snells beach. These are modern radio-controlled yachts. It is fantastic to see the skills of the skippers as these yachts race to the winner’s line.
Our seascape is forever changing, and the many moods and colours are mesmerising.
Sea Breeze, Oil on Linen 95 cm x 125cm cm
