A lot of fun and a touch of nostalgia has led to a resurgence in scow and lowrider moth dinghies and the staging this week of the The Scow and Lowrider Moth dinghy National Titles, returning to Lake Cootharaba for the first time in about 50 years.
Hosted by the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club the event kicked off last Sunday with the BalatonDesign Invitation Race as competitors gauged each others skill level before the week-long regatta began on Monday.
More than 30 of the historical 11 foot (3.5m) dinghies travelled from as far away as Western Australia to compete at the National Titles, the second national event following last year’s inaugural event in Sydney.
The more historic scow and lowriding skiffs has been continuously active for many years but has taken a back seat to the foiling moth fleet which sees competitions with some of the worlds best known sailors participating at national and world titles.
The foils which bring the hull or board out of the water reduce drag while increasing efficiency and speed have led to their dominance.
But there has recently been a marked revival in the scow and lowrider fleets across Australia and also internationally.
“Everyone used to sail these, then they disappeared and foilers took off,“ said Mike Salter who established a Facebook group called Scow Moth and Lowrider Australia which is helping their return.
“These old moths were built in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s before they started foiling. I saw one I used to sail when I was 15 and thought, why aren’t we sailing these things – so we started finding old world champions, national champions and they all went – Yeah.
“That’s why we’re all old, we used to sail them when we were 15, 16, and that was the best time we ever had. It’s an exercise in renaissance.
“We were all sailing individually but we pulled it all together and started sailing again.“
Mike said now with children grown up, leaving him a bit of time and money, there was more opportunity to return to sailing the boats and adapting them while adhering to the basic form.
“It’s the only development class left in Australia, that’s why they’re different,“ he said. “It’s the length of boat, the width of boat, the same size sail, then you can do whatever you like,
“We’re picking up all kit from high-tech foilers. They’ve got high-tech that goes out of favour quickly. We pick it up.“
Mike has also been involved in helping source boats for fellow sailors.
“It’s a labour of love. Everywhere we go everyone says, I used to sail one of those, where do I get one.“
After a lifetime sailing American Ian Clazie discovered the boats and having secured one, with Mike’s help, is competing in the nationals for the second consecutive year.
“A lot of these guys raced on these when they were young, we didn’t have these in California. It’s so fun,“ Ian said.
Cameron Price of Gladstone sailed an assortment of sailing vessels out of Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron throughout his life and recently went looking for a lowrider moth, finding one strapped to the roof of a milking shed in Maleny before restoring it.
“I’m the third owner. It was built by a cabinet maker in Brisbane in the early 1960s.
“It needed a very good paint job. I changed a few ideas, modernised it a bit. We’ll see how it goes.“
It will be the first race in this boat for Cameron.
Mark Matthews will also be racing for the first time in his moth in the sport he likens to “an old man’s vintage club“.
“What’s happened to this class of boat – these are the old boats left behind, they’ve all had a bit of a revival,“ he said.
The regatta will comprise world champions, national champions, experienced and novice sailors aged from teenagers to septuagenarians in sailing boats from brand new to 60 years old, competing for a range of prizes, including scratch, age and handicap.
“We’ve got a unique situation,“ Mike said.
“All boats are different vintages. We’ve built a yard stick. It gives everyone a weighting depending on age, rig, how old you are, so anyone can win.“
In a time where sailing could be seen as getting too complex, too competitive and too expensive, the restoration of fleets such as the scow and lowrider moths, is providing a pathway both for the more mature and junior sailors to enter into competitive, fun and friendly racing in boats that still provide a thrill or two, Mike posted on Facebook.
The final race will be held at 2pm on Saturday with winners’ announcements to follow.
For more information visit the Scow and Lowriders Australia Facebook page.
