Thread: Gwen 12

Originally Posted by thorpeboat

I use to sail against gwens in a thorpe 12. It is a two person has a cat rig and single luff spinker.

I remember the Thorpes at Bulimba. Used to sail from a club just up around the corner
from us at the 18's. Was it the 16ft SC or something? Half an idea one of the
upstream clubs raced them as well. Oxley SC? Much faster than our Wright. Looked
like a wet boat in any sort of a chop too. How did it go against Gwens?
cheers
AJ

I've been looking at this photo (see down the bottom of the post) on the WBF (in thread of keyhavenpotterer's on "best 12 ' dinghy") - and here - for a bit.

Where was this photo taken? It looks like off Semaphore beach at high tide, but some aspects of it aren't quite right. If it is Semaphore, then I used to live a minute's walk from the beach just off to the right of where the photo ends. I loved it down there! Otherwise, Henley/Grange? My memory ois playing tricks. Actually, the more that I look at it, the more it does look like Henley/Grange. I can't see Semaphore's old "Ball Tower" for ships out at anchorage is missing for a start and that was right near the jetty (actually at the very end of Semaphore Rd, of which the jetty was an "extension" ;).

And the Gwen 12 class is intriguing - I was vaguely aware of it, growing up in Adelaide as I did, but there were other classes more to the fore amongst the people I knew who sailed (Cadets, Rainbows, (old) Moths, Herons, etc.). She was a lovely looking boat. What happened to the one at the dump in Tassie? Did plans ever come to light? I'm surprised that the Duck Flat guys didn't come up with something there - did anyone ask them? Plans must be about somewhere, surely. What happened to IO's old boat in the end? Anyone trace it? Sorry to have so many questions: this was making a really good story, and it sort of stopped in mid-air.

Cheers,
Alex.

The photo of High Roller (won the 1988 Gwen 12 National Titles) has been taken at Grange, Adelaide. The Gwens raced at Grange Sailing Club from 1963 - 1993 consecutively (club Championships). This was a Gwen 12 reunion race held in 2009. The Gwens raced at Grange, Brighton ans Seacliff, Somerton Yacht club and Glenelg Sailing Club over the 1960's/70's/80's90's. The Gwen fleets at Somerton and Glenelg folded in the 1970's - which left the fleets racing at Grange and Brighton. The last fleet of Gwens was raced at Grange SC and Kingscote Sailing Club - KI.

Hi Tim,

Many thanks for the info :). Lovely photos!

Cheers,
Alex.

G'day everyone... yesterday I've started to read this topic and since yesterday evening I'm a new Gwen 12 owner! I must say that this topic had great influence in my decision . Thank you all!

Well, I've move to Adelaide august last year and since that date I've been looking for a small boat to buy. I was trying to avoid wooden boats (don't ask me why) but a first look to Gwen has change my opinion. One good thing about my "investment" is that I got the boat with a lot of spares like masts, set of sails, rudder, center-board.

Now the next step is to find a Sail Club... I've read that Grange has a good fleet of Gwen but I don't know if they have a boat yard over there... maybe Largs Bay. I'm going to pickup the boat next week and if I discover how to rig it I'll post some pictures.

Cheers,
Mike

Silly bugger. How close to Brighton are you? Their yacht club has storage. Further up the beach, I'm not sure many do.

Richard
Happy Valley if you want to drop in

TA...I'm pretty close..about 30min. Last week I spent some time checking everything and looks like I'll need a new boom-vang. After check the photos I've noticed that all gwens have a mast support in the front (rigid one) but mine came without it... some one knows if the forestay (jib) + shrouds are ok to hold the mast or I'll really need this additional support?

Anybody has more gwens pics to take a look on the rigging? It's getting colder in Adelaide and I didn't see many gwens at the beach

Cheers!

Originally Posted by musskopf

TA...I'm pretty close..about 30min. Last week I spent some time checking everything and looks like I'll need a new boom-vang. After check the photos I've noticed that all gwens have a mast support in the front (rigid one) but mine came without it... some one knows if the forestay (jib) + shrouds are ok to hold the mast or I'll really need this additional support?

Anybody has more gwens pics to take a look on the rigging? It's getting colder in Adelaide and I didn't see many gwens at the beach

Cheers!

Probably be OK without one. I don't know when the mast strut was introduced into the class but it could be your boat is early enough not to have been fitted with one.

The strut is to control mast bend and they became more elaborate and adjustable as years went by. Common to many dinghy classes it is one of the controls that allows the adjustment of mast bend thus mainsail shape for various windspeeds.

When you start racing you will blame the lack of one.

Have fun
Mike

Hi All

There are 2 Gwen's available in Canberra from one of the local sea scout groups. One wood and one fibreglass. Both in excellent order but unfortunately not used by the scouts as they prefer other boats. The timber Gwen is particularly well made and would be great to see it used by an enthusiast.

Anyone intersted could contact me on 0424-452-812.

Cheers


Don

It would be good to have a couple of photos posted on this site of the 2 Gwens. What sail numbers and boat names are they?

Hi Don, "yes" more info required now that yo've got out interest. I'd like to try and put a date on the wooden Gwen and the sail number will help do that. I'd like to know if it has wooden mast/boom etc rather than alloy......

Hi All

Thanks for the quick reponses.

Will try to get extra details (photos, sail numbers and boat names) up on the forum soon. Might not be til after the weekend.

Cheers


Don

Hi All

I have some more information on the Gwen 12s near Canberra but I don't as yet have any photos.

The fibreglass Gwen 12 is named 'Impulsive' and has the number 2778 on the rear of the hull near the name.

The wooden Gwen 12 does not appear to have either a name or identifying number on the hull.

I have checked the sails and one has the number 1896 and another, which looks like a spare or replacement sail, has the number 60. At this stage I can't be sure which sail belongs to which boat.

There are probably other Gwen 12 mainsails amongst the numerous sails in the scouts gear store.

The masts and booms are alloy not wood.

Hope this helps.

I will try to get the photos soon.

Cheers


Don

Hello...

I am teacher in a Southern High School in Tassie, and have recently found an old Gwen 12 buried out the back barn at school...decided to pull out and restore as best we can.

It has a Gwen 12 association 1970/71 plate, sail number 627

Any further details or spare parts would be greatly appreciated.

Seems complete with some old sails, alloy rig and center board, but not a rudder it seems as cant find anywhere.

cheers

John