"Neall sailed the original Gumnut against me in Kittiwake in those early cadet days. Buying Kittiwake started a long association with the Batt family. Neall and I have been life-long friends on land, but out on the water, keen adversaries over the years."
Gumnut, sailed by Neall Batt, was also a Stonehaven Cup winner. Gumnut II, also built by Skipper Batt, was a l6-foot skiff and Jock sailed against him in Wee Davie for a short time.
"Getting ahead in the story, I built, years later, a Kittiwake II for my son Greg and he won all the heats of the Stonehaven Cup in her on the Derwent in 1967.
"In the mid l970s I built Kittiwake III for John Ross and his son Craig and the present owner is Alf Gough who was my for'ard hand in Kittiwake. She was formerly sailed by Robbie Gough who has turned out to be a top yachtsman and she is now sailed byJohn Mcleay.
"I find that sort of thing one of the fascinating parts about the sea and boats - there is this great network of links between people and the boats they sail.
"Neall Batt and I both crewed on Saracen II in the 1964 Sydney-Hobart and sailed up to Sydney together in Balandra after she was built in 1965 and back again in the race."
Gumnut, sailed by Neall Batt, was also a Stonehaven Cup winner. Gumnut II, also built by Skipper Batt, was a l6-foot skiff and Jock sailed against him in Wee Davie for a short time.
"Getting ahead in the story, I built, years later, a Kittiwake II for my son Greg and he won all the heats of the Stonehaven Cup in her on the Derwent in 1967.
"In the mid l970s I built Kittiwake III for John Ross and his son Craig and the present owner is Alf Gough who was my for'ard hand in Kittiwake. She was formerly sailed by Robbie Gough who has turned out to be a top yachtsman and she is now sailed byJohn Mcleay.
"I find that sort of thing one of the fascinating parts about the sea and boats - there is this great network of links between people and the boats they sail.
"Neall Batt and I both crewed on Saracen II in the 1964 Sydney-Hobart and sailed up to Sydney together in Balandra after she was built in 1965 and back again in the race."
LEFT: Max, aged three and Jock,aged Jock four and a half.
RIGHT: Max and Jock today [December 1990]. It was a Life long partnership which helped put Tasmanian boatbuilding on the map.