Ron Swanson | |
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![]() 1964 Ron Swanson and Leo Reily | |
Gender | Male |
Date Born | 1908 |
Status | Deceased |
Date of Death | 1990 |
Nationality | Australian |
Hometown | Sydney |
Club | Middle Harbour Yacht Club |
Boat Owner of | Camille |
Boats Sailed On | Mister Christian Salome |
Ron Swanson
Builder and Designer
About | From MHYC: The First 60 Years Article by: Frank Likely Published: 1999 The influence of Ron Swanson on club ocean racing has been profound. His reputation as a boat builder was established with the building of Siandra and Kaleena. Carmen Design. As a designer, he recognised the potential of the Wally Ward designed Camira and, between them, they came up with the 30-foot Carmen design. She started to win races and those who admired her hurried to order sisterships. (Those who didn't, moaned about light-weight 'mickey mouse' boats.) Carmen was a medium displacement yacht, solidly built with a Spartan, but extremely comfortable sea-going interior, and a fibreglass dodger of the hatch. as one of Carmen's watch captains, I can say that this class of boat was a delight to sail offshore. After winning the CYCA Blue Water Championship in 1962/63, MHYC members Jim Mason, Chas Middleton, Lal McDonnell and Bill Byrnes all became owners of Carmen Class yachts and left a substantial mark on ocean racing. In 1963 Australia announced that it would challenge for the Admiral's Cup and there was considerable excitement as owners prepared for the selection trials. Ron designed a minimum rated, double ended sloop like Carmen called Camille. Trials were held in which Camille tied for first place with the Halvorsen Brothers Freya, while Caprice of Huon tied for third place with Salacia. The selection panel finally gave the nod for the third boat to Caprice of Huon - an emotional moment for Gordon Ingate and his crew. Normal Ridge's Lorita Marie went along as a private entry. Club moral was running high over Camille's selection of the Admiral's Cup team and all sorts of functions were held for the MC team of Ron Swanson, Frank Likely, Peter Mounsey, Dave Linton, Curley Curlewis and Leo Reilly. Finally the yachts were loaded on board a ship and shipped off, with the crews following by air. Although we were quietly confident we would not be disgraced, we were not prepared for the horse laughter of the English yachting press. One of their quotes read: 'Very sporting of the Australians to send over a couple of cruising boats (double-enders) and a very old Robert Clark design'. Once the racing started, attitudes began to change. Caprice loved the smooth water of the Solent and English Channel and won three races. Meanwhile Camille and Freya had experience one bad Solent race which they soon made up for in the Fastnet Race (triple points) when Camille came sixth. The proud Australian team came home with a well deserved second place for the series, with Caprice the top Australian scorer. About this time big things were happening in France which would involve Ron, This was the One Ton Cup - the first Level Rating Regatta for yacht that rated no more than 27.5 feet. The concept sent to designers all over the world rushing to their drawing boards - Ron included. He produced another double-ended, Salome with a large mainsail for the light winds in Denmark's Kattegat, where the next One Ton Cup series was to be held. The MHYC took the venture to heart and feted the crew of Ron Swanson, Doug Gilling, Leo Reilly, Laurie Mitchell and Dave Linton. Salome was on her way to represent the club for the first time in the One Ton Cup. Ron did not make feathers fly on the waters of the Kattegat, but when Salome came back, Ron re-rigged her for Australian conditions and went on to second place in the next Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Ron also came back with a head full of ideas. More to come |
Articles | Afloat Magazine by Peter Campbell
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