Big Class yacht ASTRA rounding mark at Harwich Regatta 1934 [DW]
ASTRA surges round the Cliff End buoy off Harwich as her crew prepares to set the spinnaker. The spinnaker boom has been run out to port and the wind, at present abeam, will be brought aft as she bears away without gybing, to roar in over the ebb. The 115ft ASTRA was designed and built in 1928 by Camper and Nicholsons Ltd. of Gosport for Sir Mortimer Singer. During 1931 she was bought by Hugh Paul who, with Captain Edward Heard of Tollesbury as his skipper, and an Essex crew, raced her in the last flourish of big class racing.
ASTRA was a happy ship which Mr. and Mrs. Paul used as their home when afloat, in contrast to owners of most other large racers who preferred the greater space and comfort of a motor yacht, or hotels ashore. She was a composite yacht; mahogany planking on steel frames and ten feet shorter than the later 'J' class yachts such as SHAMROCK V, ENDEAVOUR, VELSHEDA and ENDEAVOUR II. However, she sailed well and won her share of prizes and, important to her crew, prize money, which the captain, mates and hands received in varying proportions in accordance with long standing custom. Racing money made the skill, confined quarters, passagemaking, sail drills and frequent soaking with little prospect of dry clothes for days, worthwhile for hands receiving perhaps £2. 10 shillings weekly wage from May to September, with fishing or service in merchant steamships a winter mainstay. White duck trousers, blue guernseys and sun hats were the racing rig on board the ASTRA.
When the smart-set, cotton sails of this yacht were discarded they were sent to an Ipswich sail loft to be re-cut for R. and W. Paul's fleet of sailing barges and gave many years of useful service. ASTRA's mainsail has two rows of eyelets for reefing lacings, favoured in the racers instead of points, to reduce windage and enable a tight, even reef to be taken in and quickly shaken out. The short bowsprit was typical of these three headsail rigged bermudian racing cutters built in the late 1920s, as was the half-sunk deckhouse, with windows to enable lady guests to sit out of the spary and see what was going on without having to be fussed over and get in the way of the crew. It also made a fine lounging place at anchor. When the big class collapsed at the end of the 1936 season, Mr. and Mrs. Paul continued to sail in the ASTRA which became the cruising tender to their new 12 metre LITTLE ASTRA.
ASTRA survived the war unaltered but soon after was drastically reduced in rig and was fitted with hydraulically operated sheet winches and an anchor windlass, to enable a professional crew of four to handle her for cruising. She spent much time in the Mediterranean where she is still believed to be sailing. [JL]
Plate.29 in SWW.
Used in The Sailor's Coast, page 64.
Used in "The Big Class Racing Yachts" page 122.
Used in Yachts and Yachting page 1284, year not known.
Date: 1934