Clayton Fuller succeeded in getting about 5 minutes worth of an old 8mm film he took, of a Moth regatta in about 1955 or perhaps early 1956, transferred to a DVD disk. Clayton took this little movie on the occasion of his brother Charlie going for the maiden voyage of what was to be Charlie's last Moth, Nr 1581. The video opens with the 1953 World champion, Lewis Twitchell sailing past the camera in FLYING SAUCER, Nr 1332. Next up is Ken Klare's father Ed sailing LITTLE LADY, Nr 1336, a knock off Ventnor design. We also see Nr 1316, II Sins, sailed by David Aaron, Don Lapp in WEE E, Nr 1429, Charles Hunt in TWILIGHT, Nr 1350. Nr 1296 is one of Charlie Fuller's (the cameraman's brother) earlier boats. Next up is Chuck Phillips sailing a Challenger Moth, Nr 1370. Next we see Charlie Fuller climbing into his new, all varnished Mint design Moth Nr 1581. The blue Challenger seen next with sail Nr 1407, in later years migrated to Ocean City, NJ and was sailed by Rosemary Bellwoar. Obviously that's not her in the cockpit in this film clip! T. W. McGlamry slips quickly by the camera in Siesta, Nr 1400. Lee Swihart is sailing I SIN, Nr 1315. Finally we can see the boat which helps date this film to roughly 1955; Nr 1460 is a Cates Florida Moth sailed by Frank Sumner from Delray Beach. The Florida design was a modification of Warren Bailey's 1954 World Champion winning boat MACH ONE. The earliest Cates Florida Moths hit the water a year later. Also note the total absence of windows in the sails. This also dates the film to before the end of the 1950s.
Ken Klare, a former owner of my Moth MINT (see earlier posts) confirms that the location is in the bay near Miami Yacht Club. Ken also identifies himself as the sailor in Opti Pram Nr 31 so that means this film was recorded before the summer of 1956 because Ken graduated from the pram to MINT in time to sail at the Nationals at Norfolk Y&CC. For the record Ken was Junior National Champion in MINT at Norfolk and was beaten in the overall title by Ted Causey. So this film dates to sometime between 1955 and early in the 1956 sailing season. Perhaps someone can identify the large hotel visible midway through the film. Can anyone identity the skipper who is awarded the big trophy at the 4:45 mark? Can anyone pinpoint which regatta this is? If so leave a comment!
Oh, finally, Ken indicates that the end shots featuring the seal and porpoise show is at Seaquarium off Rickenbacker Causeway, just north of South Bay.
