Mascotte

VINTAGE VIEW

Jimmy had continually modified his Little Wonder to meet the challenge of the Millers’ Pastime but the Lyttelton Regatta on 1st January 1890, when Pastime beat Little Wonder by a whopping 50 minutes, made it clear that the latter’s days were over. A few weeks later, circumstances arose that decided Sinclair to build a 14-tonner, the 53-foot Mascotte, to take command in Canterbury waters.

Building, ballasting and rigging such a large yacht required a lot of money. Jimmy was married now with three children so had to pass the hat around the port and extend his existing “Little Wonder Syndicate.” Jimmy was owner and sailing master.

The men who put up the rest of the funds were the crew, and from time-to-time included Walter Haden, John Haydon, Joseph Garland, Alex Wheatley, William Marriott, W. Bulkley, F. Green, W. Petheram and John Collins. For a successful yacht prize money was large and the potential for a profitable sale