Frank eventually sold Truant to Parnell sporting all-rounder John Lecky. He played rugby for Auckland, was a key man in the St. George’s Rowing Club’s racing whaleboats and was a renowned cyclist. The Auckland Star reported on November 13, 1886 on the yachts out on the harbour the previous weekend, “The half-deckers were noticeable…..the Manola showed the Mignonette, Welcome Jack, Pixie, Truant and a couple of others a clean pair of heels.”
Lecky entered Truant in the 1887 Auckland Anniversary Regatta in the “Fishing boats 4 tons and under race” against the invincible “yacht-finish” Manola and her near clone, genuine fishing boat Italy, Secret, Magic, Dixie (formerly the Open Boat Fraud), Penguin and Mignonette. Truant got a creditable third from Manola and Italy.
Although neither and were used in the fishing industry, and that was to cause tension about in future, the of January 31, 1887 had prescient comments about this race showing that the writer was aware that he was observing the crucible in which the later mullet boat type was forming. (see SIDEBAR)
