deForest W. ‘Shorty’ Trimingham - a Tribute

by Jim Bolland on 4 May 2007 In 1954 I was 18 and my world revolved around sailboat racing.

I had plenty of sailing heroes in New Zealand and at the top of my list was Peter Mander, closely followed by my father and then the Auckland X class skippers Laurie Davidson, Neville Thom and whoever else featured nationally at the time, in the New Zealand sailing magazine ‘Sea Spray.

But I also avidly read ‘Yachting World’, the magazine from England that brought us news from the other side of the planet, albeit, in those days several months late. I was always fascinated by the International 14 class and closely followed the fortunes of Charles Currey, Stewart Morris, Bruce Banks, Vernon Stratton and Brian Rowsell to name a few of the skippers competing in what was then, the premier dinghy class in England

In the years following world war two the Int. 14 class, although represented in many other countries, was strongest in the UK and he ultimate trophy in the class, the Prince of Wales Cup, was dominated by British sailors.

And then in June 1954 Bermuda sailors deForest ‘Shorty’ Trimingham and his cousin Bill Trimingham with their boat ‘Barilea’ returned for their third crack at the British Int. 14 fleet and their quest for the P.O.W. Cup!

‘Shorty’ and Bill started their campaign racing for the Itchenor Gallon trophy on Chichester harbour on July 4. It was blowing a fresh south-westerly breeze and they had a very indifferent start in a thirty boat fleet and were one of very few carrying full mainsail and large headsail.

Right from the start Bruce Banks in Windsprite and Charles Currey in Sunbreeze began a duel for the lead. After half an hour the Triminghams had worked their way out of the main bunch and began overtaking the leaders at tremendous speed. I quote from ‘Yachting World’ magazine;

Barilea alone among that company carried a full mainsail and a big jib and by the time East Head mark was reached she was close on the heels of Sunbreeze and these two were followed at one hundred yard intervals by Warrigal (Sam Waters) and Windsprite. Both the leaders mistakenly freed off a shade between East Head and South West Pilsey bouy, which was difficult to see and allowed Warrigal to work into a leading position to weather of them. Sam slightly overstood the mark however and allowed Charles to square away on to the planing reach up to Marker Buoy a few feet ahead of him with ‘Shorty’ following hotly on his heels.

We were then delighted with a magnificent exhibition of ‘Shorty’s’ art in planing, for passing up the weather side of Warrigal he roared through the lee of Sunbreeze to take the lead for the first time.

Then, almost up to Marker Buoy turning point came double tragedy. ‘Shorty’ momentarily lost control and Barilea was over, while a few moments later Sunbreeze, after tacking to round the mark, touched the buoy.

Although full sail finally undid the Trimingham’s in this race their skill in standing their boat upright and sheer downwind speed was a wake-up call to the rest of the fleet. And so it was on to Weymouth for P.O.W Cup week.

The week started with a pleasant breeze and Barilea led from start to finish in a fleet of 34 that competed for the first race.

The wind then increased on Tuesday and the Triminghams went swimming again, along with the crews of six other boats and were not featured among the leaders of the 35 boat fleet. A fourth place for Barilea was order of the day on Wednesday.

Thursday was Prince of Wales Cup Day and it dawned grey, with a north -west wind of force 4-5 and hard gusts that had many boats reefing. Several boats capsized, some before the start.

The start went to Stewart Morris in Wildfire closely shadowed by Charles Currey in Sunbreeze and Brian Rowsell in Silver Cloud. By the end of the first round Barilea was well amongst the frontrunners and went ahead at the start of the beat. Again, I quote ‘Yachting World’;

After that Barilea was well away, sailing faultlessly and never challenged.

It was all tremendously exciting. The Trimingham’s came roaring over the line to win by over a minute, with so much waving and back slapping that everyone expected that, as soon as they orld’; got the gun, they would make the most spectacular capsize of the week! However the spectators were disappointed

It was a hard and strenuous race in which skill and experience counted for most; for in the virtually tideless, hazardless waters of Weymouth Bay, local knowledge is of no help.

And so the Prince of Wales Cup had non - British winner's names engraved on it and ‘Shorty’ Trimingham became another of my sailing heroes! A hero I sadly never had the honour of meeting.


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