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MISS SANDGATE |
Miss Sandgate is a Linton Hope Rater, one of a 22 ft "one-design" class, derived from a "1-Rater" designed by innovative English designer Linton Hope. The "Raters" were first adopted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Club in 1910, followed by the Sandgate Yacht Club from 1914, up until 1957, and in Bowen in the late 1940s. The first vessels were built by A.J. Whearet & Sons and Norman Wright & Sons.
Miss Sandgate was built in 1929 by Ted Rice, of Sandgate. Ted sailed her up until he died at the tiller, at the age of 71. She continued to sail in the Vintage Yacht Regattas at Sandgate, until donated to the museum by Ted's wife Margaret, in May 1992. Miss Sandgate is in original condition, and has been left as she was on her last race, at the Vintage Yacht Regatta, QCYC, Sandgate in May 1991.
Like many of Hope's designs, the "Raters" have a retractable rudder, which fits in to a slot through the deck and hull. They were originally rigged as gaff cutters, with a bowsprit. Later boats had gunter rigs with no bowsprit.