UPDATE: Russell Hurren is the recipient of the inaugural Alan Chinn Award
The Alan Chinn Award was inaugurated in 2019 "To reward and show appreciation to a club member for their efforts in building or restoring a wooden boat, including model boats".
I was informed by John Welsford (New Zealand designer) when I had successfully finished my first boat – “Many people think of building a boat. Many purchase plans. For every 7 plan sets I sell, 1 boat is commenced. Of those starters, only 1 in 6 eventually finish. Congratulations! You are one of that select few!”
Well, the 4 finalists selected to be considered for the inaugural “Alan Chinn Award” have all been successful in finishing their projects, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labours. Who will win the award? The judges have made their evaluations, and the results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on 28 July 2019, but maybe you can pick a winner? It is interesting that the 4 contenders each have a different mode of construction, with clinker (lapstrake), strip plank, carvel, and skin-on-frame construction, all being represented.
There has been a high standard set indeed, but of course the real reward is in the completion of a project and getting the looked-forward-to use of the end result of our efforts.
The story of each boat can be found in Members' Stories – and they are all beauties. [David O'Dempsey]