Crew blazer worn by Brian Raffa of the 18 foot skiff KERIKI
Date1933
Object number00027363
NameBlazer
MediumWool, cotton
Dimensions710 x 645 x 75 mm, 0.65 kg
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Brian Raffa
DescriptionThis crew blazer was worn by Reg Raffa from the 18-foot skiff KERIKI. The blazer fastens with two cloth covered buttons and features an embroidered pocket with an image of KERIKI. It was made in Sydney, Australia and was likely purchased 'off the rack' and had the KERIKI's sail emblem attached to it. Raffa wore this woollen blazer to presentation events, adopting the cermonoy of other sports. He wore his Fitzroy football jersey racing. He held shares in KERIKI with other crew members.HistoryRegattas were central to competitive boating from the 19th century and functioned as a social and sporting event, as well as a marker of official anniversaries in a public aquatic spectacle. Civic leaders, politicians and merchants offered patronage and sponsorship. Community regattas often featured several races, including rowing, sculling and sailing events usually for professional watermen and amateurs.
Racing 18-foot sail boats has been part of Sydney's culture since the 1890s. The vessels are designed to reach extreme speeds and provide an exciting and attractive sport for spectators to watch. This was the aim of the vessels when they were first designed in the late 19th century. The origins of the sport are attributed to Mark Foy and a group of businessmen who were the founding members of the Sydney Flying Yacht Squadron, reported to have been established on 19 October 1891 in the 'Sydney Morning Herald'. The club advocated for sailing to be open to all types of vessels and sailors. Their first competitive race is believed to have been held on Sydney Harbour on 26 January 1892.
The 18-foot skiff KERIKI was built in Queensland and was a highly competitive boat, winning the Hastings River Championship in 1927, 1929 and 1931. The vessel was described after its 1927 win to be of the 'Championship Class'. It was skippered by Orlando Taylor in the late 1920s and 1930s. In 1933, he was 72 years of age and was the oldest skipper to compete in races on Sydney Harbour. KERIKI's crew lived in North Sydney. KERIKI is believed to have been owned by Reg Raffa and his partners Ces Higgins and Jack Clarke.
SignificanceThis blazer is representative of formal apparel worn by 18-foot skiff sailing crews during the 1930s.
