MIKE
WALLER YACHT DESIGN
TS
5.4 / 540 HOME PAGE
The TS 5.4 Trailer Yacht was first introduced in 1996 in an attempt to design a boat with the same combination of fun family sailing, good performance, and cheap building costs as boats like the Hartley TS 16. Since that time it has proven itself to be all of those things, and more. In 1998 the TS 540 Trailer Yacht, a multi-chine plywood version, identical to the TS 5.4 in all respects except for the multi chine plywood hull, was introduced. The purpose of the TS 540 was to provide a plywood alternative which would share the same abilities as the TS 5.4, and would be able to race on equal terms in a future class association. Being a more recent design, the TS 540 has yet to prove itself, but it is expected that in the future they will present themselves outstandingly.
The
purpose of this page is to provide comments on these two excellent little
boats, to record their progress, and recognise those sailers and builders
who have chosen to sail in them. If you sail, or a building a TS 5.4 or
a TS 540, let us know what you are doing, send us photos or your racing
results, and we will place them on this site.
Photographs
of both these vessels can be found on the Photos
page, or on the individual design page for each boat.
RACE RESULTS - TS 5.4 (as advised by the owners)
Note# These
results are as notified to the designer by the individual boat owners.
To my knowledge only three TS 5.4s are racing. Note that they were not
actually designed as racing yachts, but rather as fun family boats.
| 1998 Milan to Goolwa Classic | 'Flash' (James Frecheville)
3rd Handicap in Division |
| 1998 Marley Point Overnight | 'Flash' (James Frecheville)
Div B stage 1 - 1st line honours- 1st handicap Div B stage 2 - 6th line honours - 6th handicap. |
| 1999 Milang - Goolwa Classic &1999 Marley Point Overnight | 'Flash' (James Frecheville)
I am not entirely sure of James' results in these races but he did advise that flash had taken the trophy for the best performed yacht in the Milang-Goolwa/Marley Point double. He would have taken it last year as well but did not enter for the double trophy. |
| Tasmanian TS championships 1999 | 'Yippiyiyo' (Murray Bugg)
Div 2 - line honors in all 5 races and second place overall handicap. |
| Victorian State TS Titles 1999 | 'Flash' (James Frecheville)
Div 2 - 2nd overall handicap, including a 1st and 2nd place individual race results. |
| Warneet Round French Island 1999 | 'Flash' (James Frecheville)
Div 2 -Line honours and 1st handicap 2nd home and 1st handicap overall.(only a Ross 780 beat him home) |
There
are, I believe, other successes belonging to this design which have not
been included here as I do not have details of them. It is also interesting
to note the performance of 'Gitana' (Claude Powe - Photos
on photo page) in the Famous Queensland Bay to Bay race in 1999. Gitana
came well down in the results list. She was poorly handicapped by a committee
who had not seen her class before and did not know how to rate her. She
nevertheless performed well in a stormy race that decimated the fleet,
and would have placed much better if she had been correctly handicapped.
I mention her here because her performance in bad conditions showed her
seaworthiness and sailing ability admirably. Well done Claude.