HAROLD GEORGE; Victory and the Norfolk Island adventure

In 1914 all yachts had to carry sail numbers for war recognition purposes. The numbers were allotted based on performance/pecking order and Victory was proud to wear sail number 6. When the Auckland Provincial Yachting Association set up a new alpha-numeric system in 1922 she was authorised to carry the sail number A8, again a pecking order construct. However, she almost did not qualify for the A Class which was for “First Class yachts exceeding 28ft lwl”. The Georges ensured that Victory was measured at 28ft 3ins … with a bit of tweaking.

Harold was always involved in maritime law. In 1922 he appeared as junior in the landmark inquiry into the sinking of the steamer at Coralie Bay on the east coast of Great Barrier Island. He became in 1925. Then he and Geoff bought the elderly (1889) 163-ton steam collier in 1927. Geoff had a series of collisions with , which exercised Harold’s legal skills until they bought the 110-ton auxiliary ketch in 1933.