(1900–1979)

Trotter Willetts designed and built champion centreboarders in the 1920s and 1930s and, with brother Farmer, was a top sailor in Auckland.

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Affinity for speed

Auckland-born Albert Willetts was nicknamed Trotter for his tendency to trot rather than walk as a child. This affinity for speed would serve him well later on.

Willetts had nine siblings, including older brother Alexander (1893–1957), known as Farmer. Their father, Arthur Willetts, worked at George Niccol’s shipyard as a designer and builder. The brothers learned to sail in Arthur’s mullet boat Waitere.

Racing brothers

Soon, Trotter and Farmer were well-known yachtsmen. Trotter excelled in small centreboarders. Farmer dominated in mullet boats, ruling the H Class in the 1920s. Later, he raced Charles Collings’s L Class mullet boat Tamariki, claiming 30 prizes in three seasons, including the coveted Lipton Cup.

Centreboard champions

Trotter was the brother to excel in yacht designing and building, which he pursued after leaving his trade of cabinetmaking. At 22, he built his first yacht, the Y Class Cupid (1922).

In his 16-foot (4.88m) Mistral, which he swapped for Cupid in 1927 and rebuilt, he won the Auckland S Class championship four years running. He later gained acclaim for his 18-Footers like Irina (1936), which he raced in the inaugural World 18-footer Championship of 1938.

Willetts was prolific until World War II broke out in 1939. His final boat was a Bert Woollacott racer–cruiser named Lady Pat (1949), which he and Farmer built.

Escapade (1939) won all but one of its races in 10 years. Trotter Willetts designed and built this S Class centreboarder for Ronald Oliver.

Photographer unknown, reproduced courtesy of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, Marine Photos Collection (C43725)