A whole lot of sail
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
October 25, 2017 8:12am CST
I wanted to share this photo from 1922 of a sailing skiff (I think that’s the correct term) called the Mele Bilo. It is about to cross the finishing line on the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia and would subsequently be crowned the 1922 Australian Champion.
I couldn’t find out any more about it but apparently there was a Mele Bilo II, built in 1922, which represented Western Australia in at least one Australian Championship.
I found it awe-inspiring that there was so much sail on such a small boat. It must have been going like the wind. Do you have any experience of sailing such boats? I imagine it must be a thrilling experience.
22 people like this
22 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
25 Oct 17
I am fascinated by boats but only ever been in one. I loved it!
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
I've enjoyed being in a boat a few times. While I've enjoyed it, it's never really been my thing although we did consider buying one when we sold the motor home in Ireland. We thought it might be nice to go up and down the Shannon River for one holiday but I think it is going to be too difficult to arrange from Australia.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Oct 17
I have never been on a sailing boat. Australia is the main rival to the US for America's Cup.
3 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
25 Oct 17
Nope! Not experienced riding with sail boats 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
@m_audrey6788 And I'd wear a very big life-jacket!
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
25 Oct 17
I haven't tried but I have seen saliers up close. By the way, this is a cool fact about the Melo
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
Thanks. My friends built their own sailing boat and sailed the world for six years. They had a motor in it as well.
@LindaCPearson (2241)
• United States
25 Oct 17
That is definitely a lot of sail! I have never been on a sail boat and only one time on a "regular" boat.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
Did you enjoy it? I've found the small ones very 'wobbly'.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
25 Oct 17
No, but I can I.agine the wind blowing and the sails blowing out and the boat speeding along the water.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
26 Oct 17
@JudyEv I already took that ride in my imagination...It helps that I am reading a Author Ransome book...Where the children are always on boats
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170003)
• United States
25 Oct 17
That is a neat picture. I have only been on small sailing boats.
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
28 Oct 17
that is a lot of sail... I bet it went fast when the wind caught them...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Oct 17
Goodness gracious, that's a lot of sails for such a small boat! Have you ever watched the America's Cup sailing? Those catamarans they race these days are super fast, almost as fast as a car speeding down a highway!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Oct 17
@JudyEv Judy, I love that you think I'm so young! So, I'll run with it. No...I do not remember 1983 when the Aussies snatched the Cup from the Americans. But I do know that between the Aussies, Kiwis and Americans, sailing sure is interesting to watch these days!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
@moffittjc You're not the only one with charm you know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
I think all of Australia watched the epic America's Cup when we downed the US after they'd been dominant for so many years. That was in 1983. Had you been born by then? 
America was so certain no-one could knock them off (so to speak) that they didn't know how to get the Cup free to hand it over to the Aussies. 
It was a great day for Australia.
America was so certain no-one could knock them off (so to speak) that they didn't know how to get the Cup free to hand it over to the Aussies. It was a great day for Australia.1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
26 Oct 17
This is really very nice. I do not have any experience so far. I want to take up one during my foreign visit.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
26 Oct 17
@JudyEv Yes. I will add this to the list 'not-to-miss' tour experiences.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
25 Oct 17
I've never sailed, but that IS a lot of sail on that little thing. Seems like it could be picked right up and flown through the air!
2 people like this
@mikaelajuliet (638)
• Boston, Massachusetts
25 Oct 17
Wow! You almost can't see the boat because the sail is so big. Thanks for sharing
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
You'd think when the sails were lowered that they would take up more room than what's available on the boat. They must fold up very small.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
26 Oct 17
I have never been in a sail boat. I love how graceful this image of the ship is.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
Wouldn't it be exciting to be charging through the sea pulled by these huge sails?
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
We've never really been water people - more 'bush' people. Vince's brother has a couple of canoes and they take them when they go camping.
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
25 Oct 17
That's a very big sail for a small boat! It could travel so fast!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 17
It's a wonder it didn't lift right out of the water! 
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Oct 17
I've never been on a sailboat.
1 person likes this
