1971-2
TITUS CANBY was designed by Bruce Farr for Rob Blackburn who had previously crewed with Farr in 12 ft dinghies.
Rob required a yacht around 26 ft that would have a very low building cost for Harbor and Gulf racing under a general handicap system, and for Gulf cruising.
The basic concept was for a light displacement yacht, broad in the aft sections to ensure high speed reaching and running, and fine forward with a reasonable ballast ratio set low in a fin keel to develop good windward performance.
The rig was 7/8 with, for that time, relatively small headsails and no running backstays, which gave a simple, low cost rig.
When the boat was launched its performance exceeded all expectations. Rob rated the boat as a 1/2 Tonner and went on to win the New Zealand Half Ton Championships in 1972.
Titus Canby, She is … A Farr Better Thing
by Ena Hutchinson
Seaspray, April 1972
Click on the photos to read the article.
1974
Titus Canby was later bought by Ian Gibbs, who renamed the yacht Tohe Candu (the name meaning “I try harder”. In 1974 Gibbs won the South Pacific Half Ton Trophy series in a fleet of 33 yachts.
After Gibbs won the South Pacific Trophy he shipped Tohe Candu to Europe for the World Half Ton Cup in August and September 1974.
Although Tohe Candu was dominant in a warm-up series in Cowes against some forty English Half Tonners, she finished eighth overall in the Cup itself which was held in generally light conditions.
This campaign was significant in that it represented the first New Zealand design to compete in international competition.
1976
In 1976 a new 3/4 rig was put in for the 1976 Half Ton Championship. They finished first but were placed second after a decision by the race committee.
2010
Wellington
2019
Titus Canby was put for sale in Wellington and bought by the Trust and shipped to Auckland. Progress and further was halted by Covid.
2022
Restoration began in January