Page 82 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

rounded Cape Point and berthed at Kalk Bay, where Sir Pierre van Ryneveld, Colonel

Deneys Reitz, and party disembarked, before the launch continued on to Gordon’s Bay.

It turned out that the British were unable to supply more similar vessels due to the demands

of the RAF for boats and the Merlin engines which were required to power the fighters of
the day. The South African Purchasing Commission in Washington was tasked with finding

suitable vessels. John Glen (Jock) Finlay (later founder and head of Safmarine) was
authorised to acquire eight craft capable of 40 knots and containing a dispensary with

accommodation for six beds.

The Miami Shipbuilding Corporation was approached to design and build a suitable vessel.

Within a few weeks the design team at MSC, Dair Long and Charlie Roach, came up with a

63 foot boat which could achieve 42 knots using only 2000 bhp and weighing 37 000
pounds. A contract for eight boats was awarded.

The first boat, which became R1, was launched on 14 January 1941. Boats R1 to R4 arrived

in Cape Town aboard the S.S. Lancaster on 20 May 1941 and were followed by the second
four, R5 to R8, which arrived on 24 July 1941.

The crash boats had a crew of nine, being the Officer in charge, two Coxswains, two
engineers, two deck hands, the Wireless Operator and the Medical Orderly

Boats R9 to R20 arrived from January 1944 onwards. These were Miami Craft Mk II with

an improved centre cabin layout and the addition of a flying bridge. A tripod mast
incorporating a searchlight replaced the pole mast fitted to the earlier boats. (Figs. 3.7 &

3.8). Sailors' superstition meant that no one would crew R13 and the boat was renumbered

R20. In line with this numbering system the British boat Malmok became R0.

Operating in many cases simply from the quayside there was never a call that was not

responded to, no matter what the sea conditions. At high speed the Miami craft made a fine
sight skimming over the waves. (Figs. 3.9 & 3.10).

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