Designed in 1956, an Australian class, the skate is an incredible boat, possibly even madder looking than that of the international canoe, with a 10' sliding seat for the crew, and an 8' one for the helm, it is 14' long and can reach very high speeds as a result of the leverage that can be used, meaning there can be a lot of sail area.
Having gone through a fair few rule changes, the skate, has become easier to sail (with the advent of T-foil rudders) and faster, with better sails and more sail area. The sliding seats (unlike the IC) have rails which hold each side on, so can effectively act as a sort of guillotine, if your not careful! However, the boat, being a bit wider than that of the IC, means it can get away with it, with relatively limited risk of the seat acting as a guillotine.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.skatesailingaustralia.org/reports.html
Sunday 30 June 2013
Saturday 29 June 2013
59er
With the 29er, and 49er both in production, it was decided by Frank Bethwaite to design a similar (but with differences) boat for an older age group. It has a full masthead spinnaker, and so downwind can go pretty quickly. Designed to be a hiking double hander, the 59er is like a Tasar but one step above that. The 59er completes the '9er' series of boats at least for the time being.
Sadly the 59er has not had much success with the boat having had little built, so has a low highest sail number, and no class association (at least not anymore) means the boat seems doomed to not succeed. Which is a shame, as those who I have heard sail one have enjoyed the boat. However, I have also heard you need to carry a fair bit of weight to get the full potential of the boat or be particularly athletic, which hasn't helped the boat sell, in its market area.
Designed in 2000 and put into production in the year 2002, the 59er has been an interesting boat, and with a handicap of around 905 it can reach similar speeds to that of a 505.
For more information, please see: http://bethwaite.com/previous/designs/59er.html
Sadly the 59er has not had much success with the boat having had little built, so has a low highest sail number, and no class association (at least not anymore) means the boat seems doomed to not succeed. Which is a shame, as those who I have heard sail one have enjoyed the boat. However, I have also heard you need to carry a fair bit of weight to get the full potential of the boat or be particularly athletic, which hasn't helped the boat sell, in its market area.
Designed in 2000 and put into production in the year 2002, the 59er has been an interesting boat, and with a handicap of around 905 it can reach similar speeds to that of a 505.
For more information, please see: http://bethwaite.com/previous/designs/59er.html
Friday 28 June 2013
The Miniature Fireball
The miniature fireball, being the bullet, of course, was 12ft long, and built by Chippendale boats, the builder of legendary fireballs. Designed to be a sort of fireball trainer, the Bullet, was for lighter weights than the fireball, for either two young teenagers or one big and small person. Complete with trapeze and symmetric spinnaker, the bullet really was a miniature fireball.
Like the 29er is to the 49er, the bullet is a youth version of the boat, but unfortunately, the bullet never really took off, and as a result only a handful of boats were ever built, and sold. You occasionally see them on ebay, or gumtree, but that is all I have ever heard of them.
It is a shame as the sailing characteristics (I assume - judging by the hull shape) are pretty similar to that of the fireball, and the fireball can be a very nice ride.
Unfortunately, there is no class association for the bullet, so here is a picture off an old ebay ad: Click here...
Like the 29er is to the 49er, the bullet is a youth version of the boat, but unfortunately, the bullet never really took off, and as a result only a handful of boats were ever built, and sold. You occasionally see them on ebay, or gumtree, but that is all I have ever heard of them.
It is a shame as the sailing characteristics (I assume - judging by the hull shape) are pretty similar to that of the fireball, and the fireball can be a very nice ride.
Unfortunately, there is no class association for the bullet, so here is a picture off an old ebay ad: Click here...
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Optimist
The optimist is the worlds most widely used youth boat, with over 160,000 having been built. I learnt to sail on one and race on one, myself and as a result have many fond memories of sailing one on the sea, in Jersey.
Designed in 1947 by Clark Mills with a few modifications since than, such as being slightly modified by Axel Damsgaard and has since become a strict one design in 1995. With a sail area of just 3.3 square metres, and a very stable hull shape, the optimist is very good for young people to start in sailing, and learn the ropes, not just this, but is also very good for teaching racing up to an international level, with world championships, national squads, and is also one of the RYA youth boats, so is a great entry to race sailing dinghies, and is good for getting international competition. In fact, the optimist can train young champions, for example Ben Ainslie competed in the optimist world championships a number of times, and look what and for who he sails now!
I have very good memories of sailing the optimist, and as a result I think it is a good boat for those who want to learn sailing at a young age, and good for those who want to learn racing up to an international level.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.optiworld.org
My first club; St Catherine's sailing club, had a small fleet of them, and so taught people to sail on them, through their scheme of beginners courses.
I have very good memories of sailing the optimist, and as a result I think it is a good boat for those who want to learn sailing at a young age, and good for those who want to learn racing up to an international level.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.optiworld.org
Monday 24 June 2013
The Asymmetric Canoe
OK, I have already done the international canoe, although the same hull shape, I feel the AC deserves its own day, after all it does have rather different sailing characteristics downwind!
The AC was first an idea drawn up to increase downwind speed in the international canoe, after all the IC can be (downwind) as slow as a laser, although the DC is now also filling this gap as well. The spinnakers at the moment seem to be getting bigger and bigger (the biggest I have heard of is 28 square metres! Although I don't know if this is class legal...) and at the time they started using spinnakers, the biggest commonly used were 21.5 square metres big, but now the biggest commonly used is around 23 square metres.
The AC first started being sailed in the late '90's and since than the canoe master Rob Michael of Razorback Boats, has developed a pump system for the spinnaker, which works well, and is an efficient system. The boats sail with a retracting spinnaker pole, and with just (as you have seen) enormous spinnakers.
Below are some pictures of me sailing with my spinnaker:
For more information, please see: www.intcanoe.org.uk
And for more images: http://www.intcanoe.org.uk/gallery/
The AC was first an idea drawn up to increase downwind speed in the international canoe, after all the IC can be (downwind) as slow as a laser, although the DC is now also filling this gap as well. The spinnakers at the moment seem to be getting bigger and bigger (the biggest I have heard of is 28 square metres! Although I don't know if this is class legal...) and at the time they started using spinnakers, the biggest commonly used were 21.5 square metres big, but now the biggest commonly used is around 23 square metres.
The AC first started being sailed in the late '90's and since than the canoe master Rob Michael of Razorback Boats, has developed a pump system for the spinnaker, which works well, and is an efficient system. The boats sail with a retracting spinnaker pole, and with just (as you have seen) enormous spinnakers.
Below are some pictures of me sailing with my spinnaker:
For more information, please see: www.intcanoe.org.uk
And for more images: http://www.intcanoe.org.uk/gallery/
Saturday 22 June 2013
Laser 4000
Like the Laser 5000, the Laser 4000 has a weight equalisation system, when you can change the size of racks, so it is possible to sail the Laser 4000 with a variety of different weights. With a PY of 911 it is pretty quick too, and has a sail area of 14.7 metres squared (upwind) and an asymmetric of around 17 metres squared.
Designed in 1994, by Phil Morrison, the 4000 best performs in a F4-F5 although can do well in a F3 getting the crew out on the trapeze. The boat cannot sail well upwind, although it has a powerful rig and fully battened mainsail, so can sail against other boats in handicap racing competitively. Often found in Europe, specifically the UK, Italy, and France the 4000 has had a number of boats built, and as a result can provide good class racing.
For more information please see: http://www.laser4000.org.uk
And images: Click here....
Designed in 1994, by Phil Morrison, the 4000 best performs in a F4-F5 although can do well in a F3 getting the crew out on the trapeze. The boat cannot sail well upwind, although it has a powerful rig and fully battened mainsail, so can sail against other boats in handicap racing competitively. Often found in Europe, specifically the UK, Italy, and France the 4000 has had a number of boats built, and as a result can provide good class racing.
For more information please see: http://www.laser4000.org.uk
And images: Click here....
Friday 21 June 2013
Flying Dutchman
'What a site', my remark after watching several videos on youtube of this incredible boat. With its enormous overlapping genoa, almost as big as the mainsail, the FD is just an amazing site, and with a PY of around 880, the FD isn't slow either.
With a spinnaker size of around 21 metres squared, a mainsail of 10.2 metres squared, and a jib 8.4 metres squared big! You can see where the FD gets its interesting sail plan. Sailed as the Olympic class since 1960 through to 1992, the FD has developed some interesting characteristics, such as the continuous trapeze system for the crew, which works by having a piece of bungee going from trapeze wire to trapeze wire so when you hook on it essentially means you stay hooked on, as you walk from one side to the other, you just need to step out, and you're already trapezing! However, this wouldn't work on boats with deeper cockpits, and lower booms, the FD (however) has both a high boom and shallow cockpit, meaning the system works.
FD K9 recently bought by a member of the CVRDA, looks just brilliant in the photos I have seen, and its enormous overlapping genoa really suits the boat, and (at least in my eyes) looks more aesthetically pleasing than most modern boats with tiny jibs in comparison.
Now the FD is sailed in the Vintage Games, since 2008 (at least) and designed in 1951, and despite the relatively low sail numbers that the class has had, the FD has stood the test of time, at least in comparison to some other classes, such as the apparent and sad demise of the RS600.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.sailfd.org/sails_fd_president_preface.php
With a spinnaker size of around 21 metres squared, a mainsail of 10.2 metres squared, and a jib 8.4 metres squared big! You can see where the FD gets its interesting sail plan. Sailed as the Olympic class since 1960 through to 1992, the FD has developed some interesting characteristics, such as the continuous trapeze system for the crew, which works by having a piece of bungee going from trapeze wire to trapeze wire so when you hook on it essentially means you stay hooked on, as you walk from one side to the other, you just need to step out, and you're already trapezing! However, this wouldn't work on boats with deeper cockpits, and lower booms, the FD (however) has both a high boom and shallow cockpit, meaning the system works.
FD K9 recently bought by a member of the CVRDA, looks just brilliant in the photos I have seen, and its enormous overlapping genoa really suits the boat, and (at least in my eyes) looks more aesthetically pleasing than most modern boats with tiny jibs in comparison.
Now the FD is sailed in the Vintage Games, since 2008 (at least) and designed in 1951, and despite the relatively low sail numbers that the class has had, the FD has stood the test of time, at least in comparison to some other classes, such as the apparent and sad demise of the RS600.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.sailfd.org/sails_fd_president_preface.php
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Albacore
Today's boat is the Albacore. I one heard one owner of an Albacore comment, saying 'these boats are just great', and being very deep they can sail well on the sea.
15' long, the Albacore is a monohull planing dinghy, and can pretty much be sailed by anyone, competitively, if you have the skill to sail fast. This is due to the highly technical rig, which can be adjusted easily for different crew weights and different conditions, meaning the boat can be sailed by all, in all conditions that are normally found at your local sailing club. Being a planing boat means it can pack some fun in downwind, as well as upwind. There is no wonder, then, as to why over 8000 of these boats have been built.
Designed in 1954, the Albacore had been around for a long time, but what is it about it that makes it an all time classic? Well, the Albacore, goes brilliantly one the sea, and a lot of sailing clubs being close or on the sea, it is obvious as to why people would go for it when based on coastal clubs, but it is also popular inland, this is possibly due to the way it is a well designed boat, and at the same time, it has had a fan base built up over the years, so people will also go for it to race and sail with other Albacore sailors. Also, being a very technical boat, means a lot of experienced sailors can fine tune it, and get a lot out of sailing the boat, as well as the fact that it means there is a lot of string to play with whilst sailing!
For more information and images of the Albacore, please see: http://www.albacore.org.uk/alb/
15' long, the Albacore is a monohull planing dinghy, and can pretty much be sailed by anyone, competitively, if you have the skill to sail fast. This is due to the highly technical rig, which can be adjusted easily for different crew weights and different conditions, meaning the boat can be sailed by all, in all conditions that are normally found at your local sailing club. Being a planing boat means it can pack some fun in downwind, as well as upwind. There is no wonder, then, as to why over 8000 of these boats have been built.
Designed in 1954, the Albacore had been around for a long time, but what is it about it that makes it an all time classic? Well, the Albacore, goes brilliantly one the sea, and a lot of sailing clubs being close or on the sea, it is obvious as to why people would go for it when based on coastal clubs, but it is also popular inland, this is possibly due to the way it is a well designed boat, and at the same time, it has had a fan base built up over the years, so people will also go for it to race and sail with other Albacore sailors. Also, being a very technical boat, means a lot of experienced sailors can fine tune it, and get a lot out of sailing the boat, as well as the fact that it means there is a lot of string to play with whilst sailing!
For more information and images of the Albacore, please see: http://www.albacore.org.uk/alb/
Tuesday 18 June 2013
RS Feva
Todays boat, is one a rather like, despite its roto-mould plastic construction, and slow speed, I have many a-fond memory of sailing this boat, being the first double-hander I have ever sailed and raced in, I have many memories of sailing as the sun is just starting to set, and then getting back in before it gets dark on an evening race at the first club I was a member of; St Catherine's Sailing Club.
Anyway, designed in 2002 by Paul Handley, with an asymmetric of 6.8 metres squared, and a main and jib of around 6.3 metres squared, the RS Feva, is a good introduction to the sailing world of double-handing. With its natural stability and short waterline, it is a good boat to sail in waves, and as a result of its characteristics can often be seen at clubs, for their youth boats.
Despite its shape and construction, the Feva is a fun boat, although I would much rather sail other boats now, at the time I just really enjoyed myself sailing the Feva.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.rsfeva.org.uk
Saturday 15 June 2013
470
Today's boat is one of the Olympic classes for both men and women. With a PY of around 973, it is faster than a fireball, and has a planing hull shape.
With it's bermudan rig, of 11.7 metres squared, and a spinnaker of 13 metres squared, the 470 is a fun class to sail, and due to slower speeds than some Olympic classes and the more stable hull shape, it can provide very tactical situations, and a good introduction to high performance classes. As a result of its more forgiving hull shape, it can be a good class relying on sailing skill as apposed to the ability to move fast.
Also due to being a pretty strict one design, you can be as competitive as others with a similar aged boat.
As a result of the ideal crew weight, the boat can be sailed equally by those of young age and both male and female competitors.
Designed in 1963 by Andre Cornu, it has been an olympic class since 1976.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.470.org
With it's bermudan rig, of 11.7 metres squared, and a spinnaker of 13 metres squared, the 470 is a fun class to sail, and due to slower speeds than some Olympic classes and the more stable hull shape, it can provide very tactical situations, and a good introduction to high performance classes. As a result of its more forgiving hull shape, it can be a good class relying on sailing skill as apposed to the ability to move fast.
Also due to being a pretty strict one design, you can be as competitive as others with a similar aged boat.
As a result of the ideal crew weight, the boat can be sailed equally by those of young age and both male and female competitors.
Designed in 1963 by Andre Cornu, it has been an olympic class since 1976.
For more information and images, please see: http://www.470.org
Wednesday 12 June 2013
49er
Today, is one, if not the fastest double-hander out there, with a PY of 740! Named so after its length - 4.99m, the 49er is, without a doubt an extreme boat. Designed by Julian Bethwaite in the 1990's, the boat itself is now an olympic class, both in the form of the 'classic' 49er and the 49er FX. With a weight of 74kg, the boat is built light, for such a large hull (with a beam of 1.75m) it is a large boat to have such a weight.
In recent times, the boat got a new rig in time for the 2012 Olympics, with a square top mainsail and carbon rig, making it even faster.
With a sail area of 20 metres squared, upwind and a spinnaker of 37 metres squared, and a beam (with wings) of 2.75 metres, it is no surprise that it is a quick boat, having such a large sail area and thin pointed hull.
The boat first featured in the Olympics in 2000, in Sydney, and ever since has been a great boat to watch in the time of the Olympics, with capsizes a common sight, and the shear speed reached by the boats, the boat is enjoyable to watch.
For more information, please see: http://www.49er.org
And for images: http://www.49er.org/gallery
In recent times, the boat got a new rig in time for the 2012 Olympics, with a square top mainsail and carbon rig, making it even faster.
With a sail area of 20 metres squared, upwind and a spinnaker of 37 metres squared, and a beam (with wings) of 2.75 metres, it is no surprise that it is a quick boat, having such a large sail area and thin pointed hull.
The boat first featured in the Olympics in 2000, in Sydney, and ever since has been a great boat to watch in the time of the Olympics, with capsizes a common sight, and the shear speed reached by the boats, the boat is enjoyable to watch.
For more information, please see: http://www.49er.org
And for images: http://www.49er.org/gallery
Monday 10 June 2013
IOD
Today's boat is a day sailer, being 33' long, and was popularised before WWII, the idea behind the yacht, being that winning races was based on just skill, not the latest technology. This has resulted in equal racing (by in large) for all.
Of course, the IOD isn't the first boat to have used this idea, the water wag, amongst others are earlier examples, of this wanted one design trait. However, it was the IOD, which made racing in sailing more equal, with the obvious way that newer sails make a faster boat, a rule was implemented into the class, which helped allow people with older sails to compete more competitively. This idea, was the way that you had to buy sails which a specific sail buying programme allowed. This has helped to keep most IOD's competitive.
This sail buying programme states that individual boats are not allowed to just buy sails, but instead are only allowed to buy what the local fleet votes on which sail would be best to purchase, and the official sail makes promises to make them as close to each other sail in quality, size and strength of the other sails.
It is this ideology which helps to keep old IOD's competitive and makes the class an interesting one.
Designed by Cornelius Sheilds, in pre war America, the IOD has a symmetrical spinnaker, and large bermudan rig of 40 metres squared sail area, combined with the class rules, make the IOD a good keelboat for competitive racing. And as a result, was given international status by ISAF.
For more information, please visit: http://www.internationalonedesign.org
And for images: Click here...
Of course, the IOD isn't the first boat to have used this idea, the water wag, amongst others are earlier examples, of this wanted one design trait. However, it was the IOD, which made racing in sailing more equal, with the obvious way that newer sails make a faster boat, a rule was implemented into the class, which helped allow people with older sails to compete more competitively. This idea, was the way that you had to buy sails which a specific sail buying programme allowed. This has helped to keep most IOD's competitive.
This sail buying programme states that individual boats are not allowed to just buy sails, but instead are only allowed to buy what the local fleet votes on which sail would be best to purchase, and the official sail makes promises to make them as close to each other sail in quality, size and strength of the other sails.
It is this ideology which helps to keep old IOD's competitive and makes the class an interesting one.
Designed by Cornelius Sheilds, in pre war America, the IOD has a symmetrical spinnaker, and large bermudan rig of 40 metres squared sail area, combined with the class rules, make the IOD a good keelboat for competitive racing. And as a result, was given international status by ISAF.
For more information, please visit: http://www.internationalonedesign.org
And for images: Click here...
Sunday 9 June 2013
Payne - Mortlock Canoe
Another interesting one - this being an offshoot of the international canoe class, with not one, but two sliding seats - yes this is essentially a two person international canoe!
Mainly raced in Australia, the Payne-Mortlock Canoe has been sailed for more then half a century. one of the few places in Australia you can see them raced regularly, is at the Brighton and Seacliff YC.
The original boat was first started to be designed in the 1930's specifically 1938, and the hull shape was based on Uffa Fox's Brynhild. But it wasn't until 1946 when the canoe was finished, and this was still not what we know of today as the Payne-Mortlock Canoe, as the hull was increased in size, and this became the recognisable boat.
It is 5.8m long with a beam of 1.37m with an extra 6.5 metres squared of sail area compared to the typical IC, upwind at least, and a 9.8 metre squared spinnaker.
There are only a handful of these interesting boats left, although some are still racing, which can only be a good thing.
For more information, please see: Payne-Mortlock Canoe
There is also a short video if you search youtube.
Mainly raced in Australia, the Payne-Mortlock Canoe has been sailed for more then half a century. one of the few places in Australia you can see them raced regularly, is at the Brighton and Seacliff YC.
The original boat was first started to be designed in the 1930's specifically 1938, and the hull shape was based on Uffa Fox's Brynhild. But it wasn't until 1946 when the canoe was finished, and this was still not what we know of today as the Payne-Mortlock Canoe, as the hull was increased in size, and this became the recognisable boat.
It is 5.8m long with a beam of 1.37m with an extra 6.5 metres squared of sail area compared to the typical IC, upwind at least, and a 9.8 metre squared spinnaker.
There are only a handful of these interesting boats left, although some are still racing, which can only be a good thing.
For more information, please see: Payne-Mortlock Canoe
There is also a short video if you search youtube.
Saturday 8 June 2013
The international 14
The I14 (or international 14) was first developed in the UK, in early 20th century, and was one of the first dinghies to be registered and an international class, by what now is known as ISAF. Being a development class, the boat, has had a lot of development in the past few decades, with it developing twin trapeze and asymmetric spinnakers, massive sizes, of around 32 square metres, and if you can handle it, any size you want!
My own, I14 is a 1987 'penny' or penultimate boat (see pictures below) with twin trapeze, an enormous asymmetric, and is one of the original Hutchinson boats. But, to compare with the modern boats, the old 'penny' 14 has a similar speed (or so I have been told) to a 505, although modern 14 has a handicap of around 780, so to compare the two (with a 505 of 902) you can really see the difference in speed!
The boats, a pretty impressive sight to watch as well, with the enormous spinnakers, and high speeds, they reach, an impressive capsize is always something fun to watch!
Anyway, now for some history: the original boats, could only sail in displacement 'mode' although Uffa Fox introduced planing designs to the class, making them significantly faster downwind, the trapeze, was also tried by the owners of an Uffa built boat, in the 1930's called 'Thunder and Lightning' although, was promptly banned.
It was then several decades, before use of the trapeze was allowed in the class, and it was in the 1980's when twin trapeze caught on, and with newer hull shapes, allowed planing upwind.
The modern 14's are extraordinarily light, with enormous sail areas, a wider beam then the older 14's (including racks) and taller masts with high aspect ratio sails, giving them enormous amounts of power. With the advent of T-foil rudders, the boats were even quicker and people were going for a swim less often. The I14, is a true development class.
Today, boats are built out of extremely light materials too, helping them to go faster, and with modern construction techniques, they are also very strong.
For more information, please see: http://www.international14.org
And for images of a modern 14: http://gbr.international14.org/index.php/14media/photos
My own, I14 is a 1987 'penny' or penultimate boat (see pictures below) with twin trapeze, an enormous asymmetric, and is one of the original Hutchinson boats. But, to compare with the modern boats, the old 'penny' 14 has a similar speed (or so I have been told) to a 505, although modern 14 has a handicap of around 780, so to compare the two (with a 505 of 902) you can really see the difference in speed!
The boats, a pretty impressive sight to watch as well, with the enormous spinnakers, and high speeds, they reach, an impressive capsize is always something fun to watch!
Anyway, now for some history: the original boats, could only sail in displacement 'mode' although Uffa Fox introduced planing designs to the class, making them significantly faster downwind, the trapeze, was also tried by the owners of an Uffa built boat, in the 1930's called 'Thunder and Lightning' although, was promptly banned.
It was then several decades, before use of the trapeze was allowed in the class, and it was in the 1980's when twin trapeze caught on, and with newer hull shapes, allowed planing upwind.
The modern 14's are extraordinarily light, with enormous sail areas, a wider beam then the older 14's (including racks) and taller masts with high aspect ratio sails, giving them enormous amounts of power. With the advent of T-foil rudders, the boats were even quicker and people were going for a swim less often. The I14, is a true development class.
Today, boats are built out of extremely light materials too, helping them to go faster, and with modern construction techniques, they are also very strong.
For more information, please see: http://www.international14.org
And for images of a modern 14: http://gbr.international14.org/index.php/14media/photos
Friday 7 June 2013
'Nightmare' the 7'7" skiff
Today's boat, is a rather interesting boat, being just 7'7" long, with a 4' bowsprit, a beam of 3'6" and racks which are 20" wide.
This being a home built and designed boat - originally named 'Nightmare' to represent the designers and builders of this boat, predictions to as how hard she would be to sail. The original idea came from wanting to build a boat which is both fun to sail and watch, but as the first sail came, and went, a big surprise occurred, the boat wasn't anywhere near as hard to sail as predicted, and in a moderate breeze as you power up, the little skiff wasn't as impossible to handle as expected, being the hull giving stability as you got going. The boat, due to its length is very twitchy, and as a result, if you get the tack wrong you can often end up swimming, and even the slightest gust, can lead to nosediving tendencies, which will require the helm moving aft to counteract this, making the helms ability to move backwards and forwards the main skill in sailing the skiff.
Making the use of a laser 2 mast and rig, and constructed from 4mm ply and stitch glue technique for building, as well as a GRP foam core, the boat proves light enough to lift by one person, but due to the shape, this proved impractical. The boat also has located beneath the mast step and x frame, to help prevent compressional forces, creating the main structure and strength to the hull, bowsprit and racks. All in all she just took just 95 hours to build, and cost less then £200 to construct.
So, all I can say, is a well done to those who built and designed this tiny skiff, as well as the fact that they made a dream and idea into reality.
Many thanks to Reuben T, for the photos and information.
This being a home built and designed boat - originally named 'Nightmare' to represent the designers and builders of this boat, predictions to as how hard she would be to sail. The original idea came from wanting to build a boat which is both fun to sail and watch, but as the first sail came, and went, a big surprise occurred, the boat wasn't anywhere near as hard to sail as predicted, and in a moderate breeze as you power up, the little skiff wasn't as impossible to handle as expected, being the hull giving stability as you got going. The boat, due to its length is very twitchy, and as a result, if you get the tack wrong you can often end up swimming, and even the slightest gust, can lead to nosediving tendencies, which will require the helm moving aft to counteract this, making the helms ability to move backwards and forwards the main skill in sailing the skiff.
Making the use of a laser 2 mast and rig, and constructed from 4mm ply and stitch glue technique for building, as well as a GRP foam core, the boat proves light enough to lift by one person, but due to the shape, this proved impractical. The boat also has located beneath the mast step and x frame, to help prevent compressional forces, creating the main structure and strength to the hull, bowsprit and racks. All in all she just took just 95 hours to build, and cost less then £200 to construct.
So, all I can say, is a well done to those who built and designed this tiny skiff, as well as the fact that they made a dream and idea into reality.
Many thanks to Reuben T, for the photos and information.
Thursday 6 June 2013
29er
A modern, planing monohull skiff for young people.
This being, a 29er, designed by Julian Bethwaite, it is quick with handicap of around 920. Now, a youth class for ISAF, the 29er, is a 1998 design, with a modern rig, made of mylar laminate, and a nylon spinnaker, the boat can plain both upwind and downwind, with its modern, and sleek hull shape. The boat, is constructed from a fibreglass foam sandwich, and has an aluminium mast, with a carbon tip.
With a self tacking job, large fractional asymmetric spinnaker, and natural instability, the 29er, is a good trainer for skiffs, and a good boat to learn about apparent wind, being the fact the boat is quick enough to gain this.
The class, has two variants, the XX, and XS, the XX having a large sail area, and twin trapeze, with the XS having a smaller sail area for smaller sailors.
For more information, please see: http://www.29er.org.uk
And images, please visit: http://www.29er.com/media-gallery
This being, a 29er, designed by Julian Bethwaite, it is quick with handicap of around 920. Now, a youth class for ISAF, the 29er, is a 1998 design, with a modern rig, made of mylar laminate, and a nylon spinnaker, the boat can plain both upwind and downwind, with its modern, and sleek hull shape. The boat, is constructed from a fibreglass foam sandwich, and has an aluminium mast, with a carbon tip.
With a self tacking job, large fractional asymmetric spinnaker, and natural instability, the 29er, is a good trainer for skiffs, and a good boat to learn about apparent wind, being the fact the boat is quick enough to gain this.
The class, has two variants, the XX, and XS, the XX having a large sail area, and twin trapeze, with the XS having a smaller sail area for smaller sailors.
For more information, please see: http://www.29er.org.uk
And images, please visit: http://www.29er.com/media-gallery
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Hurley 22
Today, is the first yacht! This being something, that despite the fact I have never sailed one, my grandparents used to own one, I feel that this boat has earned its place in the calendar.
The Hurley 22, is a 22' long yacht, with either a fin or bilge keel, and has been going since 1964, and once a winner of the round the island race, in 1967. This little yacht, is a good performer, and despite its size, is a proper yacht, with 4 berths, but it is possible to put a hood in the cockpit, and sleep as many six on a warm summers day.
It can still be bought new, today, which is a testament to the class, of what a design it is, with boats having the option to either have a bilge keel or fin keel, and with the ability to trailer around, it is a very versatile boat - as you can tell from the way it once won the round the island race, yet can also be used as a very good cruiser (as my grandparents once did!).
For more information and images, please see: http://www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk/pages/h22.htm
The Hurley 22, is a 22' long yacht, with either a fin or bilge keel, and has been going since 1964, and once a winner of the round the island race, in 1967. This little yacht, is a good performer, and despite its size, is a proper yacht, with 4 berths, but it is possible to put a hood in the cockpit, and sleep as many six on a warm summers day.
It can still be bought new, today, which is a testament to the class, of what a design it is, with boats having the option to either have a bilge keel or fin keel, and with the ability to trailer around, it is a very versatile boat - as you can tell from the way it once won the round the island race, yet can also be used as a very good cruiser (as my grandparents once did!).
For more information and images, please see: http://www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk/pages/h22.htm
Monday 3 June 2013
The international moth
Todays boat, is possibly the most extreme dinghy out there, being around 30cm wide in the widest point, and literally flying, this boat has hydrofoils.
The boat, itself, seems to have really gained wings, which is a little ironic, considering its name. But I am going to start, right at the beginning of its story.
In 1928, Len Morris, built and designed the first moth, with similar developments going on in America, with another boat, with a similar design, having been built by Joel Van Sant. Although, the boats did have a few differences, the biggest, being the sail area, with the American boats, having 72 square feet of sail area, and the Australian boats, having 80 square feet of sail area.
By 1971, the two classes joined, forming the international moth class, with the class being known mostly for its rules, allowing a lot of development within the class.
Since the early beginnings of the class, the boats, have had several developments, with a few variants in the boats. The most well known, being the Europa moth, to become the Europe. This was, at one point, the woman's single hander, in the Olympics. There is also the British moth, also, in America - the classic moth, and (as you have seen earlier in the calendar) the New Zealand moth.
Over the years, there have been a lot of different designs of moth, ranging from an almost tunnelled hull scow moth to the most extreme; hydrofoiling moth. Although, despite how extreme the foiling moth is, the hardest boats to sail (of the moth class) are the lowriders, especially ones without T-foil rudders, but still with the skinny hulls, like the skippy, or early axeman boats. Although, several of these skinny lowriders, have been converted to hydrofoiling boats.
This brings us up to today, with hulls weighing under 10 kilos, and fully rigged, under 25 kilos. This is achieved, by the exotic materials used in construction, like kevlar and carbon fibre, and the very clever way they are constructed. But, this lightweight and narrow form the boats take, gives them a natural instability to the boats, making them one of the ultimate challenges of dinghy sailing, and the ability to reach speeds of over 30 knots, and believe me - in an 11 foot dinghy, this is just incredible.
For more information and pictures, please see: http://www.internationalmoth.co.uk
The boat, itself, seems to have really gained wings, which is a little ironic, considering its name. But I am going to start, right at the beginning of its story.
In 1928, Len Morris, built and designed the first moth, with similar developments going on in America, with another boat, with a similar design, having been built by Joel Van Sant. Although, the boats did have a few differences, the biggest, being the sail area, with the American boats, having 72 square feet of sail area, and the Australian boats, having 80 square feet of sail area.
By 1971, the two classes joined, forming the international moth class, with the class being known mostly for its rules, allowing a lot of development within the class.
Since the early beginnings of the class, the boats, have had several developments, with a few variants in the boats. The most well known, being the Europa moth, to become the Europe. This was, at one point, the woman's single hander, in the Olympics. There is also the British moth, also, in America - the classic moth, and (as you have seen earlier in the calendar) the New Zealand moth.
Over the years, there have been a lot of different designs of moth, ranging from an almost tunnelled hull scow moth to the most extreme; hydrofoiling moth. Although, despite how extreme the foiling moth is, the hardest boats to sail (of the moth class) are the lowriders, especially ones without T-foil rudders, but still with the skinny hulls, like the skippy, or early axeman boats. Although, several of these skinny lowriders, have been converted to hydrofoiling boats.
This brings us up to today, with hulls weighing under 10 kilos, and fully rigged, under 25 kilos. This is achieved, by the exotic materials used in construction, like kevlar and carbon fibre, and the very clever way they are constructed. But, this lightweight and narrow form the boats take, gives them a natural instability to the boats, making them one of the ultimate challenges of dinghy sailing, and the ability to reach speeds of over 30 knots, and believe me - in an 11 foot dinghy, this is just incredible.
For more information and pictures, please see: http://www.internationalmoth.co.uk
Sunday 2 June 2013
Australian Cherub
Todays boat, is the Australian Cherub, which, like the UK Cherub, is an asymmetric planing double hander, although, only has one trapeze. With a relatively large sail area, for the hull shape, the boats, despite not having as much sail area as the UK Cherub, are still quick. The Australian Cherub, is a restricted class, so development is allowed, but to a limit.
Like the UK Cherub, the Australian Cherub, stems from the original New Zealand design, back in 1951.
The boats, were also sometimes used in the 12' skiff class, or Q class, with much larger sails, and twin trapeze, but the same hull shape.
For more information, please visit: http://www.cherub.org.au
And for images: http://www.cherub.org.au/cherubgallery
Like the UK Cherub, the Australian Cherub, stems from the original New Zealand design, back in 1951.
The boats, were also sometimes used in the 12' skiff class, or Q class, with much larger sails, and twin trapeze, but the same hull shape.
For more information, please visit: http://www.cherub.org.au
And for images: http://www.cherub.org.au/cherubgallery
Saturday 1 June 2013
The Chesapeake Bay log canoe
Today, is a rather extraordinary boat, being a 35 foot long canoe type boat, with 15' planks on the boat, to keep it upright, and not just one, but three! The boats themselves, are all rather old, one of them being, Island Bird, built in 1882, is one of the more famous boats.
The boats, also have a rather unusual construction, built out of logs strapped together and then hollowed out.
The Chesapeake Bay log canoe, with very tall masts, must provide an amazing sailing experience, and despite the fact they can capsize very easily, it must be part of the excitement, being at the end of a 15' long plank, as they gracefully slice through the water.
The planks themselves, are not even attached, which must add to the feel of sailing one of the oldest still-going classes out there.
The boats are still quick, despite their age, and are also prone to capsizing, even in the lightest of winds. As a result of these characteristics, these boats prove fun to watch (judging by the youtube videos...).
The graceful boats, were first uses to carry oysters and fish to the ports of Chesapeake Bay, and since, the boats, have been adapted to have larger sails and taller masts, for racing.
The boats, in their prime, numbered around 7000, but only a few survive and have been changed for racing.
For mire information and images, please visit: http://www.logcanoegallery.com
The boats, also have a rather unusual construction, built out of logs strapped together and then hollowed out.
The Chesapeake Bay log canoe, with very tall masts, must provide an amazing sailing experience, and despite the fact they can capsize very easily, it must be part of the excitement, being at the end of a 15' long plank, as they gracefully slice through the water.
The planks themselves, are not even attached, which must add to the feel of sailing one of the oldest still-going classes out there.
The boats are still quick, despite their age, and are also prone to capsizing, even in the lightest of winds. As a result of these characteristics, these boats prove fun to watch (judging by the youtube videos...).
The graceful boats, were first uses to carry oysters and fish to the ports of Chesapeake Bay, and since, the boats, have been adapted to have larger sails and taller masts, for racing.
The boats, in their prime, numbered around 7000, but only a few survive and have been changed for racing.
For mire information and images, please visit: http://www.logcanoegallery.com
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