Well, not quite, after all that is the Howth 17 Footer, but todays boat, is perhaps one of the most popular one design keelboats of its type (an old style classic racing keelboat) of course being, the XOD.
The class was formed in 1911, after a Alfred Westmacott, a boat builder in the Isle of White. And the class started gaining momentum, with 10 boats having been built before the outbreak of World War I, and by World War II 81 boats had been built. By this time, the XOD had almost sealed as a success, but with the outbreak of war, nothing was certain.
It wasn't until 1946, when building resumed after the war, that it resumed its successful past, and in 1946, a Yarmouth (IOW) division of the class started however this was stopped, and not resumed until 2008.
Over the years, the hull shape has remained entirely unchanged, however to keep with times changing, the class also allowed for change in the construction of the XOD.
Now, with over 140 boats racing, you can see why it would attract newcomers to the class. To illustrate my point, all you have to do is look at the event in 'Cowes Week', set aside for the XOD's.
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Saturday 16 November 2013
The Minisail (all types)
Todays boat is an interesting one, and if it wasn't for the minisail, essentially there would be nothing to remember the Sailfish and hence (until recently) something to rival the Sunfish, on this side of the Atlantic.
It all started in 1959, when Ian Proctor visited America, as a reporter for the America's Cup, at the time, an saw what was the Sailfish, as a result, he thought it was such a good idea, spent the next few years designing the Minisail, a beach boat on this side of the Atlantic. It was first built by a number of builders, specifically Chippendale, Bossoms Boatyard, and Plycraft, and eventually this turned into the class we had in the early 1960's. It was later in 1963 when most boats were built of fibreglass, and by this time Chippendale and Bossoms Boatyard, had dropped out of construction for the Minisail.
Later the class really started forming, and quite a few boats were produced. However, the Minisal, slowly but surely died a death, but one which was temporary!
It wasn't until the formation, of the CVRDA and various other organisations, such as the minisail class association, and the hardwork of Rupert Whelan and Ronny D G (who built a new minisail in plywood) that the class has started growing again.
Now often with events run coexisting with the current CVRDA events, the Minisail is slowly becoming the success it once was. And providing a very good, cheap entry into, not just sailing, but also the CVRDA and Minisail class.
The Minisail, comes in a variety of different forms, the Minisail, are the main types, gets split into the Monaco, Sprite, Sprint, and Meson. Each of which have different versions, all updating each other (apart from, it would seem - the Meson).
So, the Minisail is one of the few beach boats found on this side of the Atlantic (not forgetting the Beachcomber and Aquabat), which reached a relative popularity, in the hay-day of sailing. And is one of the few examples like the Sunfish, on this side of the atlantic.
It all started in 1959, when Ian Proctor visited America, as a reporter for the America's Cup, at the time, an saw what was the Sailfish, as a result, he thought it was such a good idea, spent the next few years designing the Minisail, a beach boat on this side of the Atlantic. It was first built by a number of builders, specifically Chippendale, Bossoms Boatyard, and Plycraft, and eventually this turned into the class we had in the early 1960's. It was later in 1963 when most boats were built of fibreglass, and by this time Chippendale and Bossoms Boatyard, had dropped out of construction for the Minisail.
Later the class really started forming, and quite a few boats were produced. However, the Minisal, slowly but surely died a death, but one which was temporary!
It wasn't until the formation, of the CVRDA and various other organisations, such as the minisail class association, and the hardwork of Rupert Whelan and Ronny D G (who built a new minisail in plywood) that the class has started growing again.
Now often with events run coexisting with the current CVRDA events, the Minisail is slowly becoming the success it once was. And providing a very good, cheap entry into, not just sailing, but also the CVRDA and Minisail class.
The Minisail, comes in a variety of different forms, the Minisail, are the main types, gets split into the Monaco, Sprite, Sprint, and Meson. Each of which have different versions, all updating each other (apart from, it would seem - the Meson).
So, the Minisail is one of the few beach boats found on this side of the Atlantic (not forgetting the Beachcomber and Aquabat), which reached a relative popularity, in the hay-day of sailing. And is one of the few examples like the Sunfish, on this side of the atlantic.
Wednesday 13 November 2013
Laser Pico
Okay, todays boat, might not, shall we say; have the nicest of sailing characteristics, be the fastest, and with its roto-mould plastic construction, the nicest to look at.
However the Laser Pico does serve a very good purpose, and that, is, of course getting people into sailing, in more ways than one, it might be someone first boat, it might be a boat someone learnt in, or even one someone has learnt to crew in. I mean, the fact is, if you have learnt to sail in a Laser Pico, you have started a new sport, and one which will hopefully keep you enjoying yourself for a lifetime.
However you started, though, it would certainly be good and healthy for the sport if you continued sailing, in any form you could (only if you enjoy it, of course!), and that of course include the Laser Pico.
So, why have I chosen to document a boat like this, on the calendar? Well, as I say, it is a great boat for unlocking beginnings, and hopefully ones which will last a lifetime.
Onto the facts - the Laser Pico, was originally designed to be a boat for all - easy to sail, rig, singlehanded, double handed, for someone of any age. However, what the Laser Pico lacks is that extra dimension, to move onto that next stage in your sailing career, move onto something with that little bit more quality in sailing characteristics, bigger fleets perhaps, and maybe on to competitive racing. However, for all the Laser Pico lacks, it easily makes up for in opening new chapters in peoples lives. Just count the number of club boats in a boat park at a typical club, the chances are, a few of them will probably be Laser Pico's.
The Laser Pico, is certainly no mirror, in bringing people into the sport, but nevertheless is still a good boat for learning the basics, and a lot of fun can be had out of one.
With a PN of 1260, or 1265 (depending on the size of your crew) and designed in the mid 1990's the Laser Pico, has now sold over 10,000 boats, and will hopefully continue to bring more people into the sport we so love, and enjoy.
The ideas behind the Laser Pico, were really to keep it simple, and that is something it does do very well, hence why it is just so easy to go out and sail.
However the Laser Pico does serve a very good purpose, and that, is, of course getting people into sailing, in more ways than one, it might be someone first boat, it might be a boat someone learnt in, or even one someone has learnt to crew in. I mean, the fact is, if you have learnt to sail in a Laser Pico, you have started a new sport, and one which will hopefully keep you enjoying yourself for a lifetime.
However you started, though, it would certainly be good and healthy for the sport if you continued sailing, in any form you could (only if you enjoy it, of course!), and that of course include the Laser Pico.
So, why have I chosen to document a boat like this, on the calendar? Well, as I say, it is a great boat for unlocking beginnings, and hopefully ones which will last a lifetime.
Onto the facts - the Laser Pico, was originally designed to be a boat for all - easy to sail, rig, singlehanded, double handed, for someone of any age. However, what the Laser Pico lacks is that extra dimension, to move onto that next stage in your sailing career, move onto something with that little bit more quality in sailing characteristics, bigger fleets perhaps, and maybe on to competitive racing. However, for all the Laser Pico lacks, it easily makes up for in opening new chapters in peoples lives. Just count the number of club boats in a boat park at a typical club, the chances are, a few of them will probably be Laser Pico's.
The Laser Pico, is certainly no mirror, in bringing people into the sport, but nevertheless is still a good boat for learning the basics, and a lot of fun can be had out of one.
With a PN of 1260, or 1265 (depending on the size of your crew) and designed in the mid 1990's the Laser Pico, has now sold over 10,000 boats, and will hopefully continue to bring more people into the sport we so love, and enjoy.
The ideas behind the Laser Pico, were really to keep it simple, and that is something it does do very well, hence why it is just so easy to go out and sail.
Tuesday 12 November 2013
12' Skiff
Today's boat is an interesting one, the class, starting around the same time as most of the other skiffs (6', 8', 12', 14', 16' and 18') the 12 footer has also had another similar form within the class's history, and this is of course the R-Class skiff. This, I suppose to go along with foiling, which at the moment, some UK Cherubs, seem to be doing something very similar.
Anyway, back to the 12' skiff.
Started at some point in the late 1800's, the 18' skiff was originally crewed by about 5 people, and was typically sailed, where you mostly see the 18's today; Sydney Harbour. In 1924, the 12' skiff class was formed, and overtime, there boat slowly lost the amount of people within the crew of each boat - i.e. in the 1940's it became crewed by three people, and eventually became a double hander, as we all know it today.
Mainly sailed in Australia and New Zealand, the 12' skiff is slowly gaining popularity elsewhere, including the UK, with one of the first official 12' skiffs being 'Suicide Blonde', built as a UK Cherub, but converted to a 12' skiff, by simply adding more sail area, and a second trapeze (as at the time, it was a '97 rules boat), it was successful on the UK circuit.
With the ability to reach blistering speeds, thanks to the way it is very over canvassed for the size of the hull, the modern 12' skiff has very twitchy handling, hence is tricky to sail.
Anyway, back to the 12' skiff.
Started at some point in the late 1800's, the 18' skiff was originally crewed by about 5 people, and was typically sailed, where you mostly see the 18's today; Sydney Harbour. In 1924, the 12' skiff class was formed, and overtime, there boat slowly lost the amount of people within the crew of each boat - i.e. in the 1940's it became crewed by three people, and eventually became a double hander, as we all know it today.
Mainly sailed in Australia and New Zealand, the 12' skiff is slowly gaining popularity elsewhere, including the UK, with one of the first official 12' skiffs being 'Suicide Blonde', built as a UK Cherub, but converted to a 12' skiff, by simply adding more sail area, and a second trapeze (as at the time, it was a '97 rules boat), it was successful on the UK circuit.
With the ability to reach blistering speeds, thanks to the way it is very over canvassed for the size of the hull, the modern 12' skiff has very twitchy handling, hence is tricky to sail.
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