I was surprised to be asked. Complimented too, you’ve no idea.
I’ve a trip coming up, I’m to skipper a charter motor cruiser in
Desolation Sound, British Columbia for a 10 day charter with a friend who does
not have the qualys to drive same. Living on board in the small space that the boat
offers will mean we get to know each other pretty well but that should be a very good thing. We’re looking forward to a really
great adventure, the area has amazing scenery, the boat is comfortable and roomy,
we’ve time to do some exploring and if the weather does not co operate we can just sit in a sheltered inlet and relax.
Desolation Sound, British Columbia for a 10 day charter with a friend who does
not have the qualys to drive same. Living on board in the small space that the boat
offers will mean we get to know each other pretty well but that should be a very good thing. We’re looking forward to a really
great adventure, the area has amazing scenery, the boat is comfortable and roomy,
we’ve time to do some exploring and if the weather does not co operate we can just sit in a sheltered inlet and relax.
Heres our ship, 40 ft, single engine about the same size and power of my own ship so she should be easy to learn.
So in five more sleeps (this is better than waiting for Santa when
you’re 7 years old) I’m on the bus, then the plane direct to Vancouver from
Auckland. 11 ½ hours in the air, this is
becoming regular so I’m getting used to flying long distances, still don’t like it but I can
tolerate it.
you’re 7 years old) I’m on the bus, then the plane direct to Vancouver from
Auckland. 11 ½ hours in the air, this is
becoming regular so I’m getting used to flying long distances, still don’t like it but I can
tolerate it.
I’ve bought an e reader so I don’t have to carry a couple of
kilograms of books to keep me from going mad trapped in that big aluminium tube
in the sky.
kilograms of books to keep me from going mad trapped in that big aluminium tube
in the sky.
Back on 7th June, so I’ll miss the start of the “Race to
Alaska”. I will though be following the
progress on their website. http://r2ak.com/
Alaska”. I will though be following the
progress on their website. http://r2ak.com/
I know most of the guys in the video clip, the serious looking dude
with the suitcase handcuffed to him is SCA Magazines Josh Colvin.
with the suitcase handcuffed to him is SCA Magazines Josh Colvin.
This is a wonderful event, I wish I wish I wish I could be on the
start line, even a SCAMP would do. It’s to be run every second year, so
maybe??????
start line, even a SCAMP would do. It’s to be run every second year, so
maybe??????
What am I saying, “Even a SCAMP? ” Actually a SCAMP might not be the fastest thing in the race but you could do a lot worse for comfort and seaworthiness, I gather that there is one entered to do just leg one across from Port Townsend to Victoria, in itself no mean voyage in a little boat.
( GO Simeon yaaay!)
In the meantime I’m busy completing the plans for “Saturday Night
Special” a 14 ft fairly quick and dirty fast sailing skiff designed for the
Texas 200.
Special” a 14 ft fairly quick and dirty fast sailing skiff designed for the
Texas 200.
The original intention was to
have a group in New Zealand build themselves frames, transom and stem, rudder
and centreboard and put them into a mountain bike air travel bag, arrive in Texas, buy plywood and epoxy etc,
team up and using paper patterns build their two person boats in a week or so,
( rough is expected) sail them and either do an Andrew Linn ( in joke, I’ll
explain it if you really want) or sell, give away or whatever and fly home.
have a group in New Zealand build themselves frames, transom and stem, rudder
and centreboard and put them into a mountain bike air travel bag, arrive in Texas, buy plywood and epoxy etc,
team up and using paper patterns build their two person boats in a week or so,
( rough is expected) sail them and either do an Andrew Linn ( in joke, I’ll
explain it if you really want) or sell, give away or whatever and fly home.
The costs of shipping a boat from New Zealand was prohibitive, hence
the thinking.
the thinking.
A proof of concept boat was built, it sails pretty well, the owner
was complaining that he could not quite hold a Laser upwind, but that was with
the T200 rig intended for very brisk winds, and the boat very much untuned so
its reasonably capable.
was complaining that he could not quite hold a Laser upwind, but that was with
the T200 rig intended for very brisk winds, and the boat very much untuned so
its reasonably capable.
Enter Chuck Leinweber of www.duckworksmagazine.com and his boatbuilders supplies company, (unashamed advert, they’re good guys, have good gear at unbeatable prices and
are very prompt to ship)
are very prompt to ship)
Chuck had the idea of getting a group of volunteers to build maybe
half a dozen of these, and offer the use of them in return for donations to
Cancer research.
half a dozen of these, and offer the use of them in return for donations to
Cancer research.
The fleet has the potential
to work well at other events as well, Sail Oklahoma, Everglades challenge,
Florida 120 and so on as well as at messabouts, so I’ve reviewed the
structures, put a swinging centreboard
in, gone up a little in size so she can be built just under the 14 ft limit above
which Texas law will require the boats to be registered, and drawn up a proper
set of plans.
to work well at other events as well, Sail Oklahoma, Everglades challenge,
Florida 120 and so on as well as at messabouts, so I’ve reviewed the
structures, put a swinging centreboard
in, gone up a little in size so she can be built just under the 14 ft limit above
which Texas law will require the boats to be registered, and drawn up a proper
set of plans.
With careful selection of cheap plywood and buying fittings at good prices, ( you know where to get those eh! The plans show all the fittings designations for Duckworks fittings and they’ll have a package deal price) and one of Polytarp Daves sails you could do one of these for maybe $1500. A lot of boat for not a lot of pain.
For the sharp of eyes, the boat can be built at 13 ft 10, or 14 ft 8.
For polytarp sails and sail kits www.polysail.com
Also note that the boat will suit the larger of the RSS Sails that Duckworksmagazine offer at VERY good prices.
I hope to have these done before I leave, so need to be getting on
with it rather than sitting here “talking “ to you people.
with it rather than sitting here “talking “ to you people.
Anyone wanting to build, even just a frame or a centercase, or to use one in the event contact Chuck at the website above. Its a worthy cause, we’ve all of us lost too many friends to this disease.
Its an interesting project, the boats are simple, easy to
build, cheap, no frills and by the standards of the trad small boat world
really quick.
build, cheap, no frills and by the standards of the trad small boat world
really quick.
They’ve lots of built in buoyancy so can be recovered in case
someone dumps one, at 15 knots a mistake really means something, so safety is a
consideration that I’ve designed for. (Reef
early, especially downwind)
someone dumps one, at 15 knots a mistake really means something, so safety is a
consideration that I’ve designed for. (Reef
early, especially downwind)
Here’s the link to the T200 website, it’s a 5 day bash up the ICW
from down not far from Mexico to up near Houston, the prevailing wind is a
screaming stern quarter tailwind and the water generally shallow and warm.
from down not far from Mexico to up near Houston, the prevailing wind is a
screaming stern quarter tailwind and the water generally shallow and warm.
The plans will be available, and anyone building one for their own use could add frills if
wanted, but these ones will be bare essentials.
wanted, but these ones will be bare essentials.
I’m scheduled to share one with Small Craft Advisor Magazine editor
Josh Colvin www.smallcraftadvisor.com/ on the 2016 Texas 200. I’m sure that there are cures for this form of
insanity but no one seems to have found it yet.
Josh Colvin www.smallcraftadvisor.com/ on the 2016 Texas 200. I’m sure that there are cures for this form of
insanity but no one seems to have found it yet.
John Welsford
