Norwalk Islands Sharpies in the UK?

[nispete]

Hi, I am keen to know of any owners or fans of the Norwalk Islands Sharpies (range of 18ft, 23 ft, 26ft, 29 ft, 31 ft, and 43 ft unstayed cat ketch rigged boats designed by Laser dinghy designer Bruce Kirby - details can be found on www.nisboats.com and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nisboats).

On the nisboats forum we are compiling a database of boats and owners to facilitate sharing of information and experiences.

Here in Australia Robert Ayliffe of nisboats.com who has been building and promoting these boats, the plans and kits worldwide, has come up with a number of ingenious innovations and refinements. These include tabernacles for easy one person raising and lowering of the masts, a unique and simple rudder design, and slightly curved laminated bottom, easy reefing system from the cockpit to name a few.

Anyone who is interested to know more about these boats and these innovations, please visit the nisboats forum or contact me or Robert (robert@nisboats.com) and you will get enthusiastic and knowledgable help and advice.

Tks
Pete

 

[Paul Daltry]

Hi Pete,

We have a NIS 23 on the River Orwell on the east coast of England. Robert knows about it as he supplied the plans back in 2000 and advised us through the build. Not totally normal as we have 2 asymetric plates rather than the one centre board, and the outboard is in a well at the stern.

Interested to find out how many NIS boats there are in the UK.

Paul

 

[nispete]

Norwalk Islands Sharpies - NIS boats in the UK

Thanks for your response and pic of your lovely boat, Paul. Robert had lost track of your whereabouts but now is delighted to hear from you again.

I'm sure with the many canals, rivers, lakes and other shallow waterways, there must be a number of other NI Sharpies in the UK.

Has anyone seen any other Norwalk Islands Sharpies in the UK? I am sure Paul would love to hear from other owners and builders.

Pete

 

[nispete]

Norwalk Islands Sharpies update, video and photo links plus Ian Oughtred in Australia

Hi I'm just back 2 weeks ago from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) held in historic Hobart. Around 100,000 visitors, 6 tall ships, 400-500 wooden boats together with famous designer Ian Oughtred's presence made it a memorable event. Six Norwalk Islands Sharpies were there on the water and one beautiful but not quite complete one was on display in one of the sheds. Attached are some photos for you to enjoy.

A number of other photos for the have been posted on the NIS forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nisboats and also a large number of videos there and on youtube. I will provide some links to these soon (in all more than 30 videos of Norwalk Islands Sharpies are available via the forum.)

Cheers
Nispete

 

[nispete]

Norwalk Islands Sharpie (NIS) videos

Here is the list of videos of NIS boats I am aware of:

1. Norwalk Islands Sharpies (NIS) x 4 sailing at AWBF 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k36AwxfR8U
2. NIS 23 'Scherzo' pacing NIS 18 'Jacana' at AWBF 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZpwAol8fmQ
3. NIS 26 'Kelpie' being shadowed by NIS 18 'Jacana' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haWdwD8h-0o
4. Norwalk Islands Sharpies at play - AWBF 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuPkM8RRIM
5. NIS 23 'Shearwater' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyuTOTOhz6U
6. NIS 23 'Shearwater' No. 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15HGnBlxy7Q
7. NIS 23 'Scherzo' and NIS 23 ‘Shearwater' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck8UqQ54too
8. NIS 23 'Scherzo' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WawKXlPF5ik
9. NIS 26 ‘Kelpie’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Py0CAOW8_0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
10. NIS 29, NIS 23 and NIS 18 at play (Melbourne WB Festival) - Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyJgBQTXLtE
11. NIS 29, NIS 23 and NIS 18 at play (Melbourne WB Festival) - Part 2 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyYgJqZqZ5c
12. NIS 18 ‘Clancy’ and NIS 23 ‘Charlie Fisher no. 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrLUTKogMqA&feature=related
13. NIS 18 ‘Clancy’ and NIS 23 ‘Charlie Fisher no. 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUTCX0k4CAQ&feature=related
14. NIS 23 manoeuvrability no. 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W59FaYtgvlE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
15. NIS 23 manoeuvrability no. 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrDqNIHUOWI&feature=related
16. NIS 23 sailing in company - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaA9fTnL2y4&feature=related
17. NIS 26 ‘Kelpie’ pointing -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6yQ_XDqCv8&feature=related
18. NIS 26 ‘Kelpie’ in a 2m swell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6-9uWHpRqg&feature=related
19. NIS 23 ‘Charlie Fisher’ in Geelong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moRr-0p_bCc&feature=related
20. NIS 23 & NIS 26 on Lake Macquarie, Aust. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVy1m8NTJdw&feature=related
21. NIS 26 ‘Sabbatical’ maiden voyage - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqJuML2fgms&feature=related
22. NIS 18 ‘Play Station Too’ - http://vimeo.com/18334787
23. NIS 26 ‘Charlotte’ fully rotating mast raising -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIUat-EsqYI
24. NIS 26 ‘Enetai’ carbon fibre mast raising - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWCt1wXjmHM
25. NIS 26 ‘Enetai’ on a rainy day - http://www.youtube.com/user/bogster25#p/u/4/C3NW93cquhQ
26. NIS 26 ‘Enetai’ towing a dinghy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avCoL1pUT8o&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
27. NIS 29 ‘Caiccio’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dglGZlE9W9Y&feature=related
28. NIS 29 ‘Caiccio’ sailing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bFYD2EkqvE&feature=related
29. NIS 29 ‘Caiccio’ sailing 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxP71hoTwLs&feature=related
30. NIS 31 ‘Mudlark’ having a gallop across Tampa Bay, FL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkO7gzqq48&NR=1
31. NIS 31 ‘Mudlark’ on Tampa Bay no. 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSjW3GQqiRw&feature=related
32. NIS 31 ‘Mudlark’ Tampa Bay 2 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyKs0HdUW1k&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

 

[nispete]

NIS 29 in the UK

Hi, I believe there is an NIS 29 near Poole Harbour in the UK - just seen a reference to this and some photos here - http://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/special-features/our-boats-look-sharpie
Anybody had contact with this owner?

All the best
Pete

 

[Tranona]

The photo is taken in Studland Bay just outside Poole Harbour. Why don't you contact the magazine as the owner is a journalist there.

 

[Heffalump77]

I own Mollie, the 29 in question. She's currently in Emsworth for a bit of a spring refit and will then be out on a swinging mooring for the summer all being well. The article explains most other things about the boat. Shortly after this article was written, the rudder rather spectacularly self destructed off the Needles.

The spars are rather heavy and I have been in touch with Robert Ayliffe in Australia about remedying this problem. Other than that, she's been a very practical and comfortable boat since I have had her, although work commitments mean cruising opportunities are limited to short hops.