Alacrity

[smeaks]

I have recently started sailing have an 18.5ft Alacrity circa 1969. I have thoroughly enjoyed my sailing this summer (what a summer). Can anybody advise me on any history of the Alacrity I believe they were a small Hurley.

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[bob26]

Dayton's Guide to Yachts of Yesteryear says of Alacrity:

Manufacturer: Russell Marine Ltd

Designer: Peter Stephenson

Construction GRP

LOA 18'6" LWL 17' Beam 6'11" Draft 2'10" Dsipalcement 1500lbs Ballast 480lbs
Sail Area 155 sq ft Headroom 4'8"

Introduced in 1960


I don't think they are Hurleys

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[Guest]

Alacrity - Jaguar and Catalina ...............

Basically NOT a Hurley !!

They were based on a similar design spec and called as above depoending on the market ....... Alacrity name was dropped later and Jaguar continued albeit without the 19.

In its later spec it actually had 2 cabins ......... so they say !! Never saw a 2 cabin one ..... mine and others I saw were 3 berth single cabin jobs.

UK:-
Designer : Peter Stephenson, built by many but Bristows quote : Russell Marine Ltd.

Somewhere I have the write-up linking the US Catalina and UK Jags / Alacrity ...... I'll try and dig it out.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Finesse]

Its not called Sandiana by any chance is it?

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[smeaks]

She is called sabre. She is now in the NE however she had been down on the south coast. I take it you had one? Smashing boat , great fun and very forgiving!
Is it possible to capsize such a yacht? My hair has stood up a few times but I have always remained dry!

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[Guest]

As long as you have original rudder etc..... you should find that as she goes over rudder loses grip and she doesn't steer ..... she then turns into wind and pops up ! BUT if some bright spark has increased depth of rudder - she will be later before it happens ...

My Alacrity was a great fun boat ....sailed like a dinghy with a top on !!!!!

I found that reefing should be done balanced between both foresail and main, but if only main she still remained well behaved.

She had a tendency to slam the blige keels quite hard, on first hearing made me sit up a bit .... but she was fine and took me through some rough patches without bother.

A good boat and worth every penny I ever spent on her !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[bendyone]

my parents had one build by Hurleys in the late 1960's 18.5 foot long 3 berth. with twin keels no 474.


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[jenku]

Well, maybe I'm a bit late with my post, but there is a lot of information about Alacrity boats here:
http://www.sail.to/Alacrity

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[graham]

I had one years ago.Amazing little boat which sailed surprisingly well .

The rudder on mine was a heavyweight thing made out of solid mahogany.

Be carefull if you dry out with the rudder fitted as it can lift off the pintles and float away when the tide returns.(found out the hard way,luckilly got it back).

I think you could capsize it but you would need to try hard.In heavy weather I sailed ours dinghy style with the mainsheet not cleated but held in the hand ready to spill the wind.

I think some confusion could be arising from a different slightly larger boat also called the Alacrity.These were about 22 foot and had drop keels, dont know who made them.

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[86davep]

Hi.

The alacrity that you have is definitely a hurley. They did do one with two cabins (this was known as the alacrity weekender). If you go to the site previously mentioned: www.sail.to/alacrity and have a look at the original sales brochure there are some pics of an alacrity pulled over to right angles to the water, and it shows how quickly it returns to upright when realeased and how even at that angle water doesn't enter the cabin.

I have just bought one of these little boats and so far it seems like an excellent little bilge keeler, which is very forgiving.

Hope this helps
Dave

 

[nickvass]

Hurley Marine did build the Alacrity 19.
I have photographs from 1969 to prove it.
They were built for Russell marine but also sold for one year as a Hurley.
I have also got photographs of the 1961 Erals Court boatshow showing an Alacrity next to a Silhouette and a Signet 20 on the Hurley stand.
Nick Vass
Hurley Owners Association
www.hurleyownersassociation.co.uk