Wansworth
Well-Known Member
She was the first woman to sail single handed across the Atlantic...in little 23 footer.The book was written in 1953 ...
Albin Vega in the North West Passage
- Thread starter webcraft
- Start date
She was the first woman to sail single handed across the Atlantic...in little 23 footer.The book was written in 1953 ...
chinita
Well-Known Member
John Caldwell wrote 'Desperate Voyage'
Ann Davison wrote 'Last Voyage' about her early life with her husband and the 'Reliance'.
Ann Davison also wrote 'My Ship is So Small' about her solo transatlantic in a 23ft boat 'Felicity Ann'.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
OMG - I'll get it right eventually. 'Last Voyage' was pretty desperate though . . .
Another good Vega book is 'Log of the Mahina' by John Neal. The Marquesas, Tuamotus, Tahiti, the Societies, the Cooks, Samoa, and Christmas Island.
- W
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chinita
Well-Known Member
I only know because I ordered the wrong book in error. I now have two copies of 'Desperate Voyage'!!
bikedaft
Well-Known Member
cheers for that link! spot the knock down at about 3:10
and what is the story behind the sunk warship at 4:35?
agurney
Well-Known Member
I'd seen that before, so when I mistakenly went through the Dorus Mor sideways in a F6, wind against tide, I knew the boat could handle my stupidity. The family didn't appreciate the sensation though.
bikedaft
Well-Known Member
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
OMG showed the video of Berserk sailing......the wife says when can we go sailing in our new Vega......
royal
New Member
Vega
On the subject of these, I am quite tempted by one, but can someone honestly tell me if they as horrific to steer in reverse as they look like they may be please ?
On the subject of these, I am quite tempted by one, but can someone honestly tell me if they as horrific to steer in reverse as they look like they may be please ?
agurney
Well-Known Member
Yes they are, but they're predictble and have never caused me a problem.
Davy_S
Well-Known Member
At first they can seem a little unpredictable, this is because the prop is behind the rudder (not in front) with a bit of practice they can be tamed, I found that a burst of power astern, shut off the power and then steer worked for me. Do not let the reverse problem put you off, when it blows and you are close hauled, the Vega is at its best, it is almost like its on rails, it heels early but then stiffens up giving a feeling of reasurance for its size. It will certainly hold its own with larger boats and stands up to its sails very well. Although reefing early will give a better sail without a loss of speed.
V1701
Well-Known Member
+1, I think the turning circle going forward is probably better than you would imagine given the relatively long keel, so not too much of a problem if you've reversed out of a berth and ended up pointing the wrong way (due to wind blowing bow off). There is some steerage in reverse but only if you've been able to build up quite a speed. Go and sail on one, that will make your mind up...
webcraft
Well-Known Member
.
How much of your sailing time do you spend reversing? Daft reason for not buying an otherwise exceptional boat IMO.
- W
How much of your sailing time do you spend reversing? Daft reason for not buying an otherwise exceptional boat IMO.
- W
Kylora
Well-Known Member
As others have said, do not let that put you off. You have to learn to work with the boat, rather than fight against it.
Since changing to a Beta with fixed 3 blade prop, I now have an initial hard kick which moves the stern to port but the offset propshaft means that once moving in reverse she still prefers to move her stern to starboard so I try to use the appropriate force as needed.
Lots of short, sharp bursts of reverse will spin the stern a long way to port.
Getting the bow to swing through the wind in reverse is difficult unless you have enough room to build up speed / momentum but that would apply to a lot of boats.
I used to find that the old 2 blade feathering prop on the combi box didn't have enough bite to keep her under control when changing between reverse / forward.
She will track and turn very well if you can keep her moving slowly ahead.
Ash
royal
New Member
Cheers
Thanks for all the replies. If I had my old swinging mooring, it wouldnt have been a consideration, but decided to put the next purchase in a marina, so thats what made me wonder.
Will go and look at a couple then.
Thanks for all the replies. If I had my old swinging mooring, it wouldnt have been a consideration, but decided to put the next purchase in a marina, so thats what made me wonder.
Will go and look at a couple then.
agurney
Well-Known Member
+1
I've only been in this position a couple of times in the marina, and it's simple enough to just reverse upwind. You know in advance you're unlikely to make it, so you can plan accordingly.
agurney
Well-Known Member
+1, I think the turning circle going forward is probably better than you would imagine given the relatively long keel, so not too much of a problem if you've reversed out of a berth and ended up pointing the wrong way (due to wind blowing bow off). There is some steerage in reverse but only if you've been able to build up quite a speed. Go and sail on one, that will make your mind up...
I disagree (a little). If you end up having to reverse upwind you don't need the speed, the boat weathercocks quite nicely so it's all under control, you're just pointing the wrong way.
chinita
Well-Known Member
Yes. Don't worry, everybody knows that and you are quickly absolved of all blame!
Their positive features more than make up for that minor blemish.
I have a long keel Vertue now. She is also totally unpredictable. My solution is to just go astern and let her have her way. When she has calmed down a bit I just deal with the situation presented to me.
The other week she reversed out of a very tight spot, first going to starboard then altered course to port to weave her way through two moored boats. I then slipped her into forward and off we went. Onlookers must have been impressed - but nothing to do with me!
I am convinced that this boat has some sort of supernatural understanding.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
The short keel of the Vega, compared to a true long keeler, makes it quite easy to spin her around manually. I regularly do this on calm-ish days when I have ended up on a berth facing the wrong way.
My mate, who owned a SCOD, was amazed how effortless this was and said his boat (smaller, but twice the weight and with a full keel) could never have been spun around like that.
So there are advantages, if you look hard enough for them.
My mate, who owned a SCOD, was amazed how effortless this was and said his boat (smaller, but twice the weight and with a full keel) could never have been spun around like that.
So there are advantages, if you look hard enough for them.
RabT
Active Member
You can't go wrong with a Vega
I got the keys to my Vega in early April 2011.
First-time boat owner and a sailing novice.
My first time on a boat was in September 2010 –and I was seasick.
Since April I have done well over 500 miles (mostly single-handed) in the safety of the Clyde and I have got to say that I am extremely pleased with the Vega. I was lucky April’s weather was good but when it blew for the first time (my fourth weekend) I was kind of ready and what’s more, I realised how tough and reliable these little Vegas are.
Since then I have been in a F6 gusting to F7 a few times and I never felt in danger or that the boat (or even myself) was struggling. As many others have said, we will always give up before the boat, more so if it is a Vega it seems. I would never go out in a F8 but now I know that if I am ever caught in a F7-F8 I am very confident that if I keep calm and focused the Vega will take me to safety no problem.
Regarding going in reverse.
Yes, it does not go astern in a straight line every single time like the boat I did my CC and DS… but like others have said, practice makes perfect. Mine needs a few revs to get traction and it is ok 9/10 times, pretty much like most other boats, even with a bit of wind/waves.
I was considering others at the time (Sabre 27, Jaguar 25-27, Sadler 25, Trapper 500, etc) and now I am so glad I chose the Vega. When I see other boats of similar size being pounded by the waves/gusts, or struggling to keep up… the fact that it does not reverse in a perfect straight line in the marina is quickly forgotten.
I have been on a mooring this season and I *was* considering going to a marina for next year. Admittedly, I would have been asking for a berth in a section where the distance between pontoons is wider and avoid the narrow bit with the other small boats. But going in and out of the finger berth on my own is probably easier than getting moored, getting the dinghy out, rowing, etc.
Mind you, I wrote *was* because due to job issues I may be forced to relocate and maybe forced to sell her so if you are looking for a top Vega … I would be VERY sad to sell her but sometimes things don’t happen our way. If on the other hand work stuff is ok, then I don’t envisage moving up to a bigger boat ever. 27ft is enough for me and for the stuff I plan to do in the long term (Ireland, IoM, UK circum) the Vega is more than capable.
If someone like me who is a sailing novice is having so much fun with a Vega… imagine someone with experience like yourself: try one before the season is over, you won’t regret it!
I got the keys to my Vega in early April 2011.
First-time boat owner and a sailing novice.
My first time on a boat was in September 2010 –and I was seasick.
Since April I have done well over 500 miles (mostly single-handed) in the safety of the Clyde and I have got to say that I am extremely pleased with the Vega. I was lucky April’s weather was good but when it blew for the first time (my fourth weekend) I was kind of ready and what’s more, I realised how tough and reliable these little Vegas are.
Since then I have been in a F6 gusting to F7 a few times and I never felt in danger or that the boat (or even myself) was struggling. As many others have said, we will always give up before the boat, more so if it is a Vega it seems. I would never go out in a F8 but now I know that if I am ever caught in a F7-F8 I am very confident that if I keep calm and focused the Vega will take me to safety no problem.
Regarding going in reverse.
Yes, it does not go astern in a straight line every single time like the boat I did my CC and DS… but like others have said, practice makes perfect. Mine needs a few revs to get traction and it is ok 9/10 times, pretty much like most other boats, even with a bit of wind/waves.
I was considering others at the time (Sabre 27, Jaguar 25-27, Sadler 25, Trapper 500, etc) and now I am so glad I chose the Vega. When I see other boats of similar size being pounded by the waves/gusts, or struggling to keep up… the fact that it does not reverse in a perfect straight line in the marina is quickly forgotten.
I have been on a mooring this season and I *was* considering going to a marina for next year. Admittedly, I would have been asking for a berth in a section where the distance between pontoons is wider and avoid the narrow bit with the other small boats. But going in and out of the finger berth on my own is probably easier than getting moored, getting the dinghy out, rowing, etc.
Mind you, I wrote *was* because due to job issues I may be forced to relocate and maybe forced to sell her so if you are looking for a top Vega … I would be VERY sad to sell her but sometimes things don’t happen our way. If on the other hand work stuff is ok, then I don’t envisage moving up to a bigger boat ever. 27ft is enough for me and for the stuff I plan to do in the long term (Ireland, IoM, UK circum) the Vega is more than capable.
If someone like me who is a sailing novice is having so much fun with a Vega… imagine someone with experience like yourself: try one before the season is over, you won’t regret it!