lead line.

[Mirelle]

12 tons any good to you?

We just about get there.

Cotton sails, galvanised standing rigging to deadeyes with tarred lanyards, still carry oil navigation lights, still have and use lead lines (two, because my son thinks in metres and I think in fathoms!) clinker tender, coal stove.

We do have an engine, but as all my sailing friends will tell you it is practically useless, and it is perfectly practical to go sailing for the weekend without turning the battery on - no yottitronics, no engine, no electric light, no Seagull for the dinghy, etc.

I do draw the line at sailing in 1930s oilskins, though.

 

[Bajansailor]

Have you ever come across a lovely old Looe Lugger called Guide Me? I think they epitomised going back to basics, and it worked very well for them.

Guide Me has standing lug sails (the type that have to be lowered and re-hoisted on the other side of the mast when they tack), no engine, no electrics at all (no, not even a GPS)...... They 'did' Antigua Classics in 1992 and I understand that they had to borrow a hand held VHF radio to comply with the rules.....
They had been on a little voyage down to South Africa, and were on their way home - I saw them later that summer in Dournanez at the Brest '92 festival, where they rowed Guide Me into the Inner Basin, to much applause. They were warmly welcomed with open arms by the Bretons.

I am not too sure if the Brickhills still own her - Judy writes boat reviews for Water Craft magazine.

 

[tugboat]

To slightly correct an earlier post-----
The markings are designed in order to be able to identify them in the dark, therefore several marks made of the same material (but different colour) would be useless.
The mark at 5 & 15 fathoms should be white <u>linen</u>
The mark at 7 & 17 fathoms should be red <u>bunting</u>
The mark at 13 fathoms should be blue <u>serge</u>

These fabrics all feel very different, wet or dry.

 

[Mirelle]

Correct; thank you. Mine actually does have those materials (not as hard to come by as you might imagine).

 

[Rustyknight]

I did say the source was written in 1891...... must be modern technology for you! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

<edit> That was the revised version too. Seems the copyright is dated 1834. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Guest]

Hi Martyn,

It wasn't / isn't standard practice to lower the gaff on a lugger to tack her, would be far to time consuming and you would never get her round.I have sent you a couple of photos of "Guide Me" one on each tack to illustrate. Luggers don't really mind what tack they are on, the sail is usually on the port side of the mast, now somebody will tell me I am wrong! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: standing and dipping lugs

Hi Charlie,

Ooops, sorry, I was confusing my lugs...... its the dipping (not standing) lug sail that has to be dropped and hoisted on each tack, such that the sail is always on the leeward side of the mast (it does set much better then of course).

And from the photos you sent me it looks like Guide Me has a standing lug rig, with the main and mizzen on opposite side of the masts (?).

(More Ooops, I guess we are digressing somewhat from leadlines here.... no worries, to keep the leadliners happy, I am going to make myself up one - I know it wont get upset if it runs out of amps, or has a loose connection.....)