Lovely boat vs progress

[The Stoker]

So I’m just finishing my first season in the English lakes on a gaffer.

It’s a lovely old boat and I restored her last winter, but as I reflect on the season, I’m thinking of going back to Bermudan in future as beating and close hauling (a necessity as wind is always up or down the lake) means that progress up the lake is too slow. I’ve tried all the trims and tweaks I can on the rig, but it just can’t get near enough to the wind.

I see loads of gaffers on the moorings (Windermere, coniston etc..) and wonder how people live with this frustration?

 

[Aquaboy]

Remember its not just the rig when going too windward. The hull, keel etc. play just as important part

 

[Romeo]

Why the hurry? The English lakes are so small surely having to spend more time getting from one end to the other is a bonus. Take your enjoyment from sailing the boat you have as well as you can.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

We would love to see some piccies of your boat anyway, what is she? A trailer sailor maybe, Memory sort of thing?
The extra complexities of gaff rig in a small boat are likely to be proportionately more draggy that they would be on, say, boats over 5m LWL. But as said, what's the hurry..