More daft cruising-dinghy dreams...

[rwoofer]

Re: Phantom

I race one of these and they are beautiful boats to sail. Much lighter and much faster than a Finn. 13 stone is fine in one, but they are not cruising dinghies as there is no real storage except for a hatch sock in the access hatch.

I've also gone down the same thinking process on the Albacore and I still think it is one of the most suitable boats for cruising. For a dinghy they have relatively high freeboard and are known to be good see boats. They are nearly half the weight of a wayfarer so much more suitable for dragging up the beach. They are also faster than Wayfarers even without a spinnaker. Against other dinghies they are very stable, but not compared to a Wayfarer, which must be about as stable as you can get.

My 2 penneth worth...

 

[Signed Out]

I think wooden phantoms at least have some space under foredeck and perhaps could be adapted to reef, and your being smaller may be good if loaded a bit.

I had a dart 16 which being rotomoulded plastic was tough as nails, and fast. In straight lines. I reckon a dry bag or 2 on the tramp would work.

Had a contender too, and was not very stable on bare poles either, so no way of sitting at anchor. Still my no1 dinghy, drool.

Merlin rocket for that 'trad' look?

I remember in the 80s a small 'cruising' boat called a Rainbow I think, being reviewed in PBO, but never saw one, that looked like a chubby laser or similar, with 2 berths squeezed under the foredeck. Probably not so fast but always fancied one.

 

[Greenheart]

I'm grateful to all, for the suggestions and memories. I often get the feeling that the gritty hands-on involvement of all persons on board any sailing dinghy for any trip, makes their use far more rewarding and much better value than the same time spent on bigger vessels!

Very hard to read about any dinghy, without straightaway wanting one of that exact type, to feel the life in the tiller and sheets, so often less detectable in the sedate luxury of a yacht's high cockpit. I may change my tune when I can afford a yacht!

Great B&W photo of the Osprey, Seajet. Little though I know of the class beyond what I've learned and looked at from the internet, your enthusiasm for the class is contagious! It does look awfully close to perfect. I take your (and others') words about handling the boat ashore, seriously; inflatable rollers were always on my list, and the jockey-wheel sounds like good sense.

I saw a man on the steep slipway at Seaview, IoW, twenty-five years back, using an eight or nine-to-one purchase block and tackle to haul a 40hp dory up that slope, with a mate to steer the jockey-wheel past the railing. He must have used about 250' of 8mm line! Looked like light work though, so the Osprey's size doesn't daunt me, even though it may mean stretching my garage...

I'm not 100% clear how different the Mk1 was from later versions. The beer-chest in the stern certainly sounds like an unarguable improvement. Was there much more to the changes?


Quote from Lady Campanula: Deeper into the maze of isles and skerries we roamed....Snuggo and Vino, Kroko and Haradskar..... Sets me thinking of "MoominPapa at Sea" even though those tales were Finnish.

 

[tom_sail]

Here's a video of the albacore nationals i did in Llandudno this year Might interest you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqKV_M93fag&hd=1

 

[Greenheart]

Pretty place. But it looks like you had nothing but drifters in Wales, Tom.

 

[Walther]

I tend to infer that the Albacore is no slug even as standard

Quite correct.

The Canadians routinely fit their Albacores with a trapeze.

Incorrect. Canadians are probably the largest users of the Albacore, but never fitted (let alone raced) with a trapeze.

I suspect you're thinking of the CL-16 (Canadian clone of the Wayfarer), which indeed is sometimes sailed with a trapeze.

 

[pagoda]

Part II


Stockholm Summer

Now, there are two sea routes to Stockholm. One runs round the coastline in a 130-mile arc, approaching from the east. This passes through a chain of seriously sensitive military areas - and we had been warned! The other takes a shortcut up the 40-mile Himmerfjarden, through a lock into the Malaren inland sea, then a right turn takes one another 40 miles down into the heart of Stockholm - by the backdoor. "Let's leave the Stockholm Archipelago for another time," offered the first mate, "The wind's fair for the direct route and Sodertaljie. we could deep-reach all the way.... and I can work on my suntan!"

This is one of Sweden's loveliest areas - the waters' edge lined with weekend cottages of characteristic brown-stained wood, the national flag on a pole, green lawns and little jetties....and a different kind of seal.

Whereas the whiskered grey/brown variety in the archipelago had been shy, slipping away as we passed, this species basked in the sun from mid-morning right through the afternoon, stretched out on little jetties or on the rocks to one side, their golden pelts and long blonde hair gleaming in the sun. Hiding behind their sunglasses, uttering their calls of "Hi...Hi" at our approach , these most prolific of Sweden's marine mammals preened and oiled themselves while awaiting their mates' return at days' end from the city. But the wind was fair, and I could find no excuse to linger.....

And so we sailed into the heart of Stockholm - spinnaker, club pennants and courtesy flags flying in the sun - between the parks, past the embassy lawns, under the motorway bridges, to find ourselves in front of the Parliament and the towers of the Royal Palace, rounding up finally alongside Barbara Hutton's fabled steam yacht "Malardrottningen", where the aristocracy and royalty of Old Europe once danced, gambled and loved. Now a luxury hotel, this elegant old ship was host to us - little Catapult moored alongside - as we dined on the afterdeck under the stars, savouring our first evening in Royal Stockholm and the end of our 250 mile voyage of exploration.

The boat is a much-modified 5 metre Catapult catamaran. Her light weight of 90 kilos and car-top portability aids exploration of distant areas, "backpacking by boat". Shelter is assured, for the tough Hypalon inflatable hulls permit beaching virtually anywhere.

Her rig is a 10 sq/m battened main on a wish'boom, a 4 sq/m jib and an 18 sq/m spi on a jib'boom....reefing and furling....hauls out onshore at night.

Hiking-out wings slung on wires, for relaxed sitting-out....gear stowed in waterproof bags on the tramp. Top-range warm clothing, drysuits, good sleeping bags, and a four-seasons tent. Boil-in-bag suppers, Glenlivet Malt miniatures, one-burner gas stove and Wine of the Month.

She's cruise-camped Scotland and Solent, Corsica, Cornwall, Norway and Baltic - she's tough as old boots.

QED​

[all rights reserved ]

I like the sound of that trip. We cruised up the west Swedish coast last year on our big boat- en route from Kiel to the Clyde via Norway and Shetland. We've also done minor dinghy cruising on an RS Vareo - 2 up with wet bags and wet suits , west of Kintyre. Not a boat for F5/6 but she still flies in less. Park the boat on the machar and tramp to the boarding house/hotel (ignore weird looks!) . An Albacore would be handier and with a bit more freeboard... :encouragement:

 

[TonyMS]

What about a Swordfish? Was forerunner of the Albecore, but with a steel centreplate and spinaker. Might well be a better cruising boat. Found one going for a grand using Google.

TonyMS

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks Tony, but this isn't a recent thread...

...two years after the last comment by me, above, I bought an Osprey and have been deeply in love ever since...I've had her five summers.

Now, she DOES have a trapeze...lots of fun, singlehanded.

 

[Bobc]

I really don't understand why you're mucking about trying to modify racing dinghies for cruising. Why not just buy an old lifting keel dayboat and be done with it. There are loads on fleabay and Facebook for less than £1,000.

Putting a trapeze on a boat increases the compression loads in the mast massively and increase the twisting loads in the boat, There's a good chance that you'll just blow the boat up. Also, helming on the trapeze is no easy and you would find it virtually impossible to get in and out of an Albacore without falling over/into the boat/into the water without making some serious internal mods to provide steps/bars etc.

Go and get something like an old Lysander or a Hunter Mediana and have some fun with it.

 

[Wansworth]

It’s not a cruisin dinghy unless a cup of tea can be brewed up underway!

 

[Greenheart]

I really don't understand why you're mucking about trying to modify racing dinghies for cruising... Also, helming on the trapeze is not easy...

Check the thread date, Bob. Long time ago...

...since then I bought a different boat. Remember, you said you could probably find me an old RS400 spinnaker? Never mind, I found a brand new one at rock-bottom price.

And you're right, helming from trapeze isn't for beginners. Alright after five years though. :biggrin-new:

 

[Greenheart]

It’s not a cruisin dinghy unless a cup of tea can be brewed up underway!

I've brewed fresh coffee in the Osprey, does that count? Not while trapezing, admittedly.

 

[Bobc]

Check the thread date, Bob. Long time ago...

...since then I bought a different boat. Remember, you said you could probably find me an old RS400 spinnaker? Never mind, I found a brand new one at rock-bottom price.

And you're right, helming from trapeze isn't for beginners. Alright after five years though. :biggrin-new:

My bad. I thought you were at it again. I'd forgotten about the 400 kite. I'll ask when I see them next week.

 

[Walther]

Putting a trapeze on a boat increases the compression loads in the mast massively and increase the twisting loads in the boat, There's a good chance that you'll just blow the boat up.

Unlike the Wayfarer, the CL-16 has a simplified, non-tapered mast. Would that significantly affect its suitability for trapeze usage?

 

[Greenheart]

My bad. I thought you were at it again. I'd forgotten about the 400 kite. I'll ask when I see them next week.

That would be very kind. Actually I'd welcome almost any small asymmetric - I'm making quite a collection. I have a height-adjustable spinn halyard attachment, and a growing range of bowsprits. When I decide what size/length/height is right, I'll make it permanent.

Great photo, Walther!

I've never had more fun, than since I discovered through necessity that most two-handed boats can be gently modified to allow efficient singlehanding.

It doesn't make the racers at my club very happy though - I s'pose it must be gutting, to see my ineptly handled, tired old boat pulling away from them, with only my weight on board. Limited to light winds, obviously.

 

[Walther]

Great photo, Walther!

Thanks Dan. Just to be clear, it isn't my photo, I pulled it off the Internet.

If you search "CL16 sailing" on YouTube, you can see a 45-second video clip of CL 1916 being singlehanded off the trapeze.

 

[Greenheart]

Nice. I quite like this vid, of a Fireball being singlehanded. Turn the volume down before you play it! I believe the gent holding it all together was in his seventieth year.

 

[Seajet]

It’s not a cruisin dinghy unless a cup of tea can be brewed up underway!

Well when young and daft we cooked soup under way in a Fireball, while carrying a tent stuffed into the buoyancy tanks so I think I know where Dan is coming from.

Incidentally there's an Albacore with good cover, spare set of cruising sails and a combi trailer going at my club for £475; I don't know the boat or owner.

Sounds good but then I wonder about the Albacore's moulded wood construction.

What Dan really needs is to stop faffing about and get an Anderson 22 but I'd love to have his Osprey pull alongside for a chat !

 

[Greenheart]

What Dan really needs is to stop faffing about and get an Anderson 22 but I'd love to have his Osprey pull alongside for a chat !

Thanks Andy...I can almost guarantee the latter some time soon, but not the former. Having been thoroughly persuaded by you of the Osprey's fine qualities, I'm in no hurry to upgrade, ever! When I can afford a motor-sailer for all-season cruising, the dinghy will be even more necessary to remind me what real sailing is about.

And I still heartily encourage idle cruising yachtsmen who'd like some relaxed dinghy-sailing, not to assume that a heavy, humbly-canvassed class or an una-rigged racer is best-suited to their thinking.

The multiplicity of considerations that a good yachtsman can juggle for any passage, sets him up to judge his options and limits. Most small singlehanded racing dinghies take a far narrower view, because the short courses they sail only need brief, determined and energetic righting, steering and sheeting...

...whereas (at least as far as I see it), the man in a boat too big for him, faces an involving array of options and physical limits, in order to get the best he can from the boat while maintaining control. It certainly needn't be stressful, because competition isn't pressing him to take chances - he can enjoy the power or throttle back.

So I've sat on the cockpit floor with coffee while just the roller-genoa drove the boat in a stiff breeze; and later hoisted all sail to make exciting progress that's impossible for lesser boats, in lighter winds.

There is also a whopping ego-trip available, as you blast nonchalantly past little, over-crewed raceboats.

Nor am I the only one doing it...

I once read an account of a chap at Y Felinheli on the Menai Straits, singlehanding his Flying Dutchman. I've wanted an FD ever since.