Red Ensign

[poter]

nah its foot in mouth!!

aha!! its the boat good hey?

Tooooo Late....bought big Ensign Job today...ta to all

poter /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Santana379]

Many congratulations.

How big - big enough to need reefing points?

 

[poter]

Francis,

Ta..no its not that big! Well maybe 1 reef! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

ermm just curious have you got a pic of a Golden Hind 31?

poter

 

[Santana379]

Hi Poter

Have lots of GH31 pics, and would be delighted to email one to you.

However you can see a pic at:

http://freespace.virgin.net/goldenhind.marine

Furthermore, you can see lots of pics of GH31 Francis Fletcher at:

http://www.eventides.org.uk/goldpic2.htm

 

[poter]

What a beautiful Yacht!!!!!

 

[Santana379]

Why thank you.

Won't go like yours - in fact the GH is notoriously slow, and the designer Maurice Griffiths thought the description - "the Morris Minor of the seas" quite appropriate.

We were fine with a single reef in 50kts wind a couple of years ago, though I did harden up on to training run off Felixstowe as I felt I was pushing it goosewinged without a preventer. We got a touch of weather helm on turning up wind in to the Deben though!

As you will gather, a seriously underpowered rig. When everyone elso is getting their second reef in we're approaching hull speed.

Plus points - can balance the sails and let go the tiller, not just to brew up but for miles and miles. Long keel and bilge plates with sub 4ft draft allows us to reach a lot of the places other boats can't on the East Coast. She has a wonderfully steady motion in seaway, but at 7+ tons for 31ft that isn't surprising.

The class has 100+ transatlantics (out of 250 odd boats), believed to be a record, and a good number of circumnavigations, presumably in the time it would take Dame Ellen to get to the moon and back.

Biggest minus - doesn't like changing direction - an asset at sea, but explains why we keep her on swinging mooring. I normally use the mobile 'phone when approach marinas rather than the VHF, so I can plead confidentially for an easy berth. They've sent marina staff down to the pontoons to take lines before! We often warp around rather than risk turning using the rudder/engine.

I know your post didn't ask any questions, but don't us sailors like talking about our own boats!