Rethinking yachting

[Stemar]

I think the Snapdragon 24 we sailed for the best part of 20 years fitted the simple sailing bill pretty well, not to mention being cheap to run. Even working full time, we probably spent the 30 or more nights a year on board; she lived on a cheap drying mooring and, once I got her set up, there was little to change - no fridge, no expensive multifunction devices, though the GPS my kids bought her wasn't cheap at the time, basic depth sounder and so on. I'll bet we got more use out of her than plenty with much more sophisticated setups.

I still miss her a bit, though because of Milady's reduced mobility, we've moved on to the luxury of a 38 year old Catalac. I've probably spent more on restoring Jazzcat than I did in 10 years with little Jissel, with more to come - the fridge and shower still don't work!

 

[NealB]

'To explain why two somewhat determined-looking young men should be leaving behind them the cheerful lights of the little country town on this wild night and resolutely making their way towards the pitchy darkness of the river, clad in old clothes and encumbered with two suit-cases, a coil of rope, a hurricane lamp, some brown paper parcels that cried for tender support, and a fry-pan briefly clothed in a négligée of local news, needs but three words.
They were 'yachting'. '

(The Magic of the Swatchways, Maurice Griffiths)

I've got at least one copy of each of MG's books on the bookshelf: I've always loved his writing.

The best boat we've ever owned was the very simple, utterly charming, Maurice Griffiths Tidewater, 'The Cause'. Beautifully built by John Tyrell, and with very authentic gaff cutter rig. A real heartwarming beauty. We often regret selling her.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Our boat is at the small/medium end of the spectrum, my partner and I looked at a larger boat a while ago.

I liked the idea of more speed from the increased waterline length, shorter passage times or maybe a longer range at a weekend.

We came to the conclusion we'd still sleep in the same cabin and sit next to each other in the saloon so realistically we'd just be carrying around a lot of unused boat.

And have to fix all the previous owners bodges but on a larger scale to the current boat

One solution to your thoughts is not to look for increased speed from more length, but from more beam. Ours has a double cabin, a saloon with basic galley, and performance to make your eyes pop out. Never mind the waterline, feel the width.?

 

[newtothis]

We’re in the simply go sailing camp. Our accomodation is fairly basic, the boat is all about the sailing. Yesterday there was some form of Cornish rally going on, an infestation of Crabbers, one might say.

A cast of Crabbers, surely.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Having done both I can only liken spending a wet bank holiday weekend on a small 60s yacht to camping in a 2 man ridge pole tent, neither an experience that was pleasant at the time or has anything that recommends a repeat.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

A cast of Crabbers, surely.

Depends if you like a smutty joke I suppose

 

[NealB]

Having done both I can only liken spending a wet bank holiday weekend on a small 60s yacht to camping in a 2 man ridge pole tent, neither an experience that was pleasant at the time or has anything that recommends a repeat.

Thank you, Father: it's good to see the writings of a proud, boring, old, fart

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Thank you, Father: it's good to see the writings of a proud, boring, old, fart

You will have noted that I have done both, sad to say on more than one occasion. Holidays in the 60s and early 70s necessitated camping in the UK with its associated weather, I was also (un)fortunate enough to have access to a leaky old lifeboat conversion which was no better but as said it was a necessity mainly financial, it was that or nothing. I wonder what todays youngsters starting out on life would choose.
As for sailing I never really got into just pottering about or ditch crawling after I was 12 so whilst it can be done (shrimpy) small boats are not for me for a variety of reasons although my old Vancouver 27 would and did do everything I wanted of it (nearly) but that is and was a long way away from a Westerly Pagent, Centaur or even the legendary Andersen 22.

 

[NealB]

You will have noted that I have done both, sad to say on more than one occasion. Holidays in the 60s and early 70s necessitated camping in the UK with its associated weather, I was also (un)fortunate enough to have access to a leaky old lifeboat conversion which was no better but as said it was a necessity mainly financial, it was that or nothing. I wonder what todays youngsters starting out on life would choose.
As for sailing I never really got into just pottering about or ditch crawling after I was 12 so whilst it can be done (shrimpy) small boats are not for me for a variety of reasons although my old Vancouver 27 would and did do everything I wanted of it (nearly) but that is and was a long way away from a Westerly Pagent, Centaur or even the legendary Andersen 22.

Youngsters do still choose to play football, rugby, cross country, etc in the wet and cold, don't they?

Talking of youngsters, my mate Chris is 80 yo, and a hugely enthusiastic and capable competitive runner and cyclist. (edit: he's also a very keen dinghy camper).

Personally, "pottering about or ditch crawling" holds great appeal.

Each to their own: enjoy your uniform, sanitised, world!

 

[Concerto]

Wansworth, you really must scratch that itch, it seems you keep starting threads about buying a boat every few days. So just do it.

When I started sailing on a new 30 ft yacht in the mid 1960's, we had a petrol engine, a gas cooker and a few electric lights. A portable radio was used to get the weather forecast, and navigation was with paper charts along with a compass. We travelled far and wide in that boat. The worst thing was getting water, numerous water cans filled from the top of the hard at high water and transported by dinghy.

When I bought Concerto 8 years ago, I was not concerned about having foot operated cold water, no fridge and no tv. Well, over time my requirements have changed. I must be getting old and need my creature comforts. Until recently I managed with an electric coolbox to keep food fresh. Then a tv was added a couple of years ago. Currently I am fitting pressurised hot and cold water system with a shower, plus a compressor and cooling plate in the original cool box. Naturally all of this needed some upgraded electrics (there was a solar panel already fitted). All of the reading lights have been changed to dimmable LED with USB points making charging the mobile and laptop so easy. Also changed the 7 year old batteries, as in a few days I leave for a full round Britian via the Shetlands.

 

[Wansworth]

In real terms as they say there aremore possibilities to get afloat now than in the 1960/1970 with a good supply of grp yachts in need of amakeover

 

[Wansworth]

Wansworth, you really must scratch that itch, it seems you keep starting threads about buying a boat every few days. So just do it.

When I started sailing on a new 30 ft yacht in the mid 1960's, we had a petrol engine, a gas cooker and a few electric lights. A portable radio was used to get the weather forecast, and navigation was with paper charts along with a compass. We travelled far and wide in that boat. The worst thing was getting water, numerous water cans filled from the top of the hard at high water and transported by dinghy.

When I bought Concerto 8 years ago, I was not concerned about having foot operated cold water, no fridge and no tv. Well, over time my requirements have changed. I must be getting old and need my creature comforts. Until recently I managed with an electric coolbox to keep food fresh. Then a tv was added a couple of years ago. Currently I am fitting pressurised hot and cold water system with a shower, plus a compressor and cooling plate in the original cool box. Naturally all of this needed some upgraded electrics (there was a solar panel already fitted). Also changed the 7 year old batteries, as in a few days I leave for a full round Britian via the Shetlands.

Not that much choice in Galicia,have my eye on a Severn meter but it has a droopy headlining….not sure if that’s too far?

 

[doug748]

Here is that silly old sausage again. Doubt he really understands he could have a real boat, with excellent electric kettle, upholstery and no transom to worry about:

☺

 

[Wansworth]

Here is that silly old sausage again. Doubt he really understands he could have a real boat, with excellent electric kettle, upholstery and no transom to worry about:

☺

Says it all?

 

[Daydream believer]

When I was 21 in 1968 I had a new Stella . Number 104. In 1998 I wanted to buy it back but was unable to ( I would have paid WELL over the odds)
In the end I bought No 103 as a virtual wreck, stripped it to a bare hull only & rebuilt her.
When I got to sail her, I had not realised how much the darned thing bruised me . Every limb was black & blue. Wet upwind & the Holman roll is something to experience to believe down wind. Sailed it for 3 years & swopped it for a new Hanse 311. Shear bliss.
But somehow I wish I had bought a 35 instead because, as I get older, it is just that bit too small, even for my single handing.
The odd thing is, that size for size the Stella is a nicer boat to sail in medium airs. She tracks better & there is something about the handling that just says " proper little yacht".
Richard Mathews had his "Scorpio" re built & even though he could sail in 60 ft Oysters he said that he still enjoyed sailing his dad's old Stella just as much.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Youngsters do still choose to play football, rugby, cross country, etc in the wet and cold, don't they?

Talking of youngsters, my mate Chris is 80 yo, and a hugely enthusiastic and capable competitive runner and cyclist. (edit: he's also a very keen dinghy camper).

Personally, "pottering about or ditch crawling" holds great appeal.

Each to their own: enjoy your uniform, sanitised, world!

What's playing football, rugby and cross country running got to do with the price of fish although apart from the nancy ball I have done more than my fair share of both the others and am still at 72 capable of cycling over 50Km and up category 2 climbs although I freely admit not in the rain.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Not that much choice in Galicia,have my eye on a Severn meter but it has a droopy headlining….not sure if that’s too far?

As long as that's all that's drooping you should be OK?

 

[Tranona]

I've got at least one copy of each of MG's books on the bookshelf: I've always loved his writing.

The best boat we've ever owned was the very simple, utterly charming, Maurice Griffiths Tidewater, 'The Cause'. Beautifully built by John Tyrell, and with very authentic gaff cutter rig. A real heartwarming beauty. We often regret selling her.

I know the feeling. Regretted selling my Eventide in 2019 at the end of a major refit, although recognising that it would be impractical for me to sail safely because of the limited space to move around. So I have just swapped my Bavaria (which was in as new condition and about as much maintenance as your Trident) for far more than expected and bought a Golden Hind.

 

[MADRIGAL]

What with the steep rises and general cost of yachting maybe there is an opening for westerly type 26footers or even less as used to be the norm in the 1960s I mean a weekend way who needs a fridge,double berth,tv and the kitchen sink and hot water and showers.A weekend away in a Debutant weather bound in a force 6 in Cowes who could ask for more,yachting is not meant to be like being at home it’s about being out in touch with nature?

Sounds like the appeal of dinghy cruising. I'm happy to report that the international membership of the DCA is growing steadily. Meanwhile, a local crane operators' strike has left all the yachts in my club stranded on the hard indefinitely

 

[Daydream believer]

Personally, "pottering about or ditch crawling" holds great appeal.
Each to their own: enjoy your uniform, sanitised, world!

I found that once one had been up one muddy ditch one had been up them all. So with my first boat it was almost always racing or holiday to Ostend & the Dutch canals a couple of times a year.
On my current boat racing holds little interest as crews are a pain. So now it is going foreign SH that holds sway. I love it & anywhere between Camaret & Amsterdam is great. Plus a quick foray round UK. of course. Nothing "sanitised" about it. It is cruising with holiday destinations between.
Beats a ditch any day of the week