Serious cruising in open boat.

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rotrax

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First Mate and I are currently enjoying mostly sunny days and high teen temps here in Torreviecia.

Had a nice sail on a sweet 22 foot cruiser with a couple of mates and am now busy sorting a few things for them in exchange for a bit more sailing.

Met another sailing friend of theirs today who keeps a Hawk 20 in the Marina.

Most impressed-he and his wife day sailed it from the Solent to the Med over a season.

When I asked why he did not trailer it he said " There not much fun in that! "
 
Google Webb Childs, and, of course, Frank Dye

On another forum, Hawke 20s were mentioned as good camp cruisers, except not very cheap at around £8K 2nd hand.

One of my Uncles in law was on his dock in the Chesapeak, hailed a guy in a Wayfarer. Yep, it was Frank D. He invited him for dinner, but Frank insisted on sleeping on his boat. They had a memorable chat.
DW
 
Seajet said:
Did they go via the canals or Biscay ?

Ever since working on the Burgundy Canals it's been an ambition of mine to take my boat down that way, they can keep Biscay !
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I'll be seeing him again soon, I will ask him. I recall he said they went on a canal through some of France, but I think they picked it up fairly well south.

I must say how impressed I was with the Spanish built lifting keel 22 footer we sailed. The syndicate guy's-2 of them, the third arrives Friday- I sailed with were not too hot on the sailing bit. Once they believed what I said about a bit less sail-and then the steering came back- I had a bit more credibility. The boat needs a bit of TLC and a few bits of running rigging and a general tidy up, but it sailed really well and was dry in the fairly constant 15-18 knots from the SW. We goosewinged her coming back to the Harbour entrance and had 7 plus knots just off downwind with a dirty bottom.

I did my Dazed Kipper nine years ago with one of them. He has since got YM theory, but has not sailed much since then.

This reinforces my belief that hours on the water are equally as important-if not more so-than lessons in the classroom.

The other syndicate members are " Old School " who have come through the ranks over many years of all types of sailing, as are the Hawk owner and his wife.

No doubt I will report further. Must go-A cold beer is calling........................
 
rotrax said:
First Mate and I are currently enjoying mostly sunny days and high teen temps here in Torreviecia.

Had a nice sail on a sweet 22 foot cruiser with a couple of mates and am now busy sorting a few things for them in exchange for a bit more sailing.

Met another sailing friend of theirs today who keeps a Hawk 20 in the Marina.

Most impressed-he and his wife day sailed it from the Solent to the Med over a season.

When I asked why he did not trailer it he said " There not much fun in that! "
Click to expand...
Margaret & Frank Dye sailed to Iceland & Norway in a Wayfarer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Dye
 
I was getting heating fitted to the boat the other day and the chap fitting it casually mentioned that he and his wife had day sailed an Albacore dinghy from Woodbridge to Stockholm and back. No fanfares, just mentioned in passing. He said the only problem was the mosquitoes but he had a decent net over the boat at night.
 
sailorman said:
Margaret & Frank Dye sailed to Iceland & Norway in a Wayfarer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Dye
Click to expand...

A minor nit, Frank took different crew (tellingly, not the same chap each time) for the Iceland and the Faeroe/Norway trips.
however Margaret did sail to St Kilda with him on the Wayfarer. This was their honeymoon (apparently she had requested a honeymoon involving boating, implying a trip to Venice). She became so seasick that she fell unconscious and then fell overboard whilst en route to St Kilda.
 
Mavanier said:
A minor nit, Frank took different crew (tellingly, not the same chap each time) for the Iceland and the Faeroe/Norway trips.
however Margaret did sail to St Kilda with him on the Wayfarer. This was their honeymoon (apparently she had requested a honeymoon involving boating, implying a trip to Venice). She became so seasick that she fell unconscious and then fell overboard whilst en route to St Kilda.
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That CERTAINLY does not sound like fun!
 
Sailingsaves said:
That is serious open boat stuff.

Does the Hawk have a metal centreboard?
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Hi there - yes, the Hawk has an aluminum centreboard - some weight in it, but the stability is derived chiefly from the internal ballast. I sail a Hawk in New Zealand, where winds and seas often exceed forecasts - as a result of being 'surprised' on occasion, I can testify to reliable sea-keeping qualities. Great boat for day-sailing, short-handed cruising and overnights (with cabin and tent). I've fitted a Tillermate - excellent product, almost indispensable when offshore solo.

My previous open boat for cruising was a Dockerell 17 ... the Hawk - just 3 feet longer - is in a different class by 3 leagues.

Others have referred to Frank and Margaret Dye - their exploits remain a vivid inspiration for us open-boat cruisers. Sadly, Frank passed away almost 4 years ago. Here's a link to an obit in the Daily T: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/7818796/Frank-Dye.html
 
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Seajet said:
Did they go via the canals or Biscay ?

Ever since working on the Burgundy Canals it's been an ambition of mine to take my boat down that way, they can keep Biscay !
Click to expand...

I spoke with the Hawk sailor today. He was not very sure of the pronunciation but I'm pretty sure he and his wife went on a river north of Bordeux-Gironde?, took a canal that joined the Canal du Midi at Toulouse. They had a boom tent and said it worked out fine-but that the weather was good all trip.

They did it about seven years ago and have enjoyed their Hawk for local sailing since here in Torrevieja.

The localy made 22 foot centreboard cruiser I sailed on is an Arejz 22. I think thats how its spelt-the UV has been at the decals.

I repaired the Traveller car lines and fitted a cleat for the Genoa furling line. Yesterday I serviced the 8hp Mariner two stroke twin outboard.

I will try to get the syndicate to buy a couple of blocks and a cam cleat so the backstay can be adjusted as it should. At the moment it is just tied off with somewhere near the required tension.

Going sailing with First Mate, Jeff and the Hawk guy Wednesday.

Forecast is for 11 to 15 knot wind, sunny and 19 degrees C.

That should be OK..................................
 
Will Stirling (http://www.stirlingandson.co.uk/) has done a bit of cruising in open boats.

I had a shoot with him and if you saw the beautiful Integrity at the Southampton Boat Show you'll have seen his work.

Will has that rare quality, adventure, the quality sometime mistaken for madness. He's set himself a challenge to sail around every offshore lighthouse in Britain (and may be the Fastnet, certainly Muckle Fugga). He's already sailed around the Eddystone, and across to Jersey in preparation for his ten year plan.

Just one thing Will will be doing this in one of his own boats, one of his smaller boats. It was in build the last time I saw him, so it's probably finished now. He learnt from his trip to Jersey that his boat needs to be a little longer, so he's increased the design by a foot. Making her just 15 feet long. The extra foot will give him and his crew more room, and hopefully he'll be able to lie down and stretch out now. :)
 
snooks said:
Will Stirling (http://www.stirlingandson.co.uk/) has done a bit of cruising in open boats.

I had a shoot with him and if you saw the beautiful Integrity at the Southampton Boat Show you'll have seen his work.

Will has that rare quality, adventure, the quality sometime mistaken for madness. He's set himself a challenge to sail around every offshore lighthouse in Britain (and may be the Fastnet, certainly Muckle Fugga). He's already sailed around the Eddystone, and across to Jersey in preparation for his ten year plan.

Just one thing Will will be doing this in one of his own boats, one of his smaller boats. It was in build the last time I saw him, so it's probably finished now. He learnt from his trip to Jersey that his boat needs to be a little longer, so he's increased the design by a foot. Making her just 15 feet long. The extra foot will give him and his crew more room, and hopefully he'll be able to lie down and stretch out now. :)
Click to expand...

WOW!
 
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