So what am I sailing?

[1937rogerdon]

Do you recognise this boat

 

[graham]

Only a guess,is it a Barry 16?

 

[1937rogerdon]

Its bigger than a 16 which were gaff rigged

 

[donm]

Would it be fair to say that she looks as if she is flying?

 

[donm]

Roger

Could I be sailing one of the boats in the background?

 

[graham]

Pretty sure its not a flying 15 .Looks to beamy for that.

 

[1937rogerdon]

If you were sailing in Penarth Regatta 48 years ago you could well be out their. However as a BYC member perhaps pas you should not fully name that boat yet.
It most certainly flew.

 

[graham]

The word "flying" seems to keep cropping up.Is it a Flying Dutchman?

 

[donm]

You're right Graham. In fact she was so light she could easily be borne on air

 

[1937rogerdon]

Graham, Lots of clues. Famous designer

 

[graham]

See if anyone recognises this design ,one of my Dads old deathtraps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif That was me with the lifejacket.

If some unsubtle clues are needed it was a dinghy with a brave heart but was no angel when the wind blew.....

 

[damo]

Sounds like a daredevil?

 

[1937rogerdon]

Graham, Its not a Flying Dutchman, Nearly right regarding the flying. this boat has flown.....

 

[graham]

This flying bit keeps coming up ,was it one of the Flying Lifeboats designed to be dropped from planes?

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like a daredevil?


[/ QUOTE ]
More of an old softy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Think Valentines day...

 

[1937rogerdon]

Yes, its an Airborne Lifeboat 23, I cruised around the channel in this, sleeping on a lilo under a boom cover.
Plenty of info in Google

 

[graham]

I had heard of the flying lifeboats but didnt think they would be as nice looking boats as that. Just had a google ,couldnt find much but found this [ QUOTE ]
With the switching of the RAF’s
main role from fighter defence of the
UK to the heavy bomber attack on
Germany, Air Sea Rescue changed its
emphasis from looking for single
fighter pilots in the Channel to
picking up seven-man bomber crews
from the North Sea. New equipment
and fresh methods were needed for
crews, which still relied on pigeons to
carry the navigator’s estimate of their
position to base.
Fighter Command remained
responsible for offshore rescues but

[/ QUOTE ]

Who needs an epirb when you could have a pigeon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[donm]

Went by the name of "Astra"?

 

[Richard_Peevor]

the second one isnt an early cherub is it? The new ones look a bit different now!

For truly flying dinghies you should see pics of "foiling" international 14s or international moths.

The first boat looks more like a keelboat than a dinghy. Def not a flying 15 (much smaller freeboard and only sailed 2 up).

 

[graham]

Spot on Richard. Difficult boat to identify as they were/are a development class constantly changing.Unfortunately arguments over class rules between UK Australia and NZ caused a decline in numbers.

The pic of ours is about 40 yrs old and the boat was old then,this ones a bit newer.