Sybarite
Well-Known Member
Maybe I’m getting old…but as far as cruising yachts go I prefer older designs. I came across a 1979 (French) book of yacht plans and found myself saying “yes yes” time and time again.
Modern yachts sail wonderfully but (by trial and error ?) they all seem to tend towards the same banal shape. Open cockpit, normally aft, relatively high freeboard fin keel etc.
Last week-end I stumbled across a Salar 40, a Laurent Giles design, which I had always admired on paper but when I saw it in the flesh I had the same “Yes Yes..!!” reaction. I would just love to head off into the blue yonder on it. Rather than detail the reasons why it seems so right, I have referenced the following blog run by some-one who left for a year’s sail - some eight years ago - and can describe it much better than I can. I recommend this article because it is very well written, it contains a great deal of practical advice and discusses a lot of the philosophical aspects of a cruising life. The author also contributes to sailing magazines.
http://www.condesa.org/about-my-boat/
His adventures include being in Thailand during the Tsunami and being run down by a freighter. This is particularly interesting because they were set up for long term cruising with a preventer in place, the prop shaft locked and the engine keys not in their usual place. They were placed in difficulty following a sudden change of course by the freighter ( it subsequently accepted responsibility).
The second reference is a discussion on another forum about the related safety issues including recommendations from sea captains. Well worth reading.
http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3311
John
Modern yachts sail wonderfully but (by trial and error ?) they all seem to tend towards the same banal shape. Open cockpit, normally aft, relatively high freeboard fin keel etc.
Last week-end I stumbled across a Salar 40, a Laurent Giles design, which I had always admired on paper but when I saw it in the flesh I had the same “Yes Yes..!!” reaction. I would just love to head off into the blue yonder on it. Rather than detail the reasons why it seems so right, I have referenced the following blog run by some-one who left for a year’s sail - some eight years ago - and can describe it much better than I can. I recommend this article because it is very well written, it contains a great deal of practical advice and discusses a lot of the philosophical aspects of a cruising life. The author also contributes to sailing magazines.
http://www.condesa.org/about-my-boat/
His adventures include being in Thailand during the Tsunami and being run down by a freighter. This is particularly interesting because they were set up for long term cruising with a preventer in place, the prop shaft locked and the engine keys not in their usual place. They were placed in difficulty following a sudden change of course by the freighter ( it subsequently accepted responsibility).
The second reference is a discussion on another forum about the related safety issues including recommendations from sea captains. Well worth reading.
http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3311
John
