Towing under sail - cross post

[roly_voya]

I am taking a 130 year old 23ft 3/4 decker of about 3/4ton displacement to Brest festival in July and having found what it will cost to do it by road/ferry am looking for an alternative!

I am wondering if it will be practical to fill the hull with infation bags, add a pump and board/sheet over the cockpit same as you close a ships hold then tow her. She will have just finished a full restoration and so is very sound, has a good underwater shape but little freeboard and fine ends. The tow boat being a 32ft heavy wt sailing cutter of about 8tons. Anyone any relevent experience?

(This plan also has the advantage of getting the cruiser down there as well instead of having to camp under a tarp in the open cockpit for a week.)



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[paulrossall]

I had a horendous experience towing a 8ft dinghy 10 mile down the coast with a force 6/7 wind behind me. Dinghy snaked about all over the place and eventually turned upside down just after I had crossed the deep water chanel into Felixstowe. Evenyually painter snapped, just as I thought water was getting calmer along Hamford Water. It took 2 of us 1 hour to catch the dinghy and turn it right way up. Next time I will tow it very very close to the back of my boat if I end up in those conditions. My boat is 30 foot, fairly weighty.
I know what you are contemplating is much different but I would certainly do it at all. I doubt whether you could get insurance cover. IMHO.Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[graham]

I think a tow like this would be a bit of a nightmare . If the tow started charging up as it will you will not be able to fend it off like a dinghy.

Someone will need to steer the boat being towed to give you any chance of success.

Would it be more practical to sail it across with the other vessel in close company as an escort?

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[PaulAG]

I remember seeing an open Russian sailing / rowing boat in the Medina River (I. of Wight - Newport) that had come across from Viga(?) along the sea coastal route to attend the Cowes Festival of Sail a few years ago. The crew lived and slept aboard most of the time under tarpaulins, and were accompanied by a sailing cruiser. They seemed to manage very well and were received enthusiastically in the Festival I seem to remember. As another post says - go for it in company but choose a good weather window and with adequate safety gear - and a good big pump!

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[LeonF]

Sounds like the same boat that spent some time up at St Kaths in London. The (vodka ?) fuelled revelry that we heard going on under the tarp was amazing !

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[LeonF]

Sounds like the same boat that spent some time up at St Kaths in London. The (vodka ?) fuelled revelry that we heard going on under the tarp was amazing !

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[squidge]

Or what about towing along side (with enough fenders). Or hire a trailor at about £30/40 per day and tow buy road.

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