Virgo Voyager

[raven]

Been looking at a Newbridge Virgo Voyager as a first boat.

I have done some crewing aboard various different yachts and completed an RYA Dayskipper course - also had a fair bit of mobo experience over the years.

Looking for a boat that will take the ground and provide reasonable day / weekend sailing for 2/3 people.

The V.V. seems to have good accomodation and looks to be a seaworthy little boat but does anyone have any experience / knowledge of them.

Would appreciate any advice or info.

 

[Lakesailor]

Have a look at recent thread on the same subject. Click here: Virgo Voyager

 

[oakleyb]

pm sent

 

[Malcb]

I'm secretary of the Virgo Owners Association. Have a look at our website. Click on the shortcut at the bottom of the post.

If you're looking for speed then the Voyager isn't what you want. If you're looking for a boat to day and weekend sail for up to 3 people then in my book it's ideal. Standing headroom below, good sized foredeck. Easy to handle. Likes being sailed fairly upright, which means reefing the main a little earlier than most boats. We have one member who regularly sails from Poole to the Solent, ad this year is sailing to the Scilly Isles. Other members have crossed the channel reguarly.

Make sure that you get it surveyed.

 

[raven]

Thanks guys, sorry I missed the earlier thread on this topic.

Reading through, it shows that beauty (etc) really is in the eye of the beholder because I think the VV is quite a bonny little boat.

Difficult to judge performance because as this would be my first sail boat (excluding dinghys) there's nothing to compare against.

I've only ever sailed on bilge keelers as they are far and away the most common in Cardigan Bay - but I guess the performance of the VV cant be so different from (say) a Westerly Centaur / Pageant or Colvic 26 or any other bilge keeler of that sort of vintage.

The boat I have an eye on is a triple keeler - is that likely to have any impact?

Malcolm - sorry to see that there is no VOA representation in N. Wales - if I do take the plunge it looks like my nearest rally is Poole!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Malcb]

We don't have any members in Norh Wales. Most of the members are in the Poole/Solent Area. It is left to the members in an area to get together for Rallies etc. We have members from all over the country as well as two members in the Med and one in Eire plus some in Scotland.

Mines a triple keel, I don't think it sails any better or worse than a normal bilge keel. Won't take the ground as easily as a conventional bilge as the centre stub keel is about 6 inches lower than the two bilge keels so it needs to sink into the ground a little to stay level. Having said that apparently mine was originally left on a drying beach mooring for a lot of its earlier life.

 

[moondancer]

Raven,

I think you might regret not putting sailing performance as one of your selection criteria, just because you having nothing to compare poor performance against. With a Virgo you might want to passage plan on the basis of making 3 - 4 knots. With a Centaur you might average a knot more than that. Plus a Centaur will sail better to windward.

 

[Aeolus]

I learned to sail on a Virgo Voyager. Luckily I found someone who wanted to share running costs only so I didn't have to invest. I sailed her for a year and she was brilliant to learn on. Very spacious for her length, good headroom, very easy to handle, not at all skittish, as tough as old boots - ramming a pontoon at full speed left a slight dent in the pontoon. And she'll take the ground, reassuring when you misjudge the depth. As I said, brilliant to learn on and to work out what sort of boat I did want to buy; not a Virgo. Many many plusses but slow and, more importantly, very limited ability into the wind. Tacking up Southampton Water to the Itchen with any north in the wind took forever. So if you do buy, you will probably want to change boats after a year or so - but that is a possibility no matter what boat you buy.

Hope you make the right decision for you.

Jonathan

 

[raven]

Thanks guys

Some interesting food for thought.

On balance I am now persuaded to continue looking around for a slightly bigger (LOA) bilge keeler with better cruising performance.

rgds,
Alan

 

[AdrianMIDAS]

I'm secretary of the Virgo Owners Association. Have a look at our website. Click on the shortcut at the bottom of the post.

If you're looking for speed then the Voyager isn't what you want. If you're looking for a boat to day and weekend sail for up to 3 people then in my book it's ideal. Standing headroom below, good sized foredeck. Easy to handle. Likes being sailed fairly upright, which means reefing the main a little earlier than most boats. We have one member who regularly sails from Poole to the Solent, ad this year is sailing to the Scilly Isles. Other members have crossed the channel reguarly.

Make sure that you get it surveyed.

Hi , I ve just buyed an 23Ft Virgo Voyager , can I ask you please to help me if you have an idea where I can find the HIN of the Boat ? And can I ask you if the 9 hp Yanmar 1GM10 Diesel engine is ... strong enough for this Boat please? Also I can t access the website you leave the link .. ( Virgo Owners Association site) .
Thank you

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

You won't find any HIN as it was built long before such things were required. From memory (long time ago!) Newbridge used sequential hull and sail numbers but did not mark them on the hull only on the original sail. The Yanmar is OK but marginal for the size of the boat. It was the best and cheapest small diesel in that period so many boats used it. The best replacements are Beta/Nanni 14, but not worth doing if the Yanmar is working OK

 

[MoodySabre]

My mate had a VV with a Volvo Penta 2001. If you haven’t got one of those then you are lucky.
Seemed a good small day sailer but some have done long trips successfully.
Good luck.

 

[MontyMariner]

Also I can t access the website

Probably long defunct as the post is 2006.
Nowadays there might be a Facebook group.
Many years back I was looking at the VV as a 1st sail boat and went to the Newbridge yard in Bridport, all the VV's for sale were saildrive. They also had a 22ft Swin Ranger with a shaft driven 1GM (not 10) which I bought. I did many miles in it and found the 1GM more than adequate, so your 1GM10 should be well up to the job for the VV, depending on what prop it has.

 

[AdrianMIDAS]

Welcome to the forum

You won't find any HIN as it was built long before such things were required. From memory (long time ago!) Newbridge used sequential hull and sail numbers but did not mark them on the hull only on the original sail. The Yanmar is OK but marginal for the size of the boat. It was the best and cheapest small diesel in that period so many boats used it. The best replacements are Beta/Nanni 14, but not worth doing if the Yanmar is working OK

Thank you very much for your prompt response , I think I will service completely this engine , and start ...learning (beeing complet novice on Sailing).

Probably long defunct as the post is 2006.
Nowadays there might be a Facebook group.
Many years back I was looking at the VV as a 1st sail boat and went to the Newbridge yard in Bridport, all the VV's for sale were saildrive. They also had a 22ft Swin Ranger with a shaft driven 1GM (not 10) which I bought. I did many miles in it and found the 1GM more than adequate, so your 1GM10 should be well up to the job for the VV, depending on what prop it has.

Thank you very much for your reply , proud to become member in this Community , I will help every time as much I can if needed also .