dancrane
Well-known member
Last weekend on a long, wet, windy walk to Ventnor, Isle of Wight, our effort was rewarded by the sight of the training ship Royalist, coming up-Channel under minimal sail...
View attachment 42917
...picture isn't working, sorry, but in a rough, empty sea under a leaden sky, she was a thrill to see.
I'm too old to relish the idea of a steel ship built to resist the abrasive presence of endless cadets' boots. I'd prefer two or three wood-faced ensuite staterooms, rather than a couple of ten-berth common-rooms. And I'd like some discreet labour-saving kit, rather than have to go aloft every time there's a windshift or gust.
But...to me, the appeal of Royalist relative to other tall ships, seems to be how big she isn't. She's a complete little brig, no bigger than large Oysters.
Perhaps one can go too far the other way; here's a perfectly proportioned beauty I found, looking for pictures of Royalist...look closely to see how big she is:
View attachment 42918
Seems to me, the atmosphere of a traditional vessel makes up for all dynamic inefficiencies, by being so pleasing regardless of the situation. Whether she's tied up at a dock, lying at anchor, becalmed offshore or trundling along quietly under power, her style makes her a pleasant place with enduring, involving interest.
So, while I'm dreaming...my ideal might be...55ft on deck, 43ft LWL 72ft overall. 13ft beam, about 8ft draft. Rigged as a square topsail schooner. 18" bulwarks along her side decks, davits there too, clear deck area between the deckhouse aft and a forward coachroof, giving space for a clinker sailing tender. And a reasonably discreet, heated wheelhouse for cozy night watches and well-lit breakfast times during long winter weeks moored most of the way up to Totnes.
I wonder how much of today's roller-furling & slab-reefing technology could be applied in wood and brass, to enable small crews to manage a boat like that?
Does anybody else ever dream of a small tall ship, as a boat they and a couple of friends could own and sail regularly as a really individual, gentleman's yacht?
View attachment 42917
...picture isn't working, sorry, but in a rough, empty sea under a leaden sky, she was a thrill to see.
I'm too old to relish the idea of a steel ship built to resist the abrasive presence of endless cadets' boots. I'd prefer two or three wood-faced ensuite staterooms, rather than a couple of ten-berth common-rooms. And I'd like some discreet labour-saving kit, rather than have to go aloft every time there's a windshift or gust.
But...to me, the appeal of Royalist relative to other tall ships, seems to be how big she isn't. She's a complete little brig, no bigger than large Oysters.
Perhaps one can go too far the other way; here's a perfectly proportioned beauty I found, looking for pictures of Royalist...look closely to see how big she is:
View attachment 42918
Seems to me, the atmosphere of a traditional vessel makes up for all dynamic inefficiencies, by being so pleasing regardless of the situation. Whether she's tied up at a dock, lying at anchor, becalmed offshore or trundling along quietly under power, her style makes her a pleasant place with enduring, involving interest.
So, while I'm dreaming...my ideal might be...55ft on deck, 43ft LWL 72ft overall. 13ft beam, about 8ft draft. Rigged as a square topsail schooner. 18" bulwarks along her side decks, davits there too, clear deck area between the deckhouse aft and a forward coachroof, giving space for a clinker sailing tender. And a reasonably discreet, heated wheelhouse for cozy night watches and well-lit breakfast times during long winter weeks moored most of the way up to Totnes.
I wonder how much of today's roller-furling & slab-reefing technology could be applied in wood and brass, to enable small crews to manage a boat like that?
Does anybody else ever dream of a small tall ship, as a boat they and a couple of friends could own and sail regularly as a really individual, gentleman's yacht?
