GENERAL FORUM

Shall we start running a sweepstake on who splashes first: Redwing, La Chica, Malliemac, Hestur or Oryx?

There is one boat missing from Annie's list of who may be the first to splash and that is Robin Blain's new Boat Gigi, a 20' Swallow boat design. He is hoping to launch at the Bradwell rally this coming weekend and unless Pete Hill has already launched Oryx, which he hoped to do sometime in July, Robin will take the prize.
I hope to step Mallie's mast next week and with a bit of luck launch in time for the North Wales rally in September. It will be close and I do need some dry weather first, so if you are listening up there, we've had enough rain for now, thank you!

Marie G was sailed yesterday for the first time. Arne was joining me as I had a few lines to correct. The upper sheeting lines was a bit short, but otherwise she showed good promise on speed. Now I will have to finetune the sail and reset the instruments. The first race starts on Friday the 27th at 1900 hrs. It is a 55NM long race during the night, so it can be a challenge to stamnia and being alert in wee hours of morning when the wind is feeble. The Junk Rig is outstanding in theese conditiones as "the barndoor" catches every litte draft when the spinnakers will not set.

I bet Marie G will be sensational, probably the fastest monohull sloop-rigged junk ever. The first test sail in F3 winds weren't enough to show her potensial, but she was still fast, over 5 kts. Handling and tiller balance was just right and above all she had this effortless way of moving. She didn't feel that fast until checking the GPS.

The 20mm carbon mast surely is lighter than our usual wooden poles so Marie G has a faster natural roll rate. That reduced weight and windage of the mast will of course be helpful when sailing close-hauled.

Marie G surely will turn heads wherever she shows up. Now with 55sqm in 8 batten panels the SA/disp will be over 27! A fine example of moderate hot-roding; MG is still a very well-behaved lady.

Good luck! Arne

Very interesting, thanks.  However, a "replica of a 1767 Boston schooner" with a junk rig.  Really ?!  Western junk rig in 1767 ?  Would anyone who knows more than I do about this  (which is not hard because I know nothing !) care to comment please ?  jds

Thanks.  Wikepedia states "inspired by" whereas the newspaper article states "a replica of".  As Sir Robert Mark wrote in his autobiography:  "never believe anything that your read in the newspaper except the date and the lighting up time."  jds