Posted by andy bolger on September 07, 1999 at 15:06:44 from p62-nsv1-cardiff1.tch.dtn.ntl.com:
In Reply to: Small sailing boats posted by Robert Howes on September 06, 1999 at 16:43:04:
Long ago my father and I built something similar to Robert's folding boat. We built it iin the attic, unlike Robinson Crusoe, we did launch it successfully.
The class name was 'Puffin' and it looked just like one with a round hull shaped like a puffin's bill, blue p.v.c. topsides and sail. Puffin has gone the way of all ply, stolen from our garden early one November but the sail and daggerboard live on. We use them as a rig for our Coleman canadian canoe, 'Umiak Open Qestion'.
The Broads provide an excellent cruising ground for such craft, we had a splendid voyage under sail down the Ant, from Dilham to Ludham Bridge. Then there are the secret channels that cut corners and lead into water not strictly open to navigation.
We have found that a gentle paddling helps to maintain steerage way allowing the boat to point quite effectively into the wind and to grab an extra yard under the high banks that line Broadland rivers. (Wherries use a quant to do something similar when going about in narrow dykes). The only problem (for canoe sailors not wherry men) is holding the main sheet and paddling at the same time. Any suggestions?
Good luck on your Horning trip Johnny and if you fancy sailing in company nearer to home give me an e-mail.