Saturday, February 22, 2020

Radio Control Model Yachting and a Rich Man's Toy



The previous header photo was of some chaps in Australia racing radio control model yachts, specifically the A class model yachts, the biggest of the RC classes. Some out in Interweb land interpreted this to mean that Tweezerman, in his dotage, had resigned himself to sailing from the shore, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The few times I have tried RC model yachts, I found that, spatially, I am challenged to sail properly when I'm off the boat. (Read this to mean dangerous to fellow model yachts as well as buoys of the course.) Also, my finger reaction with joy sticks and knobs is pathetic. Thirdly, racing model yachts doesn't excite my passion the way a full size dinghy does.

The reason I post this; If I was of the 1% crowd, and, if I was to pour some of my ill-gotten gains into a keel boat, I would want a custom built yacht with a long, long overhanging stern. I love those classic long sterns. There would be nothing cooler than be a a helm of my yacht and look astern at a transom that goes on forever. And where does the RC A class model yacht fit into this. They have the longest overhanging sterns going. Just look at two pics of the current crop of designs.




So as a 1% playboy, I would take some play money and have a full sized A-class model yacht built, say about 10 meters in length; designed to sail with only two people; minimal accommodation under a tiny coach roof; completely impractical. But I would have that long, long beautiful stern and the stern waves curling off  the hull and those waves finally rejoining the playing field off in the distance astern.

And that would be sublime.


Sunday, February 9, 2020

Header Photo: RS Aero Start



The past header photo I decided to give some love to one of the new crop of singlehanders; the RS Aero. The header photo, lifted from the InterWebs a couple of years ago, features a start in Seattle when they were sharing the line with some Lasers. Now that the new singlehanders have been out for a while, I'm not in the loop as to how the new classes are doing vis-a-vis the Laser. I haven't seen any real movement in Annapolis away from the Laser. If anyone knows the photographer let me know. I always like to have an attribution for a photo. Feel free to comment.



Sunday, February 2, 2020

Update on the California Jester Dinghy


Xenon Herrmann sent along an update to history of the Santa Cruz Jester Dinghy. It looks like the Jester was based on an earlier "East Coast Dinghy."
"I own an ancient 8' plastic-classic sailing dinghy which I believe is the "generic East Coast dinghy" upon which the Jester was based (according to Skip Allen quoted in the July 2018 Latitude 38 article on Made In Santa Cruz Race Week It came with a stainless steel tube at the bow which I figured was more than a fishing rod holder based on the El Toro rudder and gudgeons on the stern which came along with it. The previous owner used it as a rowboat, but I built a conservative lateen rig and a leeboard; it has no daggerboard slot. Much of the wood was rotten, which I've replaced. Since taking the photo showing the sail, I've made a taller mast for it and have begun experimenting with adding sail area, though even with the 30 sq. ft. sail shown it will sail in glassy conditions. It is an absolute joy to sail.
Xenon sent along two photos:



The original stainless steel mast tube.