Do still own the egret? Would it be possible to see your boat? I built the New Haven Sharpie in 2000. Still own it and sail it. I would be interested in learning about other Egrets out there. I am in TB, NC
I'm often in light wood boats myself & I often use water jugs forward of my position to trim the bow down. It is a cheap portable method & re-usable as you dump the water after your excursions. It keeps you from having to get your tiller extensions longer & longer.
Great video - much respect @3mins 50secs - "the boat is sailing away faster than the crew can swim after it. This would be an extremely dangerous situation' ....true that ( ask me how I know)
The first sailboat I ever had was a little Snark. It's like a miniature sunfish. I had my life jacket on. I capsize. I righted the boat and the main sheet wrapped around my foot and the boat began sailing pulling me by my legs. Without my life preserver on. I think I would've drowned. Another time I had a small 14 foot sailboat at a dock. I jumped overboard to do something to the hall. I don't remember what it was. When I do remember is my embarrassment on how I found it impossible to climb back on board. The dock and pilings were covered in barnacles and oyster shells. A friend showed up and saved the day.
Well that could be deadly in the ocean. What’s the solution? In seakayaking, you sometimes have a lanyard connected to boat so you don’t get separated if you capsize. Not sure if that’s a good idea on a sailing dinghy
The capsized boat sailing away from you is only possible in strong winds with full sail. So, if in places where help is far away reefing early and sailing conservatively will significantly mitigate the risk. I don’t like the lanyard idea due to entanglement risk. I’ve heard people talk about trailing a line but never experimented with it.
Excellent 3rd capsize test. I once picked up two crew aboard a Hobie Cat who became separated from their capsized cat, while the third crew member sail away with the cat on its side and the trampoline as the sail. Not good.
Like all these boats with unstayed rigs, it does not pay to let the sail go too far forward when going downwind, thats what causes the "death roll capsize".
If you get one person on the down side to lie in next to the centreboard casing the other can haul the boat up by its centreboard, and it should come up with that person on board.
Yes it can. The procedure is to unbolt and lift both beams off the hull. Then stick something like a floatation cushion under one beam to prevent it from closing then fold the opposite side. This technique relieves most of the pressure from the folding mechanism and makes folding very easy. If there is very strong broadside wind then the leeward beam can be a bit difficult to lift since the boat is heeling that way. A second person makes it easier as they can either help lift the second beam or stand on the windward side to unload the leeward beam.
In light air they are similar. Once the breeze picks up a GIS will plane while the MS will not so the speed difference is huge. Both boats are sensitive to crew weight so there will be conditions when a MS may come out on top. An advantage of the MS is that it comes up from capsize mostly empty whereas the GIS needs a lot of bailing. However, you can take 4 adults out for a spin or a picnic in a GIS, not so in a MS.
canoe sailors always look like the most laidback and relaxed people in the world. They cruise on by while I am trying not to dump what should be a much more capable and stable boat.
Hey Simon, Can you or anyone share info about a small electric systems for my 15' dinghy. Looking to power a nav unit, a small Sound system for music and a mobile phone. Possibly lights but may just use battery operated running lights. I know it's easy but I'd like to get it right the first time.
Hi Kevin, It's hard to make a choice without knowing how this is to be used. Single day or multi day long trips? Seattle or Miami makes a big difference for solar. If you don't care about weight, oversize the battery a bit, get a 50 - 100W solar panel and you're done. If you want to build the optimal system then buy a cheap watt meter and measure how much power all of your electronics are using then estimate how many hours per day each one is used. This will tell you what size battery you need. There are published tables showing how much solar energy you can expect to get in different areas of the planet so you can use that to estimate you solar panel size.
Can someone tell me how they start this "race"? How many classes are there? Do they start when everyone is off the beach? or 1st one in gets the advantage? when they are done they have it to the day, hour and minutes..Who starts the clock? honor system?
One thing you forgot in the equation, is that the squirrel was looking at the camera person as a potential threat as well, otherwise the the squirrel would have made the cat look foolish, quickly and simply
Great video Simon. Is that is a Michael Storer design? I saw Teo from Portugal wit one like this. I am the middle off a Tryst 10, and looking for ideas on sailing rigs
