Swallow Yachts Association
Swallow Yachts Forum => Home Builders' Area => Topic started by: Julian Swindell on 04 May 2015, 22:12
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I will not be going into detail here, because this is not a Swallowboat, but I have just started on the build of an Iain Oughtred designed Guillemot sailing dinghy. I have wanted a simple picnic on the beach type sailing and rowing boat for years, and I have also always wanted to build one of Iain's designs. I will be keeping a record of the progress on a Wordpress blog at the link below, if anyone is interested. It will be a slow project. I don't expect to launch this year, but you never know.
https://jegsguillemot.wordpress.com/
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My non-Swallow Guillemot is starting to almost take shape. God knows how I will get Daisy Grace back in the shed this autumn.
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Six planks per side done, just two more to go
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Well done, Julian!
Is there provision on the forum to change the title of threads? - because of course this one should now read 'Not a Swallowyacht,...'
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Planking complete! I think that means the boat is about half done. Now I need to sand her, paint her and turn her over before I have to get Daisy Grace back in the shed at the end of the month. Apart from the Swallow Raid in Falmouth, it hasn't been a great sailing summer...
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She looks beautiful, Julian (especially if I stand on my head to look at the picture). Very well done!
Your comment about 'not a great sailing summer' - well, the weather mostly hasn't been great, and you've been boat-building (it takes hold of you, doesn't it?), both of which may have contributed to our not having crossed courses around Poole. Actually, on Saturday and south of Brownsea Island I spied, far away to windward, the unmistakeable outline of a BC20 under jib and mizen (it was that sort of wind), and I thought, Aha there's Julian. I didn't fancy trying to catch up in a beat to windward, so I sneaked round the other side of Brownsea (which took quite a long time), and there she was, anchored off Furzey Island with her mizen set. Patrick O'Brien's characters go on about having the weather gauge, and I had it, with a vengeance. So I came storming down Whiteground Lake (which, according to the chart, becomes Blood Alley Lake further down towards Sandbanks), on a dead run with two reefs in a F5-6, planing in clouds of spray. It wasn't until I got close enough to read 'Jaunty' on the bow of the BC20 that I realised this wasn't Julian, but I shot past anyway and made some inane comment to the solitary sailor aboard who until then had been enjoying some peace and quiet. Unless he lends his boat, it must have been Jeremy Andrews.
So, Jeremy, if you get to read this, my apologies for disturbing your tranquility. I'll try not to do it again. And if it helps, those who know me will testify to my essential harmlessness. And Julian, it sounds as if any serendipitous rendezvous will have to wait till next year? I'll have to learn what an Oughtred Guillemot looks like, and - being around the same size as a Trouper - we can get competitive and have some races - ??
Michael Cavatina (Trouper 12)
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Hi Michael
I haven't been down too Poole since the start of August. Not just the weather, there have been two family weddings getting in the way and a week in France as well. I hope to get down there for a day or so before she comes out, but that will be all I'm afraid. Hope to meet up with you next year. I did walk over to the NT centre on Studland Beach and I think I spotted Cavatina all tucked up in the far right hand corner.
Here's to a sunny 2016 with gentle breezes.
(PS This is what a Guillemot should look like when finished. Hope mine is as pretty)
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Julian, your photo is, if I'm not mistaken, from the Beale Park home boat building competition? You are aiming high - good for you! I believe you have a choice of rigs: I'll be interested to see which you go for.
That is indeed Cavatina in the far right corner of the Studland boat park - a snug and well-sheltered berth, I've been fortunate. She'll be there through the winter, so at least the possibility of the odd winter sail is there, weather permitting and with me resplendent (or mildly ridiculous-looking, depending on your point of view) in my Fladen immersion suit.
It's rather sad that this Home Builders slot on the forum is petering out with some pleasant chat about a non-Swallowboat (SORRY, Swallow YACHT) design. Presumably at some point, any discussion here can be covered by 'Technical', and we'll have one less area on the forum. Still, as Tony remarked, that reflects the changing reality of boat- building chez Newland.
I meant, but didn't get round, to taking Laura up on her suggestion that me might trip her up on the Swallow YACHTS name change with a Monday morning phone call in the early weeks. Did anyone try, and/or is Laura prepared to admit whether or not someone managed it?
Michael
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The boat in the photo was at Beale Park, but she is a professional build by Jamie Clay. So I have excuses if mine is not so smart. I am going for the balanced lug rig for maximum simplicity. Only three ropes, a stick for a mast and I am going to try and get two bamboos for the spars. Making the sail is beyond me so I will have to decide what to do about that. Amazingly, I am on schedule to get her turned upright before Daisy Grace comes home to her shed at the end of the month. Things will be a bit cosy after that.
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Approve the choice of rig, Julian, but I'll be intrigued how you get on finding bamboo for spas. In the early days of my interest in junk rig, and following Hasler and Macleod to the letter, I hunted for decent spa-size scantling bamboo in vain. Nothing in the UK except beansticks (plenty of those, though).
I meant to say that I enjoyed the genuine quick-go-with-the-broom-tidy-up look of your workshop in your photo. Very genuine. Some people have workshops which look like an advert in the Axminster Tools catalogue, complete with manicured shavings and laundered sawdust. Don't know how they do it.
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Not sure this still applies but I had some really big bamboo poles from a carpet firm. Around 10 foot long and over 1 inch diameter.
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Haven't got any bamboo yet, but this is the site that I think Jamie Clay used for the spars on the boat at Beale Park
https://www.ukbamboo.com
My workshop has quickly reverted to unswept tip. I've got to get the new dinghy right way up by Wednesday week as that is when I am planning to bring Daisy G home for the winter. I can halve the length of the building frame with the boat the right way up, and I hope that will allow all to fit into the shed.The only problem is that I have to fit in a flying visit to Woodstock for an unexpected family wedding before then. That's THE Woodstock, in upstate New York. Not the Oxfordshire one just down the road. How did I ever find time to fit in work?
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Looks very nice too Julian. Look forward to seeing her completed.
Here is my new boat which has been keeping me busy this year (also not a SwallowYacht).
My wife will go on this one whereas she won't touch my Storm 15 - Robin with a barge pole. At least this has a barge pole for her not to touch it with.
regards
Steve Joyce
Storm 15 - Robin
& NB Fred Bingham
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She's upright! I'm really very pleased. I have also just about got enough wriggle room to get Daisy Grace in now as I have cut off half the building frame.
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She's coming on, but painting seems to take for ever. I have just ordered the sail from Cormorant saisl, for delivery in December. Still to start on the mast and spars.
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My experience, with both my kit builds, was that the painting etc took at least twice as long as I expected. But it's worth the effort. I also remember that it doesn't help to have to do it through the dark hours of winter.
VERY well done, Julian, she looks lovely!
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The hull is finished! I have even managed to scratch her a couple of times already moving her around the shed. About six months all told. But still to make the mast and spars. The sail is on order and should arrive sometime soon.
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I am sure many of think about it but few have the gumption and skill to actually do.
Beautiful workmanship Julian.
Best wishes for Christmas
David
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Sail by Cormorant Sails, spars in bamboo, which probably need to be shortened. Just need a trailer and some warm weather to launch her.
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Looks like a proper job Julian. I'm green with jealousy!
Yes, roll on some decent sailing weather. (You'd think with all the political hot air being generated on both sides of the Atlantic we should get some warm air soon?)
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Beautiful simplicity. See you in Poole Harbour, Julian?!
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Lovely... not a Swallowboat perhaps, but I can imagine her being sailed by Swallows or Amazons!
Peter
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Full details of the build in the Jan/Feb edition of Watercraft. You can even see me sitting in her, afloat!