| Title: | SAILING |
| Notice: | Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference |
| Moderator: | UNIFIX::BERENS |
| Created: | Wed Jul 01 1992 |
| Last Modified: | Mon Jun 02 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2299 |
| Total number of notes: | 20724 |
In Dublin Bay there exists a class of boat called the Dublin Bay Twenty
One,so named because of their waterline length. These gaff rigged
cutters are now 86 years young and it has been decided to restore the
remaining seven of the class in time for racing next summer at a cost
of 150,000 pounds Irish. The seven were designed by Alfred Mylne and
built between 1903 and 1908 and are claimed to be the oldest class of
racing yacht still in competition.
In 1964 a controversial decision was made to abandon the traditional
gaff rig and "modernise" them to bermudan rig. Twentythree years later
the owners,worried about the effects of old age,storm damage and
amateur repair work, have decided that the survivors of this rare class
should be restored and that the origional rig should be reinstated.
Does anyone know of an older class than these still racing? They are
believed here to present one of the loveliest sights to be seen on any
sailing waters in the world.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1355.1 | How about the water wags? | FIONN::COFFEY | Wed Sep 27 1989 09:28 | 29 | |
Tom,
I'm delighted to hear that they are bieng restored, they should
make a fantastic sight racing together next year.
If you count dinghies, then the water-wags (still racing in Dublin
since some time in the last century) would be older. They are about
fifteen or sixteen feet long, gaff rigged, clinker built and totally
open. They race inside Dun Laoghaire harbour (I think on Sunday
mornings) and make a superb sight. I remember being told once that
they were the first one-design class in the world.
How old are the Howth 18 footers?
On another note, we have started a DEC sailing club in Dublin during
the summer, we charter for weekends out of Kinsale. There has been
some interest from GAO and lots from KLO, any interest in ILO? If
you wish I can put you on the mailing list. Our final weekend for
this season is planned for the 20-22nd October, anyone interested
please send mail to FIONN::Coffey.
I was at school with an Adrian Foote from Galway, any relation?
Regards,
Aedan.
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| 1355.2 | DUBLIN BAY | ILO::TFOOTE | Wed Sep 27 1989 10:10 | 8 | |
Aedan,
Will pass the word around on the Kinsale charters.
Adrian is my son! Also in DEC and works in the Ballybrit plant.
He is on holidays this week but I will pass on your note tonight.
Regards,
Tom
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| 1355.3 | More information on the Water Wags. | FIONN::COFFEY | Sat Oct 07 1989 11:52 | 10 | |
According to the Whitbread souvenir magazine, the water wags are
the oldest one-design class in the world. They started racing together
in 1887 and are still racing today.
Anyone else know of any old yacht classes?
Aedan.
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| 1355.4 | Skipjacks and Schooners | ISLNDS::BAHLIN | Fri Oct 27 1989 10:14 | 19 | |
In the Chessapeake Bay area (Maryland/Delaware, U.S.A.) there are
Skipjacks. I don't know how far back they date but I believe it
is quite far. I also don't know if they race but it would surprise
me if they didn't (I'm not anywhere near there). These are gaff
rigged and are used to this day as sail powered work boats.
They remain in use due to regulations which prohibit motorized
commercial fishing for their catch which I think is crab (or maybe
oyster).
I feel quite ignorant after trying to write that paragraph because
I'm so unsure of even the spelling :^(. Talk about lost heritage.
Closer to [my] home. There is an annual schooner race out of
Gloucester Massachusetts. This is not exactly one design because
there are many variants in design but for the most part they are
gaff schooners, all beautiful.
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| 1355.5 | beautiful swimmers | DUGGAN::PARKER | Fri Oct 27 1989 10:26 | 8 | |
The skipjacks go after oysters and there is an annual race. They are
also the oldest working fleet in the US. A book you might be interested
in is "Beautiful Swimmers" which gives a very good description of all
the market activities having to do with oystering and crabbing on the
bay. It was a Pulitizer (?) prize winner.
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| 1355.6 | No power when dredging | RIPPLE::KOWALSKI_MA | Fri Oct 27 1989 11:47 | 3 | |
I think the reg in Maryland is that dredging for oysters (drudging fer
arsters) can't be done under power. /Mark
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| 1355.7 | power in the word | VLNVAX::FRENIERE | Fri Oct 27 1989 15:17 | 3 | |
Mark! you must be from Baltamer.
Don
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