This is very interesting and enjoyable to watch at length, and over and over -- a boat that Webb Chiles took 3/4 of the way around the world, no music, no talking, just interesting sailing, and the quick text comments explaining what's happening. Please make more of these every chance you get.
Thanks David. Yes, Webb Chiles was quite an inspiration! I usually take the GoPro with me when I sail, but like to try and have a theme for any videos posted.
Some poor guy was drowned in a Lugger on the Moray coast I think we all have to be careful in how we assume we can handle incidents at sea. I was a very very competent sea kayaker and unfortunately through my over confidence in my sea handling and Eskimo rolling techniques I almost came to grief on a couple of occasions. The sea at times shows who is master and it certainly is not or was not little me, but I did learn
@@john-wq8kf Hi John, Yes, I am aware of that incident, and others involving open boats. The sea must always be treated with respect, especially in an “open” boat. Sailing is a continuous risk assessment - wind, waves, tide, location (wind/wave impact, safe haven), forecast(s), boat type/condition, crew experience to name a few (well most of!), all to be assessed. I sometimes say that the art of good seamanship is not having to display good seamanship! The Drascombe Lugger is a joy to sail, to take the grand-kids out in, do a spot of fishing, row/motor when the wind dies and I also cruise sheltered areas of the West Coast of Scotland camping aboard.
Dear Sir, thank you for this instructive viseo. No tedious comments as well as no boring music, juste straight to the target. Congratulations and greetings from Switzerland, Walter
@@alanbrookes6637 Hi Alan, It's all about planning! Two - three hours in those conditions is fine, not tiring. Not sure how you'd want to be "equipped" for that weather / outing - I think it's fine, or I wouldn't be out there. Wearing glasses is a negative yes - but if you need them to see and can't wear contacts I'm not sure what you would do? Stay ashore? After 40 years of spectacled sailing, on Lasers, Blazes, Musto Skiffs and now the Drascombe Lugger, I've learned to live with it, and don't notice. Plenty folks wear their sunglasses when out enjoying the water as well. And yes I do get "in" before it's dark, but on my cruising trips I'll be at anchor, on a buoy or in harbour when it's dark - and yes I have an anchor light!
Subscribed. Excellent Demo of this fine boat in a fresh breeze. Web Chiles is a Bold Adventurer. He wore two life jackets. One for Him. One for His Giant Balls.
This is the first time I’ve seen your channel. I love the format of this video. (I would love to see a split screen window with a shot of the mizzen). What I enjoyed the most was predicting correctly when you were starting to sail efficiently. I always thought the reason I could tell that was because of the feel of the acceleration and balance of the boat. The fact that I could tell that from a two dimensional video was a revelation. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Scott, Thanks for your comments. I’ve just got the one GoPro and did try to position it to see all sails at the same time but that didn’t work out. A view of the mizzen would be good as it does affect the balance and the slow speed manoeuvers. I’m glad you enjoyed sailing along with me!
Thanks for the sail! Sailed the west coast from aged 18 to 80. Built a 38ft ketch in my youth. Loved the rig. Too old and ill to sail now, but I enjoyed your company, and no music! I've always admired the Drascombe fleet. Great design. Thanks.
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed coming along for the sail! Yes this getting old is not for the faint hearted. Sounds as though you've enjoyed your sailing - especially in a boat you've built. TH-cam is a great way to do some armchair sailing - my favourite at the moment is the restoration of "Tally Ho" www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo Might be of interest to you re your own build. Keep well.
What a great video to watch! Except some experience with sailing as a kid some +50 years ago I had no opportunity to sail. I am considering to build my own dinghy and there is plenty material regarding this on YT but this video gave me a lot of reality on tacking, handling sails and obviously there is a lot to learn. Thank you.
Wow, that was fine boat handling. I owned a 26' Pearson Ariel for a few years and I loved sailing her on windy and rough days. My wife hated so you can imagine the Ariel's fate after a few years.
@@steveporteous3157 Man, I'd love one but I've got a boat load of health problems that have worn me down to about 25% of the man I once was. I loved sailing by myself, especially in the chop where you can actually learn boat handling! Stay safe.
@@58landman Sorry to hear about that. There's some great TH-cam videos that "transport" you offshore - I waste many an hour! One of my favourites is the re-build of Tally Ho. www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo I'd recommend starting at the beginning. Keep well!
Hi Greg, The lugger is great for day sails, fishing, pottering about and taking the grand kids out, but the coaster is much superior for longer cruises!
Hello Steve! Thank You so much for this very well made video! There are so many useful hints and things, helpful for any Drascombe sailor, no matter whether novice or seasoned salt dog... Plenty, plenty details to look at and learn or compare, eg with "my way" handling similar situations on the water! Good job, man! Have to go thrugh the whole stack of your videos - and I´ll try to find some material of ... well my boat and "my way". A.s.a.p. Greetings from Germany Stephan aka Okko from Devon Longboat `Petoya Blue` / Arnis, Western Baltic
Thanks for your kind comments! As you say, there are many ways to handle situations on a boat / Drascombe - it's just finding out the ones that are right for you and your boat. I look forward to seeing videos of "Petoya Blue" on the water!
@@steveporteous3157 Hi Steve, I´ll go to work and send something, I just try to put all my small archives together in one collection, different pc´s, laptops and smartphones. But it will mostly be pictures, snapshots - have not yet worked with a permanently installeed video cam. And mostly under way single handed. Regards Stephan
My father had a Drascombe longboat. The mizzen was quite small. On the whole, I don't think it added much power but it did help to push the stern around when tacking in light breezes.
I'm mightily impressed with the sailing capabilities of the lugger. The mizzen really gives more options for sail changes and adds to the safety factor in such weather.
Thanks Derrick. I've become a bit of a fan of the mizzen! One of my best "upgrades" was changing the unreliable jam cleat to a dependable cam cleat for the mizzen sheet.
Just curious. What sort of experimentation have you done with using just the mizzen alone while having to? Which do you prefer, using the jib in conjunction with the mizzen or use of mizzen only?
Really nice to see a full sail management vid on essentially identical rig as my own. (Caledonia Yawl with a Gunter main) Hulls are quite different and I've got the boom on the main, but looks just like my time on the water. I am also sailing on a mid sized river and traffic and water depth is alway on my mind. Good narration and editing to make a long video packed full of useful bits. I also like the Jib and Jigger config. I can manage other activities while soloing (like a little lunch) and still make way up wind in a very brisk wind. Cheers!
Thanks for your comments. I took a look at the Caledonia Yawl and it looks like a nice boat. I like double enders! The mizzen is great for balanced sailing and makes having lunch under way a lot easier!
Hey, Steve! Thanks for the informative (as always) video. There was a question in the comments about using one mizzen. I can say, as the owner of a yawl, that you can move under one mizzen in light winds downwind and on the backstay, and in fresher winds up to the gulfwind, and you need to pick up speed downwind. Sorry, I don’t know exactly the English terms - Dutch ones are accepted in Russia.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes the mizzen is a great sail. I’m not too sure how much drive (in combination with full main and jib) it gives but it certainly is a good balancing sail.
There's a video on YT of two 50'-60'yachts, one under main & jib and way behind is a spec in the distance, a ketch under jib & mizzen only. It's flying, overtakes the yacht & sails away ahead into the distance.
@@steveporteous3157 Can't find it again. It was a story about ketches & yawls as live aboard / big touring boats. Mizzen & jib combos seem very popular with them.
Mr. Porteous, I thank you very much for the pedagogical and descriptive orientation of the contents of your videos and especially of this last one. I have seen that he has made many tests on the rigging and sails of his ship, definitively adopting some, and discarding others. The one I want to ask you about is the mizzen. Putting a boom on the mizzen is a change you are happy with. However, in the reasons for the change from the bomkin to the boom, I see that it is done for the convenience of not having an annoying and dangerous appendage coming out of the stern. What I want to ask you is if that change improved the performance of the sail. If the candle is now more useful and has a more complete use. (Or was it just the comfort) Thank you. Best regards Pablo. Asturias (Spain)
Hi Pablo, I’m glad you enjoy the videos and thank you for commenting again. You will have seen below in your previous comment the reasoning for installing the mizzen boom. Has the mizzen boom enhanced the performance of the sail? I would say yes, especially off the wind where the boom holds out the sail. There is also the ability vary the tension along the foot of the mizzen sail while at the same time changing the boom angle with the mizzen sheet. However, I think the performance advantage will be quite small. The biggest advantages are as mentioned in the earlier comment. One small disadvantage is that it is slightly more difficult to fold / roll away the sail after sailing, when at anchor or just sailing without the mizzen. Best regards, Steve
No worries. Good to see you having a crack at the different setups and also good to watch someone who knows what theyre doing. Interested in your mainsheet setup as I have just changed mine over to something similar from the original . Currenly playing around with the angle of the clam cleat on the block so that I'm not inadvertantly locking off the mainsheet while sheeting in and yet also being able to cleat off when necessary. Thinkin about putting a rachet in the setup somewhere so if its too windy to cleat off I'm not fighting the sail. J @@steveporteous3157
@@jimjenner4243 My mainsheet is very simple - see 10:25 in. A simple rope horse. I don't really understand the standard galvanised bar horse. To me it's a trip hazard and takes up space on the aft deck - it's a storage area for me when away camping and with the rope horse I can just set anything down on it, or it's easily removed. The lower mainsheet block shackle just slides on the rope horse. The mainsheet is led to a large cleat on the aft end of the centre-plate housing. If winds are light / stable then I just cleat it off. If it's windy (as in the video) I take a half turn around the cleat to take the pressure off. It'll still release if let go, but to pull it in requires pulling in before the cleat and then pulling the slack after the cleat. I have thought about a cam cleat on the lower block but a couple of things put me off 1) the cost! and 2) I'm not sure how easy it will be to release with the rope horse (too flexible?). It does seem attractive though as it will be easier to tack - I have to take the mainsheet off the cleat every time and it tends to get tangled up on a tack. The jib sheet is cleated in a cam cleat on the leeward side-deck. If it's really windy I'll throw the sheet over the windward gunnel where it's easy to grab and release. The mizzen is cleated in a cam cleat beside the tiller head. It's very easy to adjust - I got rid of an unreliable jam cleat.
My goodness you had a work-out with all those sail changes! Fantastic video and great sailing, the Cap overboard retrieve was especially slick and impressive. I didn't really follow what was happening with the jib most of the time (never mind the mizzen), it didn't look like you could even see it behind the main but maybe that was just the camera position (I'm a novice). Having roller reefing on the jib and even rolling up the main looks like a game changer, makes life much easier! Subscribed.
Thanks for watching. Yes, I must either invest in a second camera or find a better location for the one I have - it's just too easy to stick the camera on the mizzen mast! The jib roller reefing is not standard on the Drascombe Lugger but I find it very useful. A couple of rolls takes the viciousness out of the squalls but still gives some power in the lulls - and it's soo easy to reduce or make sail area with it.
@@steveporteous3157,One of my friends mounts a camera on his small boat as follows: a rather long PVC pipe, bent in the shape of the letter S, is inserted into the socket on the transom, and the camera is placed on it. Thus, the view is obtained from behind and from the side. Although the jib will still not be visible, the overall picture will be more advantageous.
Thank you very much for posting this video about sailing at Lugger Drascombe. It is a very elaborate and complete thematic video that has taken me a long time to watch and that is a delight. It has helped me to confirm that in navigation I do many maneuvers like you with small differences. She is a fast, noble, stable sailboat, grateful for the trimming of the sails that, thanks to her special configuration, has great variety. I have managed to launch and rig her a fortnight ago, due to the major repairs that she needed and in which I have followed the principle of always maintaining the original characteristics of the sailboat. The mizzen sail is the most difficult to use for me, due to its novelty. But with the trial-error method, I am learning how to handle it. Although it is difficult to establish fixed rules. I would like to know how is the orientation system through the VHF that you practice. Why do you always have the mainsail sheet in your hand? Why do you prefer the combination jib and reefing mainsail in strong winds, instead of the combination jib and mizzen sail?
Hi Pablo, Thanks for your comments. I have a Standard Horizon HX870 VHF that has GPS built in. After inputing "Way Points" it will give the course and distance to steer - although I just use the distance away from the waypoint. It also gives the speed and course "over the ground", so includes any tidal effects. I keep it on Channel 16 (distress and calling frequency) and it gives regular (every 4 hours) weather updates (on a different channel but announced on Channel 16). If it's windy then I always hold the mainsheet in my hand and have the jib sheet very close. This is so that I can release them both very quickly should a gust of wind come along and threaten to over power or capsize the boat. If it's not so windy and the winds are stable then I might cleat it off. Re the main and jib, I just feel it is more controllable and gives the boat more drive through the waves. I have a reefing jib so can sail with some rolls in the jib that makes it more controllable. If it is very windy then I would take down the mainsail, but probably by then the jib and mizzen would also be rolled away and I would be proceeding under motor alone. But, I'm never usually out in that kind of weather. I plan every trip and make risk assessments (or risk assess as I go along) to ensure there is no chance of being in a position where the weather and waves would take control! I think your trial and error approach is very good. Too often people just go out and sail. It is good to try different things, and rough weather techniques, when you don't need them to see how your boat handles. Enjoy your boat!
Mr. Porteous thank you very much for your comments that help me a lot. Here in the small towns on the coast of Spain, VHF is rarely used for communication between small boats, and mobile phones are used. For navigation I use the Navionics app. I do not know the reefing system of your jib because it is hardly visible in the videos. Nor is the mizzen sail much observed. I have read a system that you describe to reef the mizzen sail with some folds that I have not understood either.@@steveporteous3157
Olin Stephens ,of Sparkman & Stevens fame, thought that jib and mizzen was a bad idea, because neither mast is built for that stress combination. He held that a reefed main alone was the better way to go . I’ll qualify this with as I remember him saying.
I remember that too, especially for masts set up with a bend, fractional rigs etc. The main (full or reefed) provides support along the length of the mast. I think the small loads and short mast of the Drascombe should be OK though. Someone else also said to keep the main and mizzen mast independently stayed, so that one mast doesn't pull the other mast down if one were to go. So the Drascombe meets that requirement! Thanks for commenting.
Steve this video was really excellent and very helpful, hats off ! You demonstrated so many sail configurations how to set them up and the Lugger performance in heavy weather conditions. You must have slept well after all your efforts! From the video you say were impressed with the jib and mizzen performance, would you recommend this as a go to set up in heavy condition ? Also what would you estimate the wind speed range was during your sail?
Hi John, Thanks for that. I still prefer the option of the double reefed main and then a couple of rolls on the jib (I’ve got a foil on the jib). I’ve never been out (nor caught out) in anything that required only the jib and mizzen. I quite like the feeling of safety I get knowing the mast also has that reefed main holding it back! Just remembered - on one occasion with threatening squalls coming down off the mountains I felt it necessary to take all sail off and just motor - that was really the fear of a squall of unknown strength. Another video! th-cam.com/video/mzfBj5rxmcY/w-d-xo.html This was the day that convinced me to go from the standard lugger furling jib to a foil system and reefable jib. Sailing offshore the wind is generally steadier (if away from cliffs. headlands etc.) or the squalls can be seen coming. Re the wind speed, I find it always difficult to estimate! Mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate. I do have an anemometer but when it gets windy it seems to stay in the bag!
I just bumped into your videos on utube and I like them very much. I am a open longboat owner and sail in the netherlands. I am very curious about the wooden cap on top of your centreplate casing. Nice to have that opening shut when in open sea on your own. How does your centreplate come up? Do you remove the cap and how is this installed? I found a solution to prevent to much water coming in through the opening in the centrecase while sailing, but in case the boat gets swamped it'll probably be to "open" to bail out the water fast enough and continue sailing. Could you shine some light on how you have constructed this cap? Greatings from the netherlands.
Hi there, I'm glad you've found the videos interesting. Here's a quick video of the centre-plate system th-cam.com/video/e5-xIwPQgvM/w-d-xo.html My CP casing had a completely open top and let in lots of water. I fabricated a capping piece - just a board with a flange each side to stop it slipping of sideways, neoprene to act as a seal, two dowels into the cleat block on the aft end to hold it down and rope at the forward end to hold it down there. There's a hole for when the CP is fully down, although I usually sail with the CP just half down. I also made a plug for the front end of the housing where most of the water came in, and a small piece for when the CP is fully down. The normal pulley system for raising the CP was always getting caught in the slot and made storage of items (buckets etc.) in front of the CP housing difficult. I changed this for a single line attached to the CP and moved the tackle to alongside the CP housing. Much better in my opinion! I think if the boat is swamped it would be very difficult if not impossible to bail it out. Maybe in calm water and by stuffing something into the slot it might be possible. However, in capsizing weather, waves etc, I think it would be very difficult. Not only is there the CP slot but also the rudder slot and the outboard well that would flood the boat.
I must admit after being quite an accomplished sea canoeist I got into dinghy sailing and yes I took some risks, I’m afraid I didn’t think my drascombe was a good sea boat when conditions worsened I don’t know how I would cope with a capsize. The likes of a wayfarer you could right, I don’t think I could do that with my drascombe anyway I now have a little French Tri exciting stuff but keep an eye on the weather for sure.
Hi John, Thanks for watching. I treat my Drascombe as an open boat, knowing that if I were to capsize I would be in serious trouble, but that does not stop me from sailing. Sailing is a continuous risk assessment - wind, waves, tide, location (wind/wave impact, safe haven), forecast(s), boat type/condition, crew experience to name a few (well most of!), all to be assessed. If the risk is too high, including that of capsize, then my plans are modified accordingly. Safe sailing, and kayaking!
Thanks for reply yes on some of my little trips I wonder what my fisherman grandad from Fisherrow would have said about my sometimes hairy little sails on my little Astus 16.1 if he had still been around.
Hi Robert, I’ve got a loop of bungee cord tied to my mainsheet cleat that is in the centre of the boat at the aft end of the centre-plate casing. I just loop this over the tiller and it holds it reasonably central. I like the bungee cord in this position because if necessary I can still steer the boat without taking it off, and it isn’t a trip hazard. There’s a TH-cam video that shows it in use, about 4min 40 seconds in: th-cam.com/video/UxoW7ICZ2kg/w-d-xo.html or a shorter one th-cam.com/video/2Q8zz_1lj5Y/w-d-xo.html
Steve, great video, I lapped it up!!! I really need to trust my Lugger more and get out in a bit more wind. Quick question... You hold the yard up a bit higher at one point to give more clearance on the foot. Could this be done with unreefed mainsail or could it over power the sail or not have enough yard up there. I would love to get my boom a bit higher!!!
Hi Dave, You should be OK. You now see the benefits of using just a knot and no wedges on the gaff! My halyard sheave is not at the top of the mast so my halyard tie off point on the gaff is actually quite low. It gets better when the sail is reefed. The greater the distance between the gaff jaws and the halyard tie-off point on the gaff the better as this reduces the bending moment on the gaff. The lower down the gaff the halyard is tied off the greater the bending moment. Try it and see if the gaff bends appreciably more. My thoughts are that at full sail wind speeds you’ll be OK. More wind and potential bending, you’ll be reefed so OK again. A smallish difference for loose footed mains is that by raising the whole sail, the sheeting angle will be less optimum, tensioning the leach and not so much the foot. However, if you are using a boom it won’t make any difference. I tried a boom but gave up as the benefits didn’t seem to outweigh the additional hassle. Re seeking to sail in higher winds, just the note of caution after the reports of a Dabber (I think) in trouble on the south east coast of Scotland a few days ago. www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-66658133 Good luck!
Do you think that we have much higher power expectations today from sail than in traditional designs. I gather that lugs were liked because they lift the boat forard in heavy weather. In a traditional boat with single or dual crew in a working situation this would be important as well as the reduced need to reef. In addition balanced lugs required extra work on tacking though I have only sailed gaffs and gunners.
Hi Glyn, The Drascombe Lugger I’d say is a traditional boat. It has a low power gunter lose footed main, jib and a small mizzen. Not sure why it’s called a lugger. The boat is not fast but very enjoyable to sail. The mizzen allows many different sail configurations to suit the weather conditions, crew/ passengers aboard, objective of trip (sailing, fishing, sightseeing etc.). Re traditional working boats my knowledge is limited to those on the north east coast of Scotland and Orkney - Fifes, Zulus and Orkney Yoles. Generally they used lug sails with unstayed masts, or used the halyards as stays. The lug sails gave a large sail area with low masts. They had many sets of reef points to optimise sail area for a fast sail home from the fishing grounds. They were generally relatively small boats able to get into the tidal harbours of NE Scotland. Whilst being powerful rigs they had low loads, unlike the highly stressed rigs of today. They were not very efficient to windward.
Seems this boat was making absolutely no headway as each time its was heave to it was blow straight back to where it was. Seemed under powered under most sail configurations. The tacks were too often so the boat just wondered around the same stretch of sea. I would say this was a very instructive video how not to sail a boat!
Hi Mike, Thanks for watching. Judging by your comments, you appear to have misunderstood the reason for my afternoon sail, ref. the title of the video.
@@steveporteous3157 No I did not. Sails like so many other bits of technology we use have been developed and refined for best performance over many decades. Why then if there exists many finely evolved sails that are easy to use and preform well do you then experiment with a sail contraption that is not only cumbersome to use but performs really terribly! Why not use the best there is and not experiment with retrogressive modes of sail?
Not everyone has the funds to own / sail the likes of Ineos Britannia. Until I do, I’m very happy to sail my boat and post the occasional video for those that wish to see a more traditional sailing boat in open water.
thanks for that Steve, one of the best how to sail lugger video i have seen and has helped alot, so when you pull the gaff back up u dont use parrel beads to keep it tight to the main mast, also what system did u use to furl the mizzen, ive heard of one way where u dont have to wrap it arond the mizzzen mast ?
Hi Mutley, Thanks! No parrel beads, just the main halyard tied onto the gaff at the right height. I have the gaff marked for full sail, 1st reef and 2nd reef (2nd reef position was wrong as I had scarfed a length to extend my gaff when I got new sails, hence the need to change the 2nd reef position during the video!). Need to make sure the halyard is bar tight with the knot hard into the masthead sheave so when you pull tension on the tack downhaul it doesn’t move. Moving the halyard means you get excellent sail shape when reefed with the gaff hard up against the mast. For the standard boomless mizzen, let go the mizzen sheet (but still tied to the sail), grab the foot half way along, fold / half the sail vertically and then roll the sail around the vertical fold until a nice vertical cylinder. Tie this to the mizzen mast (I have a sail tie permanently attached to the mizzen mast just for this), leaving the mizzen sheet attached. Job done. To use again, just release the sail tie and pull in the mizzen sheet. I now have a mizzen boom, so slightly modified for me; l just fold up the boom onto the mast, roll up the sail and tie the mizzen boom and sail together to the mast.
@@steveporteous3157 thanks for the reply. So the main halyard you do the same as Roger Barnes does. Would seem to be better than hoisting so far then fitting the beads then hoist again
@@Spud63 Not sure what Roger does - I'll have to look!. Here's the knot I use th-cam.com/users/shortsV4fhvY7lxLc I think it holds the gaff better, close to the mast at all positions. You just need to be aware that the gaff does fall away from the mast when the halyard is released. Important thing is the halyard must be bar tight. If it is not bar tight then tensioning the tack downhaul will stretch the halyard and the gaff will fall a few inches away from the mast - especially true if you have a purchase on the tack down-haul. I've never actually sailed on a boat with the parrel beads but I imagine the gaff if not as tight to the mast, especially when reefed.
Is it me or are you sailing to close ease off just a few degrees. that main sail seems to be set really well though. I may be wrong I am not sailing the boat I sail by feel.
Hi Andy, You could be right! It's a long video though (so not sure which part you are referring to), and I wasn't really trying to make good passage progress to windward so I certainly wasn't knowingly trying to pinch. Sometimes if it's windy I might sail a bit closer to the wind to make it easier to feather the sails by luffing up slightly - saves having to let out and pull back in the main.
So sorry great video it was just a gut feeling whilst you were sailing looking at the sail. Sailing is all down to feel so I admit I may be wrong. @@steveporteous3157
Hi Ross, I always find it difficult to estimate wind speed! It did vary through the sail but at the windy bits I'd say mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate. I do have an anemometer but when it gets windy it seems to stay in the bag!
I know these Drascombes (Luggers, Longboats, Dabbers, Coasters) and similar designs have been popular, durable and continue to provide people with reliable access to the water. However they have some serious shortcomings, particularly around their ability to recover from being swamped or capsize. I believe there are cases where the boats have been swamped and although afloat, cannot be controlled or moved, resulting in the boat drifting into rocks, sandbanks and the loss of life. I think these boats need to have their classification downgraded to being suitable for protected waters only and preferably within a short distance of support. Sure there will be people willing to take the risk to sail them in exposed waters. The clear advice should be to remain in protected waters.
Thanks BM for your note of caution. It is good that people realise / understand the limitations of different types / designs of boat, especially an open boat. Being safe at sea relies on many things, and not just the classification of a particular boat. It is certainly not my intention to indicate that a Drascombe is a boat that can handle any sea / weather condition. I am however willing to “take the risk” and sail outwith protected waters. My advice to others is to properly plan any trip, carry out their own risk assessment and then sail or not sail accordingly.
Just so that everyone is aware of the "serious shortcomings" that @Tomm9y was inferring, here is a report of a boat that got into difficulties just a few days ago www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-66658133 I don't know any further details, and don't want to make any assumptions, but anyone who sails an open boat should be aware of the risks.
Fantastic stuff....Used to mess about in a GP14 like that when I was 'much' younger....couldn't get enough of it, out late Nov single handed in a blow...Anyway, terrirific video.
I always find it difficult to estimate wind speed! It did vary through the sail but at the windy bits I'd say mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate.
The boat has a 5HP outboard for when there is no wind and for manoeuvring in close quarters. But, it’s noisy, vibrates and uses petrol so much better to sail when you can. Sailing also gives a much more comfortable and dryer trip!
This is very interesting and enjoyable to watch at length, and over and over -- a boat that Webb Chiles took 3/4 of the way around the world, no music, no talking, just interesting sailing, and the quick text comments explaining what's happening. Please make more of these every chance you get.
Thanks David. Yes, Webb Chiles was quite an inspiration!
I usually take the GoPro with me when I sail, but like to try and have a theme for any videos posted.
Some poor guy was drowned in a Lugger on the Moray coast I think we all have to be careful in how we assume we can handle incidents at sea. I was a very very competent sea kayaker and unfortunately through my over confidence in my sea handling and Eskimo rolling techniques I almost came to grief on a couple of occasions. The sea at times shows who is master and it certainly is not or was not little me, but I did learn
@@john-wq8kf Hi John,
Yes, I am aware of that incident, and others involving open boats. The sea must always be treated with respect, especially in an “open” boat. Sailing is a continuous risk assessment - wind, waves, tide, location (wind/wave impact, safe haven), forecast(s), boat type/condition, crew experience to name a few (well most of!), all to be assessed. I sometimes say that the art of good seamanship is not having to display good seamanship!
The Drascombe Lugger is a joy to sail, to take the grand-kids out in, do a spot of fishing, row/motor when the wind dies and I also cruise sheltered areas of the West Coast of Scotland camping aboard.
Super video - excellent tuition in how to handle a lugger, and very impressive MOB under sail demo! Thank you very much Steve.
Thanks Ian - glad you enjoyed it!
I love the way LE hoves to. So simple to do it, and then lies so quietly.
Yes that mizzen makes heaving to very straight forward!
Dear Sir, thank you for this instructive viseo. No tedious comments as well as no boring music, juste straight to the target. Congratulations and greetings from Switzerland, Walter
Thanks Walter - glad you enjoyed it!
This must be one of the most informative dinghy videos I've seen - thanks for posting. Regards from New Zealand.
Thanks for your kind comment Hugh. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent demonstration of the capabilities of the Lugger and her skipper!
Especially liked the hat retrieval.
Thanks Greg. Yes the cap retrieval / MOB drill was not in the initial plan!
Tiring in a short time, not equipped for weather of any duration. Wearing glasses is a negative in such conditions, get back in before dark please.
@@alanbrookes6637 Hi Alan, It's all about planning! Two - three hours in those conditions is fine, not tiring. Not sure how you'd want to be "equipped" for that weather / outing - I think it's fine, or I wouldn't be out there. Wearing glasses is a negative yes - but if you need them to see and can't wear contacts I'm not sure what you would do? Stay ashore? After 40 years of spectacled sailing, on Lasers, Blazes, Musto Skiffs and now the Drascombe Lugger, I've learned to live with it, and don't notice. Plenty folks wear their sunglasses when out enjoying the water as well. And yes I do get "in" before it's dark, but on my cruising trips I'll be at anchor, on a buoy or in harbour when it's dark - and yes I have an anchor light!
Thanks for taking us out sailing!
Hope you enjoyed your sail!
Subscribed. Excellent Demo of this fine boat in a fresh breeze. Web Chiles is a Bold Adventurer. He wore two life jackets. One for Him. One for His Giant Balls.
Thanks!👍😂
What a great video. Very impressed with how your lugger sailed, much much better than I thought and handled sea with ease
Thanks for watching Steven! The three sails makes it fun to try out different combinations.
Very enjoyable to watch and so informative. Thanks for posting.
Hi Mike, Glad you enjoyed it!
Love just hearing the wind and sea and the boat. Great lesson in sailing. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Very nicely done! I felt like I was aboard for the ride.
Thanks - I hope you enjoyed the ride!
This is the first time I’ve seen your channel. I love the format of this video. (I would love to see a split screen window with a shot of the mizzen). What I enjoyed the most was predicting correctly when you were starting to sail efficiently. I always thought the reason I could tell that was because of the feel of the acceleration and balance of the boat. The fact that I could tell that from a two dimensional video was a revelation. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your comments. I’ve just got the one GoPro and did try to position it to see all sails at the same time but that didn’t work out. A view of the mizzen would be good as it does affect the balance and the slow speed manoeuvers. I’m glad you enjoyed sailing along with me!
Thanks for the sail! Sailed the west coast from aged 18 to 80. Built a 38ft ketch in my youth. Loved the rig. Too old and ill to sail now, but I enjoyed your company, and no music! I've always admired the Drascombe fleet. Great design. Thanks.
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed coming along for the sail! Yes this getting old is not for the faint hearted. Sounds as though you've enjoyed your sailing - especially in a boat you've built. TH-cam is a great way to do some armchair sailing - my favourite at the moment is the restoration of "Tally Ho" www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo Might be of interest to you re your own build. Keep well.
What a good wee boat, and a pleasure to watch a man who really knows how to sail her!
Thanks Jim!
Thanks Steve. As my old mum often said 'Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!'
😊
Excellent tutorial on sailing in heavy-ish weather. Great job!
Thanks. It's great fun practising so when the weather does really pick up I know what to expect, what works and what doesn't!
What a great video to watch!
Except some experience with sailing as a kid some +50 years ago I had no opportunity to sail. I am considering to build my own dinghy and there is plenty material regarding this on YT but this video gave me a lot of reality on tacking, handling sails and obviously there is a lot to learn. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Pavol!
Good luck with your dinghy build - hope to see that on TH-cam!
Brilliant save on the MOB drill! without a boathook! Lovely looking boat too. Chapeau, sir!
Thanks Richard!
Very nice bit of sailing,Well done sir.
Thanks!
Very impressing. I am looking forward to buy a Lugger and this video helps a lot forward to buy one :-) THX!!!
Enjoy your lugger when you get it!
A proper sailing video! Thsnk you, that was informative, enjoyable and very instructive!
Greetings from Wales!
Thanks for your kind comments! Glad you enjoyed it.
Wow, that was fine boat handling. I owned a 26' Pearson Ariel for a few years and I loved sailing her on windy and rough days. My wife hated so you can imagine the Ariel's fate after a few years.
Thanks! I've had the boat for 4 years now - my wife's been out once - sail by myself 99% of the time. Time for you to get a Drascombe?
@@steveporteous3157 Man, I'd love one but I've got a boat load of health problems that have worn me down to about 25% of the man I once was. I loved sailing by myself, especially in the chop where you can actually learn boat handling! Stay safe.
@@58landman Sorry to hear about that. There's some great TH-cam videos that "transport" you offshore - I waste many an hour! One of my favourites is the re-build of Tally Ho. www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo I'd recommend starting at the beginning.
Keep well!
Great demonstration and a good calm bit of sailing most enjoyable and informative to see.
Glad you enjoyed it Hedley!
She heaves to so well - well done Steve, great vid
Thanks Kevin. Mizzen to help with balance makes it easier!
My Coaster did well under jib and mizzen, a comfortable sail plan in busy conditions.
Hi Greg,
The lugger is great for day sails, fishing, pottering about and taking the grand kids out, but the coaster is much superior for longer cruises!
Hello Steve! Thank You so much for this very well made video! There are so many useful hints and things, helpful for any Drascombe sailor, no matter whether novice or seasoned salt dog... Plenty, plenty details to look at and learn or compare, eg with "my way" handling similar situations on the water! Good job, man! Have to go thrugh the whole stack of your videos - and I´ll try to find some material of ... well my boat and "my way". A.s.a.p.
Greetings from Germany
Stephan aka Okko from Devon Longboat `Petoya Blue` / Arnis, Western Baltic
Thanks for your kind comments! As you say, there are many ways to handle situations on a boat / Drascombe - it's just finding out the ones that are right for you and your boat.
I look forward to seeing videos of "Petoya Blue" on the water!
@@steveporteous3157 Hi Steve, I´ll go to work and send something, I just try to put all my small archives together in one collection, different pc´s, laptops and smartphones. But it will mostly be pictures, snapshots - have not yet worked with a permanently installeed video cam. And mostly under way single handed.
Regards
Stephan
I just love the Lugger and was lucky to sail one once in very strong winds and big waves on the Menai Straights! Very informative video !
😎
Hi Bruce,
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve never sailed in the Menai Strait but believe it can be very tricky.
@@steveporteous3157 It is a while ago, but I remember that caution is required between the 2 bridges.
Outstanding video. And most excellent solo hat recovery too!
Thanks John. That one came as a surprise to me!
My father had a Drascombe longboat. The mizzen was quite small. On the whole, I don't think it added much power but it did help to push the stern around when tacking in light breezes.
I think you're right. Really useful for balancing the sail plan, tacking, heaving to, and for attaching the "GoPro" camera to!
I'm mightily impressed with the sailing capabilities of the lugger. The mizzen really gives more options for sail changes and adds to the safety factor in such weather.
Thanks Derrick. I've become a bit of a fan of the mizzen! One of my best "upgrades" was changing the unreliable jam cleat to a dependable cam cleat for the mizzen sheet.
Me too@@steveporteous3157
What a seaworthy boat and capable captain!
@@Guitarque Thank you for your complements!
Just curious. What sort of experimentation have you done with using just the mizzen alone while having to? Which do you prefer, using the jib in conjunction with the mizzen or use of mizzen only?
Good work on the M(H)OB retrieval!
Thanks - it had to be right first time as I know from experience that it sinks before a second attempt!
Steve, Excellent and really helpful too. Thanks.
Thanks. Glad you found it useful / informative.
Great little boat, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Don.
Really nice to see a full sail management vid on essentially identical rig as my own. (Caledonia Yawl with a Gunter main) Hulls are quite different and I've got the boom on the main, but looks just like my time on the water. I am also sailing on a mid sized river and traffic and water depth is alway on my mind. Good narration and editing to make a long video packed full of useful bits. I also like the Jib and Jigger config. I can manage other activities while soloing (like a little lunch) and still make way up wind in a very brisk wind. Cheers!
Thanks for your comments. I took a look at the Caledonia Yawl and it looks like a nice boat. I like double enders! The mizzen is great for balanced sailing and makes having lunch under way a lot easier!
Great video, you're a great sailor.
Thanks John - just plenty of time in the boat! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Hey, Steve! Thanks for the informative (as always) video. There was a question in the comments about using one mizzen. I can say, as the owner of a yawl, that you can move under one mizzen in light winds downwind and on the backstay, and in fresher winds up to the gulfwind, and you need to pick up speed downwind. Sorry, I don’t know exactly the English terms - Dutch ones are accepted in Russia.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes the mizzen is a great sail. I’m not too sure how much drive (in combination with full main and jib) it gives but it certainly is a good balancing sail.
Great boat handling, especially the MOB drill.
Thanks David - I knew I had one chance only before the cap sank!
Great bit of sailing and skill there young man...:)
Thanks Fred!
C O B drill v good
There's a video on YT of two 50'-60'yachts, one under main & jib and way behind is a spec in the distance, a ketch under jib & mizzen only. It's flying, overtakes the yacht & sails away ahead into the distance.
Do you happen to have the link for that?
@@steveporteous3157 Can't find it again. It was a story about ketches & yawls as live aboard / big touring boats. Mizzen & jib combos seem very popular with them.
Mr. Porteous,
I thank you very much for the pedagogical and descriptive orientation of the contents of your videos and especially of this last one.
I have seen that he has made many tests on the rigging and sails of his ship, definitively adopting some, and discarding others.
The one I want to ask you about is the mizzen. Putting a boom on the mizzen is a change you are happy with.
However, in the reasons for the change from the bomkin to the boom, I see that it is done for the convenience of not having an annoying and dangerous appendage coming out of the stern.
What I want to ask you is if that change improved the performance of the sail. If the candle is now more useful and has a more complete use. (Or was it just the comfort)
Thank you. Best regards
Pablo. Asturias (Spain)
Hi Pablo,
I’m glad you enjoy the videos and thank you for commenting again. You will have seen below in your previous comment the reasoning for installing the mizzen boom. Has the mizzen boom enhanced the performance of the sail? I would say yes, especially off the wind where the boom holds out the sail. There is also the ability vary the tension along the foot of the mizzen sail while at the same time changing the boom angle with the mizzen sheet.
However, I think the performance advantage will be quite small. The biggest advantages are as mentioned in the earlier comment.
One small disadvantage is that it is slightly more difficult to fold / roll away the sail after sailing, when at anchor or just sailing without the mizzen.
Best regards,
Steve
Cap MOB…been there done that…only lost the cap! Well done
Thanks Mark.
Although this one was successful, many previous ones were not!
Someone wise once told me the time to put a reef in is right after “should” when you think to yourself, “I wonder if I should put a reef in”.
And I'm sure the same wise man then said, "When you think it's time to shake out a reef, wait for 10 minutes."
Fabulous sailing. Cracking video. J
Thanks Jim
No worries. Good to see you having a crack at the different setups and also good to watch someone who knows what theyre doing. Interested in your mainsheet setup as I have just changed mine over to something similar from the original . Currenly playing around with the angle of the clam cleat on the block so that I'm not inadvertantly locking off the mainsheet while sheeting in and yet also being able to cleat off when necessary. Thinkin about putting a rachet in the setup somewhere so if its too windy to cleat off I'm not fighting the sail. J @@steveporteous3157
@@jimjenner4243 My mainsheet is very simple - see 10:25 in.
A simple rope horse. I don't really understand the standard galvanised bar horse. To me it's a trip hazard and takes up space on the aft deck - it's a storage area for me when away camping and with the rope horse I can just set anything down on it, or it's easily removed. The lower mainsheet block shackle just slides on the rope horse. The mainsheet is led to a large cleat on the aft end of the centre-plate housing. If winds are light / stable then I just cleat it off. If it's windy (as in the video) I take a half turn around the cleat to take the pressure off. It'll still release if let go, but to pull it in requires pulling in before the cleat and then pulling the slack after the cleat. I have thought about a cam cleat on the lower block but a couple of things put me off 1) the cost! and 2) I'm not sure how easy it will be to release with the rope horse (too flexible?). It does seem attractive though as it will be easier to tack - I have to take the mainsheet off the cleat every time and it tends to get tangled up on a tack.
The jib sheet is cleated in a cam cleat on the leeward side-deck. If it's really windy I'll throw the sheet over the windward gunnel where it's easy to grab and release.
The mizzen is cleated in a cam cleat beside the tiller head. It's very easy to adjust - I got rid of an unreliable jam cleat.
Great information Steve..
Thanks Kevin - glad you enjoyed it!
My goodness you had a work-out with all those sail changes! Fantastic video and great sailing, the Cap overboard retrieve was especially slick and impressive. I didn't really follow what was happening with the jib most of the time (never mind the mizzen), it didn't look like you could even see it behind the main but maybe that was just the camera position (I'm a novice). Having roller reefing on the jib and even rolling up the main looks like a game changer, makes life much easier! Subscribed.
Thanks for watching. Yes, I must either invest in a second camera or find a better location for the one I have - it's just too easy to stick the camera on the mizzen mast! The jib roller reefing is not standard on the Drascombe Lugger but I find it very useful. A couple of rolls takes the viciousness out of the squalls but still gives some power in the lulls - and it's soo easy to reduce or make sail area with it.
@@steveporteous3157,One of my friends mounts a camera on his small boat as follows: a rather long PVC pipe, bent in the shape of the letter S, is inserted into the socket on the transom, and the camera is placed on it. Thus, the view is obtained from behind and from the side. Although the jib will still not be visible, the overall picture will be more advantageous.
@@П.Зурита Thanks. Yes I do need to try something different. I did have a go with the boat hook but almost lost everything over the side!
Thank you very much for posting this video about sailing at Lugger Drascombe. It is a very elaborate and complete thematic video that has taken me a long time to watch and that is a delight. It has helped me to confirm that in navigation I do many maneuvers like you with small differences.
She is a fast, noble, stable sailboat, grateful for the trimming of the sails that, thanks to her special configuration, has great variety.
I have managed to launch and rig her a fortnight ago, due to the major repairs that she needed and in which I have followed the principle of always maintaining the original characteristics of the sailboat.
The mizzen sail is the most difficult to use for me, due to its novelty. But with the trial-error method, I am learning how to handle it. Although it is difficult to establish fixed rules.
I would like to know how is the orientation system through the VHF that you practice.
Why do you always have the mainsail sheet in your hand?
Why do you prefer the combination jib and reefing mainsail in strong winds, instead of the combination jib and mizzen sail?
Hi Pablo,
Thanks for your comments.
I have a Standard Horizon HX870 VHF that has GPS built in. After inputing "Way Points" it will give the course and distance to steer - although I just use the distance away from the waypoint. It also gives the speed and course "over the ground", so includes any tidal effects. I keep it on Channel 16 (distress and calling frequency) and it gives regular (every 4 hours) weather updates (on a different channel but announced on Channel 16).
If it's windy then I always hold the mainsheet in my hand and have the jib sheet very close. This is so that I can release them both very quickly should a gust of wind come along and threaten to over power or capsize the boat. If it's not so windy and the winds are stable then I might cleat it off.
Re the main and jib, I just feel it is more controllable and gives the boat more drive through the waves. I have a reefing jib so can sail with some rolls in the jib that makes it more controllable. If it is very windy then I would take down the mainsail, but probably by then the jib and mizzen would also be rolled away and I would be proceeding under motor alone. But, I'm never usually out in that kind of weather. I plan every trip and make risk assessments (or risk assess as I go along) to ensure there is no chance of being in a position where the weather and waves would take control!
I think your trial and error approach is very good. Too often people just go out and sail. It is good to try different things, and rough weather techniques, when you don't need them to see how your boat handles.
Enjoy your boat!
Mr. Porteous thank you very much for your comments that help me a lot.
Here in the small towns on the coast of Spain, VHF is rarely used for communication between small boats, and mobile phones are used. For navigation I use the Navionics app.
I do not know the reefing system of your jib because it is hardly visible in the videos. Nor is the mizzen sail much observed. I have read a system that you describe to reef the mizzen sail with some folds that I have not understood either.@@steveporteous3157
Olin Stephens ,of Sparkman & Stevens fame, thought that jib and mizzen was a bad idea, because neither mast is built for that stress combination. He held that a reefed main alone was the better way to go . I’ll qualify this with as I remember him saying.
I remember that too, especially for masts set up with a bend, fractional rigs etc. The main (full or reefed) provides support along the length of the mast. I think the small loads and short mast of the Drascombe should be OK though.
Someone else also said to keep the main and mizzen mast independently stayed, so that one mast doesn't pull the other mast down if one were to go. So the Drascombe meets that requirement!
Thanks for commenting.
This is great stuff and exactly what I want to be doing in the boat I am building, it don't think it will be as seaworthy as your lugger though! 😕
Good luck with the build!
gotta love the lugger!
Thanks Steve - yes the lugger is a good boat!
Steve this video was really excellent and very helpful, hats off ! You demonstrated so many sail configurations how to set them up and the Lugger performance in heavy weather conditions. You must have slept well after all your efforts! From the video you say were impressed with the jib and mizzen performance, would you recommend this as a go to set up in heavy condition ? Also what would you estimate the wind speed range was during your sail?
Hi John,
Thanks for that. I still prefer the option of the double reefed main and then a couple of rolls on the jib (I’ve got a foil on the jib). I’ve never been out (nor caught out) in anything that required only the jib and mizzen. I quite like the feeling of safety I get knowing the mast also has that reefed main holding it back! Just remembered - on one occasion with threatening squalls coming down off the mountains I felt it necessary to take all sail off and just motor - that was really the fear of a squall of unknown strength. Another video!
th-cam.com/video/mzfBj5rxmcY/w-d-xo.html This was the day that convinced me to go from the standard lugger furling jib to a foil system and reefable jib.
Sailing offshore the wind is generally steadier (if away from cliffs. headlands etc.) or the squalls can be seen coming.
Re the wind speed, I find it always difficult to estimate! Mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate. I do have an anemometer but when it gets windy it seems to stay in the bag!
I just bumped into your videos on utube and I like them very much. I am a open longboat owner and sail in the netherlands. I am very curious about the wooden cap on top of your centreplate casing. Nice to have that opening shut when in open sea on your own. How does your centreplate come up? Do you remove the cap and how is this installed? I found a solution to prevent to much water coming in through the opening in the centrecase while sailing, but in case the boat gets swamped it'll probably be to "open" to bail out the water fast enough and continue sailing. Could you shine some light on how you have constructed this cap? Greatings from the netherlands.
Hi there,
I'm glad you've found the videos interesting.
Here's a quick video of the centre-plate system th-cam.com/video/e5-xIwPQgvM/w-d-xo.html
My CP casing had a completely open top and let in lots of water. I fabricated a capping piece - just a board with a flange each side to stop it slipping of sideways, neoprene to act as a seal, two dowels into the cleat block on the aft end to hold it down and rope at the forward end to hold it down there. There's a hole for when the CP is fully down, although I usually sail with the CP just half down. I also made a plug for the front end of the housing where most of the water came in, and a small piece for when the CP is fully down.
The normal pulley system for raising the CP was always getting caught in the slot and made storage of items (buckets etc.) in front of the CP housing difficult. I changed this for a single line attached to the CP and moved the tackle to alongside the CP housing. Much better in my opinion!
I think if the boat is swamped it would be very difficult if not impossible to bail it out. Maybe in calm water and by stuffing something into the slot it might be possible. However, in capsizing weather, waves etc, I think it would be very difficult. Not only is there the CP slot but also the rudder slot and the outboard well that would flood the boat.
I thank you very much for this detailed discription and video!@@steveporteous3157
I remember ln my first race sailing a laser in swell like this
That would have been fun, and I daresay a bit wetter than on the Drascombe!
I must admit after being quite an accomplished sea canoeist I got into dinghy sailing and yes I took some risks, I’m afraid I didn’t think my drascombe was a good sea boat when conditions worsened I don’t know how I would cope with a capsize. The likes of a wayfarer you could right, I don’t think I could do that with my drascombe anyway I now have a little French Tri exciting stuff but keep an eye on the weather for sure.
Hi John,
Thanks for watching. I treat my Drascombe as an open boat, knowing that if I were to capsize I would be in serious trouble, but that does not stop me from sailing.
Sailing is a continuous risk assessment - wind, waves, tide, location (wind/wave impact, safe haven), forecast(s), boat type/condition, crew experience to name a few (well most of!), all to be assessed.
If the risk is too high, including that of capsize, then my plans are modified accordingly.
Safe sailing, and kayaking!
Thanks for reply yes on some of my little trips I wonder what my fisherman grandad from Fisherrow would have said about my sometimes hairy little sails on my little Astus 16.1 if he had still been around.
i bet you could eat a good bowl of stew after that sail.
Thanks for watching, and yes!
Very happy memories racing dinghys from Stonehaven 25 years ago! Lovely place to sail. ~~~~_/) ~~~~
I’ve only been with the club for 12 years or so so must have missed you! I’m sure there’s still plenty of your sailing buddies around and sailing.
I wonder what do you do with the tiller when moving about the boat and changing sail configuration?
Hi Robert, I’ve got a loop of bungee cord tied to my mainsheet cleat that is in the centre of the boat at the aft end of the centre-plate casing. I just loop this over the tiller and it holds it reasonably central. I like the bungee cord in this position because if necessary I can still steer the boat without taking it off, and it isn’t a trip hazard.
There’s a TH-cam video that shows it in use, about 4min 40 seconds in:
th-cam.com/video/UxoW7ICZ2kg/w-d-xo.html
or a shorter one
th-cam.com/video/2Q8zz_1lj5Y/w-d-xo.html
Steve, great video, I lapped it up!!! I really need to trust my Lugger more and get out in a bit more wind. Quick question...
You hold the yard up a bit higher at one point to give more clearance on the foot. Could this be done with unreefed mainsail or could it over power the sail or not have enough yard up there. I would love to get my boom a bit higher!!!
Hi Dave,
You should be OK. You now see the benefits of using just a knot and no wedges on the gaff! My halyard sheave is not at the top of the mast so my halyard tie off point on the gaff is actually quite low. It gets better when the sail is reefed. The greater the distance between the gaff jaws and the halyard tie-off point on the gaff the better as this reduces the bending moment on the gaff. The lower down the gaff the halyard is tied off the greater the bending moment. Try it and see if the gaff bends appreciably more. My thoughts are that at full sail wind speeds you’ll be OK. More wind and potential bending, you’ll be reefed so OK again.
A smallish difference for loose footed mains is that by raising the whole sail, the sheeting angle will be less optimum, tensioning the leach and not so much the foot. However, if you are using a boom it won’t make any difference. I tried a boom but gave up as the benefits didn’t seem to outweigh the additional hassle.
Re seeking to sail in higher winds, just the note of caution after the reports of a Dabber (I think) in trouble on the south east coast of Scotland a few days ago.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-66658133
Good luck!
Do you think that we have much higher power expectations today from sail than in traditional designs. I gather that lugs were liked because they lift the boat forard in heavy weather. In a traditional boat with single or dual crew in a working situation this would be important as well as the reduced need to reef. In addition balanced lugs required extra work on tacking though I have only sailed gaffs and gunners.
Hi Glyn,
The Drascombe Lugger I’d say is a traditional boat. It has a low power gunter lose footed main, jib and a small mizzen. Not sure why it’s called a lugger. The boat is not fast but very enjoyable to sail. The mizzen allows many different sail configurations to suit the weather conditions, crew/ passengers aboard, objective of trip (sailing, fishing, sightseeing etc.).
Re traditional working boats my knowledge is limited to those on the north east coast of Scotland and Orkney - Fifes, Zulus and Orkney Yoles. Generally they used lug sails with unstayed masts, or used the halyards as stays. The lug sails gave a large sail area with low masts. They had many sets of reef points to optimise sail area for a fast sail home from the fishing grounds. They were generally relatively small boats able to get into the tidal harbours of NE Scotland. Whilst being powerful rigs they had low loads, unlike the highly stressed rigs of today. They were not very efficient to windward.
@@steveporteous3157 Thank you for that!
💪👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Wow 😮 👍
🤓
Seems this boat was making absolutely no headway as each time its was heave to it was blow straight back to where it was. Seemed under powered under most sail configurations. The tacks were too often so the boat just wondered around the same stretch of sea. I would say this was a very instructive video how not to sail a boat!
Hi Mike,
Thanks for watching.
Judging by your comments, you appear to have misunderstood the reason for my afternoon sail, ref. the title of the video.
@@steveporteous3157 No I did not. Sails like so many other bits of technology we use have been developed and refined for best performance over many decades. Why then if there exists many finely evolved sails that are easy to use and preform well do you then experiment with a sail contraption that is not only cumbersome to use but performs really terribly! Why not use the best there is and not experiment with retrogressive modes of sail?
Not everyone has the funds to own / sail the likes of Ineos Britannia. Until I do, I’m very happy to sail my boat and post the occasional video for those that wish to see a more traditional sailing boat in open water.
thanks for that Steve, one of the best how to sail lugger video i have seen and has helped alot, so when you pull the gaff back up u dont use parrel beads to keep it tight to the main mast, also what system did u use to furl the mizzen, ive heard of one way where u dont have to wrap it arond the mizzzen mast ?
Hi Mutley,
Thanks! No parrel beads, just the main halyard tied onto the gaff at the right height. I have the gaff marked for full sail, 1st reef and 2nd reef (2nd reef position was wrong as I had scarfed a length to extend my gaff when I got new sails, hence the need to change the 2nd reef position during the video!). Need to make sure the halyard is bar tight with the knot hard into the masthead sheave so when you pull tension on the tack downhaul it doesn’t move. Moving the halyard means you get excellent sail shape when reefed with the gaff hard up against the mast.
For the standard boomless mizzen, let go the mizzen sheet (but still tied to the sail), grab the foot half way along, fold / half the sail vertically and then roll the sail around the vertical fold until a nice vertical cylinder. Tie this to the mizzen mast (I have a sail tie permanently attached to the mizzen mast just for this), leaving the mizzen sheet attached. Job done. To use again, just release the sail tie and pull in the mizzen sheet. I now have a mizzen boom, so slightly modified for me; l just fold up the boom onto the mast, roll up the sail and tie the mizzen boom and sail together to the mast.
@@steveporteous3157 thanks for the reply. So the main halyard you do the same as Roger Barnes does. Would seem to be better than hoisting so far then fitting the beads then hoist again
@@Spud63 Not sure what Roger does - I'll have to look!. Here's the knot I use th-cam.com/users/shortsV4fhvY7lxLc
I think it holds the gaff better, close to the mast at all positions. You just need to be aware that the gaff does fall away from the mast when the halyard is released. Important thing is the halyard must be bar tight. If it is not bar tight then tensioning the tack downhaul will stretch the halyard and the gaff will fall a few inches away from the mast - especially true if you have a purchase on the tack down-haul.
I've never actually sailed on a boat with the parrel beads but I imagine the gaff if not as tight to the mast, especially when reefed.
Quede bien mareado viendo este video...., saludos
I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Been trying to buy one of these forever. Had one in very good shape for $8k but I let it slip through my fingers
Hi David,
Thanks for watching. The next lugger will be yours - enjoy it when you do get one!
Is it me or are you sailing to close ease off just a few degrees. that main sail seems to be set really well though. I may be wrong I am not sailing the boat I sail by feel.
Hi Andy,
You could be right! It's a long video though (so not sure which part you are referring to), and I wasn't really trying to make good passage progress to windward so I certainly wasn't knowingly trying to pinch. Sometimes if it's windy I might sail a bit closer to the wind to make it easier to feather the sails by luffing up slightly - saves having to let out and pull back in the main.
So sorry great video it was just a gut feeling whilst you were sailing looking at the sail. Sailing is all down to feel so I admit I may be wrong.
@@steveporteous3157
Hi @@andypandy955 ,
No problem! Appreciate you take the time to watch the video and comment.
Best regards,
Steve
Boy oh bouy
MARVELLOUS INDEED!
Thanks for watching!
@@steveporteous3157 smart little boat indeed!
What was the wind strength? Can you estimate?
Hi Ross, I always find it difficult to estimate wind speed! It did vary through the sail but at the windy bits I'd say mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate. I do have an anemometer but when it gets windy it seems to stay in the bag!
I WILL BOUNCE YOUR VIDEO IN THE FCBK PGAE OF MINE DFRIGGING+PHOTO
I know these Drascombes (Luggers, Longboats, Dabbers, Coasters) and similar designs have been popular, durable and continue to provide people with reliable access to the water. However they have some serious shortcomings, particularly around their ability to recover from being swamped or capsize. I believe there are cases where the boats have been swamped and although afloat, cannot be controlled or moved, resulting in the boat drifting into rocks, sandbanks and the loss of life. I think these boats need to have their classification downgraded to being suitable for protected waters only and preferably within a short distance of support. Sure there will be people willing to take the risk to sail them in exposed waters. The clear advice should be to remain in protected waters.
Thanks BM for your note of caution. It is good that people realise / understand the limitations of different types / designs of boat, especially an open boat. Being safe at sea relies on many things, and not just the classification of a particular boat. It is certainly not my intention to indicate that a Drascombe is a boat that can handle any sea / weather condition. I am however willing to “take the risk” and sail outwith protected waters. My advice to others is to properly plan any trip, carry out their own risk assessment and then sail or not sail accordingly.
Just so that everyone is aware of the "serious shortcomings" that @Tomm9y was inferring, here is a report of a boat that got into difficulties just a few days ago www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-66658133
I don't know any further details, and don't want to make any assumptions, but anyone who sails an open boat should be aware of the risks.
Fantastic stuff....Used to mess about in a GP14 like that when I was 'much' younger....couldn't get enough of it, out late Nov single handed in a blow...Anyway, terrirific video.
Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed it!
wind speeds?
I always find it difficult to estimate wind speed! It did vary through the sail but at the windy bits I'd say mid teens of knots gusting to low 20s would be my best estimate.
Where’s the boom?
In the garage!
The Drascombe Lugger was designed with a loose footed / no boom main and mizzen. Some Drascombe Lugger owners (guessing
don't you have a motor?
The boat has a 5HP outboard for when there is no wind and for manoeuvring in close quarters. But, it’s noisy, vibrates and uses petrol so much better to sail when you can. Sailing also gives a much more comfortable and dryer trip!