Nord Vinden for sale on ebay

Nord Vinden

Full view

Stern on

A view forward

Cockpit seating

This is the centerboard arrangement with the lever for the folding bronze fan keel.

Parrel beads attach the standing lug mainsail to the mast

Boom yoke for the mainmast

And for the mizzen

Leathered oar

The rudder arrangement

Tiller attachment

One last look



all photos courtesy John Wurdeman

Built to a George Holmes design by William Clements in 1988, this compelling canoe yawl is for sale on ebay. William Clements is a long established builder of small craft and is known for his attention to detail. Take a kook at the photos here. John, the owner, was kind enough to send me photos of the boat as ebay has implemented new software which no longer allows direct downloading of photos from their site. John was also kind enough to send along some particulars on his exquisite little craft. John spoke to William Clements about what it would cost to build one of these today and the estimate was in the$20k range! The original Holme's boat was Ethel, and is a point in the evolutionary chain which eventually led to the larger Humber yawls as developed by Holmes and his contemporary Albert Strange. A recent publication by the fledgling Loderstar Books treats Holmes and his designs at length. I have yet to read it but it's on my list.

The owner lists her attributes:

Nord Vinden
Lug Rigged Canoe Yawl 13’, beam: 4’
Folding caned seat for use when rowing, Shaw and Tenney oars with
leathers, coppertips, black locust tiller, boomkin, yokes and cleats -
bronze oarlocks, pintal, gudgeons and fastenings - cherry stems,
cockpit coaming, king planks - ash and spruce deck framing - mahogany
rub rails - sapele maring plywood bulkheads - bruynzeel mahogany
marine plywood hull - teak deck - 340 lbs, designed by George Holmes
(1888), built by William J. Clements in 1988, includes trailer and
cover, garage kept, 100 square ft sail area, folding bronze keel,
draws 6 inches/2 feet, flip up rudder, excellent condition, would cost
$20,000 plus to build today according to builder.

The auction ends April 14, the 5k reserve has not been met, so here's your chance to own a modern/classic at 1/4 the price.

Jumbo

Despite their constrasting size both these boats shown here were classed as 'Jumbos' and are typical of the St.Ives shape which enabled the vessel to remain upright when taking the ground. Legs would have been torn off in a crowded harbour, as shown below. The one on the right (above) and those against the quay (below) are so similar to 'Celeste' they are almost certainly from William Paynters' yard.

Photos reproduced by courtesy of The St.Ives Museum

Celeste

Jonny Nance
serving splices with Joe.

Photo; Pete Greenfield

'CelestFish Festival 31st Aug 09. photo: Colin Sanger

'Celeste' at Newlyn Fish Festival 31st Aug 09.

photo: Colin Sanger

Festival 31st Aug 09. photo: Colin Sanger

View looking forward

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Wrought iron foremast gate.

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Securing the mizzen boom

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Wrought-iron stemband and 'scud-hook'

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Photo by Peter Chesworth, courtesy of Water-Craft magazine.

Celeste at low water

Photo: Ian Murren

Jonny Nance with Pete Goss, a finisher in the '96/'97 Vendee Globe. Pete's latest adventure was the recreation of Mystery, a Cornish Lugger which carried 7 Cornishmen to Australia in 1854/55. Upon completion of the boat, Pete and crew sailed the Mount's Bay Lugger in a recreation of the voyage. The new boat and venture was called Spirit of Mystery. I believe the occasion of this photo is Pete's purchase of a 'share' of/for the building of the new Jumbo.

photo Pete Goss

Jumbo II under construction:

all photos courtesy Jonny Nance unless otherwise noted

© THE ST.IVES JUMBO ASSOCIATION

Jonny Nance is an apostle for traditional boats and boatbuilding, and community involvement in these areas, in his native St. Ives, Cornwall,UK. He's created something called The St. Ives Jumbo Association to further these aims. And is doing a great job, as you can see at the Association's website. Celeste is his first replica and another is nearing completion. I was struck by the craftsmanship and attention to detail when first seeing the photos on the website, and paid closer attention to what was going on here, and my attention has been amply rewarded. This seems a model project.
Jumbo's were a late development in the local fisheries, a scaled down version of the larger mackerel luggers. The name arose in this way:
"To fishermen familiar with the much larger and more numerous mackerel boats the new Jumbos would have seemed particularly diminutive and so were ironically nick-named after London Zoos' famous African elephant - the biggest creature in captivity.

Jumbo had caused a storm of protest in 1882 following its controversial sale to the Barnum & Bailey Circus in the USA. "

It's Jonny's intention to race the two boats as a way of getting the community interested and involved in the skills needed to preserve and continue their local heritage. But for me he has a more interesting goal. Jonny see's the revival of these inshore fishing craft as a means of protecting local fisheries and promoting sustainable fishing, eco fishing, if you will, via a return to fishing under sail. In his words-

"When sailing the Jumbo you can readily appreciate why the lug rig remained popular for small fishing boats through to the last days of sail. To start with you've a wonderfully clear working area with the masts out of the way, and no boom to duck under. Even when close-hauled the sail and sheets are clear of the work area. This, combined with he manageable scale of the boat and rig makes the Jumbo an ideal model on which to develop skills and explore the potential of fishing for a living - under sail.

Our aim is to establish a racing class of these boats at St.Ives in order to regenerate a waterfront community in decline. How much more effective it would be if, in addition, these boats could be eventually used for the purpose for which they were designed whilst providing a seasonal income for a couple of individuals!

Clearly, there may come a time when, in addition to any green, carbon neutral credentials, a sail-operated fishery could become commercially viable or at least a natural way of conserving resources (as demonstrated by the Falmouth oyster fishery -much celebrated as the last in the world to be worked under sail). In the meantime the skills required need to be developed.

There's a growing recognition that this approach would at least address some serious issues; the sustainability of fish stocks, the rising cost of fuel, the dependence on imported goods and the lack of employment opportunities in rural areas to name a few.

And if successful, the model could be readily repeated elsewhere.

Only a few months ago such a proposal would have been dismissed as romantic fantasy. So far however, my inquiries have been met with a degree of excitement .

Stephen Perham, the Harbour Master of Clovelly, who has been working the herring season there for decades, explained he has been thinking of reviving the 'picarooner' (their Jumbo equivalent) for the purpose. It's no coincidence that a replica of this particular craft is currently under construction by students on the Traditional Boatbuilding Course at Falmouth Marine School.

Nathan De Rozarieux, the Project Director of Seafood Cornwall reckons there's sufficient public awareness to support a significant premium for 'zero-carbon' fish when sold direct to the customer. This would ensure a market for the smallest catches. This view is shared by Matthew Stevens MD of Matthew Stevens and Son, the regions leading supplier of fish and seafood based in St.Ives,who said,

"Clearly the time is right for an initiative like this. We look forward to receiving their first catch!"

Even the authorities are supportive. The Marine Fisheries Agency at Newlyn inform me that obstructive legislation has been amended to allow unlicenced (unpowered) vessels of under 10m. to land and sell fish.

Without realising it individuals from each of the contributing sectors: boatbuilders, part-time fishermen, fishing authorities, and marketting have been quietly thinking along parallel lines but as yet have not joined forces.

We are on the threshold of a revival that could see several small, inshore and engineless fleets springing up around our shores over the next decade.

The logical place to start is where we left off - and engines took over.

Sceptical? Of course - but just think where the organic industry was only 30 years ago!"

Apparently the British House of Commons is taking notice of such ideas. Other institutions are taking notice of Jonny and the Association's initiatives as well. The esteemed Tate Gallery held a fundraiser last spring to help make possible the completion of the second Jumbo.

Even an American group of descendants of the Cornwall Nance's is taking notice and appealing for help. If you can do so, please!

Addendum: In response to my questions regarding the origin of the Jumbo plans and their availability, since which a reader has also inquired about in the comments to this post, Jonny has this to say:

"The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, London hold a body plan for a jumbo by Philip Oke redrawn around 50 years ago from a sketch by William Paynter. From this, by way of a half-model and lofting, I produced the moulds, reducing the scale to replicate the smallest recorded jumbo (keel 19' 6") suit our requirements. Jumbos varied in length and construction the largest being carvel and upper 20's in length where upon they are almost identical to small pilchard boats (the next class up).

My father took the lines off the St.Ives Punt (13') which was the first I replicated. No original jumbos or constructional drawings exist today.

Not much has been published on William Paynter despite his ledgendary status. I know it was something my father thought should be pursued.

As regards working drawings - there's currently only one which I'm using. All construction detail is my own supposition based on photographic evidence, a thorough knowledge of local practice and commonsense.

A dilemma hovers over its' publication: As you know, this entire project has been conceived to stimulate activity to benefit St.Ives. Our scheme is to establish a centre where jumbos and other craft may be built and maintained within the town, training and employing locals. If there's any interest to join the one-design jumbo class and commission a 3rd jumbo it will be something we have generated through our efforts entirely from scratch. At the risk of sounding 'protectionist', we are naturally keen that our overall project should be the first to benefit from such a demand at least at this early stage.

That said, our project is all about creating and inspiring opportunity and empowering the community and so if our model proves successful we will be encouraging others to do the same wherever he potential exists. Obviously the jumbo was designed to meet conditions at St.Ives. I hope a successful outcome of our planned experiments for commercial fishing under sail will encourage others to research their jumbo-equivalent. If ever there was a case for replicating our heritage this is it!

Charlie Hussey, Boatbuilder

Charlie Hussey

Harlequin, Clyde 17/19 Lugger

'No photos of Katydid from this period have come to light but another 17/19 Clyde Lugger was the subject of a photographic supplement from The Yachtsman and gives an impression what it must have been like to race these boats.'

Katydid as Charlie found her

With Katydid in his shop, Charlie questions the originality of her deck. His intention is to restore he to her to 'look and sail as she did when launched in 1892'.
This entails a bit of detective work.

Garboard off

Sighting down the keel

Keel shot

Heavy Metal

Katydid opened up

all photos courtesy Charlie Hussey

Charlie Hussey is an interesting boat builder, with an interesting weblog. He is apparently meticulous and exacting in his work and has an artists eye that shows in his photography and the presentation of his blog. I like his attitude: "Let’s get one think straight. This blog is not a chronological account of work as it gets done. It is selective, irregular and completely biased in favour of the colourful aspects of what I do." And so it is. You can see from the evidence above that Charlie's got a real sense for color and proportion in his photographs. One gets a sense of Charlie's keen observation, sense of proportion, his discerning approach to his work and his process in this statement about Katydid, relating to her photo in profile view.

'This entry is more or less all about Katydid’s profile – the way that she looks when viewed from the side. There’s lots more to say about her ‘end-on’ view but that will have to wait.

More or less the first thing that I did once Katydid was moved into the shed was to level and measure her. Together with the design offsets provided by Fairlie Restorations from the Fife archive I had enough information to compare Katydid as designed and Katydid as she is now. While the tables of offsets and raw measurements were adequate to confirm a few basic facts I decided to create CAD models of Katydid’s hullform in order to investigate how and to what extent there are differences. The whole process was, for me, amazingly illuminating. I really don’t think that I would have got very far at all in interpreting the history of Katydid’s hull form without the use of CAD. For those of a technical inclination I am using PolyCAD for this work.

Katydid’s sheerline is a bit flat (and bumpy). The weight of the coach roof on the deck structures has nipped her in at the waist and paradoxically, lifted her sheerline amidships, contributing to her rather flat looking sheer. The damage that the running backstays have done to the beamshelf and frames where they attach also indicates that her hullform has been pulled about a fair bit over time. This photo, of Katydid on the water (probably in the 1970’s) gives a general impression of what she most recently looked like afloat.

(note that she is a bit fine in the stern and not really designed to carry weight in the cruising cockpit – hence the nose-up attitude)"...read the full article here.

Charlie reports to me that much of his current work is what he calls 'boat joinery', ie: making glass boats look better. I suspect he'd prefer some more challenging work, say a commission for a wood boat, or another classic restoration. Based in Edinburgh (UK), Charlie can be contacted at 07870 104471 or by email at charlie.hussey@gmail.com. If you have a building or restoration project, I suggest you could do worse than to give Charlie a call.

Jigsaw, replica of an 1889 Jersey La Rocque spritsail cutter

Jigsaw

Jigsaw's progenitors in La Rocque harbor c.1890's

Jigsaw's original rig and later adaptation

Her hull lines as taken off The Volunteer by Mike Harrison with help from Alan Buchanan, Mike Jackson and Russell Wyness from Jackson's Yacht Services while lying at the quay in St. Aubin on the Gulf of Saint-Malo.

Jigsaw



All images courtesy Mike Harrison

While researching lug sails I ran across an image of this little gem and was immediately struck by that stunning topsail. I managed to contact her owner Mike Harrison and get some background. Launched in 1992, Jigsaw is a replica of a Jersey Oyster skiff, traditionally built of pine on oak. She was built to lines taken off a Jersey La Rocque spritsail cutter, The Volunteer, built 1889, by Mike and some friends. She's only 13' with a 5' beam and draws 21". The original boats were rigged double masted with a standing lug but Mike opted for a single mast standing lug with a jib forward. Initially he found the boat the boat a bit sluggish in light air, and after much experimentation solved the problem by adding that beautiful topsail, and reports her performance greatly improved.
There is a more detailed article on Jigsaw in the April 2007 issue of Classic Boat magazine. Initial contact with Mike was through the Woodenboat Forum. Much thanks to Mike and his daughter Phillipa for their ready assistance.

Oyster stuffing, anyone? Happy Thanksgiving.