Re: Schooner at Kingston

> I just perused the pics of the Kingston Messabout, and must say that
> Susan Davis' schooner gets best of show!

Aw, shucks. You're too kind. (I will say that I was quite impressed
by the Watervan -- she's one of only three powerboats that's ever
captured my fancy.)

> So, Sue, or anyone who had the pleasure of
> sailing the boat during the Kingston messabout, care to comment?

She's an extremely pleasant boat to sail. Marconi-rigged racing
sloops sail away from her, but there's always a very nice feeling of
progress, even in very light winds that are utterly frustrating in
other boats. Indeed, she's a champion ghoster; I've caught and passed
boats more than twice her length going off the wind in light air.
Heavy air reaches feel special, although I haven't gotten her to plane
yet.

She's also docile, comfortable, dry, and stable. Every time I've felt
a knockdown developing, it's happened in slow motion, with plenty of
time to get the bow up into the wind to stall the sails. Sitting on a
Type IV on the cockpit sole, with the coaming for a backrest, is
comfortable enough that I've stayed out for nine hours or more at a
stretch with little trouble. And the helm balances well enough that I
can lock it down, steer with the sails, and even leave the helm
unattended while I go forward for some task, or just to take a catnap.

I haven't had a chance to cruise her yet, but I've taken her halfway
across Lake Ontario, and endured 30 knots of wind funneled out a
narrow channel without alarm. Reefed, with the jib down, she feels
like she could stand up to rather a lot of wind for such a small boat.
The spars and sails are all small enough to easily handle without
much muscle power, with the largest sail no bigger than the spritsail
on a Cartopper.

--
Susan Davis <futabachan@...>

I just perused the pics of the Kingston Messabout, and must say that
Susan Davis' schooner gets best of show! Since I only pop in
occasionally, I've never seen any comments about the sailing
characteristics of the boat. So, Sue, or anyone who had the pleasure of
sailing the boat during the Kingston messabout, care to comment?
Dennis