Re: Gypsy sailing rig
Thanks! The information is very helpful. If you don't mind, I may
have more such questions in the coming months.
Gary
have more such questions in the coming months.
Gary
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Jack&Lois" <jalo@...> wrote:
>
> A good question (JB vs Gypsy w/ matching crew bulk/skill). Both
will get up
> on plane, though I think Gypsy will get there more smoothly and will
> transition from non-plane to plane and back again with more grace,
though
> once there, JB seems faster. Gypsy appears to point higher and
maintains
> more speed close hauled. JB will plane on a run, but I've never got
Gypsy up
> on plane further down than a broad reach. Not to say it's not
possible. JB
> is much easier to control downwind in a strong breeze with no
tendency
> toward Gypsy's terrifying death roll. JB rows easier but Gypsy is
definitely
> faster, JB tending to stall slightly between oar strokes. Five days
of
> racing either of them will leave you with a collection of very
interesting
> bruises. Gypsy is much more comfortable in light wind racing,
though JB is
> more likely to move and steer in near non-existent wind. When
totally
> becalmed in sweltering heat in a race (or not) you can dive over
the side
> from JB for a cool down dip and climb back in with little trouble,
even if
> no one's on board to counter balance for you. Don't even think of
trying
> this with Gypsy. These are the observations of an enthusiastic but
rather
> shabby sailor. No doubt a more scientific and expert comparison
could be
> made, but there you have it. Have fun.
>
>
>
> jeb, suddenly much more oppressed by winter than I was ten minutes
ago, on
> the glacial shores of Fundy
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
A good question (JB vs Gypsy w/ matching crew bulk/skill). Both will get up
on plane, though I think Gypsy will get there more smoothly and will
transition from non-plane to plane and back again with more grace, though
once there, JB seems faster. Gypsy appears to point higher and maintains
more speed close hauled. JB will plane on a run, but I've never got Gypsy up
on plane further down than a broad reach. Not to say it's not possible. JB
is much easier to control downwind in a strong breeze with no tendency
toward Gypsy's terrifying death roll. JB rows easier but Gypsy is definitely
faster, JB tending to stall slightly between oar strokes. Five days of
racing either of them will leave you with a collection of very interesting
bruises. Gypsy is much more comfortable in light wind racing, though JB is
more likely to move and steer in near non-existent wind. When totally
becalmed in sweltering heat in a race (or not) you can dive over the side
from JB for a cool down dip and climb back in with little trouble, even if
no one's on board to counter balance for you. Don't even think of trying
this with Gypsy. These are the observations of an enthusiastic but rather
shabby sailor. No doubt a more scientific and expert comparison could be
made, but there you have it. Have fun.
jeb, suddenly much more oppressed by winter than I was ten minutes ago, on
the glacial shores of Fundy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
on plane, though I think Gypsy will get there more smoothly and will
transition from non-plane to plane and back again with more grace, though
once there, JB seems faster. Gypsy appears to point higher and maintains
more speed close hauled. JB will plane on a run, but I've never got Gypsy up
on plane further down than a broad reach. Not to say it's not possible. JB
is much easier to control downwind in a strong breeze with no tendency
toward Gypsy's terrifying death roll. JB rows easier but Gypsy is definitely
faster, JB tending to stall slightly between oar strokes. Five days of
racing either of them will leave you with a collection of very interesting
bruises. Gypsy is much more comfortable in light wind racing, though JB is
more likely to move and steer in near non-existent wind. When totally
becalmed in sweltering heat in a race (or not) you can dive over the side
from JB for a cool down dip and climb back in with little trouble, even if
no one's on board to counter balance for you. Don't even think of trying
this with Gypsy. These are the observations of an enthusiastic but rather
shabby sailor. No doubt a more scientific and expert comparison could be
made, but there you have it. Have fun.
jeb, suddenly much more oppressed by winter than I was ten minutes ago, on
the glacial shores of Fundy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Couple questions. If the June Bug and Gypsy had had identically sized
crews with the same skill levels, which do you think would have been
faster? And how do they compare rowing?
Asked a while ago whether Gypsy or the Perfect Skiff would be better
for an extended expedition-style race that would involve sailing &
rowing, with an overland portage, Bolger recommended . . . June Bug.
Hence my curiosity for an on-the-water comparison by someone with
your experience.
Thanks.
Gary
crews with the same skill levels, which do you think would have been
faster? And how do they compare rowing?
Asked a while ago whether Gypsy or the Perfect Skiff would be better
for an extended expedition-style race that would involve sailing &
rowing, with an overland portage, Bolger recommended . . . June Bug.
Hence my curiosity for an on-the-water comparison by someone with
your experience.
Thanks.
Gary
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Jack&Lois" <jalo@...> wrote:
>
> I also built Gypsy in the late 90's a couple of years after
building June
> Bug. The first thing I noticed about Gypsy, even pre-launch, were
> expressions of admiration from onlookers as apposed to expressions
of
> humour, shock, and sometimes even anger, which JB elicited. Gypsy
is a joy
> to sail. I've sailed her along nearly every shore of Nova Scotia,
including
> the formidable Bay of Fundy and in many lakes. I too have enjoyed
the death
> roll/swamping experience. We've often raced her against wind
sprints at the
> Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival. Can't say we ever came home with
the first
> place trophy, but we've often managed to have a WS or two cross the
line
> behind us, which is significant given we carry barely more than
haft the
> sail area. It's a breath taking thrill to have Gypsy up on plane on
a broad
> reach, holding her own with a pack of WS's. We've even raced Gypsy
against
> JB. I'll have to admit JB left Gypsy in the dust. But two factors
have to be
> qualified: a) my wife (JB skipper) is a better sailor than I am
(see, I'm
> man enough to admit it) and b) my crew and I out weighed JB skipper
and crew
> by over 100 lbs. This is particularly significant given that JB has
a load
> capacity of 1000 lbs. while Gypsy is only good for 400 lbs. despite
being
> the bigger boat. I've briefly experimented with an alternate rig
for Gypsy.
> I made an approx. 72 sq. ft. sprit boom/ sprit sail rig out of
Tyvek. It
> wasn't a pretty sight, but Gypsy handled it with no trouble. until
the sail
> blew apart. The 59 sq. ft. leg-o-mutton with sprit boom Payson
recommends is
> probably still the best all round choice. at least for starters.
Have fun.
>
>
>
> jeb, with fear and loathing, taking grinder to bow of Micro in
preparation
> of converting her to Chinese Gaff, on the chilly shores of Fundy
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
I built and sailed a Gypsy several years ago. I had the
called-for-in-the-design sail rig. I bought the sail from Mr H. H. Payson.
This is a fun sailboat. If you sail it when it is "exciting" sailing
you will occasionally go for a dip. As mentioned earlier, if you put
the lee rail in the water, oftentimes the rest of the boat and crew
follow its example. The addition of decking will to a small extent
delay this from happening.
Enjoy!
Romaine
called-for-in-the-design sail rig. I bought the sail from Mr H. H. Payson.
This is a fun sailboat. If you sail it when it is "exciting" sailing
you will occasionally go for a dip. As mentioned earlier, if you put
the lee rail in the water, oftentimes the rest of the boat and crew
follow its example. The addition of decking will to a small extent
delay this from happening.
Enjoy!
Romaine
I also built Gypsy in the late 90's a couple of years after building June
Bug. The first thing I noticed about Gypsy, even pre-launch, were
expressions of admiration from onlookers as apposed to expressions of
humour, shock, and sometimes even anger, which JB elicited. Gypsy is a joy
to sail. I've sailed her along nearly every shore of Nova Scotia, including
the formidable Bay of Fundy and in many lakes. I too have enjoyed the death
roll/swamping experience. We've often raced her against wind sprints at the
Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival. Can't say we ever came home with the first
place trophy, but we've often managed to have a WS or two cross the line
behind us, which is significant given we carry barely more than haft the
sail area. It's a breath taking thrill to have Gypsy up on plane on a broad
reach, holding her own with a pack of WS's. We've even raced Gypsy against
JB. I'll have to admit JB left Gypsy in the dust. But two factors have to be
qualified: a) my wife (JB skipper) is a better sailor than I am (see, I'm
man enough to admit it) and b) my crew and I out weighed JB skipper and crew
by over 100 lbs. This is particularly significant given that JB has a load
capacity of 1000 lbs. while Gypsy is only good for 400 lbs. despite being
the bigger boat. I've briefly experimented with an alternate rig for Gypsy.
I made an approx. 72 sq. ft. sprit boom/ sprit sail rig out of Tyvek. It
wasn't a pretty sight, but Gypsy handled it with no trouble. until the sail
blew apart. The 59 sq. ft. leg-o-mutton with sprit boom Payson recommends is
probably still the best all round choice. at least for starters. Have fun.
jeb, with fear and loathing, taking grinder to bow of Micro in preparation
of converting her to Chinese Gaff, on the chilly shores of Fundy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bug. The first thing I noticed about Gypsy, even pre-launch, were
expressions of admiration from onlookers as apposed to expressions of
humour, shock, and sometimes even anger, which JB elicited. Gypsy is a joy
to sail. I've sailed her along nearly every shore of Nova Scotia, including
the formidable Bay of Fundy and in many lakes. I too have enjoyed the death
roll/swamping experience. We've often raced her against wind sprints at the
Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival. Can't say we ever came home with the first
place trophy, but we've often managed to have a WS or two cross the line
behind us, which is significant given we carry barely more than haft the
sail area. It's a breath taking thrill to have Gypsy up on plane on a broad
reach, holding her own with a pack of WS's. We've even raced Gypsy against
JB. I'll have to admit JB left Gypsy in the dust. But two factors have to be
qualified: a) my wife (JB skipper) is a better sailor than I am (see, I'm
man enough to admit it) and b) my crew and I out weighed JB skipper and crew
by over 100 lbs. This is particularly significant given that JB has a load
capacity of 1000 lbs. while Gypsy is only good for 400 lbs. despite being
the bigger boat. I've briefly experimented with an alternate rig for Gypsy.
I made an approx. 72 sq. ft. sprit boom/ sprit sail rig out of Tyvek. It
wasn't a pretty sight, but Gypsy handled it with no trouble. until the sail
blew apart. The 59 sq. ft. leg-o-mutton with sprit boom Payson recommends is
probably still the best all round choice. at least for starters. Have fun.
jeb, with fear and loathing, taking grinder to bow of Micro in preparation
of converting her to Chinese Gaff, on the chilly shores of Fundy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yes, I sailed my Gypsy quite a bit after I first built her in 1997. I
taught myself how to sail with my Gypsy. She sails well in most
conditions on all points of sail. She requires a limber skipper in a
decent breeze (leaning and hiking-out to couteract heel). Breezes
above 12 knots will entail a bit of hiking but the ride is
exhilirating. If your behind is bony you might think about how you
will cushion yourself when hiking out. The cockpit thwart can be
uncomfortable to sit on. She's a spirited sailboat, turns quickly,
and can be a bit tippy. If you heel too far (as I have done a number
of times while death-rolling through consecutive jibes) the lee rail
will dig into the water and water will pour into the boat. This helps
slow the boat, however, and lets me recover from death-rolling. There
is really only room for two sailors when sailing. I would attach a
small flag to the masthead (or something similar. I duct tape a small
flag) to serve as a wind indicator.
She's a great boat (as you already know from rowing), and I think you
will enjoy sailing her a lot.
Bill, LM constructor, in Ohio
taught myself how to sail with my Gypsy. She sails well in most
conditions on all points of sail. She requires a limber skipper in a
decent breeze (leaning and hiking-out to couteract heel). Breezes
above 12 knots will entail a bit of hiking but the ride is
exhilirating. If your behind is bony you might think about how you
will cushion yourself when hiking out. The cockpit thwart can be
uncomfortable to sit on. She's a spirited sailboat, turns quickly,
and can be a bit tippy. If you heel too far (as I have done a number
of times while death-rolling through consecutive jibes) the lee rail
will dig into the water and water will pour into the boat. This helps
slow the boat, however, and lets me recover from death-rolling. There
is really only room for two sailors when sailing. I would attach a
small flag to the masthead (or something similar. I duct tape a small
flag) to serve as a wind indicator.
She's a great boat (as you already know from rowing), and I think you
will enjoy sailing her a lot.
Bill, LM constructor, in Ohio
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "waltscherf" <waltscherf@...> wrote:
>
> About 20 years ago I built Bolger's Gypsy, and have rowed it for
that time. I am now
> thinking about putting the sailing rig into it. Has anybody out
there any experience with
> sailing this critter?
>
There is the spectacular three part series chronicle of
cruising/rowing/sailing a Gypsy along coastal Maine, found in the
first three issues of the magazine Small Boat Journal, in 1985.
cruising/rowing/sailing a Gypsy along coastal Maine, found in the
first three issues of the magazine Small Boat Journal, in 1985.
On 2/19/07, waltscherf <waltscherf@...> wrote:
> About 20 years ago I built Bolger's Gypsy, and have rowed it for that time. I am now
> thinking about putting the sailing rig into it. Has anybody out there any experience with
> sailing this critter?
About 20 years ago I built Bolger's Gypsy, and have rowed it for that time. I am now
thinking about putting the sailing rig into it. Has anybody out there any experience with
sailing this critter?
thinking about putting the sailing rig into it. Has anybody out there any experience with
sailing this critter?