Thread: Periwinkle

Fair Dink,

I'm flat out at the moment finishing Periwinkle, First Mate, and holding down a part-time job to make ends meet. (the message from that is - don't be a boatbuilder if you want to combine good-quality work on the one hand, and an income on the other - they tend to be mutually exclusive!).

When I'm finished Periwinkle, we are taking a week off, and will then think about getting out on the water more often - I would love to see your OK sometime when you are out sailing.

The other thing planned after Periwinkle is completed is to spend more time on finishing off plans which are currently sitting in the waiting line.

Periwinkle photos will be up-dated in a few days time, I think. Current work is detail stuff which is not easy to show photographically.

Ross Lillistone

Ross

I hpoe those plans include 'Child's Play' I get a real buzz when I look at that drawing.

Ahh, Child's Play..... She is a real favourite of mine, and is on the list to be drawn as a set of detailed plans. But, before then, I have to finish off First Mate, Periwinkle, Three Brothers, Test Tackle, Whisper, and the sailing rig for Flint.

Child's Play is inthe same size category as PCB's Chebacco 20 (or maybe a little bigger in volume). Sail area is 219 sq.ft, and the mast stepping arrangement allows the main mast foot to be placed in a step on the keelson and walked up by moving forward through the full-length companionway in the cabin. That is why the mast steps against the forarrd bulkhead and the forrard end of the cuddy cabin.

I spent a LOT of time getting the hull modelling to the point where I am happy.

Ross

Well Perriwinkle has been launched.The venue was Somerset Dam the day started with a nervous designer, John the new owner who didn't say too much and no wind.The day ended with a much more relaxed designer John was doing a lot of smiling and talking the wind had cooperated and nearly got to 10 knts. But Perriwinkle was the star.Some photos here http://www.baysidewoodenboats.com.au/

You have no idea, the amount of sweat a designer oozes during a first launch. It's not that they don't know their stuff or didn't do a good job, it's just the natural tendency to wonder if the speculation aspects of the design will work as planed. Unlike most other engineering, yacht design relies on a fair amount of, well frankly, guess work and intuition. This coupled with how far out on the design "limb" the creator climbed, can generate a considerable amount of concern, come launch day.

Congratulations!

Now, we'll expect pictures and a full report of abilities and qualities, in the new future.

Green Ginger and PAR,

Thanks very much for the comments. There were a number of elements which I was concerned about (all of them?!), with the most particular ones being ability to hold up the rig, and the possibility of misbehavior from the sails with the large amount of balance area I had drawn ahead of the masts. I tend to go for more than the text book amount (I have my own private theory) but I was scared that I may have over done it and that consequently the luffs may misbehave. I'm relieved to say that they went beautifully.

I've attached a 1mb video clip taken by Green Ginger showing me sailing the boat on a close reach in about 8knots of wind. The camera microphone makes it sound like a gale, but a glance at the water will show that the wavelets are still glassy. Boat speed at the time was 5.5 kts (GPS) with just me on board. Best speed on the day was 6.5kts with two adults on board on a close reach.

Ross Lillistone www.baysidewoodenboats.com.au

"(I have my own private theory)" this is the limb I was mentioning above. We sometimes venture out onto a tree limb in terms of engineering, concept(s), theory(s) and principle(s). We attempt to base our latest avenues of pursuit on previous experience, observation, convoluted concepts, principles and sometimes just plan dumb luck.

When they float upright at launch, a fairly healthy relief is felt (okay, I did carry the decimal point over). Then comes trials, which has caused more then one designer to literally have a heart attack.

Creeks and moans from the rig, hull and every odd noise coming from the boat, is carefully analyzed and accessed in a micro second (which seems like hours at the moment) and a quick judgment is made (is something breaking?). Confidence builds as the first hundred yards turn into miles, washing under her belly. Then the first big puff or header slams the boat and she shudders, but carries on with little fuss. The designer's eyes furiously dance around the rig, the attachment points, known high load areas until their heart rate settles back down and they can attempt to enjoy the outing.

You can always tell who the designer is, as they're the one looking at the wake, constantly checking the rig, sail set and rudder location, all the while their ears seem to be visibly growing, with each new noise.

If you're like me and have broken more rigs then you can count, it's not as frantic an affair as it was when I was younger. Now I figure if it breaks, I'll duck, if it sinks, I'm a good swimmer and try to relax as much as I can, letting the boat tell me what's wrong. Most of us have a good idea how she'll act, perform and respond, so the conformation that you received Ross, is a well earned sensation that greatly helps steady the hand on the tiller.

Again, congratulations to all involved, she's a fine little ship and looks to perform well too.

What a beautiful, beautiful boat Ross.
I love the way she just seems to glide past without fuss but fast !

AJ

Such a lovely piece of work, and she looks so slippery. How does the boat feel Ross? It's obviously very responsive to a wisp, does the space feel good under the feet? A good cockpit for a chat? I ask because it seems to me that you have worked really hard to make a boat that is relaxing to live with, but one that can go like the clappers as well...looking forward to hearing how the different mast/sail combos work too.

PAR, AJ and Rob,

Thank-you for the comments. After the light-wind launching, Periwinkle was towed to Caloundra and spent her second day of sailing in fairly heavy winds, on salt water. This gave her owner the opportunity to try the use of the third mast stepping location, sailing her with a single mast and single sail.

I had been keen to discover how she would balance with a single mast in the third position, and John obliged me by taking her out initially with the mainsail alone (104 sq ft instead of the 155 sq ft of the Cat-Ketch rig), and then with just the mizzen set on the main mast in the third step (51 sq ft instead of the 155 sq ft of the full rig!). Both sails produced excellent balance, with just a very light weatherhelm.

The interesting thing is that the boat was overpowered in the conditions with the single main (although quite managable, I'm told), and when she was changed to the tiny mizzen alone, the boat went just as fast - which happened to be 8 knots measured by GPS! She overtook a nearby fully-battened sloop-rigged dinghy with two enthusiastic sailors on the rail - all to windward with John sitting comfortably inside Periwinkle on the aft thwart (see attached photo Periwinkle Friday 027.jpg).

On the previous day I was very pleased with the internal layout, and found her quite easy to handle with the full Cat-Ketch rig - but as previously advised, the conditions were very light - 5 to 8 knots.

I'm trying hard to keep a lid on my enthusiasm, as I'm only too well aware that it is early days yet. At this stage, though, I'm very happy. This is a good time for me to express my gratitude to her owner, John Shrapnel, for taking the risk with a new design, and to Paul Hernes for his constant encouragement - both are gentlemen, although that maybe stretching the truth a bit in the case of Paul...

Congratulations Ross, she looks fantastic and fast.

I'd like to add my congratulations to all concerned.

The John for the leap of faith, commissioning a new (unproven) design and giving the designer a free hand in developing such an attractive and I believe very capable package.

To Paul for taking a similar punt with Phoenix 111, which has now logged lots of very enjoyable hours doing exactly what it was designed for.

And, Finally to Ross. Sure designing and building boats is your business, but its easy to see its also the reason you get up every morning. This was not just a business transaction, but an excange with adundance and John's faith in your abilities and dedication was certainly justified.

You can all feel justifiably proud.