King Alfred Class design

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Water Craft has had several articles over the past couple years about this design and yet I can't find anything else about it.

Has anyone built one or know of someone that has? The design has w-a-y too many lines to pull on even for my family but I am intrigued with the idea of it being yawl rigged, ala Oughtred's designs. That would simplify the rigging but still give us a large boat to roam around in.

There have been three built by school age children with supervision that actually look pretty good. My emails to the designer have gone unanswered.

Any thoughts out there? Or perhaps there is a website about the design that I just don't know about...

[imported_Steven Bauer]

http://www.sailingnow.com/mag/boats/new_boat/king_a/release.html

I like these boats, too.

Steven

[Hwyl]

She's a Nigel Irens / Ed Burnett design. We are sometimes lucky enough to have Ed Burnett post on here. Ed's website seems to be down.

Here is a bigger version called Roanna (she's 37' )on Nigel's site http://www.nigelirens.demon.co.uk/nid_sail.htm .I'm pleased to see he has moved back to the U.K.

There has been a history of this kind of boat in the U.K. for teaching, with the theory that the more strings there are--the more kids you can teach. One example being the "Torch". I don't agree with that theory.

However having said that, I've always loved the Salcombe Yawl http://www.syoa.co.uk/picturegallery.htm. Which has one sail too many and is possibly the most interesting of the "classsic classes"

[ 08-09-2004, 05:10 AM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[Ed Burnett]

That was a fun project to work on. I don't know many 16 foot boats with 9 spars and 4 mast steps.... One early sketch shows topsails and a mizzen staysail too.

The intention with the rig was not only to provide some entertainment for the crew, but also give versatility. You can step the main mast in the forward step and sail the boat as a yawl, but if you were to do that full time you would want a little more sail area.

I am sorry if enquiries have gone un-answered, I assume these were sent to Nigel as I don't recall receiving any myself. John Barker, who built the three boats with the kids at the school, is dealing with the plans now and should be the contact for more information.

[Dennis Marshall]

It is a very nice looking boat. I'm sorry I missed the Watercraft articles describing it.

Dennis

[Hwyl]

Here's another site http://www.kingalfred.barnet.sch.uk/index.htm
click on "boating club"

[ 08-09-2004, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[Keith Wilson]

I think it's pretty, but fundamentally silly unless one is trying to make a deliberately complicated rig to occupy or train a large crew. One could make a better rig with two or three sticks and some reefing lines.

edit - Enormous picture removed - Thanks, Meerkat.

[ 08-09-2004, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Ed Burnett]

Well, I suppose you could say it is pretty silly if you want to be sensible about life.

Then again, who said boats were sensible things in the first place.

[Keith Wilson]

Well, you certainly have a point. "Fundamentally silly" looks quite a bit too harsh in retrospect - too much time in the bilge, no doubt, where that would be considered a term of endearment. ;) Wooden boats, sailboats in general, are not the most practical things. If one wanted the simplest and most cost-effective way to move about on the water, a beat-up aluminum skiff with a Japanese outboard would be just the ticket.

Still, I think it's a very complicated rig for a small boat.

[Dennis Marshall]

Keith, can you tone down the picture? My dial up is slow and I gets a headache scrolling to read the text. I'd appreciate it.

Dennis

[Dennis Marshall]

Ed, it is not often that one sees a jib flying in front of a balanced lug. How effective is that arrangement?

Dennis

[Keith Wilson]

Sorry, but I don't know how to resize the thing; it's just a link to the only picture I could find of the boat. I can take it off altogether if that would help.

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by Keith Wilson:
http://www.kingalfred.barnet.sch.uk/JohnEdo.jpg

[Ed Burnett]

The jib seems to work pretty well, but is one of the more optional elements of the rig. With no staying on the masts, luff tension comes purely from the foresail sheet and the stiffness of the mast. Luff length is also restricted by the end of the fore yard having to clear the leech of the jib.

The rig is a simplified (yes really) version of the one sported by the French Bisquines (Cancalise and Granvillaise) of which pictures have been posted before. It is, as has been pointed out, an indulgent and entertaining arrangement in so small a boat, but is a huge success with the school and gives them the versatility they need.

Like all this stuff, it is absolutely the case that no one solution suits all people. The fact that we all have differing requirements and preferences gives us the healthy variety of boats that we see on the water today. It also keeps me, among others, more or less gainfully employed.

[Dennis Marshall]

Ed, I happen to like the looks of the rig. It is unusual, but also pretty. I'll have to hunt down the Watercraft articles and read up on how she sails.

Dennis