intheboatshed.net

Shadow

Life is full of surprises. One of the biggest surprises I’ve had during the short life of intheboatshed.net has been the level of interest in sailing canoes and canoe yawls: posts on these attract more attention than almost any others.

It’s an interest that I can certainly sympathise with, so the news in Classic Boat that George Holmes’s iconic Eel is currently for sale at Alan Staley’s yard at Faversham in Kent (tel 01795 530668), I thought I would Google for more information on the boat and similar boats.

Here’s what I found:

From WP Stephens, this letter from George Holmes about the Cassy.

From the International Canoe Association, an interesting history of canoe sailing going back to the 1850s.

The ICA is also hosting what appears to be a forgotten but fascinating set of scans of historical lines drawings for sailing canoes. Long may they remain forgotten! (I’ll happily host them if need be, by the way!)

One set of lines that may be of particular interest may be those of the Shadow, which was an early planing sailing canoe with a hard chine. Of course, it’ll almost certainly paddle like a dog, but I’d love to try sailing a boat like this. If I’m honest, I’d also love to have the skill I’m sure they demand – but maybe a chance will come one sunny and warm but not too windy day!

Finally, some time ago I read a very interesting collection of entries from the journals from the Clyde Canoe Club reprinted by Solway Dory, and one of the lines plans here is of one of the CCC’s boats, the Wren. I wonder whether the world is yet ready for a more modern version of this sweet, Viking influenced design?

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