The Model Yacht: Volume 11, Number 2 – Fall 2007

LINCOLN MEMORIAL POOL, WASHINGTON, DC NEWSLETTER OF THE U.S. VINTAGE MODEL YACHT GROUP VOLUME ELEVEN, NUMBER TWO Fall 2007 Page 1 Editor’s Welcome This issue was more enjoyable than most to put together, for it gave us a chance to relive the wonderful time we had at Marblehead during the combined National Regatta and celebration of the 75th year the M Class has been in existence. In addition to this we offer, as always, Mark Steele’s delightful observations in his Windling World column and publish some photographs of sailing in New York’s Central Park that probably haven’t seen the light since they were first published in 1916. We present a sailing model of Matt Walsh’s 1927 design Thorobred, which was adopted by school construction and sailing programs across the county. A second plan is for a sweet M boat called Kittiwake. Our major article is by the Chicagoan Walter K. Moss and makes clear the inner secrets of tuning and trimming a free sailing boat equipped with the Braine gear. Perhaps the biggest news we have is the availability of fiberglass hulls for our Yankee III J boat. Finally, as John mentions in his column, we have been forced to raise our subscription rates for the first time in a decade. Please read the notice on the inside of the front cover to see how we intend to make the transition to the new fee structure. Earl Boebert Ebbs and Flows The President’s Message Vintage Membership Due to increasing printing and postage costs, beginning with Volume 12 (2008), VMYG annual membership will be $25 for three issues of our newsletter – The Model Yacht. It will be $30 for members outside the US and Canada. The VMYG lifetime membership will be $125. Members also have access to technical assistance and vintage model plans, and details on VMYG-sponsored events. To subscribe to the newsletter and services before 2008, send $20 or $25 ($100 for life membership) check payable to US VMYG or cash to: John Snow, c/o US VMYG, 78 East Orchard Street, Marblehead, MA 01945. Renewals please follow the instructions inside the cover. For more information, you can call John in Marblehead at 781-631-4203 or visit the VMYG Web Page: www.usvmyg.org 2007 Vintage M National Championship Regatta The 2007 national event for Radio Vintage M 50-800 and Vintage 36 models was held at historic Redd’s Pond, Marblehead, August 16-19 with 23 skippers participating. This milestone event helped the Marblehead MYC and VMYG commemorate the 75th anniversary of the M 50-800 design becoming a US national class in 1932. It had free-sail and Radio Vintage M racing, Radio Vintage 36 racing, craftsmanship judging, and formal M Class History exhibit at the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society. An expansive report on the 2007 Regatta will be part of the Page 2 M Class History feature article in a future AMYA Model Yachting magazine issue. Check elsewhere in this newsletter for a report on the 2007 National Regatta. New Traditional Sailing Craft/Scale Model Coordinator The VMYG has a new coordinator for our Radio Traditional Sailing Craft / Scale Model designs. This is Joe M. Cieri, who can be contacted at home at 732-244-1047 or 10 Abaco Street, Toms River, NJ 08757. Joe’s initial priority is a VMYG-sponsored traditional sailing craft regatta in NJ in the spring of 2008. Projected 2008 Vintage Activities May 11: Free Sail Vintage 36 Restricted Class Invitational Regatta for vane and Braine gearsteered 36R models hosted by the San Diego MYC. Spring: Radio Traditional Sailing Craft Regatta for schooners, skipjacks, and similar models. June 7: Radio Vintage M Full Cup Invitational Regatta hosted by the Marblehead MYC. June 27-29: 2008 WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport Museum, CT. VMYG and AMYA will share exhibit tent and stage daily Radio sailing demonstrations. July / August: First New England Radio Vintage M Inter-club Race Series between the Laconia MYC (NH) and Marblehead MYC. August 21-24: Model Yacht Regatta renewal at Mystic Seaport Museum, CT for classic AMYA designs: J Boats, EC-12 Meters, etc. co-hosted by AMYA and VMYG. September 12-14: National Regatta at Spring Lake, NJ, hosted by The Marbleheaders of Spring Lake MYC. Contact John Snow at 781-631-4203 or 2008 Traditional Sailing Craft/Scale Model National Regatta 2008 venue and details are being evaluated by Joe Cieri for our annual Radio Traditional regatta. Call Joe at his contact information noted above for evolving news on a venue and date. Vintage Etcetera VMYG “How To” Model Books – Visit the VMYG website for details on ordering our “how to” vintage model building books and video by our Historian Earl Boebert. These are based on wooden, plank-on-frame method to construct 1940s era model racing class designs (with video), plus modern building techniques to derive a radio model of the 1930 Yankee J Boat design. Yankee III is 36-inch, entry-level model, which also qualifies as Vintage 36Vintage 36 design for VMYG events. Vintage M 50-800 Model Kit – GRP Model Yachts has a fiberglass replica kit of the Gus Lassel 1940s Sun Wind Marblehead design. GRP has completed five of these classic M boats, with another five on order. The first two Radio Controlled Sun Wind production models raced in the 2007 National Regatta at Redd’s Pond. Visit the GRP website for more details at www.modelyachting.com or call Adrian Olson at 831-724-7000. John Snow The Helm You Say ome of the more confusing phrases for skippers without big boat experience involve “lee helm” and “weather helm.” To understand these you need to visualize yourself sailing to windward in a boat steered with a tiller, as in the diagram below: jsnow@drc.com for evolving details on these activities. LEE SIDE TILLER RUDDER WEATHER SIDE Page 3 WI ND The 2007 National Regatta Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Marblehead Class The term “weather helm” means the tiller is swung to the weather side of the boat, causing the the boat to turn away from the wind, or “fall off,” as this diagram shows: Overview WEATHER SIDE WI ND Like wise, “lee helm” means the tiller is swung to the lee side of the boat, causing the boat to turn into the wind: “head up” or “luff” as shown below: LEE SIDE The US Vintage Model Yacht Group and Marblehead Model Yacht Club co-hosted the 13th annual National Vintage Regatta on August 16-19 at historic Redd’s Pond in Marblehead, MA. The VMYG took the lead as a Special Interest Group under the American Model Yachting Association. This event was structured to also celebrate the 75th anniversary of the M 50-800 design becoming a US national class in 1932. Twenty-nine Vintage M and nine Vintage 36 skippers signed-up, with 31 different vintage models raced from around the US. The large turnout of skippers, volunteers and guests helped us celebrate this occasion with free sailed and radio Vintage M racing, and a radio Vintage 36 regatta for a prelude activity. The Regatta Race Directors were: Radio Vintage 36: Pete Maxson, AMYA President and John Snow, VMYG President; assisted by Jim Dolan and Dave Twohig as scorers. Free sailed Vintage M: Stan Goodwin, Marblehead MYC Vice-Commodore and AMYA M Class Secretary; assisted by Earl Boebert as scorer. WI ND A boat is said to “carry weather helm” when it requires weather helm to sail properly. That is, its natural tendency is to luff or head up, and the tiller must be moved to weather to counteract this. Likewise, a boat “carries lee helm” when it has a natural tendency to fall off and the tiller must be swung to leeward to cause it to hold a proper angle to the wind. It is generally believed that optimum windward performance occurs when a small amount of weather helm is required. Also, there is a feeling that single-handed boats should carry weather helm so that if the skipper falls overboard going to windward the boat will luff up into the wind and drift back toward the hopefully swimming skipper. Radio Vintage M: Judy Skerry, Marblehead MYC; assisted by Judy Wilkins as scorer. Pond-side weather was pleasant and mainly sunny, with temperatures in the upper 60s to mid-80s Thursday through Sunday. The minor exception was a weather front late Friday causing gusty winds for Saturday’s radio Vintage M racing. At times, this provided our many visitors with spectacular racing scenes involving broaches and planning conditions. Light air existed for the other three days, resulting in 74 heats raced: 8 free sailed (vane) and 46 radio Vintage M heats, and 20 radio Vintage 36 heats. The top-three racers in each radio Vintage M design category (Traditional, High Flyer and Transitional) plus Vintage 36 and free sailed Vintage M competitions received replica awards of 1928 Marblehead MYC plaques. Earl Boebert Supporting Activities Page 4 Two views of lovely, historic, and very tricky Redd’s Pond. You haven’t really lived unless you’ve sailed here. Photos by Mike Sollins. Page 5 their continued pro-active support of our sport. Free Sail Vintage M Racing Six contestants entered the vane racing on Friday; five having past experience at Redd’s Pond as the then 1950s youth core of the Marblehead MYC. The one non-club skipper was George Olson from California, with his beautifully reconditioned, original 1940s Gus Lassel Sun Wind boat configured with a Lassel sliding rig and vane. One of the earliest known M boats and still sailable was raced: the 1931 Marblehead MYC Broom II model with a Bill Full vane gear and Egyptian cotton sails by the late Bill Bithell. Redd’s Pond has been a very difficult place to free sail since the 1970s due to tree growth, an adjacent boat yard and advancing age of club free sailing skippers. Thankfully, an intermittent sea breeze provided just enough directional wind for vane skippers to sail to the upwind (East) end of the pond. Skippers started their boats in a fleet style from the leeward shore (West end) and beat to windward using turning poles. They then manually reset their boats to sail to a downwind finish. With east end wind conditions tricky Ben Martin, in fine Vintage form, adjusts the vane on his dual-mode radio and free sail boat. Photo by Pat Butterworth. The VMYG shared a 20’x10 tent with the AMYA and Marblehead MYC at pond-side for M Class, regatta and model yacht information for visitors. Two AMYA manufacturers also exhibited. A Friday reception was hosted by the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society for their formal M Class History exhibit with actual 1930s Marblehead MYC free sailed M boats. Note: The Museum created a “virtual tour” of this M exhibit at: www.marbleheadmuseum.org After exhibit closing, it can be viewed at their “Archives of Past Exhibits” page. The Regatta Dinner was Saturday at Capt’s Restaurant in Salem. This event featured an afterdinner slide presentation by Earl Boebert on the 1930 Yankee J Boat and its Marblehead connections. VMYG appreciation awards were also presented by John Snow to regatta volunteers, with special recognition (artistsigned and framed 1932 Redd’s Pond racing prints) to Pete Maxson, Ben Martin, Judy and Earl Boebert, and Judy and John Skerry for Free sail skippers make last minute adjustments under the watchful eye of race director Stan Goodwin, who is about to call the traditional Marblehead MYC fleet start. Photo by Pat Butterworth Page 6 due to a tree line, luck also played a role in skippers being able to escape that end of the pond for a successful downwind leg. point system, with ten for first, nine for second, etc. Radio Vintage 36 and Vintage M Racing Twenty Vintage 36 With eight free sailed races were staged on Vintage M heats sailed, Thursday and Friday each skipper won at involving seven skipleast one race. George pers and six boats. Olson did particularly Kevin Wilkins and John well, having never freeSnow shared skipper sailed, after some pondduties with a loaned side mentoring by Earl Vintage 36 model from Boebert. At the finish Alan Suydam. Alan of free sail racing, Doclearly captured the minic Meo prevailed Vintage 36 regatta over with his Ballantyne ArJoe M. Cieri by winning row III vane boat eleven heats, with through consistency Kevin and John finishand pointing ability. Ben Martin turns his boat at the leeward ing a distant third. The John Collins sailed to a shore while Ned Lakeman gets ready. Free VMYG is promoting close second with his the Vintage 36 category sailing at Redd’s Pond requires a certain late 1950s Ballantyne Arrow V design. Third nimbleness on the part of skippers. Photo as its second vintage model yacht grouping. place was decided by by Andy Abrahamson the last race when John Snow took first with his Twenty five competitors started the radio 1931 Larsen Broom II – tying Ben Martin. He Vintage M racing on Saturday and Sunday. won the tie-breaker with two first places. There were two radio fleets split between Stan Goodwin’s scoring used the old high- Vintage 26 boats by Joe M. Cieri and Al Suydam at a typically close start. Photo by Edward Radcliffe Page 7 Traditional radio Vintage M’s at the start; no other words are necessary. Photo by Jim Linville. thirteen Traditional boats in one and twelve boats in the combined High Flyer and Transitional fleet. A total of forty-six radio Vintage M heats were raced over two days. The radio Vintage M design categories are: Traditional (1930 to 1945), High Flyer (1946 to 1960) and Transitional (1961 to 1970). The 1999 AMYA M Class champion, Stan Goodwin, continued his five decades-long mastery of Redd’s Pond with top honors in the radio Vintage M Transition category sailing his 1969 Warrior II wooden model. Ben Martin was runner-up with his 1960s fiberglass Bewitched” vane model that had been converted to radio. Third was John Skerry with a late 1960s Magic Dragon design. Capturing top-honors in the High Flyer category was Kevin Wilkins with a fiberglass 1936 Cheerio I design using a balanced rudder. Second was Adrian Olson from California, with Redd’s Pond serving as the competitive baptismal for his new fiberglass 1940s Sun Wind design. Third was Thom McLaughlin with his WoodenBoat School Naskeag design. Alan Suydam was first in the Radio Traditional category with his 1961 scratch-built Cheerio I model, which has won other Vintage M championships. Alan captured eight firsts, as did Harry Mote who sailed a close second with his wooden double-ender M boat. Ned Lakeman placed third with his own scratch-built 1930s design. Pete Maxson and Dominic Meo had incomplete Vintage M scores, given electronic problems and early travel plans. Craftsmanship and Sportsmanship As a tradition at the National Regatta, Craftsmanship awards were bestowed on Harry Mote, George Olsen and Thom McLaughlin for their superbly-built and/or re-finished wooden M boats in pond-side judging by their peers. As “Best in Show”, Harry also took home the vintage Stanley Tool Works miniature plane award made and presented by Earl Boebert. The VMYG’s Marshall Croft Sportsmanship Trophy was awarded by Race Director Judy Skerry to a most-deserving Earl Boebert, given his remarkable reticence and demeanor when racing his new 1930s radio “Sonder” M model for the first time. Special Appreciations Thanks are extended to several individuals who help to make this event truly notable from a “devil is in the details” perspective: The Marblehead MYC regatta working group: Jim Dolan, Cheryl Emmons, Stan Goodwin, Al Gromko, JR LeBlanc, Ben Martin, John Skerry, John Snow, Kevin Wilkins and Chuck Winder. Theo Houk traveled from Seattle as our playby-play Vintage M race announcer. He had honed this skill at annual model yacht regattas at the Mystic Seaport Museum. In keeping with the historic theme, Theo used an antique megaphone to provide spectators with clear and timely comments throughout each race heat. He was provided with applause by his audiences at the end of each race day. Michelle Seaton, National Public Radio (NPR) reporter, covered race activities and did interviews with model yachtsmen, volunteers and visitors. As such, her story on the 2007 Page 8 Vintage M Regatta will air on NPR’s “Only A Game” amateur sports show on Saturday, September 15. placing more emphasis on promotion, can get added visibility at no cost for their sport and local club. AMYA manufacturers greatly enhanced interest at Redd’s Pond for modelers and visitors. They also donated gifts for Radio Vintage M skippers. Our appreciation goes to Adrian Olson of GRP Products from California with his new Sun Wind Vintage M kit model and Roger Cousineau of Model Yacht Fittings from Maine with his wide array of highlycrafted brass model fittings mounted on his nearly-complete Peony wooden radio Vintage M model. Fleet Scoring: There can be two options for scoring when splitting the radio Vintage M High Flyer category into two design fleets for performance and awards. This event had a combined High Flyer (1946-1960) and Transitional (1961-1970) fleet. Given sufficient entries (12) with the expected design performance differences, these groups were scored separately for awards based on their overall combined fleet finishes. They could have also been scored by their respective finishes within each category, which can result in points and awards differences. Therefore, event planners should consider which scoring method is best for their needs when sailing these two Vintage M designs in a single fleet. Racket Shreve, the Salem artist who developed the regatta’s commemorative Redd’s Pond 1932 M Class racing scene, spent extra time signing and drawing individualized remarques on these limited edition prints. Andy Abrahamson who helped to promote the WoodenBoat School model yacht building courses taught annually by Thom McLaughlin and Alan Suydam. Pat Butterworth and Jim Linville who took photos at Redd’s Pond August 17-19. Pat had also photographed the 1930s Vintage M wooden models in the Museum M Class exhibit in July. Many of these will now provide the basis for the M Class History article to be featured in AMYA Model Yachting magazine issue 151. David Twohig from Rochester, NY who volunteered to “lend a hand” everywhere at pond-side and otherwise. Lessons Learned Event Publicity: Regatta planners maximized free promotion through early press releases and follow-ups. Key examples from this focused effort was pre-race publicity in Southwest Airline’s in-flight magazine, local FM radio and cable TV stations spots, and local newspapers front-page stories both pre- and post-race. Nationally, there was post-regatta coverage with a feature story aired on an NPR sports show. Thus, event planners, by Vintage M Upgrades: Traditional (19301945) radio Vintage Ms configured with non-original highaspect ratio (tall) rigs, deeper keels and balanced rudders need to be raced within the High Flyer fleet for performance and awards purposes. Thus, Vintage M models should be checked for any upgraded design and/or radio features prior to racing for proper fleet assignment. Radio to Free Sail Conversion: One innovative Vintage M model conversion to vane from radio was by owner Ben Martin. He connected his vane mounted on its pintle to the existing radio rudder control rod and finished fourth in the free sail Vintage M fleet. Under radio control with the same model, Ben took fourth in Traditional Vintage M fleet of 13 boats. This technique will be fully documented in the M Class History article. Page 9 John Snow Of Square-riggers, Ketches, Sloops and Yawls, Boats for Pleasurable Windling. he model sailing boats for casual sailing are varied, certainly so in the world of the windler whose choice of type is limited only by his imagination and the extent of his willingness to fossick for photos and plans among the ever so wide range available from various sources. The internet is always a good start. Anyway with the absence of rules (as in racing), what pleases you even if you choose to divert from what the plans show is what counts, isn’t it ? My friend in Auckland, Jacqui Wellington never used plans to fashion and build the lovely freesail schooners she used to come up A classic example is Ron Rule of Auckland’s Ancient Mariners who having built `umptydippety-two’ Vic Smeed designed Starlets (I believe he can build them in his sleep now !) chose to base a rather attractive working boat on the Starlet hull, with changes here and there to suit what he envisaged. If you look at the ketch that resulted and then compare it with the first Starlet seen with now retired Vic, you can get an idea of what I am driving at. Vic Smeed with a Starlet as designed. Starlets were the first 36/600 Class boats. Ron Rule’s workboat on a Starlet hull. Page 10 Jacqui Wellington launches one of her schooners at Kohimarama Beach in Aukland with. She had that gift of a good eye and a good memory of the lines and rigs of the schooners she used to see when her dad was alive and they spent time on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf . So if you are capable in woodworking do you need plans at all? Oops! there I go again, talking about a schooner so soon after the last column – blame it on my lovely and talented ship modelling lady friend ! Just a quick `throw in’ now . This has got to be the tiniest wee sailing boat model in the world excluding charms that hang on bracelets. Custom made by master modeller, Roy Lake of Auckland (seen holding it) I think you’ll agree it is quite unique. `DOES IT SAIL ?’ (I was waiting for that !) Well, aside from a quick crossing of the Incee to the port of Winsea (our bathroom basin !) the truthful answer has to be NO for were I to tell you that it crossed Cook Strait, your retort would simply be “BOLLOCKS !” It was actually built to fit inside a beautiful all-wooden Bugatti of Roy’s, but that friends is another story. You’ll have to look out for that in a future issue of my column online on Duckworks. Roy Lake with his tiny boat. Page 11 NevilleWade of Sheffield in the United Kingdom built the Ann Louise, a lovely compact square-rigger, purely because he has had a lifelong interest in the last of the sailing ships. Named after their daughter, it was modelled on the 1880’s Danish training ship, the Georg Stage which later sailed in 1934-1936 as the Joseph Conrad. Neville used Harold Underhill plans and the length of the model is 1 1 3 0 m m from the forward end of the fo’c’sle to the stern rail. He sails with a group of modellers in Sheffield mainly in the Winter and has also built and sails a model of the yawl Sheila designed by Albert Strange. For those who like yawlrigged boats. I think this is a rather pretty example. Another Aucklander, Malcolm Wilkinson chose to build a Gentleman’s yacht, Bonny named after a much loved now deceased pooch. Circa 1770 and built to a Swedish design by Frederic Chapman, it has tidy classic lines of the period, the gentleman owner’s cabin wonderfully detailed inside with murals on starboard and port sides. If anyone wants to get involved in racing in the International classes by all means do so, but to be successful they will have to do so hook line and sinker, be prepared to keep up with modern hull improvements and developments, spend money ad infinitum to constantly bring the boat up to its absolute peak of performance with the very best sails available, and dedicate themselves to learning how to sail at a top class level in what are highly competitive areas of model sailboating. Others who want to get into model yacht sailing can enter the world of the cruising or windling model yachtsman and enjoy-non pressure sailing with all the benefits such as lower cost, friendship and help, advice of like-minded individuals, untold humor, wonderful camaraderie and relaxation par excellence. Ann Louise and Sheila, by Neville Wade I so enjoy my weekly sailing of that nature, I’d feel terribly guilty not extolling its many virtues, hence I seize every damn opportunity to do so. Should I say sorry ? Mark Steele Malcolm Wilkinson’s Bonny, after a Frederic Chapman design. Page 12 minimum you’ll be able to purchase the parts from our laser cutting supplier and assemble your own; this would require a drill press and the ability to tap threads into soft plastic. Traditional Watercraft Survey Yankee III Hulls in Fiberglass Nigel Heron is now producing Yankee III hulls in fiberglass. The offering consists of: hull halves joined, deck flange installed, rudder support glassed in hull, rudder with shaft, all faired and primed. Joe Cieri, our Traditional Watercraft coordinator, will be conducting an informal mail survey on proposed rules. If you don’t get one in a few weeks, and feel you should, please contact Joe at 732-244-1047. With this done for you, you should be able to get on the water in three or four weekends. As an added inducement, we are offering a 50% discount on the Yankee III book to anyone who buys a hull. If you already have the book and buy a hull we’ll refund half your purchase price. For price and availability contact: Heron Composites 604 Clarence Drive Whitby, Ontario L1N1E4 Canada Thorobred or: nigelpheron@hotmail.com VMYG Vane Updated We have modified the VMYG vane to integrate the gear teeth into the arms as shown in the photo. This not only makes the vane simpler and lighter, it eliminates a problem spot where the Delrin gears were attached to the ABS arms. If you are interested, contact us via the editorial addresses given and we’ll keep you up to date on availability. At a he plans on the opposite page are for a sweet little boat designed by the West Coast naval architect Matt Walsh for the Los Angeles Evening Herald, based on his successful 45 foot sloop Thorobred. The schools regatta sponsored by the newspaper attracted over 700 entrants when held in 1929. Another class of boat involved in the regatta was Ted Geary’s Pirate, documented in Volume 6 Number 3 of The Model Yacht. The picture above, which is from the W.C. Sawyer collection at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, shows the original Thorobred reefed down and making time. Details of her rig, such as the short bowsprit and the triangular boomkin are clearly visible. Matt Walsh was born in Nova Scotia and came to Los Angeles in 1889. He had no formal training in naval architecture, but had learned design from his father and had extensive sailing experience. His designs were typically fine-lined with a large amount of sail. His most famous designs were the Com- Page 13 Enlarge 250% for full size. Length Over All: 22 7⁄8 in Length L.W.L: 17 5⁄8 in Beam Extreme: 7 3⁄16 in Beam L.W.L: 6 7⁄8 in Weight of Lead “About” 3.5 lbs Page 14 mon Sense series of boats, 27 feet LOA racers that were considerably faster than their size would indicate. He was best known by his contemporaries for his practice of lofting designs full size on the walls of boathouses, which enabled him to work standing up instead of down on the floor in the conventional way. Thorobred was designed in 1927 and was 55 feet LOA. Walsh sailed her as his own boat. He had also skippered the famous West Coast R-boat Pirate for her then owner. We are indebted to Scott Rohrer of The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle for the photograph and information on Walsh. Toy Yachting in Central Park The photographs on the next two pages are from the magazine St. Nicholas for May 1916, and are some of the best representations we have of model yachting in the U.S. prior to the formation of the Model Yacht Racing Association of American and the establishment of national classes based on the Universal Rule. The title and captions might have annoyed the skippers shown, but St. Nicholas was, after all, a children’s magazine, and a beloved one at that. Page 15 Earl Boebert Page 16 Page 17 Tuning and Trimming a Model Racing Yacht Editor’s Note ith the rising interest in free sailing, I thought it would be worthwhile to present this thorough treatment of tuning and trimming a Braine steered M Class yacht. I have supplemented the text with a series of diagrams that appeared in Claude Horst’s 1939 book A Marblehead Model Sailing Yacht. Walter K. Moss was an accomplished model yachtsman from the Chicago area, and wrote the article on model sailmaking that appears on our Web site. This article appeared in Model Craftsman magazine for September 1937. Earl Boebert Tuning and Trimming Beating Sheet Running Sheets Jib Bridle Jib Steering Sheets Quadrant Centering Line Quadrant Centering Elastic and Tension Slides The basic layout of a Braine steered model yacht. Page 18 A typical Braine gear setup. The tension slides are at B-B, and can be independently moved to adjust the amount of centering tension on each tack. When both are slid all the way forward the rudder is locked. The range and delicacy of adjustments made possible by the Braine gear led to its 45-year dominance of model yacht steering systems. t would be a rare case indeed should a model yacht be dropped into the water for the first time, or after alterations have been made, to discover that it sailed perfectly at its maximum speed. Such things may happen as often as the experience of Mrs. Dionne1 . . . and from that you can figure what your chances are of having such an unusual experience. Most model sailing craft, especially racing models, are equipped with sliding mast steps and adjustable jib stay plates, and can, therefore, be made to sail in a satisfactory fashion by undergoing a process called “tuning-up.” Tuning a well designed and constructed racing yacht is a matter of balance between the sails, the rake and position of the mast, and the trim of the sheets; it is usually the first consideration if the craft is new, or if any changes have been made which alter the center of effort or the center of lateral resistance in an old boat. Arriving at the proper balance is the result of experiment and study of the reactions of the model in water, but when once attained it will assure the best possible performance from your yacht. 1 This setting should be carefully noted and repeated each time the model is rigged. In fact, when you have determined the exact position of the mast step and stay plates, these can be reduced to the most simple pin and eye forms to save unnecessary weight. Tuning a yacht is not as complicated as its explanation may appear, although to explain the process which should be followed will require quite a number of words—many of which the more experienced will probably skip. Tuning for the Beat A balanced boat is one which will hold its course and also attain a good speed with the sails closely sheeted, when beating into, and about 4 points off the wind. No yacht can sail directly into the wind, but must tack from side to side to go to windward, and four points would place the hull at about a 30 degree angle to the direction of the wind. When thus adjusted both tacks should be accomplished at the same angle. Step the mast square with the deck and about one inch ahead of the estimated center of lateral resistance, adjust the sheets so that both the jib and main sail are at a 15 degree angle Mother of the famous quintuplets who caused such a publicity stir in the 1930’s. —Ed. Page 19 Sheets set for a beat. Each sheet is on its respective traveler and the rudder is locked in its central position by the tension slides. with the center line on the deck, lock the rudder in its center position with the tension slides; place the craft in the water nosed into the wind, but with the sails filled and gently push it away . . . NOW WATCH ITS ACTION! If it falls away from the wind, move the mast ferrule aft on the step; if it heads into the wind and the sails begin to flap, move the mast ferrule forward. In making these changes be sure to adjust the stays simultaneously-fore, aft and side-so as not to alter the rake of the mast in its new position. When the yacht holds the course indicated above, or approximately such a course, you have arrived at the proper balance with regard to the deck fittings. Should there be a slight tendency to luff at this stage, two further adjustments can be made: rake the mast slightly (meaning to take up a bit on the back stat and let out a bit on the fore stay), or sheet the jib in at a little less angle than the mainsail. These procedures some times produce an intermittent butter in the leach of the mainsail, but it will promptly be pulled out and keep both sails working at their maximum capacity without perceptible change in the course of the yacht. Now is the time to experiment with tightened or slackened sail surfaces and side stays. Some yachts perform better one way and some another, but in the majority of cases it will be found that a little flow in the sail—very little—will increase the speed over a flat, tight surface. If a boat goes to leeward (drifts sideways) on a beat it is because the lateral resistance is not sufficient to offset the side impulse of the sail plan. Ease away the sheets until it is able to go where it is pointing. Remember that the lateral resistance increases with the speed of the hull through the water, and that in heavier winds a yacht can be pointed much higher into the wind without “crabbing.” Any windward beat can now be accomplished by changes made in sheeting the sails, and any reach or run by the same with the addition of the rudder controls. As the sails are let further out it will be found that a course will be followed further off the wind, until finally it is necessary to help the craft with a “weather helm,” which will help hold Page 20 Jib sheet hooked to bridle for steering during a narrow reach. The main beating sheet (not shown) is hooked to its traveler. the nose down wind. The beating sheet need be no longer than will permit adjustments to this point as the running lines will now take over the job. If you have noted the positions of the beating sheet bowser on the boom calibrations for the various courses with relation to the direction of the wind, you will be able to predetermine the probable course of your yacht by repeating these settings. The Narrow Reach: Jib Steering Following the course of a yacht around half an orbit from a beat to a run you now arrive at a close reach, and many skippers prefer to use jib steering in this case as the strain is not great and lighter alterations are sufficient to hold the boat on its course. Hook the bridle to the jib sheet and play it out to the proper point for the desired course. In reaching, the jib functions as a propulsion unit as well as a balancing unit. However, there is only a small range of directions on which their steering is effective, and as soon as the stem can no longer be held downwind, the boom running sheets will have to be brought into action and the jib sheet reattached to the traveler. Do not attempt to operate the rudder with both the jib and mainsail sheets simultaneously. Broad Reach and Run: Mainsheet Steering With the quadrant centering line tautened only enough to pull the rudder square, place the running line hooks an the middle holes on the quadrant face on their respective sides and adjust the tension slides to a position a little back of their full play fore and aft. Head the yacht on its proper course and with the running line bowser, set the sails just short of “spilling” the wind and your craft is ready for a reach or a run. The writer has found this much more difficult to control than a beat, although fewer points result from such a leg won in a race. As a precaution, the idle sheet can be hooked far out on the quadrant to jibe Page 21 Sheets set for a broad reach or a run. The jib sheet, not shown, is hooked to its traveler and eased out depending on the degree to which the boat is off the wind. the boat back on its course if the correct tension settings have not been made and the boom flies over. Again the actions must be closely observed and adjustments made to counteract undesirable performances. Should a tendency be noted to head up into the wind, more leverage is necessary and the quadrant hook can be moved out a hole or so ; if the tendency is to run further downwind, reduce the leverage by moving the hook toward the center. In a steady wind some point will be found at which the rudder action will equalize the turning action of the mainsail and the course will be held. If the velocity of the wind was always the same it would be unnecessary to provide further adjustments; but as this is not the case, provision has been made to stiffen or ease the rubber tension by tightening or loosening the centering line, by changing the position of the quadrant hooks and by moving the tension slides forward and backward. forward or tighten the tension of the rubber. Does it go to windward? Move the slides back or ease the centering line. The degree of the adjustments depends upon the response, but never be “heavyhanded.” It isn’t necessary and you may create just the opposite condition which will likewise have to be corrected and necessitate several re-trims and the consequent waste of time. Again some combination of adjustments will be found at which the model can be made to hold a more or less steady course. Lulls and puffs in the wind are one of the most annoying conditions with which the skipper must contend, as they constantly alter the amount of “heel,” thereby encouraging a change in the course of the yacht. Correctly cut sails for a well designed hull will go a long way toward offsetting this trouble, but no design has yet been created, and probably never will, in which the center of effort will constantly balance the center of lateral resistance under the many situations which develop during the course of a leg. Now, again-note the behavior of the craft. Does it drop to leeward? Move the slides Page 22 With the lengthening of the water-line as the result of a puff, the lateral resistance increases and the prow sets up greater resistance proportionately, thereby increasing the tendency to luff. Although the center of effort in the sails has moved forward under the new angle, only a semblance of balance is maintained and adjustments are necessary to automatically overcome these discrepancies. This is where your individual ability as a skipper comes to the front . if you hit on thé ideal balance more often than you miss, you’ll be an outstanding skipper. At this point it’s a matter of feel rather than instructions, but if the model has a tendency to luff on puffs, move the quadrant hook out, ease the centering line or advance the tension slides. The Gye When you have gained the “feel” of your yacht and the various adjustments can be made more or less instinctively, for racing . purpose: there is the matter of “looping” with which to become acquainted. This is generally used on pool racing where the craft is to be sent part way out on the pool, gybe, and return on a longer tack1. To accomplish this it is necessary to use a beating gye which shortens the setting of the sails on one tack, and lengthens them on the other. The beating gye is always hooked on the weather side in this maneuver when the craft leaves the shore and the jib is hooked on the lee side of a three place traveler to help head the boat into the wind. The yacht is released off the wind and will gradually be pulled into a luff some distance from the bank where the wind will catch it for the longer leg. If it comes about too quickly release the gye a bit, or if it fails to come about take in on the gye. These adjustments are best determined by experiment, as a slight miscalculation will nullify your efforts. A beating gye can also be used to advantage in a light wind when the sheets are closehauled, and in this case The beating gye set so that when on starboard tack, the gye pulls the quadrant and turns the boat to starboard; when the boat passes through the eye of the wind the boom will swing and the rudder will return to neutral by the action of the centering elastic. 1 This skill is essential when sailing on Spreckles Lake in San Francisco.—Ed. Page 23 should be put on the lee side. In the event that a puff turns the craft onto the other tack and off the course, the beating gye will function and return the model on its previous tack. Spinnakers Suggestions on the use of a spinnaker are given with hesitancy, inasmuch as considerable grief can be encountered unless it is properly handled under ideal conditions. In a steady wind it is invaluable on a run, but where the velocity varies it is quite liable to become fouled. This sail should be loosely sheeted to permit bagginess and exert the lifting effect on the stem which it develops. It is always rigged on the opposite side from the mainsail and provision should be made for quickly releasing it altogether should the yacht get “by the lee” (when the wind and the mainsail are on the same side of the craft). A spinnaker can be set when the wind is about 30 degrees abaft the beam and should be well forward at this time; as the run becomes more of a “dead tail ender” and the boom is eased out, the spinnaker aft-haul is pulled in, but never to the point where it is exactly square with the hull (about one point ahead of the beam should be the maximum) . Of course, the running sheets on the quadrant still control the course. How a spinnaker is rigged. The fore end of the spinnaker pole is held by an elastic to the jib rack and an adjustable line to a hook on deck as shown. The tack of the spinnaker is held by another adjustable line. The jib, which is not shown, is generally hooked to its traveler and eased all the way out; some rigs, with a separate forestay, permit the jib to be removed as in full size practice. Page 24 This diagram shows how an asymmetric arrangement of the running sheets can be used to keep the main boom opposite the spinnaker pole. When the boom and sheets are in the position shown by the solid lines the sheet attached to the port side of the quadrant is slack. If the boat jibes, the boom and sheets assume the positions shown by the dotted lines; the previously slack sheet becomes taut, and being farther out on the quadrant exerts more turning force to head the boat back on course. Page 25 On a “dead run” without a spinnaker, the jib is of little avail, but it can be hooked on to the bridle to correct the course if a hard puff should suddenly “head” the yacht as it will be affected by the wind before the mainsail functions, or weaken the pull of the running sheets by counter-acting. It is impossible to cover the multitude of situations which may be encountered when sailing a model yacht-each has its own solution and must necessarily be worked out by the skipper himself and the experience he has gained from previous voyages. Mentally noting the re-actions to adjustments, and subsequently bearing them in mind when making changes, is the real secret to a successful racing career. Walter K. Moss (1937) Kittiwake The handsome Marblehead overleaf was designed in 1937 by A.W. Littlejohn, one of those people who seem incapable of drawing an ugly boat. The “barn door” rudder marks her as a Braine boat, and her relatively high displacement for her date, as well as the inclusion of B and C rigs, indicates a British ancestry, required to cope with the higher winds in that part of the world. Her easy lines make her a natural for the cold molding technique described in the last issue. The Model Yacht is published three times a year by the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group. Copyright 1998 to 2007 U.S.V.M.Y.G. Reproduction for noncommercial purposes permitted; all other rights reserved. Other copyrights are maintained by the original holders and such material is used here under the fair use provisions of the relevant copyright acts for nonprofit research and educational purposes. Editorial Address: 9219 Flushing Meadows NE Albuquerque NM 87111 Email: boebert@swcp.com Phone: 505 823 1046 Officers of the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group: President: John Snow Eastern Vice-President: Ben Martin Western Vice-President: Dominic Meo, III Midwest Vice-President: Tom Pratt Southeastern Vice-President: Thom Mclaughlin Vintage M Class Coordinator: John Henson Vintage 36 Inch Coordinator: Al Suydam A Class Coordinator: Rod Carr U.K. Coordinator: Graham Reeves Canadian Representative: Doug McMain Historian: Earl Boebert Archivist: Jim Dolan Earl Boebert One last look at the Marblehead event: Vane M’s make free sailing look easy. Photo by Pat Butterworth Page 26 Kittiwake (1937) Scale 600% for Full Size LOA: 50.0 in LWL: 44.0 in Beam: 9.0 in Draft: 8.65 in Displacement: 16.5 lb Weight of Lead: 10.0 lb approx Sail Area: 798 sq in Sections Spaced: 4.4 in Waterlines Spaced: 0.8 in Buttocks Spaced: 0.8 in Page 27 Scale 300% for Full Size