Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff_H
Alex,
Thank you. That is very interesting. I had figured that the rough origin of the type had to be coastal trading vessels. I had not made the link to Phoenecian trading craft design. It does make sense since the Phoenecians used early forms of Lateen rigs.
These boats made their way to the Amercias as well. Portuguese sailors in and around Boston built what was known coloquially as 'Port-u-gee' boats which evolved into a variety of late 19th century working craft and on the West Coast there were a variety of boats called by a derogatory name for their Italian origins.
I also find it interesting that you and I are both seem very interested in traditional watercraft and design history, and yet have chosen to end up sailing some of the more modern vessels (Guilietta more than Synergy) in the Sailnet fleet.
Jeff |
Jeff, thanks, absolutely right...
I am in love not only for the traditional but also the history that surrounds and gave origin to these boats.
It interests me for many reasons, some are the fact that we, Portuguese were once the super-power of the World, and lost everything due to "bad managment" by our Kings and the large Lisbon Earthquake of 1755I think after it the Portuguese population that survived the disater (it was not the earthquake that killed them, but the diseas after, the plague), was only 1 million...
And we were a super power because we ruled the seas, just like US does now...once you rule the sea, you rule the World.
Also as I have to travel abroad a lot, that increases the value I give my Country and its rich history.
Finally, living in the sea all my life, blessed by good weather all year round, one doesn't have to do much to be exposed to boats and such...add that an inside call for the sea...there you go.
Now....intersteing you mentioned the fact that we sail latest tech boats, and love the old stuff....I think its exactly because we love hi-tech that we are in love with the traditional, or may be the opposite.....once you're exposed to one end of the spectrum....you do it, so un-intentionally you admire the opposite end of the spectrum...
I also think a good sailor should keep an open minded...I hate those that are attached to the past only and all new stuff is bad, or the ones that are so into tech, that a good old clipper is a bad thing.....I hate "un-flexibles"...if you know what I mean...those that were never inteligent enough to recognize that times change, and you can still have a foot in the past, and use a computer today, or admire a carbon fiber mast....The fossils is what I call them.....
I see it like this....I'm married to speed, but keep old traditional as my mistress....
And what is funny, is I have been sometimes accused or stereoptyped as "a traditional boat hater" because I sail a fast boat, when its exactly the opposite..
You'd be amazed of what I know about old traditional boats...from my side of the "river"....